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Mack NR, Bouras NN, Gao WJ. Prefrontal Regulation of Social Behavior and Related Deficits: Insights From Rodent Studies. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 96:85-94. [PMID: 38490368 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.03.008] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is well known as the executive center of the brain, combining internal states and goals to execute purposeful behavior, including social actions. With the advancement of tools for monitoring and manipulating neural activity in rodents, substantial progress has been made in understanding the specific cell types and neural circuits within the PFC that are essential for processing social cues and influencing social behaviors. Furthermore, combining these tools with translationally relevant behavioral paradigms has also provided novel insights into the PFC neural mechanisms that may contribute to social deficits in various psychiatric disorders. This review highlights findings from the past decade that have shed light on the PFC cell types and neural circuits that support social information processing and distinct aspects of social behavior, including social interactions, social memory, and social dominance. We also explore how the PFC contributes to social deficits in rodents induced by social isolation, social fear conditioning, and social status loss. These studies provide evidence that the PFC uses both overlapping and unique neural mechanisms to support distinct components of social cognition. Furthermore, specific PFC neural mechanisms drive social deficits induced by different contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy R Mack
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Nadia N Bouras
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Wen-Jun Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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2
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Rowshan N, Anjomshoa M, Farahzad A, Bijad E, Amini-Khoei H. Gut-brain barrier dysfunction bridge autistic-like behavior in mouse model of maternal separation stress: A behavioral, histopathological, and molecular study. Int J Dev Neurosci 2024; 84:314-327. [PMID: 38584149 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10329] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a fast-growing neurodevelopmental disorder throughout the world. Experiencing early life stresses (ELS) like maternal separation (MS) is associated with autistic-like behaviors. It has been proposed that disturbance in the gut-brain axis-mediated psychiatric disorders following MS. The role of disruption in the integrity of gut-brain barrier in ASD remains unclear. Addressing this knowledge gap, in this study we aimed to investigate role of the gut-brain barrier integrity in mediating autistic-like behaviors in mouse models of MS stress. To do this, mice neonates are separated daily from their mothers from postnatal day (PND) 2 to PND 14 for 3 hours. During PND58-60, behavioral tests related to autistic-like behaviors including three-chamber sociability, shuttle box, and resident-intruder tests were performed. Then, prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, and colon samples were dissected out for histopathological and molecular evaluations. Results showed that MS is associated with impaired sociability and social preference indexes, aggressive behaviors, and impaired passive avoidance memory. The gene expression of CLDN1 decreased in the colon, and the gene expression of CLDN5, CLDN12, and MMP9 increased in the PFC of the MS mice. MS is associated with decrease in the diameter of CA1 and CA3 areas of the hippocampus. In addition, MS led to histopathological changes in the colon. We concluded that, probably, disturbance in the gut-brain barrier integrities mediated the autistic-like behavior in MS stress in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negin Rowshan
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Maryam Anjomshoa
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Anahita Farahzad
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Elham Bijad
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hossein Amini-Khoei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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3
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DeVries SA, Conner B, Dimovasili C, Moore TL, Medalla M, Mortazavi F, Rosene DL. Immune proteins C1q and CD47 may contribute to aberrant microglia-mediated synapse loss in the aging monkey brain that is associated with cognitive impairment. GeroScience 2024; 46:2503-2519. [PMID: 37989825 PMCID: PMC10828237 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-01014-x] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment in learning, memory, and executive function occurs in normal aging even in the absence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). While neurons do not degenerate in humans or monkeys free of AD, there are structural changes including synapse loss and dendritic atrophy, especially in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and these correlate with cognitive age-related impairment. Developmental studies revealed activity-dependent neuronal properties that lead to synapse remodeling by microglia. Microglia-mediated phagocytosis that may eliminate synapses is regulated by immune "eat me" and "don't eat me" signaling proteins in an activity-dependent manner, so that less active synapses are eliminated. Whether this process contributes to age-related synapse loss remains unknown. The present study used a rhesus monkey model of normal aging to investigate the balance between the "eat me" signal, complement component C1q, and the "don't eat me" signal, transmembrane glycoprotein CD47, relative to age-related synapse loss in dlPFC Area 46. Results showed an age-related elevation of C1q and reduction of CD47 at PSD95+ synapses that is associated with cognitive impairment. Additionally, reduced neuronal CD47 RNA expression was found, indicating that aged neurons were less able to produce the protective signal CD47. Interestingly, microglia do not show the hypertrophic morphology indicative of phagocytic activity. These findings suggest that in the aging brain, changes in the balance of immunologic proteins give microglia instructions favoring synapse elimination of less active synapses, but this may occur by a process other than classic phagocytosis such as trogocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A DeVries
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Bryce Conner
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christina Dimovasili
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tara L Moore
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Medalla
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Farzad Mortazavi
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas L Rosene
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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4
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Kisner A, Polter AM. Maturation of glutamatergic transmission onto dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons. J Neurophysiol 2024; 131:626-637. [PMID: 38380827 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00037.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) play important roles early in postnatal development in the maturation and modulation of higher-order emotional, sensory, and cognitive circuitry. The pivotal functions of these cells in brain development make them a critical substrate by which early experience can be wired into the brain. In this study, we investigated the maturation of synapses onto dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons in typically developing male and female mice using whole cell patch-clamp recordings in ex vivo brain slices. We show that while inhibition of these neurons is relatively stable across development, glutamatergic synapses greatly increase in strength between postnatal day 6 (P6) and P21-23. In contrast to forebrain regions, where the components making up glutamatergic synapses are dynamic across early life, we find that DRN excitatory synapses maintain a very high ratio of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) to N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and a rectifying component of the AMPA response until adulthood. Overall, these findings reveal that the development of serotonergic neurons is marked by a significant refinement of glutamatergic synapses during the first three postnatal weeks. This suggests this time is a sensitive period of heightened plasticity for the integration of information from upstream brain areas. Genetic and environmental insults during this period could lead to alterations in serotonergic output, impacting both the development of forebrain circuits and lifelong neuromodulatory actions.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Serotonergic neurons are regulators of both the development of and ongoing activity in neuronal circuits controlling affective, cognitive, and sensory processing. Here, we characterize the maturation of extrinsic synaptic inputs onto these cells, showing that the first three postnatal weeks are a period of synaptic refinement and a potential window for experience-dependent plasticity in response to both enrichment and adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Kisner
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
| | - Abigail M Polter
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
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Li YX, Tan ZN, Li XH, Ma B, Adu Nti F, Lv XQ, Tian ZJ, Yan R, Man HY, Ma XM. Increased gene dosage of RFWD2 causes autistic-like behaviors and aberrant synaptic formation and function in mice. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02515-7. [PMID: 38503925 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02515-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interactions, communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. A study of autistic human subjects has identified RFWD2 as a susceptibility gene for autism, and autistic patients have 3 copies of the RFWD2 gene. The role of RFWD2 as an E3 ligase in neuronal functions, and its contribution to the pathophysiology of ASD, remain unknown. We generated RFWD2 knockin mice to model the human autistic condition of high gene dosage of RFWD2. We found that heterozygous knockin (Rfwd2+/-) male mice exhibited the core symptoms of autism. Rfwd2+/- male mice showed deficits in social interaction and communication, increased repetitive and anxiety-like behavior, and spatial memory deficits, whereas Rfwd2+/- female mice showed subtle deficits in social communication and spatial memory but were normal in anxiety-like, repetitive, and social behaviors. These autistic-like behaviors in males were accompanied by a reduction in dendritic spine density and abnormal synaptic function on layer II/III pyramidal neurons in the prelimbic area of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), as well as decreased expression of synaptic proteins. Impaired social behaviors in Rfwd2+/- male mice were rescued by the expression of ETV5, one of the major substrates of RFWD2, in the mPFC. These findings indicate an important role of RFWD2 in the pathogenesis of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Xia Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhi-Nei Tan
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xu-Hui Li
- Center for Neuron and Disease, Frontier Institutes of Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Boyu Ma
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Frank Adu Nti
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiao-Qiang Lv
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhen-Jun Tian
- Institute of Sports Biology, College of Physical Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Riqiang Yan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Xin-Ming Ma
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA.
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Tian Y, Yu F, Yun E, Lin JW, Man HY. mRNA nuclear retention reduces AMPAR expression and promotes autistic behavior in UBE3A-overexpressing mice. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:1282-1309. [PMID: 38316900 PMCID: PMC10933332 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00073-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
UBE3A is a common genetic factor in ASD etiology, and transgenic mice overexpressing UBE3A exhibit typical autistic-like behaviors. Because AMPA receptors (AMPARs) mediate most of the excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain, and synaptic dysregulation is considered one of the primary cellular mechanisms in ASD pathology, we investigate here the involvement of AMPARs in UBE3A-dependent ASD. We show that expression of the AMPAR GluA1 subunit is decreased in UBE3A-overexpressing mice, and that AMPAR-mediated neuronal activity is reduced. GluA1 mRNA is trapped in the nucleus of UBE3A-overexpressing neurons, suppressing GluA1 protein synthesis. Also, SARNP, an mRNA nuclear export protein, is downregulated in UBE3A-overexpressing neurons, causing GluA1 mRNA nuclear retention. Restoring SARNP levels not only rescues GluA1 mRNA localization and protein expression, but also normalizes neuronal activity and autistic behaviors in mice overexpressing UBE3A. These findings indicate that SARNP plays a crucial role in the cellular and behavioral phenotypes of UBE3A-induced ASD by regulating nuclear mRNA trafficking and protein translation of a key AMPAR subunit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Tian
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Feiyuan Yu
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Eunice Yun
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Jen-Wei Lin
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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7
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Wang B, Vartak R, Zaltsman Y, Naing ZZC, Hennick KM, Polacco BJ, Bashir A, Eckhardt M, Bouhaddou M, Xu J, Sun N, Lasser MC, Zhou Y, McKetney J, Guiley KZ, Chan U, Kaye JA, Chadha N, Cakir M, Gordon M, Khare P, Drake S, Drury V, Burke DF, Gonzalez S, Alkhairy S, Thomas R, Lam S, Morris M, Bader E, Seyler M, Baum T, Krasnoff R, Wang S, Pham P, Arbalaez J, Pratt D, Chag S, Mahmood N, Rolland T, Bourgeron T, Finkbeiner S, Swaney DL, Bandyopadhay S, Ideker T, Beltrao P, Willsey HR, Obernier K, Nowakowski TJ, Hüttenhain R, State MW, Willsey AJ, Krogan NJ. A foundational atlas of autism protein interactions reveals molecular convergence. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.03.569805. [PMID: 38076945 PMCID: PMC10705567 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.03.569805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Translating high-confidence (hc) autism spectrum disorder (ASD) genes into viable treatment targets remains elusive. We constructed a foundational protein-protein interaction (PPI) network in HEK293T cells involving 100 hcASD risk genes, revealing over 1,800 PPIs (87% novel). Interactors, expressed in the human brain and enriched for ASD but not schizophrenia genetic risk, converged on protein complexes involved in neurogenesis, tubulin biology, transcriptional regulation, and chromatin modification. A PPI map of 54 patient-derived missense variants identified differential physical interactions, and we leveraged AlphaFold-Multimer predictions to prioritize direct PPIs and specific variants for interrogation in Xenopus tropicalis and human forebrain organoids. A mutation in the transcription factor FOXP1 led to reconfiguration of DNA binding sites and altered development of deep cortical layer neurons in forebrain organoids. This work offers new insights into molecular mechanisms underlying ASD and describes a powerful platform to develop and test therapeutic strategies for many genetically-defined conditions.
