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Medeiros D, Ayala-Baylon K, Egido-Betancourt H, Miller E, Chapleau C, Robinson H, Phillips ML, Yang T, Longo FM, Li W, Pozzo-Miller L. A small-molecule TrkB ligand improves dendritic spine phenotypes and atypical behaviors in female Rett syndrome mice. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050612. [PMID: 38785269 PMCID: PMC11139040 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050612] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in MECP2, which encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, a transcriptional regulator of many genes, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF levels are lower in multiple brain regions of Mecp2-deficient mice, and experimentally increasing BDNF levels improve atypical phenotypes in Mecp2 mutant mice. Due to the low blood-brain barrier permeability of BDNF itself, we tested the effects of LM22A-4, a brain-penetrant, small-molecule ligand of the BDNF receptor TrkB (encoded by Ntrk2), on dendritic spine density and form in hippocampal pyramidal neurons and on behavioral phenotypes in female Mecp2 heterozygous (HET) mice. A 4-week systemic treatment of Mecp2 HET mice with LM22A-4 restored spine volume in MeCP2-expressing neurons to wild-type (WT) levels, whereas spine volume in MeCP2-lacking neurons remained comparable to that in neurons from female WT mice. Female Mecp2 HET mice engaged in aggressive behaviors more than WT mice, the levels of which were reduced to WT levels by the 4-week LM22A-4 treatment. These data provide additional support to the potential usefulness of novel therapies not only for RTT but also to other BDNF-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Destynie Medeiros
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Karen Ayala-Baylon
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Hailey Egido-Betancourt
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Eric Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Christopher Chapleau
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Holly Robinson
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Mary L. Phillips
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Tao Yang
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Frank M. Longo
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lucas Pozzo-Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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Medeiros D, Ayala-Baylon K, Egido-Betancourt H, Miller E, Chapleau CA, Robinson HA, Phillips ML, Yang T, Longo F, Li W, Pozzo-Miller L. A small-molecule TrkB ligand improves dendritic spine phenotypes and atypical behaviors in female Rett syndrome mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.09.566435. [PMID: 37986936 PMCID: PMC10659425 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.09.566435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein-2 (MECP2), encoding a transcriptional regulator of many genes, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf). BDNF mRNA and protein levels are lower in RTT autopsy brains and in multiple brain regions of Mecp2-deficient mice, and experimentally increasing BDNF levels improve atypical phenotypes in Mecp2 mutant mice. Due to the low blood-brain barrier permeability of BDNF itself, we tested the effects of a brain penetrant, small molecule ligand of its TrkB receptors. Applied in vitro, LM22A-4 increased dendritic spine density in pyramidal neurons in cultured hippocampal slices from postnatal day (P) 7 male Mecp2 knockout (KO) mice as much as recombinant BDNF, and both effects were prevented by the TrkB receptor inhibitors K-252a and ANA-12. Consistent with its partial agonist activity, LM22A-4 did not affect spine density in CA1 pyramidal neurons in slice cultures from male wildtype (WT) mice, where typical BDNF levels outcompete its binding to TrkB. To identify neurons of known genotypes in the "mosaic" brain of female Mecp2 heterozygous (HET) mice, we treated 4-6-month-old female MeCP2-GFP WT and HET mice with peripheral injections of LM22A-4 for 4 weeks. Surprisingly, mutant neurons lacking MeCP2-GFP showed dendritic spine volumes comparable to that in WT controls, while MeCP2-GFP-expressing neurons showed larger spines, similar to the phenotype we described in symptomatic male Mecp2 KO mice where all neurons lack MeCP2. Consistent with this non-cell-autonomous mechanism, a 4-week systemic treatment with LM22A-4 had an effect only in MeCP2-GFP-expressing neurons in female Mecp2 HET mice, bringing dendritic spine volumes down to WT control levels, and without affecting spines of MeCP2-GFP-lacking neurons. At the behavioral level, we found that female Mecp2 HET mice engaged in aggressive behaviors significantly more than WT controls, which were reduced to WT levels by a 4-week systemic treatment with LM22A-4. Altogether, these data revealed differences in dendritic spine size and altered behaviors in Mecp2 HET mice, while providing support to the potential usefulness of BDNF-related therapeutic approaches such as the partial TrkB agonist LM22A-4.
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Griego E, Galván EJ. BDNF and Lactate as Modulators of Hippocampal CA3 Network Physiology. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:4007-4022. [PMID: 37874456 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01425-6] [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: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence supports the notion that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and lactate are potent modulators of mammalian brain function. The modulatory actions of those biomolecules influence a wide range of neuronal responses, from the shaping of neuronal excitability to the induction and expression of structural and synaptic plasticity. The biological actions of BDNF and lactate are mediated by their cognate receptors and specific transporters located in the neuronal membrane. Canonical functions of BDNF occur via the tropomyosin-related kinase B receptor (TrkB), whereas lactate acts via monocarboxylate transporters or the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (HCAR1). Both receptors are highly expressed in the central nervous system, and some of their physiological actions are particularly well characterized in the hippocampus, a brain structure involved in the neurophysiology of learning and memory. The multifarious neuronal circuitry between the axons of the dentate gyrus granule cells, mossy fibers (MF), and pyramidal neurons of area CA3 is of great interest given its role in specific mnemonic processes and involvement in a growing number of brain disorders. Whereas the modulation exerted by BDNF via TrkB has been extensively studied, the influence of lactate via HCAR1 on the properties of the MF-CA3 circuit is an emerging field. In this review, we discuss the role of both systems in the modulation of brain physiology, with emphasis on the hippocampal CA3 network. We complement this review with original data that suggest cross-modulation is exerted by these two independent neuromodulatory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Griego
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav Sur, Mexico City, Mexico.
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA.
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Calzada de los Tenorios No. 235, Col. Granjas Coapa, C.P. 14330, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Emilio J Galván
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav Sur, Mexico City, Mexico
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre el Envejecimiento, Mexico City, Mexico
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Xu YJ, Liu PP, Yan ZZ, Mi TW, Wang YY, Li Q, Teng ZQ, Liu CM. KW-2449 and VPA exert therapeutic effects on human neurons and cerebral organoids derived from MECP2-null hESCs. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:534. [PMID: 36575558 PMCID: PMC9795779 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03216-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rett syndrome (RTT), mainly caused by mutations in methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2), is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in girls. However, the underlying mechanism of MECP2 remains largely unknown and currently there is no effective treatment available for RTT. METHODS We generated MECP2-KO human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and differentiated them into neurons and cerebral organoids to investigate phenotypes of MECP2 loss-of-function, potential therapeutic agents, and the underlying mechanism by transcriptome sequencing. RESULTS We found that MECP2 deletion caused reduced number of hESCs-derived neurons and simplified dendritic morphology. Moreover, MECP2-KO cortical organoids exhibited fewer neural progenitor cells and neurons at day 60. Electrophysiological recordings showed that MECP2 deletion altered synaptic activity in organoids. Transcriptome analysis of organoids identified many genes in the PI3K-AKT pathway downregulated following MECP2 deletion. Treatment with either KW-2449 or VPA, small molecules for the activation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, alleviated neuronal deficits and transcriptome changes in MECP2-KO human neuronal models. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that KW-2449 and VPA might be promising drugs for RTT treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Jie Xu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.512959.3Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Pei-Pei Liu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.512959.3Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Zhong-Ze Yan
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.512959.3Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Ting-Wei Mi
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Ying-Ying Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.512959.3Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Qian Li
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.512959.3Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Zhao-Qian Teng
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.512959.3Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Chang-Mei Liu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.512959.3Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101 China
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Li W. Excitation and Inhibition Imbalance in Rett Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:825063. [PMID: 35250460 PMCID: PMC8894599 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.825063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A loss of the excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance in the neural circuit has emerged as a common neuropathological feature in many neurodevelopmental disorders. Rett syndrome (RTT), a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 1:10,000-15,000 women globally, is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the Methyl-CpG-binding Protein-2 (Mecp2) gene. E/I imbalance is recognized as the leading cellular and synaptic hallmark that is fundamental to diverse RTT neurological symptoms, including stereotypic hand movements, impaired motor coordination, breathing irregularities, seizures, and learning/memory dysfunctions. E/I balance in RTT is not homogeneously altered but demonstrates brain region and cell type specificity instead. In this review, I elaborate on the current understanding of the loss of E/I balance in a range of brain areas at molecular and cellular levels. I further describe how the underlying cellular mechanisms contribute to the disturbance of the proper E/I ratio. Last, I discuss current pharmacologic innervations for RTT and their role in modifying the E/I balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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6
