1
|
Marshall AH, Boyle DJ, Hanson MA, Nagarajan D, Bibi N, Safa A, Johantges AC, Wester JC. Arid1b haploinsufficiency in cortical inhibitory interneurons causes cell-type-dependent changes in cellular and synaptic development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.07.597984. [PMID: 38895260 PMCID: PMC11185764 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.07.597984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents with diverse cognitive and behavioral abnormalities beginning during early development. Although the neural circuit mechanisms remain unclear, recent work suggests pathology in cortical inhibitory interneurons (INs) plays a crucial role. However, we lack fundamental information regarding changes in the physiology of synapses to and from INs in ASD. Here, we used transgenic mice to conditionally knockout one copy of the high confidence ASD risk gene Arid1b from the progenitors of parvalbumin-expressing fast-spiking (PV-FS) INs and somatostatin-expressing non-fast-spiking (SST-NFS) INs. In brain slices, we performed paired whole-cell recordings between INs and excitatory projection neurons (PNs) to investigate changes in synaptic physiology. In neonates, we found reduced synaptic input to INs but not PNs, with a concomitant reduction in the frequency of spontaneous network events, which are driven by INs in immature circuits. In mature mice, we found a reduction in the number of PV-FS INs in cortical layers 2/3 and 5. However, changes in PV-FS IN synaptic physiology were cortical layer and PN cell-type dependent. In layer 5, synapses from PV-FS INs to subcortical-projecting PNs were weakened. In contrast, in layer 2/3, synapses to and from PV-FS INs and corticocortical-projecting PNs were strengthened, leading to enhanced feedforward inhibition of input from layer 4. Finally, we found a novel synaptic deficit among SST-NFS INs, in which excitatory synapses from layer 2/3 PNs failed to facilitate. Our data highlight that changes in unitary synaptic dynamics among INs in ASD depend on neuronal cell-type.
Collapse
|
2
|
Yamaguchi Y, Okamura K, Yamamuro K, Okumura K, Komori T, Toritsuka M, Takada R, Nishihata Y, Ikawa D, Yamauchi T, Makinodan M, Yoshino H, Saito Y, Matsuzaki H, Kishimoto T, Kimoto S. NARP-related alterations in the excitatory and inhibitory circuitry of socially isolated mice: developmental insights and implications for autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1403476. [PMID: 38903649 PMCID: PMC11187327 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1403476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Social isolation during critical periods of development is associated with alterations in behavior and neuronal circuitry. This study aimed to investigate the immediate and developmental effects of social isolation on firing properties, neuronal activity-regulated pentraxin (NARP) and parvalbumin (PV) expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), social behavior in juvenile socially isolated mice, and the biological relevance of NARP expression in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods Mice were subjected to social isolation during postnatal days 21-35 (P21-P35) and were compared with group-housed control mice. Firing properties in the PFC pyramidal neurons were altered in P35 socially isolated mice, which might be associated with alterations in NARP and PV expression. Results In adulthood, mice that underwent juvenile social isolation exhibited difficulty distinguishing between novel and familiar mice during a social memory task, while maintaining similar levels of social interaction as the control mice. Furthermore, a marked decrease in NARP expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from adolescent humans with ASD as compared to typically developing (TD) humans was found. Conclusion Our study highlights the role of electrophysiological properties, as well as NARP and PV expression in the PFC in mediating the developmental consequences of social isolation on behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasunari Yamaguchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Kazuya Okamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Yamamuro
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Kazuki Okumura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Takashi Komori
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Michihiro Toritsuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Ryohei Takada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Yosuke Nishihata
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Takahira Yamauchi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Manabu Makinodan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yoshino
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
- Mie Prefectural Mental Medical Center, Mie, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Saito
- Department of Neurophysiology, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Hideo Matsuzaki
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Kishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Nara, Japan
| | - Sohei Kimoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Adiguzel E, Bozkurt NM, Unal G. Independent and combined effects of astaxanthin and omega-3 on behavioral deficits and molecular changes in a prenatal valproic acid model of autism in rats. Nutr Neurosci 2024; 27:590-606. [PMID: 37534957 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2023.2239575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: Autism is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder and recent studies showed that omega-3 or astaxanthin might reduce autistic symptoms due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, we investigated the effects of omega-3 and astaxanthin on the VPA-induced autism model of rats.Material and Methods: Female Wistar albino pups (n = 40) were grouped as control, autistic, astaxanthin (2 mg/kg), omega-3 (200 mg/kg), and astaxanthin (2 mg/kg)+omega-3 (200 mg/kg). All groups except the control were prenatally exposed to VPA. Astaxanthin and omega-3 were orally administered from the postnatal day 41 to 68 and behavioral tests were performed between day 69 and 73. The rats were decapitated 24 h after the behavioral tests and hippocampal and prefrontal cytokines and 5-HT levels were analyzed by ELISA.Results: VPA rats have increased grooming behavior while decreased sociability (SI), social preference index (SPI), discrimination index (DI), and prepulse inhibition (PPI) compared to control. Additionally, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels increased while IL-10 and 5-HT levels decreased in both brain regions. Astaxanthin treatment raised SI, SPI, DI, PPI, and prefrontal IL-10 levels. It also raised 5-HT levels and decreased IL-6 levels in both brain regions. Omega-3 and astaxanthin + omega-3 increased the SI, SPI, DI, and PPI and decreased grooming behavior. Moreover, they increased IL-10 and 5-HT levels whereas decreased IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ levels in both brain regions.Conclusions: Our results showed that VPA administration mimicked the behavioral and molecular changes of autism in rats. Single and combined administration of astaxanthin and omega-3 improved the autistic-like behavioral and molecular changes in the VPA model of rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emre Adiguzel
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University, Karaman, Türkiye
| | - Nuh Mehmet Bozkurt
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
- Experimental Research and Application Center (DEKAM), Brain Research Unit, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
- e-Neuro Lab, Drug Application and Research Center (ERFARMA), Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
| | - Gokhan Unal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
- Experimental Research and Application Center (DEKAM), Brain Research Unit, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
- e-Neuro Lab, Drug Application and Research Center (ERFARMA), Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Aerts T, Boonen A, Geenen L, Stulens A, Masin L, Pancho A, Francis A, Pepermans E, Baggerman G, Van Roy F, Wöhr M, Seuntjens E. Altered socio-affective communication and amygdala development in mice with protocadherin10-deficient interneurons. Open Biol 2024; 14:240113. [PMID: 38889770 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.240113] [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: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental conditions associated with deficits in social interaction and communication, together with repetitive behaviours. The cell adhesion molecule protocadherin10 (PCDH10) is linked to ASD in humans. Pcdh10 is expressed in the nervous system during embryonic and early postnatal development and is important for neural circuit formation. In mice, strong expression of Pcdh10 in the ganglionic eminences and in the basolateral complex (BLC) of the amygdala was observed at mid and late embryonic stages, respectively. Both inhibitory and excitatory neurons expressed Pcdh10 in the BLC at perinatal stages and vocalization-related genes were enriched in Pcdh10-expressing neurons in adult mice. An epitope-tagged Pcdh10-HAV5 mouse line revealed endogenous interactions of PCDH10 with synaptic proteins in the young postnatal telencephalon. Nuanced socio-affective communication changes in call emission rates, acoustic features and call subtype clustering were primarily observed in heterozygous pups of a conditional knockout (cKO) with selective deletion of Pcdh10 in Gsh2-lineage interneurons. These changes were less prominent in heterozygous ubiquitous Pcdh10 KO pups, suggesting that altered anxiety levels associated with Gsh2-lineage interneuron functioning might drive the behavioural effects. Together, loss of Pcdh10 specifically in interneurons contributes to behavioural alterations in socio-affective communication with relevance to ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tania Aerts
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Lab of Developmental Neurobiology, KU Leuven , Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Anneleen Boonen
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Lab of Developmental Neurobiology, KU Leuven , Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Lieve Geenen
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Lab of Developmental Neurobiology, KU Leuven , Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Anne Stulens
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Lab of Developmental Neurobiology, KU Leuven , Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Luca Masin
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Lab of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven , Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Anna Pancho
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Lab of Developmental Neurobiology, KU Leuven , Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel , Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Annick Francis
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Lab of Developmental Neurobiology, KU Leuven , Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Elise Pepermans
- Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp , Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Geert Baggerman
- Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp , Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp , Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Frans Van Roy
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology; Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Ghent University , Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG) 9000, Belgium
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Research Unit Brain and Cognition, Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Social and Affective Neuroscience Research Group, KU Leuven , Leuven 3000, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute , Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Faculty of Psychology, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Philipps-University of Marburg , Marburg 35032, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Philipps-University of Marburg , Marburg 35032, Germany
| | - Eve Seuntjens