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8
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Wang X, Zhang Y, Luo S, Zhao K, Gao C, Mei D, Duan Y, Hu S. Restoration of nNOS Expression Rescues Autistic-Like Phenotypes Through Normalization of AMPA Receptor-Mediated Neurotransmission. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-03997-w. [PMID: 38329681 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03997-w] [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: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with a range of abnormalities characterized by deficits in socialization, communication, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. We have recently shown that neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression was decreased in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) of mice after postnatal valproic acid exposure. Neuronal activity-regulated pentraxin (Narp) could contribute to the regulation of the GluA4 2-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-oxo-1,2-oxazol-4-yl) propanoic acid (AMPA) subunits which are predominantly expressed in interneurons. However, the specific role of nNOS re-expression on excitatory neurotransmitter with relevance to ASD core symptoms in VPA-treated animals remains to be elucidated. Herein, nNOS overexpression using a lentiviral vector and L-arginine-activating PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling can restore nNOS expression in the BLA induced by VPA. Restoration of nNOS expression in these mice was sufficient to reduce the severity of ASD-like behavioral patterns such that animals exhibited decreases in abnormal social interactions and communication, stereotyped/repetitive behaviors, and anxiety-like traits. Most strikingly, re-expression of nNOS upregulated surface expression of Narp and GluA4 in nNOS-positive interneuron as shown by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that restoration of nNOS had a significant enhancing effect on AMPA receptor-mediated excitatory glutamatergic synaptic neurotransmission, which was inhibited by disturbing the interaction between Narp and GluA4 in acutely dissociated BLA slices. Overall, these data offer a scientific basis for the additional study of nNOS re-expression as a promising therapeutic target by correcting AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic function in ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaona Wang
- Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Yaodong Zhang
- Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuying Luo
- Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ke Zhao
- Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chao Gao
- Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Daoqi Mei
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongtao Duan
- Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shunan Hu
- Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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9
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Liu QQ, Mi J, Du YY, Rong Z, Qin Y, Jiang W, Li X, Yu JY, Yang L, Du XY, Yang Q, Guo YY. Lotusine ameliorates propionic acid-induced autism spectrum disorder-like behavior in mice by activating D1 dopamine receptor in medial prefrontal cortex. Phytother Res 2024; 38:1089-1103. [PMID: 38168755 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8098] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted neuropsychiatric condition for which effective drug therapy for core clinical symptoms remains elusive. Lotusine, known for its neuroprotective properties in the treatment of neurological disorders, holds potential in addressing ASD. Nevertheless, its specific efficacy in ASD remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of lotusine in ASD and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We induced an ASD mouse model through intracerebroventricular-propionic acid (ICV-PPA) injection for 7 days, followed by lotusine administration for 5 days. The efficacy of lotusine was evaluated through a battery of behavioral tests, including the three-chamber social test. The underlying mechanisms of lotusine action in ameliorating ASD-like behavior were investigated in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, molecular docking, and cellular thermal shift assay. The efficacy and mechanisms of lotusine were further validated in vitro. Lotusine effectively alleviated social deficits induced by ICV-PPA injection in mice by counteracting the reduction in miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency within the mPFC. Moreover, lotusine enhanced neuronal activity and ameliorated α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor dysfunction in ICV-PPA infusion mice by upregulating c-fos, p-GluA1 Ser 845, and p-GluA1 Ser 831 protein levels within the mPFC. Our findings also suggest that lotusine may exert its effects through modulation of the D1 dopamine receptor (DRD1). Furthermore, the rescuing effects of lotusine were nullified by a DRD1 antagonist in PC12 cells. In summary, our results revealed that lotusine ameliorates ASD-like behavior through targeted modulation of DRD1, ultimately enhancing excitatory synaptic transmission. These findings highlight the potential of lotusine as a nutritional supplement in the treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Qing Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Jie Mi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Ya-Ya Du
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Zheng Rong
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Yan Qin
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Jiao-Yan Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Le Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Xiao-Yan Du
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
| | - Yan-Yan Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'An, PR China
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10
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Hergenreder E, Minotti AP, Zorina Y, Oberst P, Zhao Z, Munguba H, Calder EL, Baggiolini A, Walsh RM, Liston C, Levitz J, Garippa R, Chen S, Ciceri G, Studer L. Combined small-molecule treatment accelerates maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-023-02031-z. [PMID: 38168993 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-02031-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The maturation of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neurons mimics the protracted timing of human brain development, extending over months to years for reaching adult-like function. Prolonged in vitro maturation presents a major challenge to stem cell-based applications in modeling and treating neurological disease. Therefore, we designed a high-content imaging assay based on morphological and functional readouts in hPSC-derived cortical neurons which identified multiple compounds that drive neuronal maturation including inhibitors of lysine-specific demethylase 1 and disruptor of telomerase-like 1 and activators of calcium-dependent transcription. A cocktail of four factors, GSK2879552, EPZ-5676, N-methyl-D-aspartate and Bay K 8644, collectively termed GENtoniK, triggered maturation across all parameters tested, including synaptic density, electrophysiology and transcriptomics. Maturation effects were further validated in cortical organoids, spinal motoneurons and non-neural lineages including melanocytes and pancreatic β-cells. The effects on maturation observed across a broad range of hPSC-derived cell types indicate that some of the mechanisms controlling the timing of human maturation might be shared across lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Hergenreder
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew P Minotti
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yana Zorina
- Gene Editing and Screening Core Facility, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Polina Oberst
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zeping Zhao
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hermany Munguba
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Calder
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arianna Baggiolini
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ryan M Walsh
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Conor Liston
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Joshua Levitz
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ralph Garippa
- Gene Editing and Screening Core Facility, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shuibing Chen
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriele Ciceri
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lorenz Studer
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA.
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA.
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11
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Liu L, Luo Z, Mai Y, Lu Y, Sun Z, Chen J, Zeng T, Chen L, Liu Z, Yang H, Xu Q, Lan L, Tang C. Dexmedetomidine relieves inflammatory pain by enhancing GABAergic synaptic activity in pyramidal neurons of the anterior cingulate cortex. Neuropharmacology 2023; 240:109710. [PMID: 37683885 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109710] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Pyramidal neuron (Pyn) hyperactivity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is involved in the modulation of pain. Previous studies indicate that the activation of α2 adrenoceptors (α2-ARs) by dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a safe and effective means of alleviating multiple types of pain. Here, we showed that systemically administered DEX can ameliorate the inflammatory pain induced by hindpaw injection of formalin (FA) and further examined the molecular and synaptic mechanisms of this DEX-elicited antinociceptive effect. We found that FA caused an increase in c-Fos expression in contralateral layer 2/3 (L2/3) ACC, and that intra-ACC infusion of DEX could also relieve phase 2 inflammatory pain behavior. DEX elicited an increase in the amplitude and frequency of miniature inhibitory post-synaptic currents (mIPSCs) and evoked IPSC amplitude, as well as a reduction in the hyperexcitability and both paired-pulse and excitation/inhibition ratios in contralateral L2/3 ACC Pyns of FA mice. These electrophysiological effects were associated with the upregulation of GABA A receptor (GABAAR) subunits. The interaction of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) with GABAAR subunits increased in the ACC following administration of DEX. These results suggest that DEX treatment reduces hyperactivity and enhances GABAergic inhibitory synaptic transmission in ACC Pyns, which produces analgesic effects by increasing GABAAR levels and activating the Akt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Liu
- Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China; South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhihao Luo
- Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yuanying Mai
- Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Yi Lu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510130, China
| | - Zhaoxia Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Jianfeng Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Tianyu Zeng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Zihao Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Hanyu Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Qin Xu
- Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Lan Lan
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| | - Chunzhi Tang
- Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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12
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Li M, Eltabbal M, Tran HD, Kuhn B. Scn2a insufficiency alters spontaneous neuronal Ca 2+ activity in somatosensory cortex during wakefulness. iScience 2023; 26:108138. [PMID: 37876801 PMCID: PMC10590963 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108138] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
SCN2A protein-truncating variants (PTV) can result in neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, but they are less likely to cause epilepsy in comparison to missense variants. While in vitro studies showed PTV reduce action potential firing, consequences at in vivo network level remain elusive. Here, we generated a mouse model of Scn2a insufficiency using antisense oligonucleotides (Scn2a ASO mice), which recapitulated key clinical feature of SCN2A PTV disorders. Simultaneous two-photon Ca2+ imaging and electrocorticography (ECoG) in awake mice showed that spontaneous Ca2+ transients in somatosensory cortical neurons, as well as their pairwise co-activities were generally decreased in Scn2a ASO mice during spontaneous awake state and induced seizure state. The reduction of neuronal activities and paired co-activity are mechanisms associated with motor, social and cognitive deficits observed in our mouse model of severe Scn2a insufficiency, indicating these are likely mechanisms driving SCN2A PTV pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Li
- Optical Neuroimaging Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Mohamed Eltabbal
- Optical Neuroimaging Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Hoang-Dai Tran
- Optical Neuroimaging Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Bernd Kuhn
- Optical Neuroimaging Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
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13