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Lau CG, Zhang H, Murthy VN. Deletion of TrkB in parvalbumin interneurons alters cortical neural dynamics. J Cell Physiol 2021; 237:949-964. [PMID: 34491578 PMCID: PMC8810709 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Signaling by neurotrophins such as the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to modulate development of interneurons, but the circuit effects of this modulation remain unclear. Here, we examined the impact of deleting TrkB, a BDNF receptor, in parvalbumin‐expressing (PV) interneurons on the balance of excitation and inhibition (E‐I) in cortical circuits. In the mouse olfactory cortex, TrkB deletion impairs multiple aspects of PV neuronal function including synaptic excitation, intrinsic excitability, and the innervation pattern of principal neurons. Impaired PV cell function resulted in aberrant spiking patterns in principal neurons in response to stimulation of sensory inputs. Surprisingly, dampened PV neuronal function leads to a paradoxical decrease in overall excitability in cortical circuits. Our study demonstrates that, by modulating PV circuit plasticity and development, TrkB plays a critical role in shaping the evoked pattern of activity in a cortical network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyue Geoffrey Lau
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Huiqi Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Venkatesh N Murthy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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7
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Unterman I, Bloch I, Cazacu S, Kazimirsky G, Ben-Zeev B, Berman BP, Brodie C, Tabach Y. Expanding the MECP2 network using comparative genomics reveals potential therapeutic targets for Rett syndrome. eLife 2021; 10:e67085. [PMID: 34355696 PMCID: PMC8346285 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inactivating mutations in the Methyl-CpG Binding Protein 2 (MECP2) gene are the main cause of Rett syndrome (RTT). Despite extensive research into MECP2 function, no treatments for RTT are currently available. Here, we used an evolutionary genomics approach to construct an unbiased MECP2 gene network, using 1028 eukaryotic genomes to prioritize proteins with strong co-evolutionary signatures with MECP2. Focusing on proteins targeted by FDA-approved drugs led to three promising targets, two of which were previously linked to MECP2 function (IRAK, KEAP1) and one that was not (EPOR). The drugs targeting these three proteins (Pacritinib, DMF, and EPO) were able to rescue different phenotypes of MECP2 inactivation in cultured human neural cell types, and appeared to converge on Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) signaling in inflammation. This study highlights the potential of comparative genomics to accelerate drug discovery, and yields potential new avenues for the treatment of RTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Unterman
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-CanadaJerusalemIsrael
| | - Idit Bloch
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-CanadaJerusalemIsrael
| | - Simona Cazacu
- Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Henry Ford HospitalDetroitUnited States
| | - Gila Kazimirsky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan UniversityRamat-GanIsrael
| | - Bruria Ben-Zeev
- Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical CenterRamat GanIsrael
| | - Benjamin P Berman
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-CanadaJerusalemIsrael
| | - Chaya Brodie
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan UniversityRamat-GanIsrael
| | - Yuval Tabach
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-CanadaJerusalemIsrael
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8
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Hwang SM, Lee JY, Park CK, Kim YH. The Role of TRP Channels and PMCA in Brain Disorders: Intracellular Calcium and pH Homeostasis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:584388. [PMID: 33585474 PMCID: PMC7876282 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.584388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain disorders include neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) with different conditions that primarily affect the neurons and glia in the brain. However, the risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms of NDs have not been fully elucidated. Homeostasis of intracellular Ca2+ concentration and intracellular pH (pHi) is crucial for cell function. The regulatory processes of these ionic mechanisms may be absent or excessive in pathological conditions, leading to a loss of cell death in distinct regions of ND patients. Herein, we review the potential involvement of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in NDs, where disrupted Ca2+ homeostasis leads to cell death. The capability of TRP channels to restore or excite the cell through Ca2+ regulation depending on the level of plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA) activity is discussed in detail. As PMCA simultaneously affects intracellular Ca2+ regulation as well as pHi, TRP channels and PMCA thus play vital roles in modulating ionic homeostasis in various cell types or specific regions of the brain where the TRP channels and PMCA are expressed. For this reason, the dysfunction of TRP channels and/or PMCA under pathological conditions disrupts neuronal homeostasis due to abnormal Ca2+ and pH levels in the brain, resulting in various NDs. This review addresses the function of TRP channels and PMCA in controlling intracellular Ca2+ and pH, which may provide novel targets for treating NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Min Hwang
- Gachon Pain Center, Department of Physiology, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Ji Yeon Lee
- Gil Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Chul-Kyu Park
- Gachon Pain Center, Department of Physiology, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- Gachon Pain Center, Department of Physiology, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase B Signaling Controls Excitability and Long-Term Depression in Oval Nucleus of the BNST. J Neurosci 2021; 41:435-445. [PMID: 33234610 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1104-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of proteins involved in synaptic plasticity is associated with pathologies in the CNS, including psychiatric disorders. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a brain region of the extended amygdala circuit, has been identified as the critical hub responsible for fear responses related to stress coping and pathologic systems states. Here, we report that one particular nucleus, the oval nucleus of the BNST (ovBNST), is rich in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) receptor. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of neurons from male mouse ovBNST in vitro showed that the BDNF/TrkB interaction causes a hyperpolarizing shift of the membrane potential from resting value, mediated by an inwardly rectifying potassium current, resulting in reduced neuronal excitability in all major types of ovBNST neurons. Furthermore, BDNF/TrkB signaling mediated long-term depression (LTD) at postsynaptic sites in ovBNST neurons. LTD of ovBNST neurons was prevented by a BDNF scavenger or in the presence of TrkB inhibitors, indicating the contribution to LTD induction. Our data identify BDNF/TrkB signaling as a critical regulator of synaptic activity in ovBNST, which acts at postsynaptic sites to dampen excitability at short and long time scales. Given the central role of ovBNST in mediating maladaptive behaviors associated with stress exposure, our findings suggest a synaptic entry point of the BDNF/TrkB system for adaptation to stressful environmental encounters.
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Wei M, Zhang C, Tian Y, Du X, Wang Q, Zhao H. Expression and Function of WNT6: From Development to Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:558155. [PMID: 33425886 PMCID: PMC7794017 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.558155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
WNT family member 6 (WNT6) is a member of the highly conserved WNT protein family. It plays an essential role in the normal development process, not only in embryonic morphogenesis, but also in post-natal homeostasis. WNT6 functions in mice and humans. This review summarizes the current findings on the biological functions of WNT6, describing its involvement in regulating embryogenesis, decidualization, and organ development. Aberrant WNT6 signaling is related to various pathologies, such as promoting cancer development, lung tuberculosis, and kidney fibrosis and improving the symptoms of Rett syndrome (RTT). Thus, due to its various functions, WNT6 has great potential for in-depth research. This work not only describes the signaling mechanism and function of WNT6 under physiological and pathological conditions, but also provides a theoretical basis for targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Wei
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Congmin Zhang
- Department of Scientific Research Center, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yujia Tian
- Department of Scientific Research Center, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaohui Du
- Department of Scientific Research Center, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- The Health Check Up Center, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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11
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Role of DNA Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein MeCP2 in Rett Syndrome Pathobiology and Mechanism of Disease. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11010075. [PMID: 33429932 PMCID: PMC7827577 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a severe, rare, and progressive developmental disorder with patients displaying neurological regression and autism spectrum features. The affected individuals are primarily young females, and more than 95% of patients carry de novo mutation(s) in the Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 (MECP2) gene. While the majority of RTT patients have MECP2 mutations (classical RTT), a small fraction of the patients (atypical RTT) may carry genetic mutations in other genes such as the cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) and FOXG1. Due to the neurological basis of RTT symptoms, MeCP2 function was originally studied in nerve cells (neurons). However, later research highlighted its importance in other cell types of the brain including glia. In this regard, scientists benefitted from modeling the disease using many different cellular systems and transgenic mice with loss- or gain-of-function mutations. Additionally, limited research in human postmortem brain tissues provided invaluable findings in RTT pathobiology and disease mechanism. MeCP2 expression in the brain is tightly regulated, and its altered expression leads to abnormal brain function, implicating MeCP2 in some cases of autism spectrum disorders. In certain disease conditions, MeCP2 homeostasis control is impaired, the regulation of which in rodents involves a regulatory microRNA (miR132) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Here, we will provide an overview of recent advances in understanding the underlying mechanism of disease in RTT and the associated genetic mutations in the MECP2 gene along with the pathobiology of the disease, the role of the two most studied protein variants (MeCP2E1 and MeCP2E2 isoforms), and the regulatory mechanisms that control MeCP2 homeostasis network in the brain, including BDNF and miR132.