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Lab of Developmental Neurobiology, KU Leuven , Leuven 3000, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute , Leuven 3000, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics , Leuven 3000, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sadakata M, Fujii K, Kaneko R, Hosoya E, Sugimoto H, Kawabata-Iwakawa R, Kasamatsu T, Hongo S, Koshidaka Y, Takase A, Iijima T, Takao K, Sadakata T. Maternal immunoglobulin G affects brain development of mouse offspring. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:114. [PMID: 38698428 PMCID: PMC11064405 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03100-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Maternal immunoglobulin (Ig)G is present in breast milk and has been shown to contribute to the development of the immune system in infants. In contrast, maternal IgG has no known effect on early childhood brain development. We found maternal IgG immunoreactivity in microglia, which are resident macrophages of the central nervous system of the pup brain, peaking at postnatal one week. Strong IgG immunoreactivity was observed in microglia in the corpus callosum and cerebellar white matter. IgG stimulation of primary cultured microglia activated the type I interferon feedback loop by Syk. Analysis of neonatal Fc receptor knockout (FcRn KO) mice that could not take up IgG from their mothers revealed abnormalities in the proliferation and/or survival of microglia, oligodendrocytes, and some types of interneurons. Moreover, FcRn KO mice also exhibited abnormalities in social behavior and lower locomotor activity in their home cages. Thus, changes in the mother-derived IgG levels affect brain development in offsprings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Sadakata
- Education and Research Support Center, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
| | - Kazuki Fujii
- Department of Behavioral Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
- Research Center for Idling Brain Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
- Life Science Research Center, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Kaneko
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Emi Hosoya
- Education and Research Support Center, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hisako Sugimoto
- Education and Research Support Center, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Reika Kawabata-Iwakawa
- Division of Integrated Oncology Research, Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Tetsuhiro Kasamatsu
- Department of Medical Technology and Clinical Engineering, Gunma University of Health and Walfare, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-0823, Japan
| | - Shoko Hongo
- Life Science Research Center, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Yumie Koshidaka
- Life Science Research Center, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Akinori Takase
- Medical Science College Office, Tokai University, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Takatoshi Iijima
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Division of Basic Medical Science and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Tokai University, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Keizo Takao
- Department of Behavioral Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
- Research Center for Idling Brain Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
- Life Science Research Center, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Sadakata
- Education and Research Support Center, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Khoram-Abadi KM, Basiri M, Nemati M, Nozari M. Agmatine ameliorates valproic acid-induced depletion of parvalbumin-positive neuron. Int J Dev Neurosci 2024; 84:134-142. [PMID: 38304999 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a widespread neurodevelopmental disorder with unknown etiology. Dysfunction of several brain areas including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, and cerebellum is involved in cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with ASD. Several studies have reported a reduction in the number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV+) neurons in brain areas of ASD patients and animal models such as a shank mutant mouse model and rodents receiving fetal valproic acid (VPA) administration. Developing therapeutic interventions that restore PV interneurons can be the future therapeutic approach to ASD. The present study examined the possible effect of agmatine (AG), an endogenous NMDA antagonist, on the number of PV+ neurons in a VPA animal model of autism. The therapeutic effects of AG in ameliorating ASD-like behaviors were previously reported in VPA rats. AG was gavaged at dosages of 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 mg/kg from gestational day (GD) 6.5 to 18.5, and the number of PV interneurons was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in the 1-month-old rats. Prenatal VPA (GD 12.5) or AG led to a decrease of PV neurons in the PFC, Cornu ammonia (CA1), and molecular layers (MLs) of the cerebellum. However, exposure to AG restored the PV population induced by VPA. AG may modify underlying neuronal mechanisms resulting in the increased survival or restoration of the PV population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Mirzaee Khoram-Abadi
- Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohsen Basiri
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mozhdeh Nemati
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Nozari
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Smith JR, Hopkins CE, Xiong J, Luccarelli J, Shultz E, Vandekar S. Use of ECT in Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Intellectual Disability: A Single Site Retrospective Analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:963-982. [PMID: 36528758 PMCID: PMC10276173 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05868-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) are heterogenous and prevalent conditions which may occur in isolation or as a co-morbidity. Psychiatric co-morbidity is common with limited treatment options. Preliminary research into electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for these conditions has been encouraging. Thus, further research in this patient population is warranted. We conducted a 10-year retrospective review of the electronic medical record and identified intellectually capable individuals with ASD (IC-ASD), and those with ASD+ID or ID who received at least three ECT treatments. 32 patients were identified of which 30 (94%) experienced positive clinical response, defined as a clinical global impression-improvement (CGI-I) score of 3 or less. The average retrospective CGI-I score across all groups was 1.97, and results of a t-test performed on CGI-I scores indicated improvement across all groups [t = - 16.54, df = 31, p < 0.001, 95% CI = (1.72, 2.22)]. No significant adverse events were identified based on clinical documentation. Our findings further support previous ECT research in this patient population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R Smith
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center at Village of Vanderbilt, 1500 21st Avenue South, Suite 2200, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, 110 Magnolia Circle, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.
| | - Corey E Hopkins
- Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Ave South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Jiangmei Xiong
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, 2424 West End Avenue, Suite 1100, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
| | - James Luccarelli
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Elizabeth Shultz
- Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Ave South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Simon Vandekar
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, 2424 West End Avenue, Suite 1100, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Smith JR, DiSalvo M, Green A, Ceranoglu TA, Anteraper SA, Croarkin P, Joshi G. Treatment Response of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Intellectually Capable Youth and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neuropsychol Rev 2023; 33:834-855. [PMID: 36161554 PMCID: PMC10039963 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-022-09564-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
To examine current clinical research on the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the treatment of pediatric and young adult autism spectrum disorder in intellectually capable persons (IC-ASD). We searched peer-reviewed international literature to identify clinical trials investigating TMS as a treatment for behavioral and cognitive symptoms of IC-ASD. We identified sixteen studies and were able to conduct a meta-analysis on twelve of these studies. Seven were open-label or used neurotypical controls for baseline cognitive data, and nine were controlled trials. In the latter, waitlist control groups were often used over sham TMS. Only one study conducted a randomized, parallel, double-blind, and sham controlled trial. Favorable safety data was reported in low frequency repetitive TMS, high frequency repetitive TMS, and intermittent theta burst studies. Compared to TMS research of other neuropsychiatric conditions, significantly lower total TMS pulses were delivered in treatment and neuronavigation was not regularly utilized. Quantitatively, our multivariate meta-analysis results report improvement in cognitive outcomes (pooled Hedges' g = 0.735, 95% CI = 0.242, 1.228; p = 0.009) and primarily Criterion B symptomology of IC-ASD (pooled Hedges' g = 0.435, 95% CI = 0.359, 0.511; p < 0.001) with low frequency repetitive TMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The results of our systematic review and meta-analysis data indicate that TMS may offer a promising and safe treatment option for pediatric and young adult patients with IC-ASD. However, future work should include use of neuronavigation software, theta burst protocols, targeting of various brain regions, and robust study design before clinical recommendations can be made.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R Smith
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center at Village of Vanderbilt, 1500 21st Avenue South, Suite 2200, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, 110 Magnolia Circle, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Maura DiSalvo
- Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Allison Green
- Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Tolga Atilla Ceranoglu
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | | | - Paul Croarkin
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 1216 2nd Street Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA
| | - Gagan Joshi
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Shih YC, Nelson L, Janeček M, Peixoto RT. Late onset and regional heterogeneity of synaptic deficits in cortical PV interneurons of Shank3B -/- mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.23.568500. [PMID: 38045377 PMCID: PMC10690261 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.23.568500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy and epileptiform patterns of cortical activity are highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but the neural substrates and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the onset of cortical dysfunction in ASD remains elusive. Reduced cortical expression of Parvalbumin (PV) has been widely observed in ASD mouse models and human postmortem studies, suggesting a crucial role of PV interneurons (PVINs) in ASD pathogenesis. Shank3B -/- mice carrying a Δ13-16 deletion in SHANK3 exhibit cortical hyperactivity during postnatal development and reduced sensory responses in cortical GABAergic interneurons in adulthood. However, whether these phenotypes are associated with PVIN dysfunction is unknown. Using whole-cell electrophysiology and a viral-based strategy to label PVINs during postnatal development, we performed a developmental characterization of AMPAR miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in PVINs and pyramidal (PYR) neurons of layer (L) 2/3 mPFC in Shank3B -/- mice. Surprisingly, reduced mEPSC frequency was observed in both PYR and PVIN populations, but only in adulthood. At P15, when cortical hyperactivity is already observed, both neuron types exhibited normal mEPSC amplitude and frequency, suggesting that glutamatergic connectivity deficits in these neurons emerge as compensatory mechanisms. Additionally, we found normal mEPSCs in adult PVINs of L2/3 somatosensory cortex, revealing region-specific phenotypic differences of cortical PVINs in Shank3B -/- mice. Together, these results demonstrate that loss of Shank3 alters PVIN function but suggest that PVIN glutamatergic synapses are a suboptimal therapeutic target for normalizing early cortical imbalances in SHANK3-associated disorders. More broadly, these findings underscore the complexity of interneuron dysfunction in ASDs, prompting further exploration of region and developmental stage specific phenotypes for understanding and developing effective interventions.