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Wang T, Chen B, Luo M, Xie L, Lu M, Lu X, Zhang S, Wei L, Zhou X, Yao B, Wang H, Xu D. Microbiota-indole 3-propionic acid-brain axis mediates abnormal synaptic pruning of hippocampal microglia and susceptibility to ASD in IUGR offspring. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:245. [PMID: 37932832 PMCID: PMC10629055 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01656-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. RESULTS We found that the IUGR rat model induced by prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE) showed ASD-like symptoms, accompanied by altered gut microbiota and reduced production of indole 3-propionic acid (IPA), a microbiota-specific metabolite and a ligand of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). IUGR children also had a reduced serum IPA level consistent with the animal model. We demonstrated that the dysregulated IPA/AHR/NF-κB signaling caused by disturbed gut microbiota mediated the hippocampal microglia hyperactivation and neuronal synapse over-pruning in the PCE-induced IUGR rats. Moreover, postnatal IPA supplementation restored the ASD-like symptoms and the underlying hippocampal lesions in the IUGR rats. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the microbiota-IPA-brain axis regulates ASD susceptibility in PCE-induced IUGR offspring, and supplementation of microbiota-derived IPA might be a promising interventional strategy for ASD with a fetal origin. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Wang
- Department of Obstetrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Beidi Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Mingcui Luo
- Department of Obstetrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Lulu Xie
- Department of Pediatrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Mengxi Lu
- Department of Obstetrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiaoqian Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, Taikang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Liyi Wei
- Department of Obstetrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xinli Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, Taikang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Baozhen Yao
- Department of Pediatrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Taikang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Obstetrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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14
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Towner TT, Goyden MA, Coleman HJ, Drumm MK, Ritchie IP, Lieb KR, Varlinskaya EI, Werner DF. Determining the neuronal ensembles underlying sex-specific social impairments following adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure. Neuropharmacology 2023; 238:109663. [PMID: 37429543 PMCID: PMC10984351 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109663] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Binge drinking during adolescence can have behavioral and neurobiological consequences. We have previously found that adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure produces sex-specific social alterations indexed via decreases of social investigation and/or social preference in rats. The prelimbic cortex (PrL) regulates social interaction, and alterations within the PrL resulting from AIE may contribute to social alterations. The current study sought to determine whether AIE-induced PrL dysfunction underlies decreases in social interaction evident in adulthood. We first examined social interaction-induced neuronal activation of the PrL and several other regions of interest (ROIs) implicated in social interaction. Adolescent male and female cFos-LacZ rats were exposed to water (control) or ethanol (4 g/kg, 25% v/v) via intragastric gavage every other day between postnatal day (P) 25 and 45 (total 11 exposures). Since cFos-LacZ rats express β-galactosidase (β-gal) as a proxy for Fos, activated cells that express of β-gal can be inactivated by Daun02. In most ROIs, expression of β-gal was elevated in socially tested adult rats relative to home cage controls, regardless of sex. However, decreased social interaction-induced β-gal expression in AIE-exposed rats relative to controls was evident only in the PrL of males. A separate cohort underwent PrL cannulation surgery in adulthood and was subjected to Daun02-induced inactivation. Inactivation of PrL ensembles previously activated by social interaction reduced social investigation in control males, with no changes evident in AIE-exposed males or females. These findings highlight the role of the PrL in male social investigation and suggest an AIE-associated dysfunction of the PrL that may contribute to reduced social investigation following adolescent ethanol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor T Towner
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Matthew A Goyden
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Harper J Coleman
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Mary K Drumm
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Isabella P Ritchie
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Kayla R Lieb
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Elena I Varlinskaya
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - David F Werner
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA.
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15
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Wang HC, Feldman DE. Degraded tactile coding in the Cntnap2 mouse model of autism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.29.560240. [PMID: 37808857 PMCID: PMC10557772 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.560240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Atypical sensory processing in autism involves altered neural circuit function and neural coding in sensory cortex, but the nature of coding disruption is poorly understood. We characterized neural coding in L2/3 of whisker somatosensory cortex (S1) of Cntnap2-/- mice, an autism model with pronounced hypofunction of parvalbumin (PV) inhibitory circuits. We tested for both excess spiking, which is often hypothesized in autism models with reduced inhibition, and alterations in somatotopic coding, using c-fos immunostaining and 2-photon calcium imaging in awake mice. In Cntnap2-/- mice, c-fos-(+) neuron density was elevated in L2/3 of S1 under spontaneous activity conditions, but comparable to control mice after whisker stimulation, suggesting that sensory-evoked spiking was relatively normal. 2-photon GCaMP8m imaging in L2/3 pyramidal cells revealed no increase in whisker-evoked response magnitude, but instead showed multiple signs of degraded somatotopic coding. These included broadening of whisker tuning curves, blurring of the whisker map, and blunting of the point representation of each whisker. These altered properties were more pronounced in noisy than sparse sensory conditions. Tuning instability, assessed over 2-3 weeks of longitudinal imaging, was also significantly increased in Cntnap2-/- mice. Thus, Cntnap2-/- mice show no excess spiking, but a degraded and unstable tactile code in S1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Chin Wang
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Daniel E Feldman
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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16
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Li X, Hao S, Zou S, Tu X, Kong W, Jiang T, Chen JG. Cortex-restricted deletion of Foxp1 impairs barrel formation and induces aberrant tactile responses in a mouse model of autism. Mol Autism 2023; 14:34. [PMID: 37691105 PMCID: PMC10494400 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-023-00567-0] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many children and young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display touch defensiveness or avoidance (hypersensitivity), or engage in sensory seeking by touching people or objects (hyposensitivity). Abnormal sensory responses have also been noticed in mice lacking ASD-associated genes. Tactile sensory information is normally processed by the somatosensory system that travels along the thalamus to the primary somatosensory cortex. The neurobiology behind tactile sensory abnormalities, however, is not fully understood. METHODS We employed cortex-specific Foxp1 knockout (Foxp1-cKO) mice as a model of autism in this study. Tactile sensory deficits were measured by the adhesive removal test. The mice's behavior and neural activity were further evaluated by the whisker nuisance test and c-Fos immunofluorescence, respectively. We also studied the dendritic spines and barrel formation in the primary somatosensory cortex by Golgi staining and immunofluorescence. RESULTS Foxp1-cKO mice had a deferred response to the tactile environment. However, the mice exhibited avoidance behavior and hyper-reaction following repeated whisker stimulation, similar to a fight-or-flight response. In contrast to the wild-type, c-Fos was activated in the basolateral amygdala but not in layer IV of the primary somatosensory cortex of the cKO mice. Moreover, Foxp1 deficiency in cortical neurons altered the dendrite development, reduced the number of dendritic spines, and disrupted barrel formation in the somatosensory cortex, suggesting impaired somatosensory processing may underlie the aberrant tactile responses. LIMITATIONS It is still unclear how the defective thalamocortical connection gives rise to the hyper-reactive response. Future experiments with electrophysiological recording are needed to analyze the role of thalamo-cortical-amygdala circuits in the disinhibiting amygdala and enhanced fearful responses in the mouse model of autism. CONCLUSIONS Foxp1-cKO mice have tactile sensory deficits while exhibit hyper-reactivity, which may represent fearful and emotional responses controlled by the amygdala. This study presents anatomical evidence for reduced thalamocortical connectivity in a genetic mouse model of ASD and demonstrates that the cerebral cortex can be the origin of atypical sensory behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Shishuai Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Shimin Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomeng Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Weixi Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Jiang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Wenling Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenling, 317500, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie-Guang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Li Y, Zhu M, Chen WX, Luo J, Li X, Cao Y, Zheng M, Ma S, Xiao Z, Zhang Y, Jiang L, Wang X, Tan T, Li X, Gong Q, Xiong X, Wang J, Tang M, Li M, Tang YP. A novel mutation in intron 1 of Wnt1 causes developmental loss of dopaminergic neurons in midbrain and ASD-like behaviors in rats. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3795-3805. [PMID: 37658228 PMCID: PMC10730402 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02223-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with a strong genetic liability. Despite extensive studies, however, the underlying pathogenic mechanism still remains elusive. In the present study, we identified a homozygous mutation in the intron 1 of Wnt1 via large-scale screening of ASD risk/causative genes and verified that this mutation created a new splicing donor site in the intron 1, and consequently, a decrease of WNT1 expression. Interestingly, humanized rat models harboring this mutation exhibited robust ASD-like behaviors including impaired ultrasonic vocalization (USV), decreased social interactions, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Moreover, in the substantia nigra compacta (SNpc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of mutant rats, dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons were dramatically lost, together with a comparable decrease in striatal DAergic fibers. Furthermore, using single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that the decreased DAergic neurons in these midbrain areas might attribute to a shift of the boundary of the local pool of progenitor cells from the hypothalamic floor plate to the midbrain floor plate during the early embryonic stage. Moreover, treatments of mutant rats with levodopa could attenuate the impaired USV and social interactions almost completely, but not the restricted and repetitive behaviors. Our results for the first time documented that the developmental loss of DAergic neurons in the midbrain underlies the pathogenesis of ASD, and that the abnormal progenitor cell patterning is a cellular underpinning for this developmental DAergic neuronal loss. Importantly, the effective dopamine therapy suggests a translational significance in the treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyi Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Mingwei Zhu
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Wen-Xiong Chen
- Department of Neurology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Jing Luo
- School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xin Li
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yangyang Cao
- Department of Child Health, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Meng Zheng
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Shanshan Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zhilan Xiao
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Yani Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Linyan Jiang
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Xiumin Wang
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Ting Tan
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Xia Li
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Qian Gong
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Xiaoli Xiong
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Child Health, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Mingxi Tang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
| | - Mingtao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Ya-Ping Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China.