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12
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Grannonico M, Brandolini L, Varrassi G, Sebastiani P, Colanardi A, Paladini A, Piroli A, Allegretti M, Di Loreto S. DF3016A induces increased BDNF transcription in ischemic neuroinflammation injury. Brain Res 2020; 1748:147057. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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13
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Miranda-Lourenço C, Ribeiro-Rodrigues L, Fonseca-Gomes J, Tanqueiro SR, Belo RF, Ferreira CB, Rei N, Ferreira-Manso M, de Almeida-Borlido C, Costa-Coelho T, Freitas CF, Zavalko S, Mouro FM, Sebastião AM, Xapelli S, Rodrigues TM, Diógenes MJ. Challenges of BDNF-based therapies: From common to rare diseases. Pharmacol Res 2020; 162:105281. [PMID: 33161136 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurotrophins are a well-known family of neurotrophic factors that play an important role both in the central and peripheral nervous systems, where they modulate neuronal survival, development, function and plasticity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) possesses diverse biological functions which are mediated by the activation of two main classes of receptors, the tropomyosin-related kinase (Trk) B and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). The therapeutic potential of BDNF has drawn attention since dysregulation of its signalling cascades has been suggested to underlie the pathogenesis of both common and rare diseases. Multiple strategies targeting this neurotrophin have been tested; most have found obstacles that ultimately hampered their effectiveness. This review focuses on the involvement of BDNF and its receptors in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Rett Syndrome (RTT). We describe the known mechanisms leading to the impairment of BDNF/TrkB signalling in these disorders. Such mechanistic insight highlights how BDNF signalling compromise can take various shapes, nearly disease-specific. Therefore, BDNF-based therapeutic strategies must be specifically tailored and are more likely to succeed if a combination of resources is employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Miranda-Lourenço
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Leonor Ribeiro-Rodrigues
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Fonseca-Gomes
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sara R Tanqueiro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita F Belo
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina B Ferreira
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nádia Rei
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mafalda Ferreira-Manso
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carolina de Almeida-Borlido
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago Costa-Coelho
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Céline Felicidade Freitas
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Svitlana Zavalko
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Francisco M Mouro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana M Sebastião
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sara Xapelli
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago M Rodrigues
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), Mittlere Strasse 91, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maria J Diógenes
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
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14
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Cappoli N, Tabolacci E, Aceto P, Dello Russo C. The emerging role of the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway in the modulation of pain perception. J Neuroimmunol 2020; 349:577406. [PMID: 33002723 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a crucial neuromodulator in pain transmission both in peripheral and central nervous system (CNS). Despite evidence of a pro-nociceptive role of BDNF, recent studies have reported contrasting results, including anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Moreover, BDNF polymorphisms can interfere with BDNF role in pain perception. In Val66Met carriers, the Met allele may have a dual role, with anti-nociceptive actions in normal condition and pro-nociceptive effects during chronic pain. In order to elucidate the main effects of BDNF in nociception, we reviewed the main characteristics of this neurotrophin, focusing on its involvement in pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Cappoli
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimento di Sicurezza e Bioetica, Sezione di Farmacologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Tabolacci
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Aceto
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Emergenza, Anestesiologiche e della Rianimazione, Rome, Italy; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimento di Scienze biotecnologiche di base, cliniche intensivologiche e perioperatorie, Rome, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Dello Russo
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimento di Sicurezza e Bioetica, Sezione di Farmacologia, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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15
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Miranda-Lourenço C, Duarte ST, Palminha C, Gaspar C, Rodrigues TM, Magalhães-Cardoso T, Rei N, Colino-Oliveira M, Gomes R, Ferreira S, Rosa J, Xapelli S, Armstrong J, García-Cazorla À, Correia-de-Sá P, Sebastião AM, Diógenes MJ. Impairment of adenosinergic system in Rett syndrome: Novel therapeutic target to boost BDNF signalling. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 145:105043. [PMID: 32798727 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT; OMIM#312750) is mainly caused by mutations in the X-linked MECP2 gene (methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 gene; OMIM*300005), which leads to impairments in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signalling. The boost of BDNF mediated effects would be a significant breakthrough but it has been hampered by the difficulty to administer BDNF to the central nervous system. Adenosine, an endogenous neuromodulator, may accomplish that role since through A2AR it potentiates BDNF synaptic actions in healthy animals. We thus characterized several hallmarks of the adenosinergic and BDNF signalling in RTT and explored whether A2AR activation could boost BDNF actions. For this study, the RTT animal model, the Mecp2 knockout (Mecp2-/y) (B6.129P2 (C)-Mecp2tm1.1Bird/J) mouse was used. Whenever possible, parallel data was also obtained from post-mortem brain samples from one RTT patient. Ex vivo extracellular recordings of field excitatory post-synaptic potentials in CA1 hippocampal area were performed to evaluate synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP). RT-PCR was used to assess mRNA levels and Western Blot or radioligand binding assays were performed to evaluate protein levels. Changes in cortical and hippocampal adenosine content were assessed by liquid chromatography with diode array detection (LC/DAD). Hippocampal ex vivo experiments revealed that the facilitatory actions of BDNF upon LTP is absent in Mecp2-/y mice and that TrkB full-length (TrkB-FL) receptor levels are significantly decreased. Extracts of the hippocampus and cortex of Mecp2-/y mice revealed less adenosine amount as well as less A2AR protein levels when compared to WT littermates, which may partially explain the deficits in adenosinergic tonus in these animals. Remarkably, the lack of BDNF effect on hippocampal LTP in Mecp2-/y mice was overcome by selective activation of A2AR with CGS21680. Overall, in Mecp2-/y mice there is an impairment on adenosinergic system and BDNF signalling. These findings set the stage for adenosine-based pharmacological therapeutic strategies for RTT, highlighting A2AR as a therapeutic target in this devastating pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Miranda-Lourenço
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sofia T Duarte
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Child Neurology Department, Hospital Dona Estefânia - Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Portugal.
| | - Cátia Palminha
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Gaspar
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Tiago M Rodrigues
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophtalmology, Mittlere Strasse 91, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Teresa Magalhães-Cardoso
- Laboratório de Farmacologia e Neurobiologia / MedInUP, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar - Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal.
| | - Nádia Rei
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Mariana Colino-Oliveira
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Rui Gomes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sara Ferreira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Jéssica Rosa
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sara Xapelli
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Judith Armstrong
- Genetics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu. Institut Pediàtric de Recerca and CIBERER. (ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Àngels García-Cazorla
- Synaptic Metabolism Laboratory, Neurology Department; Institut Pediàtric de Recerca and CIBERER. (ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Paulo Correia-de-Sá
- Laboratório de Farmacologia e Neurobiologia / MedInUP, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar - Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UP), Porto, Portugal.
| | - Ana M Sebastião
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Maria José Diógenes
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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16
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Kaur S, Van Bergen NJ, Verhey KJ, Nowell CJ, Budaitis B, Yue Y, Ellaway C, Brunetti-Pierri N, Cappuccio G, Bruno I, Boyle L, Nigro V, Torella A, Roscioli T, Cowley MJ, Massey S, Sonawane R, Burton MD, Schonewolf-Greulich B, Tümer Z, Chung WK, Gold WA, Christodoulou J. Expansion of the phenotypic spectrum of de novo missense variants in kinesin family member 1A (KIF1A). Hum Mutat 2020; 41:1761-1774. [PMID: 32652677 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Defects in the motor domain of kinesin family member 1A (KIF1A), a neuron-specific ATP-dependent anterograde axonal transporter of synaptic cargo, are well-recognized to cause a spectrum of neurological conditions, commonly known as KIF1A-associated neurological disorders (KAND). Here, we report one mutation-negative female with classic Rett syndrome (RTT) harboring a de novo heterozygous novel variant [NP_001230937.1:p.(Asp248Glu)] in the highly conserved motor domain of KIF1A. In addition, three individuals with severe neurodevelopmental disorder along with clinical features overlapping with KAND are also reported carrying de novo heterozygous novel [NP_001230937.1:p.(Cys92Arg) and p.(Pro305Leu)] or previously reported [NP_001230937.1:p.(Thr99Met)] variants in KIF1A. In silico tools predicted these variants to be likely pathogenic, and 3D molecular modeling predicted defective ATP hydrolysis and/or microtubule binding. Using the neurite tip accumulation assay, we demonstrated that all novel KIF1A variants significantly reduced the ability of the motor domain of KIF1A to accumulate along the neurite lengths of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. In vitro microtubule gliding assays showed significantly reduced velocities for the variant p.(Asp248Glu) and reduced microtubule binding for the p.(Cys92Arg) and p.(Pro305Leu) variants, suggesting a decreased ability of KIF1A to move along microtubules. Thus, this study further expanded the phenotypic characteristics of KAND individuals with pathogenic variants in the KIF1A motor domain to include clinical features commonly seen in RTT individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simranpreet Kaur
- Brain and Mitochondrial Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicole J Van Bergen
- Brain and Mitochondrial Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kristen J Verhey
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Cameron J Nowell
- Drug Discover Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Breane Budaitis
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Yang Yue
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Carolyn Ellaway
- Discipline of Genomic Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Western Sydney Genetics Program, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Gerarda Cappuccio
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Irene Bruno
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Lia Boyle
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Vincenzo Nigro
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Annalaura Torella
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Tony Roscioli
- New South Wales Health Pathology, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark J Cowley
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sean Massey
- Brain and Mitochondrial Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rhea Sonawane
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Matthew D Burton
- Flow Cytometry and Imaging Facility, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bitten Schonewolf-Greulich
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Kennedy Center, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Zeynep Tümer
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Kennedy Center, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Wendy K Chung
- Departments of Paediatrics and Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Wendy A Gold
- Molecular Neurobiology Research Laboratory, Kids Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, and The Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences and Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John Christodoulou
- Brain and Mitochondrial Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Discipline of Genomic Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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17
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Formoso K, Susperreguy S, Freichel M, Birnbaumer L. RNA-seq analysis reveals TRPC genes to impact an unexpected number of metabolic and regulatory pathways. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7227. [PMID: 32350291 PMCID: PMC7190874 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61177-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The seven-member transient receptor potential canonical genes (TRPC1-7) encode cation channels linked to several human diseases. There is little understanding of the participation of each TRPC in each pathology, considering functional redundancy. Also, most of the inhibitors available are not specific. Thus, we developed mice that lack all of the TRPCs and performed a transcriptome analysis in eight tissues. The aim of this research was to address the impact of the absence of all TRPC channels on gene expression. We obtained a total of 4305 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in at least one tissue where spleen showed the highest number of DEGs (1371). Just 21 genes were modified in all the tissues. Performing a pathway enrichment analysis, we found that many important signaling pathways were modified in more than one tissue, including PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase-B) signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction and circadian rhythms. We describe for the first time the changes at the transcriptome level due to the lack of all TRPC proteins in a mouse model and provide a starting point to understand the function of TRPC channels and their possible roles in pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Formoso
- Institute for Biomedical Research (BIOMED UCA-CONICET). School of Medical Sciences, Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), Buenos Aires, C1107AFF, Argentina
| | - Sebastian Susperreguy
- Institute for Biomedical Research (BIOMED UCA-CONICET). School of Medical Sciences, Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), Buenos Aires, C1107AFF, Argentina
| | - Marc Freichel
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lutz Birnbaumer
- Institute for Biomedical Research (BIOMED UCA-CONICET). School of Medical Sciences, Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), Buenos Aires, C1107AFF, Argentina. .,Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA.