Collapse
|
10
|
Cumming D, Kozhemiako N, Thurm AE, Farmer CA, Purcell SW, Buckley AW. Spindle Chirp and other Sleep Oscillatory Features in Young Children with Autism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.15.545095. [PMID: 37398218 PMCID: PMC10312722 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.15.545095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Objectives To determine whether spindle chirp and other sleep oscillatory features differ in young children with and without autism. Methods Automated processing software was used to re-assess an extant set of polysomnograms representing 121 children (91 with autism [ASD], 30 typically-developing [TD]), with an age range of 1.35-8.23 years. Spindle metrics, including chirp, and slow oscillation (SO) characteristics were compared between groups. SO and fast and slow spindle (FS, SS) interactions were also investigated. Secondary analyses were performed assessing behavioural data associations, as well as exploratory cohort comparisons to children with non-autism developmental delay (DD). Results Posterior FS and SS chirp was significantly more negative in ASD than TD. Both groups had comparable intra-spindle frequency range and variance. Frontal and central SO amplitude were decreased in ASD. In contrast to previous manual findings, no differences were detected in other spindle or SO metrics. The ASD group displayed a higher parietal coupling angle. No differences were observed in phase-frequency coupling. The DD group demonstrated lower FS chirp and higher coupling angle than TD. Parietal SS chirp was positively associated with full developmental quotient. Conclusions For the first time spindle chirp was investigated in autism and was found to be significantly more negative than in TD in this large cohort of young children. This finding strengthens previous reports of spindle and SO abnormalities in ASD. Further investigation of spindle chirp in healthy and clinical populations across development will help elucidate the significance of this difference and better understand this novel metric.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Cumming
- National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - N Kozhemiako
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - AE Thurm
- National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - CA Farmer
- National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - SW Purcell
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - AW Buckley
- National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Richard S, Ren J, Flamant F. Thyroid hormone action during GABAergic neuron maturation: The quest for mechanisms. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1256877. [PMID: 37854197 PMCID: PMC10579935 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1256877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid hormone (TH) signaling plays a major role in mammalian brain development. Data obtained in the past years in animal models have pinpointed GABAergic neurons as a major target of TH signaling during development, which opens up new perspectives to further investigate the mechanisms by which TH affects brain development. The aim of the present review is to gather the available information about the involvement of TH in the maturation of GABAergic neurons. After giving an overview of the kinds of neurological disorders that may arise from disruption of TH signaling during brain development in humans, we will take a historical perspective to show how rodent models of hypothyroidism have gradually pointed to GABAergic neurons as a main target of TH signaling during brain development. The third part of this review underscores the challenges that are encountered when conducting gene expression studies to investigate the molecular mechanisms that are at play downstream of TH receptors during brain development. Unravelling the mechanisms of action of TH in the developing brain should help make progress in the prevention and treatment of several neurological disorders, including autism and epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Frédéric Flamant
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, UMR5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Claude Bernard-Lyon 1, USC1370 Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Juarez P, Martínez-Cerdeño V. Triple enzymatic immunochemistry for interneuron populations in postmortem human cerebral cortex. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20626. [PMID: 37867800 PMCID: PMC10589777 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunostaining is an antibody-based tool used to visualize proteins in tissue. Enzymes or fluorochromes conjugated to antibodies are used to detect proteins of interests. Fluorescent immunostaining can be used in human tissue, however due to the high autofluorescence of non-perfused human tissue, enzymatic immunostaining is better suited. Enzymes produce a colored product that is detectable by light microscopes. Here we describe a successful triple immunochemistry protocol to enzymatically label three distinct populations of interneurons (Parvalbumin+, Calbindin+, and Calretinin + interneurons) in non-perfused formalin fixed human brain cerebral cortex. Signal was achieved using a combination of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) enzymes and color was generated using the insoluble chromogens: 3,3'- Diaminobenzidine (DAB, Brown), Vector Blue (Blue), and Vector VIP (Pink). There were no noticeable background and minimal signal overlap between the different colors. We were able to successfully stain human cortical tissue and distinguish morphological properties of the three interneuron (IN) populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Juarez
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine (IPRM), Shriner's Hospital for Children and UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Verónica Martínez-Cerdeño
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine (IPRM), Shriner's Hospital for Children and UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
- MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Monday HR, Wang HC, Feldman DE. Circuit-level theories for sensory dysfunction in autism: convergence across mouse models. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1254297. [PMID: 37745660 PMCID: PMC10513044 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1254297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit a diverse range of behavioral features and genetic backgrounds, but whether different genetic forms of autism involve convergent pathophysiology of brain function is unknown. Here, we analyze evidence for convergent deficits in neural circuit function across multiple transgenic mouse models of ASD. We focus on sensory areas of neocortex, where circuit differences may underlie atypical sensory processing, a central feature of autism. Many distinct circuit-level theories for ASD have been proposed, including increased excitation-inhibition (E-I) ratio and hyperexcitability, hypofunction of parvalbumin (PV) interneuron circuits, impaired homeostatic plasticity, degraded sensory coding, and others. We review these theories and assess the degree of convergence across ASD mouse models for each. Behaviorally, our analysis reveals that innate sensory detection behavior is heightened and sensory discrimination behavior is impaired across many ASD models. Neurophysiologically, PV hypofunction and increased E-I ratio are prevalent but only rarely generate hyperexcitability and excess spiking. Instead, sensory tuning and other aspects of neural coding are commonly degraded and may explain impaired discrimination behavior. Two distinct phenotypic clusters with opposing neural circuit signatures are evident across mouse models. Such clustering could suggest physiological subtypes of autism, which may facilitate the development of tailored therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R. Monday
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | | | - Daniel E. Feldman
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Rabelo LN, Queiroz JPG, Castro CCM, Silva SP, Campos LD, Silva LC, Nascimento EB, Martínez-Cerdeño V, Fiuza FP. Layer-Specific Changes in the Prefrontal Glia/Neuron Ratio Characterizes Patches of Gene Expression Disorganization in Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:3648-3658. [PMID: 35704132 PMCID: PMC10084744 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05626-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is manifested by abnormal cell numbers and patches of gene expression disruption in higher-order brain regions. Here, we investigated whether layer-specific changes in glia/neuron ratios (GNR) characterize patches in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DL-PFC) of children with ASD. We analyzed high-resolution digital images of postmortem human brains from 11 ASD and 11 non-ASD children obtained from the Autism Study of the Allen Human Brain Atlas. We found the GNR is overall reduced in the ASD DL-PFC. Moreover, layers II-III belonging to patches presented a lower GNR in comparison with layers V-VI. We here provide a new insight into how brain cells are arranged within patches that contributes to elucidate how neurodevelopmental programs are altered in ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Livia Nascimento Rabelo
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, RN, 59280-000, Brazil
| | - José Pablo Gonçalves Queiroz
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, RN, 59280-000, Brazil
| | - Carla Cristina Miranda Castro
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, RN, 59280-000, Brazil
| | - Sayonara Pereira Silva
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, RN, 59280-000, Brazil
| | - Laura Damasceno Campos
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, RN, 59280-000, Brazil
| | - Larissa Camila Silva
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, RN, 59280-000, Brazil
| | | | - Veronica Martínez-Cerdeño
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, MIND Institute, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Felipe Porto Fiuza
- Graduate Program in Neuroengineering, Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, RN, 59280-000, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Dufour BD, McBride E, Bartley T, Juarez P, Martínez-Cerdeño V. Distinct patterns of GABAergic interneuron pathology in autism are associated with intellectual impairment and stereotypic behaviors. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023; 27:1730-1745. [PMID: 36935610 PMCID: PMC10846597 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231154053] [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] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in sociability and communication and the presence of repetitive behaviors. How specific pathological alterations of the brain contribute to the clinical profile of autism spectrum disorder remains unknown. We previously found that a specific type of inhibitory interneuron is reduced in number in the autism spectrum disorder prefrontal cortex. Here, we assessed the relationship between interneuron reduction and autism spectrum disorder symptom severity. We collected clinical records from autism spectrum disorder (n = 20) and assessed the relationship between the severity of symptoms and interneuron number. We found that the reduced number of inhibitory interneurons that we previously reported is linked to specific symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, particularly stereotypic movements and intellectual impairments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brett D Dufour
- UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, USA
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
| | - Erin McBride
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
- UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USA
| | - Trevor Bartley
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
- UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USA
| | - Pablo Juarez
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
| | - Verónica Martínez-Cerdeño
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, USA
- UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Nardi L, Chhabra S, Leukel P, Krueger-Burg D, Sommer CJ, Schmeisser MJ. Neuroanatomical changes of ionotropic glutamatergic and GABAergic receptor densities in male mice modeling idiopathic and syndromic autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1199097. [PMID: 37547211 PMCID: PMC10401048 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a wide range of neurodevelopment conditions primarily characterized by impaired social interaction and repetitive behavior, accompanied by a variable degree of neuropsychiatric characteristics. Synaptic dysfunction is undertaken as one of the key underlying mechanisms in understanding the pathophysiology of ASD. The excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) hypothesis is one of the most widely held theories for its pathogenesis. Shifts in E/I balance have been proven in several ASD models. In this study, we investigated three mouse lines recapitulating both idiopathic (the BTBR strain) and genetic (Fmr1 and Shank3 mutants) forms of ASD at late infancy and early adulthood. Using receptor autoradiography for ionotropic excitatory (AMPA and NMDA) and inhibitory (GABAA) receptors, we mapped the receptor binding densities in brain regions known to be associated with ASD such as prefrontal cortex, dorsal and ventral striatum, dorsal hippocampus, and cerebellum. The individual mouse lines investigated show specific alterations in excitatory ionotropic receptor density, which might be accounted as specific hallmark of each individual line. Across all the models investigated, we found an increased binding density to GABAA receptors at adulthood in the dorsal hippocampus. Interestingly, reduction in the GABAA receptor binding density was observed in the cerebellum. Altogether, our findings suggest that E/I disbalance individually affects several brain regions in ASD mouse models and that alterations in GABAergic transmission might be accounted as unifying factor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Nardi
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stuti Chhabra
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Petra Leukel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Dilja Krueger-Burg
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Clemens J. Sommer
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael J. Schmeisser
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Sadigurschi N, Scrift G, Hirrlinger J, Golan HM. Genetic impairment of folate metabolism regulates cortical interneurons and social behavior. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1203262. [PMID: 37449270 PMCID: PMC10338116 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1203262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The implications of folate deficiency in neuropsychiatric disorders were demonstrated in numerous studies. Genetic deficiency in a key folate metabolism enzyme, MTHFR, is an example of the interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors: the maternal MTHFR deficiency governs in-utero nutrient availability, and the embryo's Mthfr genotype influences its ability to metabolize folates. Here, we explore how the maternal and offspring Mthfr genotypes affect cortical interneuron densities and distributions, mouse social outcome, and the relation of the different interneuron patterns to cortical excitability. Methods Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of maternal and offspring Mthfr-KO heterozygosity. Mice were tested for direct social interactions (DSIs), repetitive behavior and cortical laminar distribution of interneuron populations expressing glutamate-decarboxylase-65, parvalbumin and somatostatin. Susceptibility to seizure was tested by exposure to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Results Maternal Mthfr+/- genotype was associated with suppressed social activities and reduced interneuron densities in all layers of the retrosplenial cortex (RSC). Somatostatin density and the somatostatin/parvalbumin ratio in the RSC and frontal cortex positively correlated with social behavior in the mice. An interaction between maternal and offspring Mthfr genotypes resulted in higher susceptibility of wild-type offspring to PTZ induced seizure. Discussion Maternal folate metabolism was shown to be critical to interneuron ontogenesis. Our results demonstrate that interneurons have a specific susceptibility to folate deficiency that may mediate folate's involvement in neuropsychiatric disease. The relations between cortical somatostatin interneuron patterns and social behavior highlight this subpopulation of interneurons as a target for further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noa Sadigurschi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Gilad Scrift
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Johannes Hirrlinger
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hava M. Golan
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- Azrieli National Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Mohapatra AN, Wagner S. The role of the prefrontal cortex in social interactions of animal models and the implications for autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1205199. [PMID: 37409155 PMCID: PMC10318347 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1205199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Social interaction is a complex behavior which requires the individual to integrate various internal processes, such as social motivation, social recognition, salience, reward, and emotional state, as well as external cues informing the individual of others' behavior, emotional state and social rank. This complex phenotype is susceptible to disruption in humans affected by neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Multiple pieces of convergent evidence collected from studies of humans and rodents suggest that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a pivotal role in social interactions, serving as a hub for motivation, affiliation, empathy, and social hierarchy. Indeed, disruption of the PFC circuitry results in social behavior deficits symptomatic of ASD. Here, we review this evidence and describe various ethologically relevant social behavior tasks which could be employed with rodent models to study the role of the PFC in social interactions. We also discuss the evidence linking the PFC to pathologies associated with ASD. Finally, we address specific questions regarding mechanisms employed by the PFC circuitry that may result in atypical social interactions in rodent models, which future studies should address.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alok Nath Mohapatra
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Frackowiak J, Mazur-Kolecka B. Intraneuronal accumulation of amyloid-β peptides as the pathomechanism linking autism and its co-morbidities: epilepsy and self-injurious behavior - the hypothesis. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1160967. [PMID: 37305553 PMCID: PMC10250631 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1160967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with enhanced processing of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) by secretase-α, higher blood levels of sAPPα and intraneuronal accumulation of N-terminally truncated Aβ peptides in the brain cortex - mainly in the GABAergic neurons expressing parvalbumin - and subcortical structures. Brain Aβ accumulation has been also described in epilepsy-the frequent ASD co-morbidity. Furthermore, Aβ peptides have been shown to induce electroconvulsive episodes. Enhanced production and altered processing of APP, as well as accumulation of Aβ in the brain are also frequent consequences of traumatic brain injuries which result from self-injurious behaviors, another ASD co-morbidity. We discuss distinct consequences of accumulation of Aβ in the neurons and synapses depending on the Aβ species, their posttranslational modifications, concentration, level of aggregation and oligomerization, as well as brain structures, cell types and subcellular structures where it occurs. The biological effects of Aβ species which are discussed in the context of the pathomechanisms of ASD, epilepsy, and self-injurious behavior include modulation of transcription-both activation and repression; induction of oxidative stress; activation and alteration of membrane receptors' signaling; formation of calcium channels causing hyper-activation of neurons; reduction of GABAergic signaling - all of which lead to disruption of functions of synapses and neuronal networks. We conclude that ASD, epilepsy, and self-injurious behaviors all contribute to the enhanced production and accumulation of Aβ peptides which in turn cause and enhance dysfunctions of the neuronal networks that manifest as autism clinical symptoms, epilepsy, and self-injurious behaviors.