- Department of Child Health, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
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18
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Dawson MS, Gordon-Fleet K, Yan L, Tardos V, He H, Mui K, Nawani S, Asgarian Z, Catani M, Fernandes C, Drescher U. Sexual dimorphism in the social behaviour of Cntnap2-null mice correlates with disrupted synaptic connectivity and increased microglial activity in the anterior cingulate cortex. Commun Biol 2023; 6:846. [PMID: 37582968 PMCID: PMC10427688 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05215-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
A biological understanding of the apparent sex bias in autism is lacking. Here we have identified Cntnap2 KO mice as a model system to help better understand this dimorphism. Using this model, we observed social deficits in juvenile male KO mice only. These male-specific social deficits correlated with reduced spine densities of Layer 2/3 and Layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex, a forebrain region prominently associated with the control of social behaviour. Furthermore, in male KO mice, microglia showed an increased activated morphology and phagocytosis of synaptic structures compared to WT mice, whereas no differences were seen in female KO and WT mice. Our data suggest that sexually dimorphic microglial activity may be involved in the aetiology of ASD, disrupting the development of neural circuits that control social behaviour by overpruning synapses at a developmentally critical period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt S Dawson
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Kevin Gordon-Fleet
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Lingxin Yan
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Vera Tardos
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Huanying He
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Kwong Mui
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Smriti Nawani
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Zeinab Asgarian
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- Molecular Therapeutics Lab, University College London, Research Department of Targeted Intervention, London, W1W 7TY, UK
| | - Marco Catani
- NatBrainLab, Departments of Neuroimaging Sciences and Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Uwe Drescher
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, IoPPN, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
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19
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Binder MS, Bordey A. The Novel Somatosensory Nose-Poke Adapted Paradigm (SNAP) Is an Effective Tool to Assess Differences in Tactile Sensory Preferences in Autistic-Like Mice. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0478-22.2023. [PMID: 37596047 PMCID: PMC10470849 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0478-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most prevalent deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are sensitivities to sensory stimuli. Despite the prevalence of sensory deficits in autism, there are few paradigms capable of easily assessing sensory behaviors in ASD-like mouse models. We addressed this need by creating the Somatosensory Nose-poke Adapted Paradigm (SNAP), which consists of an elevated platform with 6 holes in the center, half of which are lined with sandpaper and half are smooth, requiring mice to use their whiskers to sense the texture. The SNAP paradigm assesses tactile sensory preferences as well as stereotypy, anxiety, and locomotion. We used two wild-type (neurotypical) mouse strains, C57BL/6J (C57) inbred and CD-1 outbred mice, and two ASD mouse models, BTBR (a model of idiopathic ASD) and Cntnap2 -/- mice (a model of syndromic ASD). We found that both ASD models produced more nose pokes into the rough condition than the smooth condition, suggesting an increased preference for complex tactile stimulation when compared with the neurotypical groups, wherein no differences were observed. Furthermore, we found increased stereotypy and time spent in the center, suggestive of decreased anxiety, only for BTBR mice compared with the other mouse strains. Overall, SNAP is an easy to implement task to assess the degree of preference for complex tactile stimulation in ASD mouse models that can be further modified to exclude possible confounding effects of novelty or anxiety on the sensory preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Binder
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8082
| | - Angelique Bordey
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8082
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20
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Xia QQ, Walker AK, Song C, Wang J, Singh A, Mobley JA, Xuan ZX, Singer JD, Powell CM. Effects of heterozygous deletion of autism-related gene Cullin-3 in mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283299. [PMID: 37428799 PMCID: PMC10332626 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder in which children display repetitive behavior, restricted range of interests, and atypical social interaction and communication. CUL3, coding for a Cullin family scaffold protein mediating assembly of ubiquitin ligase complexes through BTB domain substrate-recruiting adaptors, has been identified as a high-risk gene for autism. Although complete knockout of Cul3 results in embryonic lethality, Cul3 heterozygous mice have reduced CUL3 protein, demonstrate comparable body weight, and display minimal behavioral differences including decreased spatial object recognition memory. In measures of reciprocal social interaction, Cul3 heterozygous mice behaved similarly to their wild-type littermates. In area CA1 of hippocampus, reduction of Cul3 significantly increased mEPSC frequency but not amplitude nor baseline evoked synaptic transmission or paired-pulse ratio. Sholl and spine analysis data suggest there is a small yet significant difference in CA1 pyramidal neuron dendritic branching and stubby spine density. Unbiased proteomic analysis of Cul3 heterozygous brain tissue revealed dysregulation of various cytoskeletal organization proteins, among others. Overall, our results suggest that Cul3 heterozygous deletion impairs spatial object recognition memory, alters cytoskeletal organization proteins, but does not cause major hippocampal neuronal morphology, functional, or behavioral abnormalities in adult global Cul3 heterozygous mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang-qiang Xia
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, & Civitan International Research Center, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Angela K. Walker
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Chenghui Song
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, & Civitan International Research Center, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, & Civitan International Research Center, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Anju Singh
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, & Civitan International Research Center, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - James A. Mobley
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Mass Spectrometry & Proteomics Shared Facility, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Zhong X. Xuan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, & Civitan International Research Center, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D. Singer
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Craig M. Powell
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, & Civitan International Research Center, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
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21
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Hussein Y, Tripathi U, Choudhary A, Nayak R, Peles D, Rosh I, Rabinski T, Djamus J, Vatine GD, Spiegel R, Garin-Shkolnik T, Stern S. Early maturation and hyperexcitability is a shared phenotype of cortical neurons derived from different ASD-associated mutations. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:246. [PMID: 37414777 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02535-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized mainly by social and sensory-motor abnormal and repetitive behavior patterns. Over hundreds of genes and thousands of genetic variants were reported to be highly penetrant and causative of ASD. Many of these mutations cause comorbidities such as epilepsy and intellectual disabilities (ID). In this study, we measured cortical neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of patients with four mutations in the genes GRIN2B, SHANK3, UBTF, as well as chromosomal duplication in the 7q11.23 region and compared them to neurons derived from a first-degree relative without the mutation. Using a whole-cell patch-clamp, we observed that the mutant cortical neurons demonstrated hyperexcitability and early maturation compared to control lines. These changes were characterized by increased sodium currents, increased amplitude and rate of excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs), and more evoked action potentials in response to current stimulation in early-stage cell development (3-5 weeks post differentiation). These changes that appeared in all the different mutant lines, together with previously reported data, indicate that an early maturation and hyperexcitability may be a convergent phenotype of ASD cortical neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Hussein
- 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
| | - Ashwani Choudhary
- 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
| | - David Peles
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Idan Rosh
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tatiana Rabinski
- The Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and the Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- The Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Jose Djamus
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gad David Vatine
- The Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and the Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- The Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Ronen Spiegel
- Center for Rare Diseases, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | | | - Shani Stern
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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22
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Ji C, Tang Y, Zhang Y, Huang X, Li C, Yang Y, Wu Q, Xia X, Cai Q, Qi XR, Zheng JC. Glutaminase 1 deficiency confined in forebrain neurons causes autism spectrum disorder-like behaviors. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112712. [PMID: 37384529 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An abnormal glutamate signaling pathway has been proposed in the mechanisms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, less is known about the involvement of alterations of glutaminase 1 (GLS1) in the pathophysiology of ASD. We show that the transcript level of GLS1 is significantly decreased in the postmortem frontal cortex and peripheral blood of ASD subjects. Mice lacking Gls1 in CamKIIα-positive neurons display a series of ASD-like behaviors, synaptic excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) imbalance, higher spine density, and glutamate receptor expression in the prefrontal cortex, as well as a compromised expression pattern of genes involved in synapse pruning and less engulfed synaptic puncta in microglia. A low dose of lipopolysaccharide treatment restores microglial synapse pruning, corrects synaptic neurotransmission, and rescues behavioral deficits in these mice. In summary, these findings provide mechanistic insights into Gls1 loss in ASD symptoms and identify Gls1 as a target for the treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhui Ji
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Yalin Tang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Yanyan Zhang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Xiaoyan Huang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Congcong Li
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Yuhong Yang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Qihui Wu
- Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200081, China
| | - Xiaohuan Xia
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200081, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200434, China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200331, China
| | - Qingyuan Cai
- Franklin and Marshall College, 415 Harrisburg Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603, USA
| | - Xin-Rui Qi
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China.
| | - Jialin C Zheng
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200081, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200434, China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200331, China.