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18
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Xiao R, Zhong H, Li X, Ma Y, Zhang R, Wang L, Zang Z, Fan X. Abnormal Cerebellar Development Is Involved in Dystonia-Like Behaviors and Motor Dysfunction of Autistic BTBR Mice. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:231. [PMID: 32318573 PMCID: PMC7154340 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor control and learning impairments are common complications in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Abnormal cerebellar development during critical phases may disrupt these motor functions and lead to autistic motor dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms behind these impairments are not clear. Here, we utilized BTBR T+ Itprtf/J (BTBR) mice, an animal model of autism, to investigate the involvement of abnormal cerebellar development in motor performance. We found BTBR mice exhibited severe dystonia-like behavior and motor coordination or motor learning impairments. The onset of these abnormal movements coincided with the increased proliferation of granule neurons and enhanced foliation, and Purkinje cells displayed morphological hypotrophy with increased dendritic spine formation but suppressed maturation. The migration of granule neurons seemed unaffected. Transcriptional analyses confirmed the differential expression of genes involved in abnormal neurogenesis and revealed TRPC as a critical regulator in proliferation and synaptic formation. Taken together, these findings indicate that abnormal cerebellar development is closely related to dystonia-like behavior and motor dysfunction of BTBR mice and that TRPC may be a novel risk gene for ASD that may participate in the pathological process of autistic movement disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xiao
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongyu Zhong
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ma
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Basic Nursing, School of Nursing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruiyu Zhang
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lian Wang
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhenle Zang
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaotang Fan
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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19
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Hsu WL, Ma YL, Liu YC, Tai DJC, Lee EHY. Restoring Wnt6 signaling ameliorates behavioral deficits in MeCP2 T158A mouse model of Rett syndrome. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1074. [PMID: 31974426 PMCID: PMC6978308 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57745-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 gene, MECP2, is an X chromosome-linked gene encoding the MeCP2 protein, and mutations of MECP2 cause Rett syndrome (RTT). Previous study has shown that re-expression of SUMO-modified MeCP2 in Mecp2-null neurons rescues synaptic and behavioral deficits in Mecp2 conditional knockout mice, whereas about 12-fold decrease in Wnt6 mRNA level was found in MeCP2K412R sumo-mutant mice. Here, we examined the role of Wnt6 in MeCP2 T158A mouse model of RTT. Results show that lentiviral delivery of Wnt6 to the amygdala ameliorates locomotor impairment and social behavioral deficits in these animals. MeCP2 T158A mice show decreased level of GSK-3β phosphorylation and increased level of β-catenin phosphorylation. They also show reduced level of MeCP2 SUMOylation. These alterations were also restored by lenti-Wnt6 transduction. Further, both BDNF and IGF-1 expressions are decreased in MeCP2 T158A mice. Overexpression of Wnt6 increases Bdnf and Igf-1 promoter activity in HEK293T cells in a dose-dependent manner. Lenti-Wnt6 transduction to the amygdala similarly increases the mRNA level and protein expression of BDNF and IGF-1 in MeCP2 T158A mice. Moreover, environmental enrichment (EE) similarly ameliorates the locomotor and social behavioral deficits in MeCP2 T158A mice. One of the mechanisms underlying EE is mediated through enhanced MeCP2 SUMOylation and increased Wnt6 expression in these animals by EE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Lun Hsu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Li Ma
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Chen Liu
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Derek J C Tai
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eminy H Y Lee
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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20
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Brindisi M, Saraswati AP, Brogi S, Gemma S, Butini S, Campiani G. Old but Gold: Tracking the New Guise of Histone Deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) Enzyme as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Rare Diseases. J Med Chem 2019; 63:23-39. [PMID: 31415174 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation orchestrates many cellular processes and greatly influences key disease mechanisms. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes play a crucial role either as biomarkers or therapeutic targets owing to their involvement in specific pathophysiological pathways. Beyond their well-characterized role as histone modifiers, HDACs also interact with several nonhistone substrates and their increased expression has been highlighted in specific diseases. The HDAC6 isoform, due to its unique cytoplasmic localization, modulates the acetylation status of tubulin, HSP90, TGF-β, and peroxiredoxins. HDAC6 also exerts noncatalytic activities through its interaction with ubiquitin. Both catalytic and noncatalytic functions of HDACs are being actively studied in the field of specific rare disorders beyond the well-established role in carcinogenesis. This Perspective outlines the application of HDAC(6) inhibitors in rare diseases, such as Rett syndrome, inherited retinal disorders, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, highlighting their therapeutic potential as innovative and targeted disease-modifying agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Brindisi
- Department of Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022 , University of Naples Federico II , Via D. Montesano 49 , I-80131 Naples , Italy
| | - A Prasanth Saraswati
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022 , University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2 , 53100 , Siena , Italy
| | - Simone Brogi
- Department of Pharmacy , University of Pisa , via Bonanno 6 , 56126 , Pisa , Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022 , University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2 , 53100 , Siena , Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022 , University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2 , 53100 , Siena , Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022 , University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2 , 53100 , Siena , Italy
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21
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Brain-enriched microRNAs circulating in plasma as novel biomarkers for Rett syndrome. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218623. [PMID: 31291284 PMCID: PMC6619658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the X-linked gene MECP2 (methyl-CpG-binding protein 2). Minimally invasive and accurate biomarkers of disease progression and treatment response could facilitate screening of therapeutic compounds in animal models, enrollment of better-defined participants into clinical trials, and treatment monitoring. In this study, we used a targeted approach based on analysis of brain-enriched microRNAs (miRNAs) circulating in plasma to identify miRNA biomarkers of RTT using Mecp2-mutant mice as a model system and human plasma samples. An “miRNA pair” approach, i.e. the ratio between two miRNAs, was used for data normalization. Specific miRNA pairs and their combinations (classifiers) analyzed in plasma differentiated wild-type from Mecp2 male and female mice with >90% accuracy. Individual miRNA pairs were more effective in distinguishing male (homozygous) animals than female (heterozygous) animals, suggesting that disease severity correlated with the levels of the miRNA biomarkers. In the human study, 30 RTT patients were compared with age-matched controls. The results of this study showed that miRNA classifiers were able to differentiate RTT patients from controls with 85–100% sensitivity. In addition, a comparison of various age groups demonstrated that the dynamics in levels of miRNAs appear to be associated with disease development (involvement of liver, muscle and lipid metabolism in the pathology). Importantly, certain miRNA biomarker pairs were common to both the animal models and human subjects, indicating the similarity between the underlying pathological processes. The data generated in this feasibility study suggest that circulating miRNAs have the potential to be developed as markers of RTT progression and treatment response. Larger clinical studies are needed to further evaluate the findings presented here.