Collapse
|
20
|
Kim B, Kim D, Schulmann A, Patel Y, Caban-Rivera C, Kim P, Jambhale A, Johnson KR, Feng N, Xu Q, Kang SJ, Mandal A, Kelly M, Akula N, McMahon FJ, Lipska B, Marenco S, Auluck PK. Cellular Diversity in Human Subgenual Anterior Cingulate and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex by Single-Nucleus RNA-Sequencing. J Neurosci 2023; 43:3582-3597. [PMID: 37037607 PMCID: PMC10184745 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0830-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Regional cellular heterogeneity is a fundamental feature of the human neocortex; however, details of this heterogeneity are still undefined. We used single-nucleus RNA-sequencing to examine cell-specific transcriptional features in the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) and the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), regions implicated in major psychiatric disorders. Droplet-based nuclei-capture and library preparation were performed on replicate samples from 8 male donors without history of psychiatric or neurologic disorder. Unsupervised clustering identified major neural cell classes. Subsequent iterative clustering of neurons further revealed 20 excitatory and 22 inhibitory subclasses. Inhibitory cells were consistently more abundant in the sgACC and excitatory neuron subclusters exhibited considerable variability across brain regions. Excitatory cell subclasses also exhibited greater within-class transcriptional differences between the two regions. We used these molecular definitions to determine which cell classes might be enriched in loci carrying a genetic signal in genome-wide association studies or for differentially expressed genes in mental illness. We found that the heritable signals of psychiatric disorders were enriched in neurons and that, while the gene expression changes detected in bulk-RNA-sequencing studies were dominated by glial cells, some alterations could be identified in specific classes of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Intriguingly, only two excitatory cell classes exhibited concomitant region-specific enrichment for both genome-wide association study loci and transcriptional dysregulation. In sum, by detailing the molecular and cellular diversity of the DLPFC and sgACC, we were able to generate hypotheses on regional and cell-specific dysfunctions that may contribute to the development of mental illness.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dysfunction of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex has been implicated in mood disorders, particularly major depressive disorder, and the dorsolateral PFC, a subsection of the PFC involved in executive functioning, has been implicated in schizophrenia. Understanding the cellular composition of these regions is critical to elucidating the neurobiology underlying psychiatric and neurologic disorders. We studied cell type diversity of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral PFC of humans with no neuropsychiatric illness using a clustering analysis of single-nuclei RNA-sequencing data. Defining the transcriptomic profile of cellular subpopulations in these cortical regions is a first step to demystifying the cellular and molecular pathways involved in psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Billy Kim
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Dowon Kim
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Anton Schulmann
- Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Yash Patel
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Carolina Caban-Rivera
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Paul Kim
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Ananya Jambhale
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Kory R Johnson
- Information Technology and Bioinformatics Program, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Ningping Feng
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Qing Xu
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Sun Jung Kang
- Genetic Epidemiology Research Branch, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Ajeet Mandal
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Michael Kelly
- CCR Single Analysis Facility, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Nirmala Akula
- Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Francis J McMahon
- Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Barbara Lipska
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Stefano Marenco
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Pavan K Auluck
- Human Brain Collection Core, National Institute of Mental Health-Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zhang P, Omanska A, Ander B, Gandal M, Stamova B, Schumann C. Neuron-specific transcriptomic signatures indicate neuroinflammation and altered neuronal activity in ASD temporal cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2206758120. [PMID: 36862688 PMCID: PMC10013873 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2206758120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous disorder, yet transcriptomic profiling of bulk brain tissue has identified substantial convergence among dysregulated genes and pathways in ASD. However, this approach lacks cell-specific resolution. We performed comprehensive transcriptomic analyses on bulk tissue and laser-capture microdissected (LCM) neurons from 59 postmortem human brains (27 ASD and 32 controls) in the superior temporal gyrus (STG) of individuals ranging from 2 to 73 years of age. In bulk tissue, synaptic signaling, heat shock protein-related pathways, and RNA splicing were significantly altered in ASD. There was age-dependent dysregulation of genes involved in gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) (GAD1 and GAD2) and glutamate (SLC38A1) signaling pathways. In LCM neurons, AP-1-mediated neuroinflammation and insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathways were upregulated in ASD, while mitochondrial function, ribosome, and spliceosome components were downregulated. GABA synthesizing enzymes GAD1 and GAD2 were both downregulated in ASD neurons. Mechanistic modeling suggested a direct link between inflammation and ASD in neurons, and prioritized inflammation-associated genes for future study. Alterations in small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) associated with splicing events suggested interplay between snoRNA dysregulation and splicing disruption in neurons of individuals with ASD. Our findings supported the fundamental hypothesis of altered neuronal communication in ASD, demonstrated that inflammation was elevated at least in part in ASD neurons, and may reveal windows of opportunity for biotherapeutics to target the trajectory of gene expression and clinical manifestation of ASD throughout the human lifespan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Alicja Omanska
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA95817
- University of California, Davis, MIND Institute, Sacramento, CA95817
| | - Bradley P. Ander
- University of California, Davis, MIND Institute, Sacramento, CA95817
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA95817
| | - Michael J. Gandal
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Lifespan Brain Institute, Penn Med and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Boryana Stamova
- University of California, Davis, MIND Institute, Sacramento, CA95817
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA95817
| | - Cynthia M. Schumann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA95817
- University of California, Davis, MIND Institute, Sacramento, CA95817
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Gzieło K, Piotrowska D, Litwa E, Popik P, Nikiforuk A. Maternal immune activation affects socio-communicative behavior in adult rats. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1918. [PMID: 36732579 PMCID: PMC9894913 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28919-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A wide body of evidence suggests a relationship between maternal immune activation (MIA) and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Since social and communicative deficits are included in the first diagnostic criterion of ASD, we aimed to characterize socio-communicative behaviors in the MIA model based on prenatal exposure to poly(I:C). Our previous studies demonstrated impaired socio-communicative functioning in poly(I:C)-exposed adolescent rats. Therefore, the current study sought to clarify whether these changes would persist beyond adolescence. For this purpose, we analyzed behavior during the social interaction test and recorded ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) accompanying interactions between adult poly(I:C) rats. The results demonstrated that the altered pattern of social behavior in poly(I:C) males was accompanied by the changes in acoustic parameters of emitted USVs. Poly(I:C) males also demonstrated an impaired olfactory preference for social stimuli. While poly(I:C) females did not differ from controls in socio-positive behaviors, they displayed aggression during the social encounter and were more reactive to somatosensory stimulation. Furthermore, the locomotor pattern of poly(I:C) animals were characterized by repetitive behaviors. Finally, poly(I:C) reduced parvalbumin and GAD67 expression in the cerebellum. The results showed that prenatal poly(I:C) exposure altered the pattern of socio-communicative behaviors of adult rats in a sex-specific manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gzieło
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Diana Piotrowska
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Ewa Litwa
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Piotr Popik
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Nikiforuk
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Drug Development, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343, Kraków, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ábrahám H, Kojima H, Götzer K, Molnár A, Tornóczky T, Seress L. Development of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the postnatal human hippocampal formation. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1058370. [PMID: 36816519 PMCID: PMC9932602 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1058370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Parvalbumin (PV) is a calcium-binding protein present in fast-spiking GABAergic neurons, such as basket and axo-axonic cells. Previous studies in non-human primates reported prenatal expression of PV in the temporal archicortex including entorhinal cortex and hippocampal formation. In contrast, PV-immunoreactivity was observed only postnatally in the human entorhinal cortex. Regarding PV expression in the human hippocampal formation, no information is available. Methods: In this study, the neurochemical maturation of PV-immunoreactive interneurons was studied in the postnatal developing human hippocampal formation. Results: Before birth, no PV-immunoreactive neurons could be detected in the human hippocampus. At birth, only a few PV-immunoreactive neurons were visible in Ammon's horn. The first PV-immunoreactive cells in the hilus of the dentate gyrus appeared at the age of 1 month. Even at the age of 5 months, only a few PV-immunopositive cells were present in the dentate hilus. The number of cells and their dendritic and axonal arborization in Ammon's horn and in the dentate gyrus gradually increased with age. Even at the age of 2 years, dendritic tree and axons of PV-immunoreactive neurons were less complex than can be seen in 8 and 11 years old children. Discussion: Our results showed that long-lasting maturation of PV-immunoreactive interneurons follows the developmental sequence of the subfields of the human hippocampal formation and provides further morphological evidence for the long-lasting functional maturation of the human cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hajnalka Ábrahám
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscopic Laboratory, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary,Institute for the Psychology of Special Needs, Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary,*Correspondence: Hajnalka Ábrahám
| | - Hisae Kojima
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscopic Laboratory, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Katalin Götzer
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscopic Laboratory, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Abigél Molnár
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscopic Laboratory, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Tornóczky
- Department of Pathology, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary
| | - László Seress
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscopic Laboratory, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Fiksinski AM, Hoftman GD, Vorstman JAS, Bearden CE. A genetics-first approach to understanding autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:341-353. [PMID: 36192458 PMCID: PMC9812786 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01783-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Recently, increasing numbers of rare pathogenic genetic variants have been identified that are associated with variably elevated risks of a range of neurodevelopmental outcomes, notably including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD), and Intellectual Disability (ID). This review is organized along three main questions: First, how can we unify the exclusively descriptive basis of our current psychiatric diagnostic classification system with the recognition of an identifiable, highly penetrant genetic risk factor in an increasing proportion of patients with ASD or SSD? Second, what can be learned from studies of individuals with ASD or SSD who share a common genetic basis? And third, what accounts for the observed variable penetrance and pleiotropy of neuropsychiatric phenotypes in individuals with the same pathogenic variant? In this review, we focus on findings of clinical and preclinical studies of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). This particular variant is not only one of the most common among the increasing list of known rare pathogenic variants, but also one that benefits from a relatively long research history. Consequently, 22q11DS is an appealing model as it allows us to: (1) elucidate specific genotype-phenotype associations, (2) prospectively study behaviorally defined classifications, such as ASD or SSD, in the context of a known, well-characterized genetic basis, and (3) elucidate mechanisms underpinning variable penetrance and pleiotropy, phenomena with far-reaching ramifications for research and clinical practice. We discuss how findings from animal and in vitro studies relate to observations in human studies and can help elucidate factors, including genetic, environmental, and stochastic, that impact the expression of neuropsychiatric phenotypes in 22q11DS, and how this may inform mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental expression in the general population. We conclude with research priorities for the field, which may pave the way for novel therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ania M Fiksinski