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23
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Al-Mazidi SH, El-Ansary A, Abualnaja A, AlZarroug A, Alharbi T, Al-Ayadhi LY. Exploring the Potential Role of ADAM 17 and ADAM 22 in the Etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Brain Sci 2023; 13:972. [PMID: 37371450 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060972] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a group of disorders characterized by difficulties with social interaction and repetitive behavior. The condition is supposed to originate from early shifts in brain development, while the underlying processes are unknown. Moreover, a considerable number of patients with ASD experience digestive difficulties. Metalloproteases (ADAMs) are a class of enzymes capable of cleaving membrane-bound proteins. Members of this family, ADAM17 and ADAM22, have the ability to cleave proteins like the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-ά and glutamate synaptic molecules, which are both engaged in neuro-inflammation and glutamate excitotoxicity as crucial etiological mechanisms in ASD. ADAM17 and ADAM22 may also have a role in ASD microbiota-gut-brain axis connections by regulating immunological and inflammatory responses in the intestinal tract. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Using ELISA kits, the plasma levels of ADAM17 and ADAM22 were compared in 40 children with ASD and 40 typically developing children. All of the autistic participants' childhood autism rating scores (CARS), social responsiveness scales (SRS), and short sensory profiles (SSP) were evaluated as indicators of ASD severity. RESULTS Our results showed that plasma levels of ADAM17 were significantly lower in ASD children than in control children, while ADAM22 demonstrated non-significantly lower levels. Our data also indicate that while ADAM17 correlates significantly with age, ADAM22 correlates significantly with CARS as a marker of ASD severity. CONCLUSIONS Our interpreted data showed that alteration in ADAM17 and ADAM22 might be associated with glutamate excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and altered gut microbiota as etiological mechanisms of ASD and could be an indicator of the severity of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Al-Mazidi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 11432, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afaf El-Ansary
- Autism Center, Lotus Holistic Alternative Medical Center, Abu Dhabi 110281, United Arab Emirates
- Autism Research and Treatment Centre, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amani Abualnaja
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 11432, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah AlZarroug
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 11432, Saudi Arabia
| | - Turki Alharbi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 11432, Saudi Arabia
| | - Laila Y Al-Ayadhi
- Autism Research and Treatment Centre, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
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24
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Mohapatra AN, Wagner S. The role of the prefrontal cortex in social interactions of animal models and the implications for autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1205199. [PMID: 37409155 PMCID: PMC10318347 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1205199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Social interaction is a complex behavior which requires the individual to integrate various internal processes, such as social motivation, social recognition, salience, reward, and emotional state, as well as external cues informing the individual of others' behavior, emotional state and social rank. This complex phenotype is susceptible to disruption in humans affected by neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Multiple pieces of convergent evidence collected from studies of humans and rodents suggest that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a pivotal role in social interactions, serving as a hub for motivation, affiliation, empathy, and social hierarchy. Indeed, disruption of the PFC circuitry results in social behavior deficits symptomatic of ASD. Here, we review this evidence and describe various ethologically relevant social behavior tasks which could be employed with rodent models to study the role of the PFC in social interactions. We also discuss the evidence linking the PFC to pathologies associated with ASD. Finally, we address specific questions regarding mechanisms employed by the PFC circuitry that may result in atypical social interactions in rodent models, which future studies should address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok Nath Mohapatra
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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25
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Brunert D, Quintela RM, Rothermel M. The anterior olfactory nucleus revisited - an emerging role for neuropathological conditions? Prog Neurobiol 2023:102486. [PMID: 37343762 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102486] [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: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Olfaction is an important sensory modality for many species and greatly influences animal and human behavior. Still, much about olfactory perception remains unknown. The anterior olfactory nucleus is one of the brain's central early olfactory processing areas. Located directly posterior to the olfactory bulb in the olfactory peduncle with extensive in- and output connections and unique cellular composition, it connects olfactory processing centers of the left and right hemispheres. Almost 20 years have passed since the last comprehensive review on the anterior olfactory nucleus has been published and significant advances regarding its anatomy, function, and pathophysiology have been made in the meantime. Here we briefly summarize previous knowledge on the anterior olfactory nucleus, give detailed insights into the progress that has been made in recent years, and map out its emerging importance in translational research of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Brunert
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | | | - Markus Rothermel
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
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26
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Zhang J, Cai F, Lu R, Xing X, Xu L, Wu K, Gong Z, Zhang Q, Zhang Y, Xing M, Song W, Li JD. CNTNAP2 intracellular domain (CICD) generated by γ-secretase cleavage improves autism-related behaviors. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:219. [PMID: 37271769 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01431-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in children, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by deficits in language development, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors or inflexible interests. Contactin associated protein like 2 (CNTNAP2), encoding a single transmembrane protein (CNTNAP2) with 1331 amino acid residues, is a widely validated ASD-susceptible gene. Cntnap2-deficient mice also show core autism-relevant behaviors, including the social deficits and repetitive behavior. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying dysfunction CNTNAP2 and ASD remain elusive. In this study, we found a motif within the transmembrane domain of CNTNAP2 was highly homologous to the γ-secretase cleavage site of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP), suggesting that CNTNAP2 may undergo proteolytic cleavage. Further biochemical analysis indicated that CNTNAP2 is cleaved by γ-secretase to produce the CNTNAP2 intracellular domain (CICD). Virally delivery of CICD to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in Cntnap2-deficient (Cntnap2-/-) mice normalized the deficit in the ASD-related behaviors, including social deficit and repetitive behaviors. Furthermore, CICD promoted the nuclear translocation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) to regulate the transcription of genes, such as Prader Willi syndrome gene Necdin. Whereas Necdin deficiency led to reduced social interaction in mice, virally expression of Necdin in the mPFC normalized the deficit in social preference of Cntnap2-/- mice. Our results thus reveal a critical function of CICD and highlight a role of the CNTNAP2-CASK-Necdin signaling pathway in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Furong Laboratory, Center for Medical Genetics, Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Fang Cai
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
- Townsend Family Laboratories, Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Renbin Lu
- Furong Laboratory, Center for Medical Genetics, Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoliang Xing
- Furong Laboratory, Center for Medical Genetics, Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Lu Xu
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, School of Mental Health and Kangning Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Kunyang Wu
- Furong Laboratory, Center for Medical Genetics, Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Zishan Gong
- Furong Laboratory, Center for Medical Genetics, Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Townsend Family Laboratories, Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yun Zhang
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Mengen Xing
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, School of Mental Health and Kangning Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Weihong Song
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China.
- Townsend Family Laboratories, Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, School of Mental Health and Kangning Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
| | - Jia-Da Li
- Furong Laboratory, Center for Medical Genetics, Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China.
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27
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Luo YF, Lu L, Song HY, Xu H, Zheng ZW, Wu ZY, Jiang CC, Tong C, Yuan HY, Liu XX, Chen X, Sun ML, Tang YM, Fan HY, Han F, Lu YM. Divergent projections of the prelimbic cortex mediate autism- and anxiety-like behaviors. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:2343-2354. [PMID: 36690791 PMCID: PMC10611563 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-01954-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The comorbidity of autism spectrum disorder and anxiety is common, but the underlying circuitry is poorly understood. Here, Tmem74-/- mice showed autism- and anxiety-like behaviors along with increased excitability of pyramidal neurons (PNs) in the prelimbic cortex (PL), which were reversed by Tmem74 re-expression and chemogenetic inhibition in PNs of the PL. To determine the underlying circuitry, we performed conditional deletion of Tmem74 in the PNs of PL of mice, and we found that alterations in the PL projections to fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs) in the dorsal striatum (dSTR) (PLPNs-dSTRFSIs) mediated the hyperexcitability of FSIs and autism-like behaviors and that alterations in the PL projections to the PNs of the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (BLA) (PLPNs-BLAPNs) mediated the hyperexcitability of PNs and anxiety-like behaviors. However, the two populations of PNs in the PL had different spatial locations, optogenetic manipulations revealed that alterations in the activity in the PL-dSTR or PL-BLA circuits led to autism- or anxiety-like behaviors, respectively. Collectively, these findings highlight that the hyperactivity of the two populations of PNs in the PL mediates autism and anxiety comorbidity through the PL-dSTR and PL-BLA circuits, which may lead to the development of new therapeutics for the autism and anxiety comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Luo
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Lu Lu
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Heng-Yi Song
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Han Xu
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Zheng
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Zhou-Yue Wu
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Chen-Chen Jiang
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Chu Tong
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Hao-Yang Yuan
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiu-Xiu Liu
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Mei-Ling Sun
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Ya-Min Tang
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Heng-Yu Fan
- Life Sciences Institute and Innovation Center for Cell Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Feng Han
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- Institute of Brain Science, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Ying-Mei Lu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- Institute of Brain Science, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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Medina E, Peterson S, Ford K, Singletary K, Peixoto L. Critical periods and Autism Spectrum Disorders, a role for sleep. Neurobiol Sleep Circadian Rhythms 2023; 14:100088. [PMID: 36632570 PMCID: PMC9826922 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbscr.2022.100088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain development relies on both experience and genetically defined programs. Time windows where certain brain circuits are particularly receptive to external stimuli, resulting in heightened plasticity, are referred to as "critical periods". Sleep is thought to be essential for normal brain development. Importantly, studies have shown that sleep enhances critical period plasticity and promotes experience-dependent synaptic pruning in the developing mammalian brain. Therefore, normal plasticity during critical periods depends on sleep. Problems falling and staying asleep occur at a higher rate in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) relative to typical development. In this review, we explore the potential link between sleep, critical period plasticity, and ASD. First, we review the importance of critical period plasticity in typical development and the role of sleep in this process. Next, we summarize the evidence linking ASD with deficits in synaptic plasticity in rodent models of high-confidence ASD gene candidates. We then show that the high-confidence rodent models of ASD that show sleep deficits also display plasticity deficits. Given how important sleep is for critical period plasticity, it is essential to understand the connections between synaptic plasticity, sleep, and brain development in ASD. However, studies investigating sleep or plasticity during critical periods in ASD mouse models are lacking. Therefore, we highlight an urgent need to consider developmental trajectory in studies of sleep and plasticity in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Medina
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Sarah Peterson
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Kaitlyn Ford
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Kristan Singletary
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Lucia Peixoto
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
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29
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Towner TT, Goyden MA, Coleman HJ, Drumm MK, Ritchie IP, Lieb KR, Varlinskaya EI, Werner DF. Determining the neuronal ensembles underlying sex-specific social impairments following adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.21.533653. [PMID: 36993252 PMCID: PMC10055268 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.21.533653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Binge drinking during adolescence can have behavioral and neurobiological consequences. We have previously found that adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure produces a sex-specific social impairment in rats. The prelimbic cortex (PrL) regulates social behavior, and alterations within the PrL resulting from AIE may contribute to social impairments. The current study sought to determine whether AIE-induced PrL dysfunction underlies social deficits in adulthood. We first examined social stimulus-induced neuronal activation of the PrL and several other regions of interest implicated in social behavior. Male and female cFos-LacZ rats were exposed to water (control) or ethanol (4 g/kg, 25% v/v) via intragastric gavage every other day between postnatal day (P) 25 and 45 (total 11 exposures). Since cFos-LacZ rats express β-galactosidase (β-gal) as a proxy for cFos, activated cells that express of β-gal can be inactivated by Daun02. β-gal expression in most ROIs was elevated in socially tested adult rats relative to home cage controls, regardless of sex. However, differences in social stimulus-induced β-gal expression between controls and AIE-exposed rats was evident only in the PrL of males. A separate cohort underwent PrL cannulation surgery in adulthood and were subjected to Daun02-induced inactivation. Inactivation of PrL ensembles previously activated by a social stimulus led to a reduction of social behavior in control males, with no changes evident in AIE-exposed males or females. These findings highlight the role of the PrL in male social behavior and suggest an AIE-associated dysfunction of the PrL may contribute to social deficits following adolescent ethanol exposure.