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22
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Bertoldi ML, Zalosnik MI, Fabio MC, Aja S, Roth GA, Ronnett GV, Degano AL. MeCP2 Deficiency Disrupts Kainate-Induced Presynaptic Plasticity in the Mossy Fiber Projections in the Hippocampus. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:286. [PMID: 31333414 PMCID: PMC6619486 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl cytosine binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a structural chromosomal protein involved in the regulation of gene expression. Mutations in the gene encoding MeCP2 result in Rett Syndrome (RTT), a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder. RTT is one of few autism spectrum disorders whose cause was identified as a single gene mutation. Remarkably, abnormal levels of MeCP2 have been associated to other neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as neuropsychiatric disorders. Therefore, many studies have been oriented to investigate the role of MeCP2 in the nervous system. In the present work, we explore cellular and molecular mechanisms affecting synaptic plasticity events in vivo in the hippocampus of MeCP2 mutant mice. While most studies addressed postsynaptic defects in the absence of MeCP2, we took advantage of an in vivo activity-paradigm (seizures), two models of MeCP2 deficiency, and neurobiological assays to reveal novel defects in presynaptic structural plasticity in the hippocampus in RTT rodent models. These approaches allowed us to determine that MeCP2 mutations alter presynaptic components, i.e., disrupts the plastic response of mossy fibers to synaptic activity and results in reduced axonal growth which is correlated with imbalanced trophic and guidance support, associated with aberrant expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and semaphorin 3F. Our results also revealed that adult-born granule cells recapitulate maturational defects that have been only shown at early postnatal ages. As these cells do not mature timely, they may not integrate properly into the adult hippocampal circuitry. Finally, we performed a hippocampal-dependent test that revealed defective spatial memory in these mice. Altogether, our studies establish a model that allows us to evaluate the effect of the manipulation of specific pathways involved in axonal guidance, synaptogenesis, or maturation in specific circuits and correlate it with changes in behavior. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the neuronal compromise caused by mutations in MeCP2 could provide information on the pathogenic mechanism of autistic spectrum disorders and improve our understanding of brain development and molecular basis of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Bertoldi
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria Ines Zalosnik
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria Carolina Fabio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martin Ferreyra (INIMEC), CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Susan Aja
- Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - German A Roth
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Gabriele V Ronnett
- Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alicia L Degano
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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23
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Lux V. Epigenetic Programming Effects of Early Life Stress: A Dual-Activation Hypothesis. Curr Genomics 2018; 19:638-652. [PMID: 30532644 PMCID: PMC6225448 DOI: 10.2174/1389202919666180307151358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic processes during early brain development can function as 'developmental switches' that contribute to the stability of long-term effects of early environmental influences by programming central feedback mechanisms of the HPA axis and other neural networks. In this thematic review, we summarize accumulated evidence for a dual-activation of stress-related and sensory networks underlying the epigenetic programming effects of early life stress. We discuss findings indicating epigenetic programming of stress-related genes with impact on HPA axis function, the interaction of epigenetic mechanisms with neural activity in stress-related neural networks, epigenetic effects of glucocorticoid exposure, and the impact of stress on sensory development. Based on these findings, we propose that the combined activation of stress-related neural networks and stressor-specific sensory networks leads to both neural and hormonal priming of the epigenetic machinery, which sensitizes these networks for developmental programming effects. This allows stressor-specific adaptations later in life, but may also lead to functional mal-adaptations, depending on timing and intensity of the stressor. Finally, we discuss methodological and clinical implications of the dual-activation hypothesis. We emphasize that, in addition to modifications in stress-related networks, we need to account for functional modifications in sensory networks and their epigenetic underpinnings to elucidate the long-term effects of early life stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Lux
- Department of Genetic Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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24
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Sobolewski M, Varma G, Adams B, Anderson DW, Schneider JS, Cory-Slechta DA. Developmental Lead Exposure and Prenatal Stress Result in Sex-Specific Reprograming of Adult Stress Physiology and Epigenetic Profiles in Brain. Toxicol Sci 2018; 163:478-489. [PMID: 29481626 PMCID: PMC5974781 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental exposure to lead (Pb) and prenatal stress (PS) both impair cognition, which could derive from their joint targeting of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the brain mesocorticolimbic (MESO) system, including frontal cortex (FC) and hippocampus (HIPP). Glucocorticoids modulate both FC and HIPP function and associated mediation of cognitive and other behavioral functions. This study sought to determine whether developmental Pb ± PS exposures altered glucocorticoid-related epigenetic profiles in brain MESO regions in offspring of female mice exposed to 0 or 100 ppm Pb acetate drinking water from 2 mos prior to breeding until weaning, with half further exposed to prenatal restraint stress from gestational day 11-18. Overall, changes in females occured in response to Pb exposure. In males, however, Pb-induced neurotoxicity was modulated by PS. Changes in serum corticosterone levels were seen in males, while glucocorticoid receptor changes were seen in both sexes. In contrast, both Pb and PS broadly impacted brain DNA methyltransferases and binding proteins, particularly DNMT1, DNMT3a and methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, with patterns that differed by sex and brain regions. Specifically, in males, effects on FC epigenetic modifiers were primarily influenced by Pb, whereas extensive changes in HIPP were produced by PS. In females, Pb exposure and not PS primarily altered epigenetic modifiers in both FC and HIPP. Collectively, these findings indicate that epigenetic mechanisms may underlie associated neurotoxicity of Pb and of PS, particularly associated cognitive deficits. However, mechanisms by which this may occur will be different in males versus females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Sobolewski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York,To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Box EHSC, Rochester, NY 14642. Fax: 585-256-2591; E-mail:
| | - Garima Varma
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Beth Adams
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - David W Anderson
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jay S Schneider
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Deborah A Cory-Slechta
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York
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25
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Li W, Bellot-Saez A, Phillips ML, Yang T, Longo FM, Pozzo-Miller L. A small-molecule TrkB ligand restores hippocampal synaptic plasticity and object location memory in Rett syndrome mice. Dis Model Mech 2018; 10:837-845. [PMID: 28679669 PMCID: PMC5536912 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.029959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein-2 (MECP2), a transcriptional regulator of many genes, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF levels are reduced in RTT autopsy brains and in multiple brain areas of Mecp2-deficient mice. Furthermore, experimental interventions that increase BDNF levels improve RTT-like phenotypes in Mecp2 mutant mice. Here, we characterized the actions of a small-molecule ligand of the BDNF receptor TrkB in hippocampal function in Mecp2 mutant mice. Systemic treatment of female Mecp2 heterozygous (HET) mice with LM22A-4 for 4 weeks improved hippocampal-dependent object location memory and restored hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). Mechanistically, LM22A-4 acts to dampen hyperactive hippocampal network activity, reduce the frequency and amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), and reduce the frequency of spontaneous tetrodotoxin-resistant Ca2+ signals in Mecp2 mutant hippocampal neurons, making them comparable to those features observed in wild-type neurons. Together, these observations indicate that LM22A-4 is a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of hippocampal dysfunction in RTT. Editors' choice: The brain-penetrant BDNF loop domain mimetic LM22A-4 improves synaptic plasticity and spatial discrimination memory in Rett syndrome mice, making it a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of hippocampal dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Alba Bellot-Saez
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Mary L Phillips
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Tao Yang
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Frank M Longo
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lucas Pozzo-Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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26
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MeCP2 Deficiency Leads to Loss of Glial Kir4.1. eNeuro 2018; 5:eN-NWR-0194-17. [PMID: 29464197 PMCID: PMC5818552 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0194-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder usually caused by mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). RTT is typified by apparently normal development until 6-18 mo of age, when motor and communicative skills regress and hand stereotypies, autonomic symptoms, and seizures present. Restoration of MeCP2 function selectively to astrocytes reversed several deficits in a murine model of RTT, but the mechanism of this rescue is unknown. Astrocytes carry out many essential functions required for normal brain functioning, including extracellular K+ buffering. Kir4.1, an inwardly rectifying K+ channel, is largely responsible for the channel-mediated K+ regulation by astrocytes. Loss-of-function mutations in Kir4.1 in human patients result in a severe neurodevelopmental disorder termed EAST or SESAME syndrome. Here, we evaluated astrocytic Kir4.1 expression in a murine model of Rett syndrome. We demonstrate by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis that Kir4.1 is a direct molecular target of MeCP2. Astrocytes from Mecp2-deficient mice express significantly less Kir4.1 mRNA and protein, which translates into a >50% deficiency in Ba2+-sensitive Kir4.1-mediated currents, and impaired extracellular potassium dynamics. By examining astrocytes in isolation, we demonstrate that loss of Kir4.1 is cell autonomous. Assessment through postnatal development revealed that Kir4.1 expression in Mecp2-deficient animals never reaches adult, wild-type levels, consistent with a neurodevelopmental disorder. These are the first data implicating a direct MeCP2 molecular target in astrocytes and provide novel mechanistic insight explaining a potential mechanism by which astrocytic dysfunction may contribute to RTT.