- Department of Psychology and Department of Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Division of Mental Health, MHeNS, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Gil D Hoftman
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jacob A S Vorstman
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, Research Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carrie E Bearden
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Vakilzadeh G, Martinez-Cerdeño V. Pathology and Astrocytes in Autism. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:841-850. [PMID: 37077706 PMCID: PMC10106330 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s390053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A distinct pathology for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains elusive. Human and animal studies have focused on investigating the role of neurons in ASD. However, recent studies have hinted that glial cell pathology could be a characteristic of ASD. Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cell in the brain and play an important role in neuronal function, both during development and in adult. They regulate neuronal migration, dendritic and spine development, and control the concentration of neurotransmitters at the synaptic cleft. They are also responsible for synaptogenesis, synaptic development, and synaptic function. Therefore, any change in astrocyte number and/or function could contribute to the impairment of connectivity that has been reported in ASD. Data available to date is scarce but indicates that while the number of astrocytes is reduced, their state of activation and their GFAP expression is increased in ASD. Disruption of astrocyte function in ASD may affect proper neurotransmitter metabolism, synaptogenesis, and the state of brain inflammation. Astrocytes alterations are common to ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Future studies about the role of astrocytes in ASD are required to better understand this disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gelareh Vakilzadeh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Veronica Martinez-Cerdeño
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Sacramento, CA, USA
- MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Correspondence: Veronica Martinez-Cerdeño, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA, Tel +916 453-2163, Email
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Brandenburg C, Griswold AJ, Van Booven DJ, Kilander MBC, Frei JA, Nestor MW, Dykxhoorn DM, Pericak-Vance MA, Blatt GJ. Transcriptomic analysis of isolated and pooled human postmortem cerebellar Purkinje cells in autism spectrum disorders. Front Genet 2022; 13:944837. [PMID: 36437953 PMCID: PMC9683032 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.944837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, the neuronal mechanisms underlying the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have not been established. However, studies from human postmortem ASD brains have consistently revealed disruptions in cerebellar circuitry, specifically reductions in Purkinje cell (PC) number and size. Alterations in cerebellar circuitry would have important implications for information processing within the cerebellum and affect a wide range of human motor and non-motor behaviors. Laser capture microdissection was performed to obtain pure PC populations from a cohort of postmortem control and ASD cases and transcriptional profiles were compared. The 427 differentially expressed genes were enriched for gene ontology biological processes related to developmental organization/connectivity, extracellular matrix organization, calcium ion response, immune function and PC signaling alterations. Given the complexity of PCs and their far-ranging roles in response to sensory stimuli and motor function regulation, understanding transcriptional differences in this subset of cerebellar cells in ASD may inform on convergent pathways that impact neuronal function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Brandenburg
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anthony J. Griswold
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Derek J. Van Booven
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | | | | | - Derek M. Dykxhoorn
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | - Gene J. Blatt
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Barker CM, Miles KD, Doll CA. Fmrp regulates neuronal balance in embryonic motor circuit formation. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:962901. [PMID: 36408418 PMCID: PMC9669763 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.962901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor behavior requires the balanced production and integration of a variety of neural cell types. Motor neurons are positioned in discrete locations in the spinal cord, targeting specific muscles to drive locomotive contractions. Specialized spinal interneurons modulate and synchronize motor neuron activity to achieve coordinated motor output. Changes in the ratios and connectivity of spinal interneurons could drastically alter motor output by tipping the balance of inhibition and excitation onto target motor neurons. Importantly, individuals with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and associated autism spectrum disorders often have significant motor challenges, including repetitive behaviors and epilepsy. FXS stems from the transcriptional silencing of the gene Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1), which encodes an RNA binding protein that is implicated in a multitude of crucial neurodevelopmental processes, including cell specification. Our work shows that Fmrp regulates the formation of specific interneurons and motor neurons that comprise early embryonic motor circuits. We find that zebrafish fmr1 mutants generate surplus ventral lateral descending (VeLD) interneurons, an early-born cell derived from the motor neuron progenitor domain (pMN). As VeLD interneurons are hypothesized to act as central pattern generators driving the earliest spontaneous movements, this imbalance could influence the formation and long-term function of motor circuits driving locomotion. fmr1 embryos also show reduced expression of proteins associated with inhibitory synapses, including the presynaptic transporter vGAT and the postsynaptic scaffold Gephyrin. Taken together, we show changes in embryonic motor circuit formation in fmr1 mutants that could underlie persistent hyperexcitability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chase M. Barker
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Kaleb D. Miles
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Graduate School, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Caleb A. Doll
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wang Y, Meng W, Liu Z, An Q, Hu X. Cognitive impairment in psychiatric diseases: Biomarkers of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1046692. [DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1046692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and major depressive disorder, place a huge health burden on society. Cognitive impairment is one of the core characteristics of psychiatric disorders and a vital determinant of social function and disease recurrence in patients. This review thus aims to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of cognitive impairment in major psychiatric disorders and identify valuable biomarkers for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of patients.
Collapse
|
29
|
Li D, Wu Q, Han X. Application of Medial Ganglionic Eminence Cell Transplantation in Diseases Associated With Interneuron Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:939294. [PMID: 35865112 PMCID: PMC9294455 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.939294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitatory projection neurons and inhibitory interneurons primarily accomplish the neural activity of the cerebral cortex, and an imbalance of excitatory-inhibitory neural networks may lead to neuropsychiatric diseases. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons mediate inhibition, and the embryonic medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) is a source of GABAergic interneurons. After transplantation, MGE cells migrate to different brain regions, differentiate into multiple subtypes of GABAergic interneurons, integrate into host neural circuits, enhance synaptic inhibition, and have tremendous application value in diseases associated with interneuron disorders. In the current review, we describe the fate of MGE cells derived into specific interneurons and the related diseases caused by interneuron loss or dysfunction and explore the potential of MGE cell transplantation as a cell-based therapy for a variety of interneuron disorder-related diseases, such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Collapse
|
30
|
Park S, Zikopoulos B, Yazdanbakhsh A. Visual illusion susceptibility in autism: A neural model. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:4246-4265. [PMID: 35701859 PMCID: PMC9541695 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
While atypical sensory perception is reported among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the underlying neural mechanisms of autism that give rise to disruptions in sensory perception remain unclear. We developed a neural model with key physiological, functional and neuroanatomical parameters to investigate mechanisms underlying the range of representations of visual illusions related to orientation perception in typically developed subjects compared to individuals with ASD. Our results showed that two theorized autistic traits, excitation/inhibition imbalance and weakening of top‐down modulation, could be potential candidates for reduced susceptibility to some visual illusions. Parametric correlation between cortical suppression, balance of excitation/inhibition, feedback from higher visual areas on one hand and susceptibility to a class of visual illusions related to orientation perception on the other hand provide the opportunity to investigate the contribution and complex interactions of distinct sensory processing mechanisms in ASD. The novel approach used in this study can be used to link behavioural, functional and neuropathological studies; estimate and predict perceptual and cognitive heterogeneity in ASD; and form a basis for the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sangwook Park
- Computational Neuroscience and Vision Laboratory, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Basilis Zikopoulos
- Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Arash Yazdanbakhsh
- Computational Neuroscience and Vision Laboratory, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Berto S, Treacher AH, Caglayan E, Luo D, Haney JR, Gandal MJ, Geschwind DH, Montillo AA, Konopka G. Association between resting-state functional brain connectivity and gene expression is altered in autism spectrum disorder. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3328. [PMID: 35680911 PMCID: PMC9184501 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31053-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression covaries with brain activity as measured by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, it is unclear how genomic differences driven by disease state can affect this relationship. Here, we integrate from the ABIDE I and II imaging cohorts with datasets of gene expression in brains of neurotypical individuals and individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with regionally matched brain activity measurements from fMRI datasets. We identify genes linked with brain activity whose association is disrupted in ASD. We identified a subset of genes that showed a differential developmental trajectory in individuals with ASD compared with controls. These genes are enriched in voltage-gated ion channels and inhibitory neurons, pointing to excitation-inhibition imbalance in ASD. We further assessed differences at the regional level showing that the primary visual cortex is the most affected region in ASD. Our results link disrupted brain expression patterns of individuals with ASD to brain activity and show developmental, cell type, and regional enrichment of activity linked genes. Gene expression patterns have been associated with functional activity patterns in the brain. Here the authors determine how gene expression patterns in the human brain supports brain phenotypes obtained from resting state fMRI imaging, identifying brain regions and genes relevant to autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Berto
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Alex H Treacher
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Emre Caglayan
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Danni Luo
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Jillian R Haney
- Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Michael J Gandal
- Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Albert A Montillo
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA. .,Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. .,Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Genevieve Konopka
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Neonatal Oxidative Stress Impairs Cortical Synapse Formation and GABA Homeostasis in Parvalbumin-Expressing Interneurons. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:8469756. [PMID: 35663195 PMCID: PMC9159830 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8469756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal brain injury is often caused by preterm birth. Brain development is vulnerable to increased environmental stress, including oxidative stress challenges. Due to a premature change of the fetal living environment from low oxygen in utero into postnatal high-oxygen room air conditions ex utero, the immature preterm brain is exposed to a relative hyperoxia, which can induce oxidative stress and impair neuronal cell development. To simulate the drastic increase of oxygen exposure in the immature brain, 5-day-old C57BL/6 mice were exposed to hyperoxia (80% oxygen) for 48 hours or kept in room air (normoxia, 21% oxygen) and mice were analyzed for maturational alterations of cortical GABAergic interneurons. As a result, oxidative stress was indicated by elevated tyrosine nitration of proteins. We found perturbation of perineuronal net formation in line with decreased density of parvalbumin-expressing (PVALB) cortical interneurons in hyperoxic mice. Moreover, maturational deficits of cortical PVALB+ interneurons were obtained by decreased glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) protein expression in Western blot analysis and lower gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) fluorescence intensity in immunostaining. Hyperoxia-induced oxidative stress affected cortical synaptogenesis by decreasing synapsin 1, synapsin 2, and synaptophysin expression. Developmental delay of synaptic marker expression was demonstrated together with decreased PI3K-signaling as a pathway being involved in synaptogenesis. These results elucidate that neonatal oxidative stress caused by increased oxygen exposure can lead to GABAergic interneuron damage which may serve as an explanation for the high incidence of psychiatric and behavioral alterations found in preterm infants.