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Gao MM, Shi H, Yan HJ, Long YS. Proteome profiling of the prefrontal cortex of Fmr1 knockout mouse reveals enhancement of complement and coagulation cascades. J Proteomics 2023; 274:104822. [PMID: 36646274 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2023.104822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) deficit resulted from mutations in its encoded fragile X mental retardation 1 (Fmr1) gene is a common inherited cause of Fragile X syndrome (FXS) characterized by intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The FMRP absence-induced altered gene expression in prefrontal cortex (PFC) are associated with autistic behaviors. However, there lacks a large-scale protein profiling in the PFC upon loss of FMRP. This study used a TMT-labeled proteomic analysis to identify a protein profile of the PFC in the Fmr1 knockout mouse. A total of 5886 proteins were identified in the PFC with 100 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in response to FMRP deficiency. Bioinformatical analyses showed that these DAPs were mostly enriched in immune system, extracellular part and complement and coagulation cascades. The complement and coagulation cascades include 6 upregulated proteins (SERPING1, C1QA, C3, FGA, FGB and FGG), which are associated with fibrin degradation, cell lysis, degranulation chemotaxis and phagocytosis linked to activation of immune and inflammatory responses. Thus, our data provide an altered protein profile upon loss of FMRP in the PFC, and suggest that the enhancement of complement and coagulation cascades might contribute to etiological and pathogenic roles of ASD in FXS. SIGNIFICANCE: The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a group of neurobiological disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction barriers and other abnormal behaviors, is still elusive. Autistic-like phenotypes are present in both Fragile X syndrome (FXS) patients and FMRP-deficiency FXS models. Given that prefrontal cortex is a critical brain area for social interaction, the FMRP absence induced-changes of a subset of proteins might contribute to ASD in FXS. Using a comprehensive proteomic analysis, this study provides a prefrontal protein profile of the FMRP-absent mouse with a total of 100 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs). Bioinformatic analyses suggest that these DAPs are mainly involved in the regulations of immune system and complement and coagulation cascades. We also show that 6 upregulated proteins (SERPING1, C1QA, C3, FGA, FGB and FGG) in the complement and coagulation cascades are associated with fibrin degradation, cell lysis, degranulation chemotaxis and phagocytosis regarding dysregulation of immune and inflammatory responses in the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, this study suggests that these FMRP-deficient DAPs in the prefrontal cortex might contribute to the etiology and pathogenesis of ASD in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Mei Gao
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Hang Shi
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Hua-Juan Yan
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Yue-Sheng Long
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China.
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31
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Yue H, Yang X, Wu X, Tian Y, Xu P, Sang N. Identification of risk for ovarian disease enhanced by BPB or BPAF exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 319:120980. [PMID: 36587784 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The ban on bisphenol A (BPA) has led to a rapid increase in the use of BPA analogs, and they are increasingly being detected in the natural environment and biological organisms. Studies have pointed out that BPA analogs can lead to adverse health outcomes. However, their interference with ovarian tissue has not been fully elucidated. In this study, seven- to eight-week-old CD-1 mice were exposed to corn oil containing 300 μg/kg/day bisphenol B (BPB) or bisphenol AF (BPAF) through oral gavage, and ovarian tissues were collected at 14 and 28 days of exposure. Ovarian toxicity was evaluated by the ovarian index, ovarian area, and follicle number. mRNA-seq was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and infer the association of DEGs with ovarian diseases. BPB or BPAF exposure induced morphological changes in ovarian tissue in CD-1 mice. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed disturbances in biological processes (BP) associated with steroid biosynthetic process (GO:0006694) and cellular calcium ion homeostasis (GO:0006874). Subsequently, regulatory networks of BPA analogs (BPB or BPAF)-DEGs-ovarian diseases were constructed. Importantly, the expression levels of DEGs and transcription factors (TFs) associated with ovarian disease were altered. BPB or BPAF exposure causes damage to ovarian morphology through the synergistic effects of multiple biological processes and may be associated with altered mRNA expression profiles as a risk factor for ovarian diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifeng Yue
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, PR China.
| | - Xiaowen Yang
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, PR China
| | - Xiaoyun Wu
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, PR China
| | - Yuchai Tian
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, PR China
| | - Pengchong Xu
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, PR China
| | - Nan Sang
- College of Environment and Resource, Research Center of Environment and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, PR China
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32
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Yuan F, Li Y, Hu R, Gong M, Chai M, Ma X, Cha J, Guo P, Yang K, Li M, Xu M, Ma Q, Su Q, Zhang C, Sheng Z, Wu H, Wang Y, Yuan W, Bian S, Shao L, Zhang R, Li K, Shao Z, Zhang ZN, Li W. Modeling disrupted synapse formation in wolfram syndrome using hESCs-derived neural cells and cerebral organoids identifies Riluzole as a therapeutic molecule. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:1557-1570. [PMID: 36750736 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-01987-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulated neurite outgrowth and synapse formation underlie many psychiatric disorders, which are also manifested by wolfram syndrome (WS). Whether and how the causative gene WFS1 deficiency affects synapse formation remain elusive. By mirroring human brain development with cerebral organoids, WFS1-deficient cerebral organoids not only recapitulate the neuronal loss in WS patients, but also exhibit significantly impaired synapse formation and function associated with reduced astrocytes. WFS1 deficiency in neurons autonomously delays neuronal differentiation with altered expressions of genes associated with psychiatric disorders, and impairs neurite outgrowth and synapse formation with elevated cytosolic calcium. Intriguingly, WFS1 deficiency in astrocytes decreases the expression of glutamate transporter EAAT2 by NF-κB activation and induces excessive glutamate. When co-cultured with wildtype neurons, WFS1-deficient astrocytes lead to impaired neurite outgrowth and increased cytosolic calcium in neurons. Importantly, disrupted synapse formation and function in WFS1-deficient cerebral organoids and impaired neurite outgrowth affected by WFS1-deficient astrocytes are efficiently reversed with Riluzole treatment, by restoring EAAT2 expression in astrocytes. Furthermore, Riluzole rescues the depressive-like behavior in the forced swimming test and the impaired recognition and spatial memory in the novel object test and water maze test in Wfs1 conditional knockout mice. Altogether, our study provides novel insights into how WFS1 deficiency affects synapse formation and function, and offers a strategy to treat this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yuan
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Yana Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Rui Hu
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Mengting Gong
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Mengyao Chai
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Xuefei Ma
- QuietD Biotechnology, Ltd., Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jiaxue Cha
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Pan Guo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Kaijiang Yang
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Mushan Li
- Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Minglu Xu
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Qing Ma
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Qiang Su
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Chuan Zhang
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zhejin Sheng
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Heng Wu
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Neurology and Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and National Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Wen Yuan
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Shan Bian
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Li Shao
- Department of VIP Clinic, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Ru Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Kaicheng Li
- QuietD Biotechnology, Ltd., Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Zhen Shao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
| | - Zhen-Ning Zhang
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China. .,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Weida Li
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China. .,Tsingtao Advanced Research Institute, Tongji University, Qingdao, 266071, China. .,Reg-Verse Therapeutics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Shanghai, 200120, China.
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Investigation of Phospholipid Differences in Valproic Acid-Induced Autistic Mouse Model Brain Using Mass Spectrometry Imaging. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13020178. [PMID: 36837796 PMCID: PMC9966147 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13020178] [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: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder for which the cause and treatment have yet not been determined. The polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels change rapidly in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid of autistic children and PUFAs are closely related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This finding suggests that changes in lipid metabolism are associated with ASD and result in an altered distribution of phospholipids in cell membranes. To further understand ASD, it is necessary to analyze phospholipids in organs consisting of nerve cells, such as the brain. In this study, we investigated the phospholipid distribution in the brain tissue of valproic acid-induced autistic mice using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). Phospholipids including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine were identified in each brain region and exhibited differences between the ASD and control groups. These phospholipids contain docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid, which are important PUFAs for cell signaling and brain growth. We expect that the differences in phospholipids identified in the brain tissue of the ASD model with MALDI-MSI, in conjunction with conventional biological fluid analysis, will help to better understand changes in lipid metabolism in ASD.
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Kisner A, Polter AM. Maturation of glutamatergic transmission onto dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.19.524776. [PMID: 36711665 PMCID: PMC9882295 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.19.524776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) play important roles early in postnatal development in the maturation and modulation of higher order emotional, sensory, and cognitive circuitry. This unique position makes these cells a substrate by which early experience can be wired into brain. In this study, we have investigated the maturation of synapses onto dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons in typically developing male and female mice using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in ex vivo brain slices. We show that while inhibition of these neurons is relatively stable across development, glutamatergic synapses greatly increase in strength between P6 and P21-23. In contrast to forebrain regions, where the components making up glutamatergic synapses are dynamic across early life, we find that the makeup of these synapses onto DRN serotonergic neurons is largely stable after P15. DRN excitatory synapses maintain a very high ratio of AMPA to NMDA receptors and a rectifying component of the AMPA response throughout the lifespan. Overall, these findings reveal that the development of serotonergic neurons is marked by a significant refinement of glutamatergic synapses during the first 3 postnatal weeks. This suggests this time as a sensitive period of heightened plasticity for integration of information from upstream brain areas and that genetic and environmental insults during this period could lead to alterations in serotonergic output, impacting both the development of forebrain circuits and lifelong neuromodulatory actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Kisner
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037
- Current address: Department of Neuroscience, American University, Washington DC 20016
| | - Abigail M. Polter
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037
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35
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Xie Y, Wang H, Hu B, Zhang X, Liu A, Cai C, Li S, Chen C, Wang Z, Yin Z, Wang M. Dendritic Spine in Autism Genetics: Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifying De Novo Variant of CTTNBP2 in a Quad Family Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 10:children10010080. [PMID: 36670631 PMCID: PMC9856540 DOI: 10.3390/children10010080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects around 1% of children with no effective blood test or cure. Recent studies have suggested that these are neurological disorders with a strong genetic basis and that they are associated with the abnormal formation of dendritic spines. Chromosome microarray (CMA) together with high-throughput sequencing technology has been used as a powerful tool to identify new candidate genes for ASD. In the present study, CMA was first used to scan for genome-wide copy number variants in a proband, and no clinically significant copy number variants were found. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was used further for genetic testing of the whole quad family affected by ASD, including the proband, his non-autistic sister, and his parents. Sanger sequencing and MassARRAY-based validation were used to identify and confirm variants associated with ASD. WES yielded a 151-fold coverage depth for each sample. A total of 98.65% of the targeted whole-exome region was covered at >20-fold depth. A de novo variant in CTTNBP2, p.M115T, was identified. The CTTNBP2 gene belongs to a family of ankyrin repeat domain-containing proteins associated with dendritic spine formation. Although CTTNBP2 has been associated with ASD, limited studies have been developed to identify clinically relevant de novo mutations of CTTNBP2 in children with ASD; family-based WES successfully identified a clinically relevant mutation in the CTTNBP2 gene in a quad family affected by ASD. Considering the neuron-specific expression of CTTNBP2 and its role in dendritic spine formation, our results suggest a correlation between the CTTNBP2 mutation and ASD, providing genetic evidence for ASD spine pathology. Although the present study is currently insufficient to support the assertion that the de novo mutation M115T in CTTNBP2 directly causes the autism phenotype, our study provides support for the assertion that this mutation is a candidate clinically relevant variant in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingmei Xie
- Division of Neonatology, Longgang District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Division of Child Health Care, Xiamen Branch of Children’s Hospital of Fudan University (Xiamen Children’s Hospital), Xiamen 361006, China
| | - Bing Hu
- Division of Neonatology, Longgang District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Xueli Zhang
- Division of Neonatology, Shenzhen Longhua People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518109, China
| | - Aiping Liu
- The Department of Laboratory, Baoan Public Health Service Center of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518108, China
| | - Chunquan Cai
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin Children’s Hospital (Children’s Hospital of Tianjin University), Tianjin Pediatric Research Institute, Tianjin 300134, China
| | - Shijun Li
- First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Department of Radiology, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Division of Neonatology, Longgang District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Zhangxing Wang
- Division of Neonatology, Shenzhen Longhua People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518109, China
| | - Zhaoqing Yin
- The People’s Hospital of Dehong Autonomous Prefecture, Division of Pediatrics, Dehong Hospital of Kun-ming Medical University, Mangshi 678400, China
- Correspondence: (Z.Y.); (M.W.)