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27
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Sharma K, Singh J, Frost EE, Pillai PP. MeCP2 in central nervous system glial cells: current updates. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2018. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2018-007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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28
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Xu X, Garcia J, Ewalt R, Nason S, Pozzo-Miller L. The BDNF val-66-met Polymorphism Affects Neuronal Morphology and Synaptic Transmission in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons from Rett Syndrome Mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:203. [PMID: 28751857 PMCID: PMC5508027 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) has been implicated in several neurological disorders including Rett syndrome (RTT), an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the transcriptional modulator methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). The human BDNF gene has a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)—a methionine (met) substitution for valine (val) at codon 66—that affects BDNF’s trafficking and activity-dependent release and results in cognitive dysfunction. Humans that are carriers of the met-BDNF allele have subclinical memory deficits and reduced hippocampal volume and activation. It is still unclear whether this BDNF SNP affects the clinical outcome of RTT individuals. To evaluate whether this BDNF SNP contributes to RTT pathophysiology, we examined the consequences of expression of either val-BDNF or met-BDNF on dendrite and dendritic spine morphology, and synaptic function in cultured hippocampal neurons from wildtype (WT) and Mecp2 knockout (KO) mice. Our findings revealed that met-BDNF does not increase dendritic growth and branching, dendritic spine density and individual spine volume, and the number of excitatory synapses in WT neurons, as val-BDNF does. Furthermore, met-BDNF reduces dendritic complexity, dendritic spine volume and quantal excitatory synaptic transmission in Mecp2 KO neurons. These results suggest that the val-BDNF variant contributes to RTT pathophysiology, and that BDNF-based therapies should take into consideration the BDNF genotype of the RTT individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xu
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL, United States
| | - Jordi Garcia
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL, United States
| | - Rachel Ewalt
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL, United States
| | - Shelly Nason
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL, United States
| | - Lucas Pozzo-Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL, United States
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29
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Transient receptor potential canonical type 3 channels: Interactions, role and relevance - A vascular focus. Pharmacol Ther 2017; 174:79-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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30
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Mizoguchi Y, Monji A. Microglial Intracellular Ca 2+ Signaling in Synaptic Development and its Alterations in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:69. [PMID: 28367116 PMCID: PMC5355421 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction, difficulties with language and repetitive/restricted behaviors. Microglia are resident innate immune cells which release many factors including proinflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) when they are activated in response to immunological stimuli. Recent in vivo imaging has shown that microglia sculpt and refine the synaptic circuitry by removing excess and unwanted synapses and be involved in the development of neural circuits or synaptic plasticity thereby maintaining the brain homeostasis. BDNF, one of the neurotrophins, has various important roles in cell survival, neurite outgrowth, neuronal differentiation, synaptic plasticity and the maintenance of neural circuits in the CNS. Intracellular Ca2+ signaling is important for microglial functions including ramification, de-ramification, migration, phagocytosis and release of cytokines, NO and BDNF. BDNF induces a sustained intracellular Ca2+ elevation through the upregulation of the surface expression of canonical transient receptor potential 3 (TRPC3) channels in rodent microglia. BDNF might have an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of microglial activation and TRPC3 could play important roles in not only inflammatory processes but also formation of synapse through the modulation of microglial phagocytic activity in the brain. This review article summarizes recent findings on emerging dual, inflammatory and non-inflammatory, roles of microglia in the brain and reinforces the importance of intracellular Ca2+ signaling for microglial functions in both normal neurodevelopment and their potential contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshito Mizoguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University Saga, Japan
| | - Akira Monji
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University Saga, Japan
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31
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Sasi M, Vignoli B, Canossa M, Blum R. Neurobiology of local and intercellular BDNF signaling. Pflugers Arch 2017; 469:593-610. [PMID: 28280960 PMCID: PMC5438432 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-017-1964-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family of secreted proteins. Signaling cascades induced by BDNF and its receptor, the receptor tyrosine kinase TrkB, link neuronal growth and differentiation with synaptic plasticity. For this reason, interference with BDNF signaling has emerged as a promising strategy for potential treatments in psychiatric and neurological disorders. In many brain circuits, synaptically released BDNF is essential for structural and functional long-term potentiation, two prototypical cellular models of learning and memory formation. Recent studies have revealed an unexpected complexity in the synaptic communication of mature BDNF and its precursor proBDNF, not only between local pre- and postsynaptic neuronal targets but also with participation of glial cells. Here, we consider recent findings on local actions of the BDNF family of ligands at the synapse and discuss converging lines of evidence which emerge from per se conflicting results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manju Sasi
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Beatrice Vignoli
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Marco Canossa
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) "Rita Levi-Montalcini", 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Robert Blum
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.
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32
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Griesi-Oliveira K, Suzuki AM, Muotri AR. TRPC Channels and Mental Disorders. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 976:137-148. [PMID: 28508319 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-024-1088-4_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels mediate the influx of different types of cations through the cell membrane and are involved in many functions of the organism. Evidences of involvement of TRPC channels in neuronal development suggest that this family of proteins might play a role in certain neurological disorders. As reported, knockout mice for different TRPC channels show alterations in neuronal morphological and functional parameters, with behavioral abnormalities, such as in exploratory and social behaviors. Although mutations in TRPC channels could be related to mental/neurological disorders, there are only a few cases reported in literature, indicating that this correlation should be further explored. Nonetheless, other functional evidences support the implication of these channels in neurological diseases. In this chapter, we summarize the main findings relating TRPC channels to neurological disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, and intellectual disability among others.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela May Suzuki
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Bioscience Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alysson Renato Muotri
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA. .,Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA. .,UCSD Stem Cell Program, Institute for Genomic Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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33
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Neurotrophic Factors in Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Focus on BDNF and IGF-1. TRANSLATIONAL ANATOMY AND CELL BIOLOGY OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER 2017; 224:121-134. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-52498-6_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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34
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Sampathkumar C, Wu YJ, Vadhvani M, Trimbuch T, Eickholt B, Rosenmund C. Loss of MeCP2 disrupts cell autonomous and autocrine BDNF signaling in mouse glutamatergic neurons. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27782879 PMCID: PMC5108590 DOI: 10.7554/elife.19374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the MECP2 gene cause the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome (RTT). Previous studies have shown that altered MeCP2 levels result in aberrant neurite outgrowth and glutamatergic synapse formation. However, causal molecular mechanisms are not well understood since MeCP2 is known to regulate transcription of a wide range of target genes. Here, we describe a key role for a constitutive BDNF feed forward signaling pathway in regulating synaptic response, general growth and differentiation of glutamatergic neurons. Chronic block of TrkB receptors mimics the MeCP2 deficiency in wildtype glutamatergic neurons, while re-expression of BDNF quantitatively rescues MeCP2 deficiency. We show that BDNF acts cell autonomous and autocrine, as wildtype neurons are not capable of rescuing growth deficits in neighboring MeCP2 deficient neurons in vitro and in vivo. These findings are relevant for understanding RTT pathophysiology, wherein wildtype and mutant neurons are intermixed throughout the nervous system. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.19374.001 Rett syndrome is a progressive brain disorder. Individuals with the condition (who are typically girls) grow normally until they are 6-18 months old and then developmentally regress, with symptoms including anxiety, impaired coordination, seizures and breathing problems. Rett syndrome is caused by mutations in the gene that encodes a protein called MeCP2. Researchers know that MeCP2 is vital for “excitatory” neurons in the brain to communicate with (and activate) their neighbors. Neurons that lack MeCP2 tend to make fewer of the connections across which they communicate – called synapses – with others. Many researchers who study Rett syndrome use male mice that lack the MeCP2 protein. This mouse model mimics the symptoms seen in Rett patients, but at a faster and more severe rate. These studies have shown that restoring normal levels of the protein in neurons prevents the majority of Rett-like symptoms in these mice and reverses the disorder. MeCP2 controls the activity of a number of other genes. These include the gene that produces a protein called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which helps neurons to grow. Sampathkumar et al. have now studied neurons from mouse models of Rett syndrome to investigate whether BDNF can overcome the defects seen in neurons that lack MeCP2. Viewed under a high-powered microscope, the Rett-like neurons appear smaller than healthy neurons and form fewer synapses. However, increasing the amount of BDNF in the diseased neurons restores normal growth and enables the cells to form more synapses. Girls with Rett syndrome tend to have a mixture of healthy neurons and those that do not produce the right amount of MeCP2. To mimic this, Sampathkumar et al. grew a mixture of normal and Rett-like mouse neurons in a culture dish. The healthy neurons did not help the diseased neurons to form the correct number of synapses. However, increasing the levels of BDNF in the Rett-like neurons enhanced their ability to form synapses, and increased their cell size to match their healthy counterparts. Further work is now required to uncover whether manipulating the gene that encodes BDNF – or other genes that MeCP2 controls the activity of – in the brain can reduce the symptoms and slow the progression of Rett syndrome. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.19374.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Charanya Sampathkumar
- Department of Neurophysiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuan-Ju Wu
- Department of Neurophysiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mayur Vadhvani
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thorsten Trimbuch
- Department of Neurophysiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Britta Eickholt
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Rosenmund