Collapse
|
33
|
Markopoulos A, Inserra A, De Gregorio D, Gobbi G. Evaluating the Potential Use of Serotonergic Psychedelics in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:749068. [PMID: 35177979 PMCID: PMC8846292 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.749068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent clinical and preclinical evidence points towards empathogenic and prosocial effects elicited by psychedelic compounds, notably the serotonin 5-HT2A agonists lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and their derivatives. These findings suggest a therapeutic potential of psychedelic compounds for some of the behavioural traits associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by atypical social behaviour. In this review, we highlight evidence suggesting that psychedelics may potentially ameliorate some of the behavioural atypicalities of ASD, including reduced social behaviour and highly co-occurring anxiety and depression. Next, we discuss dysregulated neurobiological systems in ASD and how they may underlie or potentially limit the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. These phenomena include: 1) synaptic function, 2) serotonergic signaling, 3) prefrontal cortex activity, and 4) thalamocortical signaling. Lastly, we discuss clinical studies from the 1960s and 70s that assessed the use of psychedelics in the treatment of children with ASD. We highlight the positive behavioural outcomes of these studies, including enhanced mood and social behaviour, as well as the adverse effects of these trials, including increases in aggressive behaviour and dissociative and psychotic states. Despite preliminary evidence, further studies are needed to determine whether the benefits of psychedelic treatment in ASD outweigh the risks associated with the use of these compounds in this population, and if the 5-HT2A receptor may represent a target for social-behavioural disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Markopoulos
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Antonio Inserra
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Danilo De Gregorio
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gabriella Gobbi
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Lacaille H, Vacher CM, Penn AA. Preterm Birth Alters the Maturation of the GABAergic System in the Human Prefrontal Cortex. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:827370. [PMID: 35185465 PMCID: PMC8852329 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.827370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental changes in GABAergic and glutamatergic systems during frontal lobe development have been hypothesized to play a key role in neurodevelopmental disorders seen in children born very preterm or at/with low birth weight, but the associated cellular changes have not yet been identified. Here we studied the molecular development of the GABAergic system specifically in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region that has been implicated in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. The maturation state of the GABAergic system in this region was assessed in human post-mortem brain samples, from term infants ranging in age from 0 to 8 months (n = 17 male, 9 female). Gene expression was measured for 47 GABAergic genes and used to calculate a maturation index. This maturation index was significantly more dynamic in male than female infants. To evaluate the impact of premature birth on the GABAergic system development, samples from 1-month-old term (n = 9 male, 4 female) and 1-month corrected-age very preterm (n = 8 male, 6 female) infants, were compared using the same gene list and methodology. The maturation index for the GABAergic system was significantly lower (−50%, p < 0.05) in male preterm infants, with major alterations in genes linked to GABAergic function in astrocytes, suggesting astrocytic GABAergic developmental changes as a new cellular mechanism underlying preterm brain injury.
Collapse
|
35
|
Vyas Y, Cheyne JE, Lee K, Jung Y, Cheung PY, Montgomery JM. Shankopathies in the Developing Brain in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:775431. [PMID: 35002604 PMCID: PMC8727517 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.775431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The SHANK family of proteins play critical structural and functional roles in the postsynaptic density (PSD) at excitatory glutamatergic synapses. Through their multidomain structure they form a structural platform across the PSD for protein–protein interactions, as well as recruiting protein complexes to strengthen excitatory synaptic transmission. Mutations in SHANKs reflect their importance to synapse development and plasticity. This is evident in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder resulting in behavioural changes including repetitive behaviours, lack of sociability, sensory issues, learning, and language impairments. Human genetic studies have revealed ASD mutations commonly occur in SHANKs. Rodent models expressing these mutations display ASD behavioural impairments, and a subset of these deficits are rescued by reintroduction of Shank in adult animals, suggesting that lack of SHANK during key developmental periods can lead to permanent changes in the brain’s wiring. Here we explore the differences in synaptic function and plasticity from development onward in rodent Shank ASD models. To date the most explored brain regions, relate to the behavioural changes observed, e.g., the striatum, hippocampus, sensory, and prefrontal cortex. In addition, less-studied regions including the hypothalamus, cerebellum, and peripheral nervous system are also affected. Synaptic phenotypes include weakened but also strengthened synaptic function, with NMDA receptors commonly affected, as well as changes in the balance of excitation and inhibition especially in cortical brain circuits. The effects of shankopathies in activity-dependent brain wiring is an important target for therapeutic intervention. We therefore highlight areas of research consensus and identify remaining questions and challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukti Vyas
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Juliette E Cheyne
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kevin Lee
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Yewon Jung
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Pang Ying Cheung
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Johanna M Montgomery
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Juarez P, Martínez Cerdeño V. Parvalbumin and parvalbumin chandelier interneurons in autism and other psychiatric disorders. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:913550. [PMID: 36311505 PMCID: PMC9597886 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.913550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parvalbumin (PV) is a calcium binding protein expressed by inhibitory fast-spiking interneurons in the cerebral cortex. By generating a fast stream of action potentials, PV+ interneurons provide a quick and stable inhibitory input to pyramidal neurons and contribute to the generation of gamma oscillations in the cortex. Their fast-firing rates, while advantageous for regulating cortical signaling, also leave them vulnerable to metabolic stress. Chandelier (Ch) cells are a type of PV+ interneuron that modulate the output of pyramidal neurons and synchronize spikes within neuron populations by directly innervating the pyramidal axon initial segment. Changes in the morphology and/or function of PV+ interneurons, mostly of Ch cells, are linked to neurological disorders. In ASD, the number of PV+ Ch cells is decreased across several cortical areas. Changes in the morphology and/or function of PV+ interneurons have also been linked to schizophrenia, epilepsy, and bipolar disorder. Herein, we review the role of PV and PV+ Ch cell alterations in ASD and other psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Juarez
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine (IPRM), Shriners Hospital for Children and UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Verónica Martínez Cerdeño
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine (IPRM), Shriners Hospital for Children and UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States.,MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Bernardino I, Dionísio A, Violante IR, Monteiro R, Castelo-Branco M. Motor Cortex Excitation/Inhibition Imbalance in Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A MRS-TMS Approach. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:860448. [PMID: 35492696 PMCID: PMC9046777 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.860448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitatory/inhibitory imbalance has been suggested as a neurobiological substrate of the cognitive symptomatology in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Studies using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) attempted to characterize GABA and Glutamate brain levels in ASD. However mixed findings have been reported. Here, we characterize both neurochemical and physiological aspects of GABA system in ASD by implementing a more comprehensive approach combining MRS and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). A group of 16 young ASD adults and a group of 17 controls participated in this study. We employed one MRS session to assess motor cortex GABA+ and Glutamate+Glutamine (Glx) levels using MEGAPRESS and PRESS sequences, respectively. Additionally, a TMS experiment was implemented including paired-pulse (SICI, ICF and LICI), input-output curve and cortical silent period to probe cortical excitability. Our results showed a significantly increased Glx, with unchanged GABA+ levels in the ASD group compared with controls. Single TMS measures did not differ between groups, although exploratory within-group analysis showed impaired inhibition in SICI5ms, in ASD. Importantly, we observed a correlation between GABA levels and measures of the input-output TMS recruitment curve (slope and MEP amplitude) in the control group but not in ASD, as further demonstrated by direct between group comparisons. In this exploratory study, we found evidence of increased Glx levels which may contribute to ASD excitatory/inhibitory imbalance while highlighting the relevance of conducting further larger-scale studies to investigate the GABA system from complementary perspectives, using both MRS and TMS techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inês Bernardino
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Dionísio
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Inês R Violante
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Raquel Monteiro
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Chiola S, Edgar NU, Shcheglovitov A. iPSC toolbox for understanding and repairing disrupted brain circuits in autism. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:249-258. [PMID: 34497379 PMCID: PMC8901782 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01288-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in defining autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a disorder of brain connectivity. Indeed, whole-brain imaging studies revealed altered connectivity in the brains of individuals with ASD, and genetic studies identified rare ASD-associated mutations in genes that regulate synaptic development and function. However, it remains unclear how specific mutations alter the development of neuronal connections in different brain regions and whether altered connections can be restored therapeutically. The main challenge is the lack of preclinical models that recapitulate important aspects of human development for studying connectivity. Through recent technological innovations, it is now possible to generate patient- or mutation-specific human neurons or organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and to study altered connectivity in vitro or in vivo upon xenotransplantation into an intact rodent brain. Here, we discuss how deficits in neurodevelopmental processes may lead to abnormal brain connectivity and how iPSC-based models can be used to identify abnormal connections and to gain insights into underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms to develop novel therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Chiola
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Nicolas U Edgar
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Uchida K, Suzuki M. Congenital Hypothyroidism and Brain Development: Association With Other Psychiatric Disorders. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:772382. [PMID: 34955723 PMCID: PMC8695682 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.772382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid hormones play an important role in brain development, and thyroid hormone insufficiency during the perinatal period results in severe developmental delays. Perinatal thyroid hormone deficiency is clinically known as congenital hypothyroidism, which is caused by dysgenesis of the thyroid gland or low iodine intake. If the disorder is not diagnosed or not treated early, the neuronal architecture is perturbed by thyroid hormone insufficiency, and neuropathological findings, such as abnormal synapse formation, defects in neuronal migration, and impairment of myelination, are observed in the brains of such patients. Furthermore, the expression of psychiatric disorder-related molecules, especially parvalbumin, is significantly decreased by thyroid hormone insufficiency during the perinatal period. Animal experiments using hypothyroidism models display decreased parvalbumin expression and abnormal brain architecture, and these experimental results show reproducibility and stability. These basic studies reinforce the results of epidemiological studies, suggesting the relevance of thyroid dysfunction in psychiatric disorders. In this review, we discuss the disruption of brain function associated with congenital hypothyroidism from the perspective of basic and clinical research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katsuya Uchida