| | - Mingbang Wang
- Microbiome Therapy Center, South China Hospital, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518116, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Center for Children’s Health, Shanghai 201102, China
- Correspondence: (Z.Y.); (M.W.)
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Zhou X, Wei J, Li L, Shu Z, You L, Liu Y, Zhao R, Yao J, Wang J, Luo M, Shu Y, Yuan K, Qi H. Microglial Pten safeguards postnatal integrity of the cortex and sociability. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1059364. [PMID: 36591296 PMCID: PMC9795847 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1059364] [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: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglial abnormalities may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. PTEN is implicated as a susceptibility gene for autism spectrum disorders and its germline ablation in mice causes behavioral abnormalities. Here we find postnatal PTEN deletion in microglia causes deficits in sociability and novel object recognition test. Mutant mice harbor markedly more activated microglia that manifest enhanced phagocytosis. Interestingly, two-week postponement of microglia PTEN ablation leads to no social interaction defects, even though mutant microglia remain abnormal in adult animals. Disturbed neurodevelopment caused by early PTEN deletion in microglia is characterized by insufficient VGLUT1 protein in synaptosomes, likely a consequence of enhanced removal by microglia. In correlation, in vitro acute slice recordings demonstrate weakened synaptic inputs to layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the developing cortex. Therefore, microglial PTEN safeguards integrity of neural substrates underlying sociability in a developmentally determined manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhou
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiacheng Wei
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Li
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Translational Brain Research, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenfeng Shu
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Translational Brain Research, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling You
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,National Institute of Biological Science, Beijing, China
| | - Ruozhu Zhao
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiacheng Yao
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianbin Wang
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Minmin Luo
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,National Institute of Biological Science, Beijing, China
| | - Yousheng Shu
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Translational Brain Research, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kexin Yuan
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Hai Qi, ; Kexin Yuan,
| | - Hai Qi
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Hai Qi, ; Kexin Yuan,
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Abstract
Verifying causal effects of neural circuits is essential for proving a direct circuit-behavior relationship. However, techniques for tagging only active neurons with high spatiotemporal precision remain at the beginning stages. Here we develop the soma-targeted Cal-Light (ST-Cal-Light) which selectively converts somatic calcium rise triggered by action potentials into gene expression. Such modification simultaneously increases the signal-to-noise ratio of reporter gene expression and reduces the light requirement for successful labeling. Because of the enhanced efficacy, the ST-Cal-Light enables the tagging of functionally engaged neurons in various forms of behaviors, including context-dependent fear conditioning, lever-pressing choice behavior, and social interaction behaviors. We also target kainic acid-sensitive neuronal populations in the hippocampus which subsequently suppress seizure symptoms, suggesting ST-Cal-Light's applicability in controlling disease-related neurons. Furthermore, the generation of a conditional ST-Cal-Light knock-in mouse provides an opportunity to tag active neurons in a region- or cell-type specific manner via crossing with other Cre-driver lines. Thus, the versatile ST-Cal-Light system links somatic action potentials to behaviors with high temporal precision, and ultimately allows functional circuit dissection at a single cell resolution.
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Exposure to Antibiotics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Could Probiotics Modulate the Gut-Brain Axis? Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11121767. [PMID: 36551423 PMCID: PMC9774196 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11121767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to develop properly, the brain requires the intricate interconnection of genetic factors and pre-and postnatal environmental events. The gut-brain axis has recently raised considerable interest for its involvement in regulating the development and functioning of the brain. Consequently, alterations in the gut microbiota composition, due to antibiotic administration, could favor the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders. Literature data suggest that the modulation of gut microbiota is often altered in individuals affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. It has been shown in animal studies that metabolites released by an imbalanced gut-brain axis, leads to alterations in brain function and deficits in social behavior. Here, we report the potential effects of antibiotic administration, before and after birth, in relation to the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders. We also review the potential role of probiotics in treating gastrointestinal disorders associated with gut dysbiosis after antibiotic administration, and their possible effect in ameliorating neurodevelopmental disorder symptoms.
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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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40
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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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41
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Conrow-Graham M, Williams JB, Martin J, Zhong P, Cao Q, Rein B, Yan Z. A convergent mechanism of high risk factors ADNP and POGZ in neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain 2022; 145:3250-3263. [PMID: 35775424 PMCID: PMC10233273 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
ADNP and POGZ are two top-ranking risk factors for autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, but how they are linked to these neurodevelopmental disorders is largely unknown. Both ADNP and POGZ are chromatin regulators, which could profoundly affect gene transcription and cellular function in the brain. Using post-mortem tissue from patients with autism spectrum disorder, we found diminished expression of ADNP and POGZ in the prefrontal cortex, a region highly implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. To understand the functional role of these neurodevelopmental disorder risk factors, we used viral-based gene transfer to investigate how Adnp or Pogz deficiency in mouse prefrontal cortex affects behavioural, transcriptomic and synaptic function. Mice with prefrontal cortex deficiency of Adnp or Pogz exhibited specific impairment of cognitive task performance. RNA-sequencing revealed that Adnp or Pogz deficiency induced prominent upregulation of overlapping genes enriched in neuroinflammation, similar to the elevation of pro-inflammatory genes in humans with neurodevelopmental disorders. Concomitantly, Adnp or Pogz deficiency led to the significant increase of pro-phagocytic microglial activation in prefrontal cortex, as well as the significant decrease of glutamatergic transmission and postsynaptic protein expression. These findings have uncovered the convergent functions of two top risk factors for autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability in prefrontal cortex, providing a mechanism linking chromatin, transcriptional and synaptic dysregulation to cognitive deficits associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Conrow-Graham
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Jamal B Williams
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Jennifer Martin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Ping Zhong
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Benjamin Rein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
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42
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Lim S, Lee S. Chemical Modulators for Targeting Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Bench to Clinic. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27165088. [PMID: 36014340 PMCID: PMC9414776 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27165088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by diverse behavioral symptoms such as repetitive behaviors, social deficits, anxiety, hyperactivity, and irritability. Despite their increasing incidence, the specific pathological mechanisms of ASD are still unknown, and the degree and types of symptoms that vary from patient to patient make it difficult to develop drugs that target the core symptoms of ASD. Although various atypical antipsychotics and antidepressants have been applied to regulate ASD symptoms, these drugs can only alleviate the symptoms and do not target the major causes. Therefore, development of novel drugs targeting factors directly related to the onset of ASD is required. Among the various factors related to the onset of ASD, several chemical modulators to treat ASD, focused on serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and glutamate receptors, microbial metabolites, and inflammatory cytokines, are explored in this study. In particular, we focus on the chemical drugs that have improved various aspects of ASD symptoms in animal models and in clinical trials for various ages of patients with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songhyun Lim
- Creative Research Center for Brain Science, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea
| | - Sanghee Lee
- Creative Research Center for Brain Science, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea
- Department of HY-KIST Bio-Convergence, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-958-5138
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43
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Sharma A, Bhalla S, Mehan S. PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling inhibitor chrysophanol ameliorates neurobehavioural and neurochemical defects in propionic acid-induced experimental model of autism in adult rats. Metab Brain Dis 2022; 37:1909-1929. [PMID: 35687217 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-022-01026-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder marked by social and communication deficits as well as repetitive behaviour. Several studies have found that overactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathways during brain development plays a significant role in autism pathogenesis. Overexpression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway causes neurological disorders by increasing cell death, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Chrysophanol, also known as chrysophanic acid, is a naturally occurring chemical obtained from the plant Rheum palmatum. This study aimed to examine the neuroprotective effect of CPH on neurobehavioral, molecular, neurochemical, and gross pathological alterations in ICV-PPA induced experimental model of autism in adult rats. The effects of ICV-PPA on PI3K/AKT/mTOR downregulation in the brain were studied in autism-like rats. Furthermore, we investigated how CPH affected myelin basic protein (MBP) levels in rat brain homogenate and apoptotic biomarkers such as caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 levels in rat brain homogenate and blood plasma samples. Rats were tested for behavioural abnormalities such as neuromuscular dysfunction using an actophotometer, motor coordination using a beam crossing task (BCT), depressive behaviour using a forced swim test (FST), cognitive deficiency, and memory consolidation using a Morris water maze (MWM) task. In PPA-treated rats, prolonged oral CPH administration from day 12 to day 44 of the experimental schedule reduces autistic-like symptoms. Furthermore, in rat brain homogenates, blood plasma, and CSF samples, cellular, molecular, and cell death markers, neuroinflammatory cytokines, neurotransmitter levels, and oxidative stress indicators were investigated. The recent findings imply that CPH also restores abnormal neurochemical levels and may prevent autism-like gross pathological alterations, such as demyelination volume, in the rat brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Sharma
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Sonalika Bhalla
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India.