- Department of Neurophysiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Lee K, Kim H, An K, Kwon OB, Park S, Cha JH, Kim MH, Lee Y, Kim JH, Cho K, Kim HS. Replenishment of microRNA-188-5p restores the synaptic and cognitive deficits in 5XFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34433. [PMID: 27708404 PMCID: PMC5052619 DOI: 10.1038/srep34433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs have emerged as key factors in development, neurogenesis and synaptic functions in the central nervous system. In the present study, we investigated a pathophysiological significance of microRNA-188-5p (miR-188-5p) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We found that oligomeric Aβ1-42 treatment diminished miR-188-5p expression in primary hippocampal neuron cultures and that miR-188-5p rescued the Aβ1-42-mediated synapse elimination and synaptic dysfunctions. Moreover, the impairments in cognitive function and synaptic transmission observed in 7-month-old five familial AD (5XFAD) transgenic mice, were ameliorated via viral-mediated expression of miR-188-5p. miR-188-5p expression was down-regulated in the brain tissues from AD patients and 5XFAD mice. The addition of miR-188-5p rescued the reduction in dendritic spine density in the primary hippocampal neurons treated with oligomeric Aβ1-42 and cultured from 5XFAD mice. The reduction in the frequency of mEPSCs was also restored by addition of miR-188-5p. The impairments in basal fEPSPs and cognition observed in 7-month-old 5XFAD mice were ameliorated via the viral-mediated expression of miR-188-5p in the hippocampus. Furthermore, we found that miR-188 expression is CREB-dependent. Taken together, our results suggest that dysregulation of miR-188-5p expression contributes to the pathogenesis of AD by inducing synaptic dysfunction and cognitive deficits associated with Aβ-mediated pathophysiology in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kihwan Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunju Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyongman An
- Department of Life Science, POSTECH, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Oh-Bin Kwon
- Department of Life Science, POSTECH, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungjun Park
- Department of Life Science, POSTECH, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hee Cha
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung-Hwan Kim
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoontae Lee
- Department of Life Science, POSTECH, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Joung-Hun Kim
- Department of Life Science, POSTECH, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 790-784, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwangwook Cho
- Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology (LINE), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bristol, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK.,Centre for Synaptic Plasticity, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bristol, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Hye-Sun Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 110-799, Republic of Korea.,Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, 463-707, Republic of Korea
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Mahgoub M, Adachi M, Suzuki K, Liu X, Kavalali ET, Chahrour MH, Monteggia LM. MeCP2 and histone deacetylases 1 and 2 in dorsal striatum collectively suppress repetitive behaviors. Nat Neurosci 2016; 19:1506-1512. [PMID: 27668390 PMCID: PMC5083208 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Class I histone deacetylases (HDACs), HDAC1 and HDAC2 often associate together in protein complexes with transcriptional factors such as methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Given their high degree of sequence identity, we examined the functional redundancy of HDAC1 and HDAC2 in mature brain. We demonstrate that postnatal forebrain-specific deletion of both HDAC1 and HDAC2 in mice impacts neuronal survival and results in an excessive grooming phenotype caused by dysregulation of the obsessive-compulsive disorder-implicated gene SAP90/PSD-95-associated protein 3 (SAPAP3) in striatum. Moreover, HDAC1- and HDAC2-dependent regulation of SAPAP3 expression requires Mecp2, the gene involved in the pathophysiology of Rett syndrome. We show that postnatal forebrain-specific deletion of Mecp2 causes excessive grooming, which is rescued by restoring striatal Sapap3 expression. Our results provide novel insight into the upstream regulation of SAPAP3, and establish the essential role of striatal HDAC1, HDAC2, and MeCP2 for suppression of repetitive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Mahgoub
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Megumi Adachi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kanzo Suzuki
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Xihui Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ege T Kavalali
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Maria H Chahrour
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Lisa M Monteggia
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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37
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Cao JL, Zhang L, Li J, Tian S, Lv XD, Wang XQ, Su X, Li Y, Hu Y, Ma X, Xia HF. Up-regulation of miR-98 and unraveling regulatory mechanisms in gestational diabetes mellitus. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32268. [PMID: 27573367 PMCID: PMC5004196 DOI: 10.1038/srep32268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
MiR-98 expression was up-regulated in kidney in response to early diabetic nephropathy in mouse and down-regulated in muscle in type 2 diabetes in human. However, the expression prolife and functional role of miR-98 in human gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remained unclear. Here, we investigated its expression and function in placental tissues from GDM patients and the possible molecular mechanisms. The results showed that miR-98 was up-regulated in placentas from GDM patients compared with normal placentas. MiR-98 over-expression increased global DNA methylational level and miR-98 knockdown reduced global DNA methylational level. Further investigation revealed that miR-98 could inhibit Mecp2 expression by binding the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of methyl CpG binding protein 2 (Mecp2), and then led to the expression dysregulation of canonical transient receptor potential 3 (Trpc3), a glucose uptake related gene. More importantly, in vivo analysis found that the expression level of Mecp2 and Trpc3 in placental tissues from GDM patients, relative to the increase of miR-98, was diminished, especially for GDM patients over the age of 35 years. Collectively, up-regulation of miR-98 in the placental tissues of human GDM is linked to the global DNA methylation via targeting Mecp2, which may imply a novel regulatory mechanism in GDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Li Cao
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jian Li
- Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Shi Tian
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, 100080, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Lv
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xue-Qin Wang
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xing Su
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Ying Li
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yi Hu
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xu Ma
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Hong-Fei Xia
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
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38
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Aravamudan B, Thompson MA, Pabelick CM, Prakash YS. Mechanisms of BDNF regulation in asthmatic airway smooth muscle. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2016; 311:L270-9. [PMID: 27317689 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00414.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin produced by airway smooth muscle (ASM), enhances inflammation effects on airway contractility, supporting the idea that locally produced growth factors influence airway diseases such as asthma. We endeavored to dissect intrinsic mechanisms regulating endogenous, as well as inflammation (TNF-α)-induced BDNF secretion in ASM of nonasthmatic vs. asthmatic humans. We focused on specific Ca(2+) regulation- and inflammation-related signaling cascades and quantified BDNF secretion. We find that TNF-α enhances BDNF release by ASM cells, via several mechanisms relevant to asthma, including transient receptor potential channels TRPC3 and TRPC6 (but not TRPC1), ERK 1/2, PI3K, PLC, and PKC cascades, Rho kinase, and transcription factors cAMP response element binding protein and nuclear factor of activated T cells. Basal BDNF expression and secretion are elevated in asthmatic ASM and increase further with TNF-α exposure, involving many of these regulatory mechanisms. We conclude that airway BDNF secretion is regulated at multiple levels, providing a basis for autocrine effects of BDNF under conditions of inflammation and disease, with potential downstream influences on contractility and remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christina M Pabelick
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; and Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Y S Prakash
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; and Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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39
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Tai DJC, Liu YC, Hsu WL, Ma YL, Cheng SJ, Liu SY, Lee EHY. MeCP2 SUMOylation rescues Mecp2-mutant-induced behavioural deficits in a mouse model of Rett syndrome. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10552. [PMID: 26842955 PMCID: PMC4743023 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) gene, MECP2, is an X-linked gene encoding the MeCP2 protein, and mutations of MECP2 cause Rett syndrome (RTT). However, the molecular mechanism of MECP2-mutation-caused RTT is less known. Here we find that MeCP2 could be SUMO-modified by the E3 ligase PIAS1 at Lys-412. MeCP2 phosphorylation (at Ser-421 and Thr-308) facilitates MeCP2 SUMOylation, and MeCP2 SUMOylation is induced by NMDA, IGF-1 and CRF in the rat brain. MeCP2 SUMOylation releases CREB from the repressor complex and enhances Bdnf mRNA expression. Several MECP2 mutations identified in RTT patients show decreased MeCP2 SUMOylation. Re-expression of wild-type MeCP2 or SUMO-modified MeCP2 in Mecp2-null neurons rescues the deficits of social interaction, fear memory and LTP observed in Mecp2 conditional knockout (cKO) mice. These results together reveal an important role of MeCP2 SUMOylation in social interaction, memory and synaptic plasticity, and that abnormal MeCP2 SUMOylation is implicated in RTT. Post-translational modifications of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) are important for its function and dysfunction in Rett syndrome. Here, Tai et al. show a functional interaction between MeCP2 SUMOylation and phosphorylation in rodent behavior and synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek J C Tai
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Yen C Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan
| | - Wei L Hsu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Yun L Ma
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Sin J Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.,Neuroscience Program in Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Shau Y Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Eminy H Y Lee
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
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40
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Modeling non-syndromic autism and the impact of TRPC6 disruption in human neurons. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:1350-65. [PMID: 25385366 PMCID: PMC4427554 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
An increasing number of genetic variants have been implicated in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and the functional study of such variants will be critical for the elucidation of autism pathophysiology. Here, we report a de novo balanced translocation disruption of TRPC6, a cation channel, in a non-syndromic autistic individual. Using multiple models, such as dental pulp cells, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal cells and mouse models, we demonstrate that TRPC6 reduction or haploinsufficiency leads to altered neuronal development, morphology and function. The observed neuronal phenotypes could then be rescued by TRPC6 complementation and by treatment with insulin-like growth factor-1 or hyperforin, a TRPC6-specific agonist, suggesting that ASD individuals with alterations in this pathway may benefit from these drugs. We also demonstrate that methyl CpG binding protein-2 (MeCP2) levels affect TRPC6 expression. Mutations in MeCP2 cause Rett syndrome, revealing common pathways among ASDs. Genetic sequencing of TRPC6 in 1041 ASD individuals and 2872 controls revealed significantly more nonsynonymous mutations in the ASD population, and identified loss-of-function mutations with incomplete penetrance in two patients. Taken together, these findings suggest that TRPC6 is a novel predisposing gene for ASD that may act in a multiple-hit model. This is the first study to use iPSC-derived human neurons to model non-syndromic ASD and illustrate the potential of modeling genetically complex sporadic diseases using such cells.