- Laboratory of Information Biology, Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Mao Suzuki
- Laboratory of Biomodeling, Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Fereshetyan K, Chavushyan V, Danielyan M, Yenkoyan K. Assessment of behavioral, morphological and electrophysiological changes in prenatal and postnatal valproate induced rat models of autism spectrum disorder. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23471. [PMID: 34873263 PMCID: PMC8648736 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02994-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders, that are characterized by core symptoms, such as alterations of social communication and restrictive or repetitive behavior. The etiology and pathophysiology of disease is still unknown, however, there is a strong interaction between genetic and environmental factors. An intriguing point in autism research is identification the vulnerable time periods of brain development that lack compensatory homeostatic corrections. Valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug with a pronounced teratogenic effect associated with a high risk of ASD, and its administration to rats during the gestation is used for autism modeling. It has been hypothesized that valproate induced damage and functional alterations of autism target structures may occur and evolve during early postnatal life. Here, we used prenatal and postnatal administrations of VPA to investigate the main behavioral features which are associated with autism spectrum disorders core symptoms were tested in early juvenile and adult rats. Neuroanatomical lesion of autism target structures and electrophysiological studies in specific neural circuits. Our results showed that prenatal and early postnatal administration of valproate led to the behavioral alterations that were similar to ASD. Postnatally treated group showed tendency to normalize in adulthood. We found pronounced structural changes in the brain target regions of prenatally VPA-treated groups, and an absence of abnormalities in postnatally VPA-treated groups, which confirmed the different severity of VPA across different stages of brain development. The results of this study clearly show time dependent effect of VPA on neurodevelopment, which might be explained by temporal differences of brain regions' development process. Presumably, postnatal administration of valproate leads to the dysfunction of synaptic networks that is recovered during the lifespan, due to the brain plasticity and compensatory ability of circuit refinement. Therefore, investigations of compensatory homeostatic mechanisms activated after VPA administration and directed to eliminate the defects in postnatal brain, may elucidate strategies to improve the course of disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarine Fereshetyan
- grid.427559.80000 0004 0418 5743Neuroscience Laboratory, Cobrain Center, Yerevan State Medical University named after M. Heratsi, 2 Koryun Str., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia ,grid.427559.80000 0004 0418 5743Department of Biochemistry, Yerevan State Medical University named after M. Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Vergine Chavushyan
- grid.427559.80000 0004 0418 5743Neuroscience Laboratory, Cobrain Center, Yerevan State Medical University named after M. Heratsi, 2 Koryun Str., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia ,grid.501896.3Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Relations, L. A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology NAS, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Margarita Danielyan
- grid.427559.80000 0004 0418 5743Neuroscience Laboratory, Cobrain Center, Yerevan State Medical University named after M. Heratsi, 2 Koryun Str., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia ,grid.501896.3Laboratory of Histochemistry and Electromicroscopy, L. A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology NAS, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Konstantin Yenkoyan
- Neuroscience Laboratory, Cobrain Center, Yerevan State Medical University named after M. Heratsi, 2 Koryun Str., 0025, Yerevan, Armenia. .,Department of Biochemistry, Yerevan State Medical University named after M. Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Contractor A, Ethell IM, Portera-Cailliau C. Cortical interneurons in autism. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:1648-1659. [PMID: 34848882 PMCID: PMC9798607 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00967-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The mechanistic underpinnings of autism remain a subject of debate and controversy. Why do individuals with autism share an overlapping set of atypical behaviors and symptoms, despite having different genetic and environmental risk factors? A major challenge in developing new therapies for autism has been the inability to identify convergent neural phenotypes that could explain the common set of symptoms that result in the diagnosis. Although no striking macroscopic neuropathological changes have been identified in autism, there is growing evidence that inhibitory interneurons (INs) play an important role in its neural basis. In this Review, we evaluate and interpret this evidence, focusing on recent findings showing reduced density and activity of the parvalbumin class of INs. We discuss the need for additional studies that investigate how genes and the environment interact to change the developmental trajectory of INs, permanently altering their numbers, connectivity and circuit engagement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anis Contractor
- Department of Neuroscience Feinberg School of Medicine, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Neurobiology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Iryna M. Ethell
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, UC Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Portera-Cailliau
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Caracci MO, Avila ME, Espinoza-Cavieres FA, López HR, Ugarte GD, De Ferrari GV. Wnt/β-Catenin-Dependent Transcription in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:764756. [PMID: 34858139 PMCID: PMC8632544 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.764756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by synaptic dysfunction and defects in dendritic spine morphology. In the past decade, an extensive list of genes associated with ASD has been identified by genome-wide sequencing initiatives. Several of these genes functionally converge in the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, a conserved cascade essential for stem cell pluripotency and cell fate decisions during development. Here, we review current information regarding the transcriptional program of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in ASD. First, we discuss that Wnt/β-catenin gain and loss of function studies recapitulate brain developmental abnormalities associated with ASD. Second, transcriptomic approaches using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) cells, featuring mutations in high confidence ASD genes, reveal a significant dysregulation in the expression of Wnt signaling components. Finally, we focus on the activity of chromatin-remodeling proteins and transcription factors considered high confidence ASD genes, including CHD8, ARID1B, ADNP, and TBR1, that regulate Wnt/β-catenin-dependent transcriptional activity in multiple cell types, including pyramidal neurons, interneurons and oligodendrocytes, cells which are becoming increasingly relevant in the study of ASD. We conclude that the level of Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation could explain the high phenotypical heterogeneity of ASD and be instrumental in the development of new diagnostics tools and therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mario O. Caracci
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel E. Avila
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Agronomy, Nucleus of Applied Research in Veterinary and Agronomic Sciences (NIAVA), Institute of Natural Sciences, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisca A. Espinoza-Cavieres
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Héctor R. López
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Giorgia D. Ugarte
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Giancarlo V. De Ferrari
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Scheuer T, dem Brinke EA, Grosser S, Wolf SA, Mattei D, Sharkovska Y, Barthel PC, Endesfelder S, Friedrich V, Bührer C, Vida I, Schmitz T. Reduction of cortical parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic interneurons in a rodent hyperoxia model of preterm birth brain injury with deficits in social behavior and cognition. Development 2021; 148:272278. [PMID: 34557899 DOI: 10.1242/dev.198390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The inhibitory GABAergic system in the brain is involved in the etiology of various psychiatric problems, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and others. These disorders are influenced not only by genetic but also by environmental factors, such as preterm birth, although the underlying mechanisms are not known. In a translational hyperoxia model, exposing mice pups at P5 to 80% oxygen for 48 h to mimic a steep rise of oxygen exposure caused by preterm birth from in utero into room air, we documented a persistent reduction of cortical mature parvalbumin-expressing interneurons until adulthood. Developmental delay of cortical myelin was observed, together with decreased expression of oligodendroglial glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a factor involved in interneuronal development. Electrophysiological and morphological properties of remaining interneurons were unaffected. Behavioral deficits were observed for social interaction, learning and attention. These results demonstrate that neonatal oxidative stress can lead to decreased interneuron density and to psychiatric symptoms. The obtained cortical myelin deficit and decreased oligodendroglial GDNF expression indicate that an impaired oligodendroglial-interneuronal interplay contributes to interneuronal damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Till Scheuer
- Department of Neonatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany
| | - Elena Auf dem Brinke
- Department of Neonatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany
| | - Sabine Grosser
- Institute for Integrative Neuroanatomy, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Susanne A Wolf
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin 13125, Germany.,Department of Experimental Ophthalmology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany
| | - Daniele Mattei
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin 13125, Germany.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Yuliya Sharkovska
- Department of Neonatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany.,Institute for Cell and Neurobiology, Center for Anatomy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin 10178, Germany
| | - Paula C Barthel
- Department of Neonatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany.,Institute for Cell and Neurobiology, Center for Anatomy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Stefanie Endesfelder
- Department of Neonatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany
| | - Vivien Friedrich
- Department of Neonatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin 10178, Germany
| | - Christoph Bührer
- Department of Neonatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany
| | - Imre Vida
- Institute for Integrative Neuroanatomy, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmitz
- Department of Neonatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Samarasinghe RA, Miranda OA, Buth JE, Mitchell S, Ferando I, Watanabe M, Allison TF, Kurdian A, Fotion NN, Gandal MJ, Golshani P, Plath K, Lowry WE, Parent JM, Mody I, Novitch BG. Identification of neural oscillations and epileptiform changes in human brain organoids. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:1488-1500. [PMID: 34426698 PMCID: PMC9070733 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00906-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Brain organoids represent a powerful tool for studying human neurological diseases, particularly those that affect brain growth and structure. However, many diseases manifest with clear evidence of physiological and network abnormality in the absence of anatomical changes, raising the question of whether organoids possess sufficient neural network complexity to model these conditions. Here, we explore the network-level functions of brain organoids using calcium sensor imaging and extracellular recording approaches that together reveal the existence of complex network dynamics reminiscent of intact brain preparations. We demonstrate highly abnormal and epileptiform-like activity in organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells from individuals with Rett syndrome, accompanied by transcriptomic differences revealed by single-cell analyses. We also rescue key physiological activities with an unconventional neuroregulatory drug, pifithrin-α. Together, these findings provide an essential foundation for the utilization of brain organoids to study intact and disordered human brain network formation and illustrate their utility in therapeutic discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ranmal A. Samarasinghe
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA,Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Intellectual Development and Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA
