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Okur Z, Schlauri N, Bitsikas V, Panopoulou M, Ortiz R, Schwaiger M, Karmakar K, Schreiner D, Scheiffele P. Control of neuronal excitation-inhibition balance by BMP-SMAD1 signalling. Nature 2024; 629:402-409. [PMID: 38632412 PMCID: PMC11078759 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07317-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Throughout life, neuronal networks in the mammalian neocortex maintain a balance of excitation and inhibition, which is essential for neuronal computation1,2. Deviations from a balanced state have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, and severe disruptions result in epilepsy3-5. To maintain balance, neuronal microcircuits composed of excitatory and inhibitory neurons sense alterations in neural activity and adjust neuronal connectivity and function. Here we identify a signalling pathway in the adult mouse neocortex that is activated in response to increased neuronal network activity. Overactivation of excitatory neurons is signalled to the network through an increase in the levels of BMP2, a growth factor that is well known for its role as a morphogen in embryonic development. BMP2 acts on parvalbumin-expressing (PV) interneurons through the transcription factor SMAD1, which controls an array of glutamatergic synapse proteins and components of perineuronal nets. PV-interneuron-specific disruption of BMP2-SMAD1 signalling is accompanied by a loss of glutamatergic innervation in PV cells, underdeveloped perineuronal nets and decreased excitability. Ultimately, this impairment of the functional recruitment of PV interneurons disrupts the cortical excitation-inhibition balance, with mice exhibiting spontaneous epileptic seizures. Our findings suggest that developmental morphogen signalling is repurposed to stabilize cortical networks in the adult mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Okur
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nadia Schlauri
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Raul Ortiz
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michaela Schwaiger
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kajari Karmakar
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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2
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Curto Y, Carceller H, Klimczak P, Perez-Rando M, Wang Q, Grewe K, Kawaguchi R, Rizzoli S, Geschwind D, Nave KA, Teruel-Marti V, Singh M, Ehrenreich H, Nácher J. Erythropoietin restrains the inhibitory potential of interneurons in the mouse hippocampus. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02528-2. [PMID: 38622200 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02528-2] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Severe psychiatric illnesses, for instance schizophrenia, and affective diseases or autism spectrum disorders, have been associated with cognitive impairment and perturbed excitatory-inhibitory balance in the brain. Effects in juvenile mice can elucidate how erythropoietin (EPO) might aid in rectifying hippocampal transcriptional networks and synaptic structures of pyramidal lineages, conceivably explaining mitigation of neuropsychiatric diseases. An imminent conundrum is how EPO restores synapses by involving interneurons. By analyzing ~12,000 single-nuclei transcriptomic data, we generated a comprehensive molecular atlas of hippocampal interneurons, resolved into 15 interneuron subtypes. Next, we studied molecular alterations upon recombinant human (rh)EPO and saw that gene expression changes relate to synaptic structure, trans-synaptic signaling and intracellular catabolic pathways. Putative ligand-receptor interactions between pyramidal and inhibitory neurons, regulating synaptogenesis, are altered upon rhEPO. An array of in/ex vivo experiments confirms that specific interneuronal populations exhibit reduced dendritic complexity, synaptic connectivity, and changes in plasticity-related molecules. Metabolism and inhibitory potential of interneuron subgroups are compromised, leading to greater excitability of pyramidal neurons. To conclude, improvement by rhEPO of neuropsychiatric phenotypes may partly owe to restrictive control over interneurons, facilitating re-connectivity and synapse development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmina Curto
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, Göttingen, Germany
- Neuroplasticity Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Héctor Carceller
- Neuroplasticity Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
- Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Patrycja Klimczak
- Neuroplasticity Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
- Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marta Perez-Rando
- Neuroplasticity Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
- Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Qing Wang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Katharina Grewe
- Department of Neuro- & Sensory Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Riki Kawaguchi
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Silvio Rizzoli
- Department of Neuro- & Sensory Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daniel Geschwind
- Institute of Precision Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Klaus-Armin Nave
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vicent Teruel-Marti
- Neuronal Circuits Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Manvendra Singh
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Hannelore Ehrenreich
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, Göttingen, Germany.
- Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany.
- Experimental Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J 5, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Juan Nácher
- Neuroplasticity Unit, Program in Neurosciences and Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain.
- Spanish National Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
- Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.
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Song C, Broadie K. Dysregulation of BMP, Wnt, and Insulin Signaling in Fragile X Syndrome. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:934662. [PMID: 35880195 PMCID: PMC9307498 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.934662] [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: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila models of neurological disease contribute tremendously to research progress due to the high conservation of human disease genes, the powerful and sophisticated genetic toolkit, and the rapid generation time. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most prevalent heritable cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders, and the Drosophila FXS disease model has been critical for the genetic screening discovery of new intercellular secretion mechanisms. Here, we focus on the roles of three major signaling pathways: BMP, Wnt, and insulin-like peptides. We present Drosophila FXS model defects compared to mouse models in stem cells/embryos, the glutamatergic neuromuscular junction (NMJ) synapse model, and the developing adult brain. All three of these secreted signaling pathways are strikingly altered in FXS disease models, giving new mechanistic insights into impaired cellular outcomes and neurological phenotypes. Drosophila provides a powerful genetic screening platform to expand understanding of these secretory mechanisms and to test cellular roles in both peripheral and central nervous systems. The studies demonstrate the importance of exploring broad genetic interactions and unexpected regulatory mechanisms. We discuss a number of research avenues to pursue BMP, Wnt, and insulin signaling in future FXS investigations and the development of potential therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunzhu Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Kendal Broadie
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
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Spiegel I. Experience-regulated molecular mechanisms in cortical GABAergic interneurons: from cellular functions to control over circuit plasticity. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 67:145-154. [PMID: 33316573 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Experience-induced changes in GABAergic interneurons (INs) are thought to control the plasticity of neural circuits in the developing and adult cortex. However, it remains poorly understood how experience and the ensuing neuronal activity alter the properties and connectivity of specific IN subtypes and how these cellular changes, in turn, control the plasticity of cortical circuits. Here, I discuss recent experimental and theoretical studies that point to specific experience-induced changes in select IN subtypes as central regulators of plasticity in the cortex. In particular, I focus on the recent identification of several experience-regulated secreted molecules that modulate specific sets of synapses in IN subtypes. I argue that elucidating these molecular mechanisms will allow us to test experimentally the predictions made by theoretical models about the plasticity functions of specific IN subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Spiegel
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel.
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