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41
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Cuddapah VA, Sinifunanya EN, Percy AK, Olsen ML. MeCP2 in the regulation of neural activity: Rett syndrome pathophysiological perspectives. Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis 2015; 5:103-116. [PMID: 32669918 PMCID: PMC7337177 DOI: 10.2147/dnnd.s61269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT), an X-linked neurodevelopment disorder, occurs in approximately one out of 10,000 females. Individuals afflicted by RTT display a constellation of signs and symptoms, affecting nearly every organ system. Most striking are the neurological manifestations, including regression of language and motor skills, increased seizure activity, autonomic dysfunction, and aberrant regulation of breathing patterns. The majority of girls with RTT have mutations in the gene encoding for methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Since the discovery of this genetic cause of RTT in 1999, there has been an accelerated pace of research seeking to understand the role of MeCP2 in the brain in the hope of developing a disease-modifying therapy for RTT. In this study, we review the clinical features of RTT and then explore the latest mechanistic studies in order to explain how a mutation in MeCP2 leads to these unique features. We cover in detail studies examining the role of MeCP2 in neuronal physiology, as well as recent evidence that implicates a key role for glia in the pathogenesis of RTT. In the past 20 years, these basic and clinical studies have yielded an extraordinary understanding of RTT; as such, we end this narrative review considering the translation of these studies into clinical trials for the treatment of RTT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan K Percy
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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42
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Du X, Hill R. 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone as a pro-neurotrophic treatment for neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurochem Int 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2015.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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43
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Su M, Hong J, Zhao Y, Liu S, Xue X. MeCP2 controls hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression via homeostatic interactions with microRNA‑132 in rats with depression. Mol Med Rep 2015; 12:5399-406. [PMID: 26239616 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2015.4104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a considerable public health concern, which affects patients worldwide. MDD is associated with psychosocial impairment, poor quality of life, and significant disability, morbidity and mortality. Stress is a major factor in depression, which impairs the structural and functional plasticity of the hippocampus. Previous studies have demonstrated that chronic unpredictable mild stress is able to downregulate the expression of brain‑derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and methyl‑CpG‑binding protein 2 (MeCP2), and alter the expression levels of certain microRNAs (miR). The aim of the present study was to investigate the regulatory association between BDNF, MeCP2 and miR-132 in an animal model of chronic stress‑induced depression. ELISA, western blot and qPCR were used to detect the expression levels of BDNF, MeCP2 and miR-132 in the peripheral blood samples of patients with MDD and in the hippocampi of depressed animals. In addition, a dual luciferase reporter gene system was used to determine whether miR-132 directly targets BDNF or MeCP2. The present study demonstrated that, as compared with normal subjects, miR‑132 expression was increased in the peripheral blood samples of patients with MDD, whereas the expression of MeCP2 and BDNF was decreased; thus, the expression levels of MeCP2 and BDNF were negatively correlated with those of miR‑132. In addition, in an animal model of chronic stress‑induced depression, increased expression levels of miR‑132, and decreased levels of MeCP2 and BDNF were detected in the hippocampi. Furthermore, knockdown of MeCP2 expression in primary hippocampal neurons increased the expression of miR‑132 and decreased the expression levels of BDNF. The results of the present study demonstrated that miR‑132 may directly target MeCP2, but not BDNF, and control its expression at the transcriptional and translational level. miR‑132 was also shown to negatively regulate BDNF expression. The reduced expression levels of BDNF, as induced by MeCP2 knockdown, were enhanced by miR‑132 mimics, and were rescued by miR‑132 inhibitors. These results suggested that homeostatic interactions between MeCP2 and miR‑132 may regulate hippocampal BDNF levels, which may have a role in the pathogenesis of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meilei Su
- Department of Psychology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Jun Hong
- Department of Psychology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Yongzhi Zhao
- Department of Psychology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Department of Psychology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Xue
- Department of Psychology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
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Acab A, Muotri AR. The Use of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology to Advance Autism Research and Treatment. Neurotherapeutics 2015; 12:534-45. [PMID: 25851569 PMCID: PMC4489954 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-015-0354-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders sharing a core set of symptoms, including impaired social interaction, language deficits, and repetitive behaviors. While ASDs are highly heritable and demonstrate a clear genetic component, the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving ASD etiology remain undefined. The unavailability of live patient-specific neurons has contributed to the difficulty in studying ASD pathophysiology. The recent advent of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has provided the ability to generate patient-specific human neurons from somatic cells. The iPSC field has quickly grown, as researchers have demonstrated the utility of this technology to model several diseases, especially neurologic disorders. Here, we review the current literature around using iPSCs to model ASDs, and discuss the notable findings, and the promise and limitations of this technology. The recent report of a nonsyndromic ASD iPSC model and several previous ASD models demonstrating similar results points to the ability of iPSC to reveal potential novel biomarkers and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Acab
- School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, University of California San Diego, MC 0695, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Alysson Renato Muotri
- School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, University of California San Diego, MC 0695, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
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45
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Samtleben S, Wachter B, Blum R. Store-operated calcium entry compensates fast ER calcium loss in resting hippocampal neurons. Cell Calcium 2015; 58:147-59. [PMID: 25957620 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2015.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) acts as a dynamic calcium store and is involved in the generation of specific patterns of calcium signals in neurons. Calcium is mobilized from the ER store by multiple signaling cascades, and neuronal activity is known to regulate ER calcium levels. We asked how neurons regulate ER calcium levels in the resting state. Direct ER calcium imaging showed that ER calcium was lost quite rapidly from the somatic and dendritic ER when resting neurons were transiently kept under calcium-free conditions. Interestingly, free ER and free cytosolic calcium was lost continuously across the plasma membrane and was not held back in the cytosol, implying the presence of a prominent calcium influx mechanism to maintain ER calcium levels at rest. When neurons were treated acutely with inhibitors of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), an immediate decline in ER calcium levels was observed. This continuous SOCE-like calcium entry did not require the activation of a signaling cascade, but was rather a steady-state phenomenon. The SOCE-like mechanism maintains medium-high ER calcium levels at rest and is essential for balanced resting calcium levels in the ER and cytosol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Samtleben
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Britta Wachter
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Robert Blum
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany.
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46
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Ca(2+) signaling initiated by canonical transient receptor potential channels in dendritic development. Neurosci Bull 2015; 31:351-6. [PMID: 25732528 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-014-1511-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatial patterns of dendritic structures diverge in different types of neurons as adaptations to their unique functions. Although different intracellular mechanisms underlying dendritic morphogenesis have been suggested, it is evident that the elevation in intracellular Ca(2+) levels plays a major role in the process. Canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels, known to be non-selective Ca(2+)-permeable cation channels, act as environmental detectors to sense and transduce extracellular signals into different intracellular responses, including the regulation of dendritic growth, via Ca(2+) influx. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of Ca(2+) signaling, especially signals mediated by Ca(2+) influx via TRPC channels, and the underlying molecular events in dendritic development.
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Phillips M, Pozzo-Miller L. Dendritic spine dysgenesis in autism related disorders. Neurosci Lett 2015; 601:30-40. [PMID: 25578949 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Revised: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 01/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The activity-dependent structural and functional plasticity of dendritic spines has led to the long-standing belief that these neuronal compartments are the subcellular sites of learning and memory. Of relevance to human health, central neurons in several neuropsychiatric illnesses, including autism related disorders, have atypical numbers and morphologies of dendritic spines. These so-called dendritic spine dysgeneses found in individuals with autism related disorders are consistently replicated in experimental mouse models. Dendritic spine dysgenesis reflects the underlying synaptopathology that drives clinically relevant behavioral deficits in experimental mouse models, providing a platform for testing new therapeutic approaches. By examining molecular signaling pathways, synaptic deficits, and spine dysgenesis in experimental mouse models of autism related disorders we find strong evidence for mTOR to be a critical point of convergence and promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Phillips
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lucas Pozzo-Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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Friedland K, Harteneck C. Hyperforin: To Be or Not to Be an Activator of TRPC(6). Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2015; 169:1-24. [DOI: 10.1007/112_2015_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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49
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Xu X, Miller EC, Pozzo-Miller L. Dendritic spine dysgenesis in Rett syndrome. Front Neuroanat 2014; 8:97. [PMID: 25309341 PMCID: PMC4159975 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2014.00097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spines are small cytoplasmic extensions of dendrites that form the postsynaptic compartment of the majority of excitatory synapses in the mammalian brain. Alterations in the numerical density, size, and shape of dendritic spines have been correlated with neuronal dysfunction in several neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders associated with intellectual disability, including Rett syndrome (RTT). RTT is a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder associated with intellectual disability that is caused by loss of function mutations in the transcriptional regulator methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). Here, we review the evidence demonstrating that principal neurons in RTT individuals and Mecp2-based experimental models exhibit alterations in the number and morphology of dendritic spines. We also discuss the exciting possibility that signaling pathways downstream of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is transcriptionally regulated by MeCP2, offer promising therapeutic options for modulating dendritic spine development and plasticity in RTT and other MECP2-associated neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xu
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL USA
| | - Eric C Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL USA
| | - Lucas Pozzo-Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL USA
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Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) has experienced remarkable progress over the past three decades since emerging as a disorder of worldwide proportions, particularly with discovery of the linkage of RTT to MECP2 mutations. The advances in clinical research and the increasing pace of basic science investigations have accelerated the pattern of discovery and understanding. Clinical trials are ongoing and others are planned. A review of these events and the prospects for continued success are highlighted below. The girls and women encountered today with RTT are, overall, in better general, neurologic, and behavioral health than those encountered earlier. This represents important progress worldwide from the concerted efforts of a broadly based and diverse clinical and basic research consortium as well as the efforts of parents, family, and friends.
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