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Huo Y, Lu W, Tian Y, Hou Q, Man HY. Prkn knockout mice show autistic-like behaviors and aberrant synapse formation. iScience 2022; 25:104573. [PMID: 35789851 PMCID: PMC9249611 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high genetic heterogeneity, affecting one in 44 children in the United States. Recent genomic sequencing studies from autistic human individuals indicate that PARK2, a gene that has long been considered in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, is involved in ASD. Here, we report that Prkn knockout (KO) mice demonstrate autistic-like behaviors including impaired social interaction, elevated repetitive behaviors, and deficits in communication. In addition, Prkn KO mice show reduced neuronal activity in the context of sociability in the prelimbic cortex. Cell morphological examination of layer 5 prelimbic cortical neurons shows a reduction in dendritic arborization and spine number. Furthermore, biochemistry and immunocytochemistry analyses reveal alterations in synapse density and the molecular composition of synapses. These findings indicate that Prkn is implicated in brain development and suggest the potential use of the Prkn KO mouse as a model for autism research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuda Huo
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Wen Lu
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yuan Tian
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Qingming Hou
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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45
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Rahdar M, Hajisoltani R, Davoudi S, Karimi SA, Borjkhani M, Khatibi VA, Hosseinmardi N, Behzadi G, Janahmadi M. Alterations in the intrinsic discharge activity of CA1 pyramidal neurons associated with possible changes in the NADPH diaphorase activity in a rat model of autism induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid. Brain Res 2022; 1792:148013. [PMID: 35841982 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.148013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by sensory abnormalities, social skills impairment and cognitive deficits. Although recent evidence indicated that induction of autism-like behavior in animal models causes abnormal neuronal excitability, the impact of autism on neuronal properties is still an important issue. Thus, new findings at the cellular level may shed light on the pathophysiology of autism and may help to find effective treatment strategies. Here, we investigated the behavioral, electrophysiological and histochemical impacts of prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) in rats. Findings revealed that VPA exposure caused a significant increase in the hot plate response latency. The novel object recognition ability was also impaired in VPA-exposed rats. Along with these behavioral alterations, neurons from VPA-exposed animals exhibited altered excitability features in response to depolarizing current injections relative to control neurons. In the VPA-exposed group, these changes consisted of a significant increase in the amplitude, evoked firing frequency and the steady-state standard deviation of spike timing of action potentials (APs). Moreover, the half-width, the AHP amplitude and the decay time constant of APs were significantly decreased in this group. These changes in the evoked electrophysiological properties were accompanied by intrinsic hyperexcitability and lower spike-frequency adaptation and also a significant increase in the number of NADPH-diaphorase stained neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area of the VPA-exposed rats. Taken together, findings demonstrate that abnormal nociception and recognition memory is associated with alterations in the neuronal responsiveness and nitrergic system in a rat model of autism-like.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Rahdar
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Razieh Hajisoltani
- Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shima Davoudi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Asaad Karimi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Borjkhani
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Urmia University of Technology, Urmia, Iran
| | - Vahid Ahli Khatibi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Narges Hosseinmardi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gila Behzadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahyar Janahmadi
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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46
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Pattern decorrelation in the mouse medial prefrontal cortex enables social preference and requires MeCP2. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3899. [PMID: 35794118 PMCID: PMC9259602 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31578-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Sociability is crucial for survival, whereas social avoidance is a feature of disorders such as Rett syndrome, which is caused by loss-of-function mutations in MECP2. To understand how a preference for social interactions is encoded, we used in vivo calcium imaging to compare medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity in female wild-type and Mecp2-heterozygous mice during three-chamber tests. We found that mPFC pyramidal neurons in Mecp2-deficient mice are hypo-responsive to both social and nonsocial stimuli. Hypothesizing that this limited dynamic range restricts the circuit's ability to disambiguate coactivity patterns for different stimuli, we suppressed the mPFC in wild-type mice and found that this eliminated both pattern decorrelation and social preference. Conversely, stimulating the mPFC in MeCP2-deficient mice restored social preference, but only if it was sufficient to restore pattern decorrelation. A loss of social preference could thus indicate impaired pattern decorrelation rather than true social avoidance.
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47
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Thawley AJ, Veneziani LP, Rabelo-da-Ponte FD, Riederer I, Mendes-da-Cruz DA, Bambini-Junior V. Aberrant IL-17 Levels in Rodent Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. Front Immunol 2022; 13:874064. [PMID: 35757754 PMCID: PMC9226456 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.874064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by stereotyped behaviours, specific interests, and impaired communication skills. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-17A (IL-17A or IL-17), have been implicated as part of immune alterations that may contribute to this outcome. In this context, rodent models have helped elucidate the role of T-cell activation and IL-17 secretion in the pathogenesis of ASD. Regarding the preclinical findings, the data available is contradictory in offspring but not in the pregnant dams, pointing to IL-17 as one of the main drivers of altered behaviour in some models ASD, whilst there are no alterations described in IL-17 levels in others. To address this gap in the literature, a systematic review of altered IL-17 levels in rodent models of ASD was conducted. In total, 28 studies that explored IL-17 levels were included and observed that this cytokine was generally increased among the different models of ASD. The data compiled in this review can help the choice of animal models to study the role of cytokines in the development of ASD, seeking a parallel with immune alterations observed in individuals with this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Jade Thawley
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Luciana Peixoto Veneziani
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom.,Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Francisco Diego Rabelo-da-Ponte
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom.,Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental (CPE) and Centro de Pesquisa Clínica (CPC), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre (RS), Brazil
| | - Ingo Riederer
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom.,Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniella Areas Mendes-da-Cruz
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom.,Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation (RENEURIN), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Victorio Bambini-Junior
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
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48
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Lim HK, Yoon JH, Song M. Autism Spectrum Disorder Genes: Disease-Related Networks and Compensatory Strategies. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:922840. [PMID: 35726297 PMCID: PMC9206533 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.922840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian brain comprises structurally and functionally distinct regions. Each of these regions has characteristic molecular mechanisms that mediate higher-order tasks, such as memory, learning, emotion, impulse, and motor control. Many genes are involved in neuronal signaling and contribute to normal brain development. Dysfunction of essential components of neural signals leads to various types of brain disorders. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social deficits, communication challenges, and compulsive repetitive behaviors. Long-term genetic studies have uncovered key genes associated with autism spectrum disorder, such as SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3, methyl-CpG binding protein 2, neurexin 1, and chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 8. In addition, disease-associated networks have been identified using animal models, and the understanding of the impact of these genes on disease susceptibility and compensation is deepening. In this review, we examine rescue strategies using key models of autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Kyung Lim
- Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
| | - Jong Hyuk Yoon
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Jong Hyuk Yoon,
| | - Minseok Song
- Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
- Minseok Song,
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Xie Y, Xu Z, Xia M, Liu J, Shou X, Cui Z, Liao X, He Y. Alterations in Connectome Dynamics in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Harmonized Mega- and Meta-analysis Study Using the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange Dataset. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:945-955. [PMID: 35144804 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroimaging studies have reported functional connectome aberrancies in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the time-varying patterns of connectome topology in individuals with ASD and the connection between these patterns and gene expression profiles remain unknown. METHODS To investigate case-control differences in dynamic connectome topology, we conducted mega- and meta-analyses of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 939 participants (440 patients with ASD and 499 healthy control subjects, all males) from 18 independent sites, selected from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) dataset. Functional data were preprocessed and analyzed using harmonized protocols, and brain module dynamics was assessed using a multilayer network model. We further leveraged postmortem brain-wide gene expression data to identify transcriptomic signatures associated with ASD-related alterations in brain dynamics. RESULTS Compared with healthy control participants, individuals with ASD exhibited a higher global mean and lower standard deviation of whole-brain module dynamics, indicating an unstable and less regionally differentiated pattern. More specifically, individuals with ASD showed higher module switching, primarily in the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate gyrus, and angular gyrus, and lower switching in the visual regions. These alterations in brain dynamics were predictive of social impairments in individuals with ASD and were linked with expression profiles of genes primarily involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter transport and secretion as well as with previously identified autism-related genes. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to identify consistent alterations in brain network dynamics in ASD and the transcriptomic signatures related to those alterations, furthering insights into the biological basis behind this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yapei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhilei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingrui Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojing Shou
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zaixu Cui
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xuhong Liao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; School of Systems Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
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50
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Muhtaseb AW, Duan J. Modeling common and rare genetic risk factors of neuropsychiatric disorders in human induced pluripotent stem cells. Schizophr Res 2022:S0920-9964(22)00156-6. [PMID: 35459617 PMCID: PMC9735430 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and whole-exome sequencing of neuropsychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia, have identified a plethora of common and rare disease risk variants/genes. Translating the mounting human genetic discoveries into novel disease biology and more tailored clinical treatments is tied to our ability to causally connect genetic risk variants to molecular and cellular phenotypes. When combined with the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) nuclease-mediated genome editing system, human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neural cultures (both 2D and 3D organoids) provide a promising tractable cellular model for bridging the gap between genetic findings and disease biology. In this review, we first conceptualize the advances in understanding the disease polygenicity and convergence from the past decade of iPSC modeling of different types of genetic risk factors of neuropsychiatric disorders. We then discuss the major cell types and cellular phenotypes that are most relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders in iPSC modeling. Finally, we critically review the limitations of iPSC modeling of neuropsychiatric disorders and outline the need for implementing and developing novel methods to scale up the number of iPSC lines and disease risk variants in a systematic manner. Sufficiently scaled-up iPSC modeling and a better functional interpretation of genetic risk variants, in combination with cutting-edge CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and single-cell multi-omics methods, will enable the field to identify the specific and convergent molecular and cellular phenotypes in precision for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdurrahman W Muhtaseb
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, United States of America; Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States of America
| | - Jubao Duan
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States of America.
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