| | - Osvaldo A. Miranda
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Intellectual Development and Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA
| | - Jessie E. Buth
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Intellectual Development and Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA
| | - Simon Mitchell
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA,Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, United Kingdom
| | - Isabella Ferando
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Momoko Watanabe
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Intellectual Development and Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA
| | - Thomas F. Allison
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Arinnae Kurdian
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Intellectual Development and Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA,California State University, Northridge, Northridge, California USA
| | - Namie N. Fotion
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Intellectual Development and Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA
| | - Michael J. Gandal
- Intellectual Development and Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peyman Golshani
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Intellectual Development and Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA,Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kathrin Plath
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - William E. Lowry
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jack M. Parent
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA,Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA,Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Istvan Mody
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Bennett G. Novitch
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Intellectual Development and Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California USA,Corresponding author. (B.G.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Gustorff C, Scheuer T, Schmitz T, Bührer C, Endesfelder S. GABA B Receptor-Mediated Impairment of Intermediate Progenitor Maturation During Postnatal Hippocampal Neurogenesis of Newborn Rats. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:651072. [PMID: 34421540 PMCID: PMC8377254 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.651072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurotransmitter GABA and its receptors assume essential functions during fetal and postnatal brain development. The last trimester of a human pregnancy and early postnatal life involves a vulnerable period of brain development. In the second half of gestation, there is a developmental shift from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing in the GABAergic system, which might be disturbed by preterm birth. Alterations of the postnatal GABA shift are associated with several neurodevelopmental disorders. In this in vivo study, we investigated neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) in response to daily administration of pharmacological GABAA (DMCM) and GABAB (CGP 35348) receptor inhibitors to newborn rats. Six-day-old Wistar rats (P6) were daily injected (i.p.) to postnatal day 11 (P11) with DMCM, CGP 35348, or vehicle to determine the effects of both antagonists on postnatal neurogenesis. Due to GABAB receptor blockade by CGP 35348, immunohistochemistry revealed a decrease in the number of NeuroD1 positive intermediate progenitor cells and a reduction of proliferative Nestin-positive neuronal stem cells at the DG. The impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis at this stage of differentiation is in line with a significantly decreased RNA expression of the transcription factors Pax6, Ascl1, and NeuroD1. Interestingly, the number of NeuN-positive postmitotic neurons was not affected by GABAB receptor blockade, although strictly associated transcription factors for postmitotic neurons, Tbr1, Prox1, and NeuroD2, displayed reduced expression levels, suggesting impairment by GABAB receptor antagonization at this stage of neurogenesis. Antagonization of GABAB receptors decreased the expression of neurotrophins (BDNF, NT-3, and NGF). In contrast to the GABAB receptor blockade, the GABAA receptor antagonization revealed no significant changes in cell counts, but an increased transcriptional expression of Tbr1 and Tbr2. We conclude that GABAergic signaling via the metabotropic GABAB receptor is crucial for hippocampal neurogenesis at the time of rapid brain growth and of the postnatal GABA shift. Differentiation and proliferation of intermediate progenitor cells are dependent on GABA. These insights become more pertinent in preterm infants whose developing brains are prematurely exposed to spostnatal stress and predisposed to poor neurodevelopmental disorders, possibly as sequelae of early disruption in GABAergic signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Gustorff
- Department of Neonatology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Scheuer
- Department of Neonatology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmitz
- Department of Neonatology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Bührer
- Department of Neonatology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
He JL, Oeltzschner G, Mikkelsen M, Deronda A, Harris AD, Crocetti D, Wodka EL, Mostofsky SH, Edden RAE, Puts NAJ. Region-specific elevations of glutamate + glutamine correlate with the sensory symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:411. [PMID: 34326312 PMCID: PMC8322079 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01525-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals on the autism spectrum are often reported as being hyper- and/or hyporeactive to sensory input. These sensory symptoms were one of the key observations that led to the development of the altered excitation-inhibition (E-I) model of autism, which posits that an increase ratio of excitatory to inhibitory signaling may explain certain phenotypical expressions of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). While there has been strong support for the altered E-I model of autism, much of the evidence has come from animal models. With regard to in-vivo human studies, evidence for altered E-I balance in ASD come from studies adopting magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Spectral-edited MRS can be used to provide measures of the levels of GABA + (GABA + macromolecules) and Glx (glutamate + glutamine) in specific brain regions as proxy markers of inhibition and excitation respectively. In the current study, we found region-specific elevations of Glx in the primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1) in ASD. There were no group differences of GABA+ in either the SM1 or thalamus. Higher levels of Glx were associated with more parent reported difficulties of sensory hyper- and hyporeactivity, as well as reduced feed-forward inhibition during tactile perception in children with ASD. Critically, the finding of elevated Glx provides strong empirical support for increased excitation in ASD. Our results also provide a clear link between Glx and the sensory symptoms of ASD at both behavioral and perceptual levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason L He
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark Mikkelsen
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alyssa Deronda
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Deana Crocetti
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ericka L Wodka
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stewart H Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicolaas A J Puts
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
FoxG1 regulates the formation of cortical GABAergic circuit during an early postnatal critical period resulting in autism spectrum disorder-like phenotypes. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3773. [PMID: 34145239 PMCID: PMC8213811 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23987-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormalities in GABAergic inhibitory circuits have been implicated in the aetiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is caused by genetic and environmental factors. Several genes have been associated with syndromic forms of ASD, including FOXG1. However, when and how dysregulation of FOXG1 can result in defects in inhibitory circuit development and ASD-like social impairments is unclear. Here, we show that increased or decreased FoxG1 expression in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons results in ASD-related circuit and social behavior deficits in our mouse models. We observe that the second postnatal week is the critical period when regulation of FoxG1 expression is required to prevent subsequent ASD-like social impairments. Transplantation of GABAergic precursor cells prior to this critical period and reduction in GABAergic tone via Gad2 mutation ameliorates and exacerbates circuit functionality and social behavioral defects, respectively. Our results provide mechanistic insight into the developmental timing of inhibitory circuit formation underlying ASD-like phenotypes in mouse models. Cortical excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance is a feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, the authors show that FoxG1 regulates the formation of cortical GABAergic circuits affecting social behaviour during a specific postnatal time window in mouse models of ASD.
Collapse
|
48
|
Sensitive period for rescuing parvalbumin interneurons connectivity and social behavior deficits caused by TSC1 loss. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3653. [PMID: 34135323 PMCID: PMC8209106 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23939-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway controls several aspects of neuronal development. Mutations in regulators of mTORC1, such as Tsc1 and Tsc2, lead to neurodevelopmental disorders associated with autism, intellectual disabilities and epilepsy. The correct development of inhibitory interneurons is crucial for functional circuits. In particular, the axonal arborisation and synapse density of parvalbumin (PV)-positive GABAergic interneurons change in the postnatal brain. How and whether mTORC1 signaling affects PV cell development is unknown. Here, we show that Tsc1 haploinsufficiency causes a premature increase in terminal axonal branching and bouton density formed by mutant PV cells, followed by a loss of perisomatic innervation in adult mice. PV cell-restricted Tsc1 haploinsufficient and knockout mice show deficits in social behavior. Finally, we identify a sensitive period during the third postnatal week during which treatment with the mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin rescues deficits in both PV cell innervation and social behavior in adult conditional haploinsufficient mice. Our findings reveal a role of mTORC1 signaling in the regulation of the developmental time course and maintenance of cortical PV cell connectivity and support a mechanistic basis for the targeted rescue of autism-related behaviors in disorders associated with deregulated mTORC1 signaling.
Collapse
|
49
|
Falcone C, Mevises NY, Hong T, Dufour B, Chen X, Noctor SC, Martínez Cerdeño V. Neuronal and glial cell number is altered in a cortical layer-specific manner in autism. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 25:2238-2253. [PMID: 34107793 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211014408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT The cerebral cortex affected with autism spectrum disorder presents changes in the number of neurons and glia cells, possibly leading to a dysregulation of brain circuits and affecting behavior. However, little is known about cell number alteration in specific layers of the cortex in autism spectrum disorder. We found an increase in the number of neurons and a decrease in the number of astrocytes in specific layers of the prefrontal cortex in postmortem human brains from autism spectrum disorder cases. We hypothesize that this may be due to a failure in neural stem cells to shift differentiation from neurons to glial cells during prenatal brain development. These data provide key anatomical findings that contribute to the bases of autism spectrum disorder pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Falcone
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| | - Natalie-Ya Mevises
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| | - Tiffany Hong
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| | - Brett Dufour
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| | | | - Verónica Martínez Cerdeño
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
The role of GABAergic signalling in neurodevelopmental disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:290-307. [PMID: 33772226 PMCID: PMC9001156 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00443-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
GABAergic inhibition shapes the connectivity, activity and plasticity of the brain. A series of exciting new discoveries provides compelling evidence that disruptions in a number of key facets of GABAergic inhibition have critical roles in the aetiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). These facets include the generation, migration and survival of GABAergic neurons, the formation of GABAergic synapses and circuit connectivity, and the dynamic regulation of the efficacy of GABAergic signalling through neuronal chloride transporters. In this Review, we discuss recent work that elucidates the functions and dysfunctions of GABAergic signalling in health and disease, that uncovers the contribution of GABAergic neural circuit dysfunction to NDD aetiology and that leverages such mechanistic insights to advance precision medicine for the treatment of NDDs.
Collapse
|