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Leon Kropf V, Albany CJ, Zoccarato A, Green HLH, Yang Y, Brewer AC. TET3 is a positive regulator of mitochondrial respiration in Neuro2A cells. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0294187. [PMID: 38227585 PMCID: PMC10790995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Ten-Eleven-Translocase (TET) enzymes contribute to the regulation of the methylome via successive oxidation of 5-methyl cytosine (5mC) to derivatives which can be actively removed by base-excision-repair (BER) mechanisms in the absence of cell division. This is particularly important in post-mitotic neurons where changes in DNA methylation are known to associate with changes in neural function. TET3, specifically, is a critical regulator of both neuronal differentiation in development and mediates dynamic changes in the methylome of adult neurons associated with cognitive function. While DNA methylation is understood to regulate transcription, little is known of the specific targets of TET3-dependent catalytic activity in neurons. We report the results of an unbiased transcriptome analysis of the neuroblastoma-derived cell line; Neuro2A, in which Tet3 was silenced. Oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) was identified as the most significantly down-regulated functional canonical pathway, and these findings were confirmed by measurements of oxygen consumption rate in the Seahorse bioenergetics analyser. The mRNA levels of both nuclear- and mitochondrial-encoded OxPhos genes were reduced by Tet3-silencing, but we found no evidence for differential (hydroxy)methylation deposition at these gene loci. However, the mRNA expression of genes known to be involved in mitochondrial quality control were also shown to be significantly downregulated in the absence of TET3. One of these genes; EndoG, was identified as a direct target of TET3-catalytic activity at non-CpG methylated sites within its gene body. Accordingly, we propose that aberrant mitochondrial homeostasis may contribute to the decrease in OxPhos, observed upon Tet3-downregulation in Neuro2A cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Leon Kropf
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caraugh J. Albany
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Zoccarato
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah L. H. Green
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, London, United Kingdom
| | - Youwen Yang
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alison C. Brewer
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, London, United Kingdom
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Dinckol O, Wenger NH, Zachry JE, Kutlu MG. Nucleus accumbens core single cell ensembles bidirectionally respond to experienced versus observed aversive events. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22602. [PMID: 38114559 PMCID: PMC10730531 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49686-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear learning is a critical feature of survival skills among mammals. In rodents, fear learning manifests itself through direct experience of the aversive event or social transmission of aversive stimuli such as observing and acting on conspecifics' distress. The neuronal network underlying the social transmission of information largely overlaps with the brain regions that mediate behavioral responses to aversive and rewarding stimuli. In this study, we recorded single cell activity patterns of nucleus accumbens (NAc) core neurons using in vivo optical imaging of calcium transients via miniature scopes. This cutting-edge imaging methodology not only allows us to record activity patterns of individual neurons but also lets us longitudinally follow these individual neurons across time and different behavioral states. Using this approach, we identified NAc core single cell ensembles that respond to experienced and/or observed aversive stimuli. Our results showed that experienced and observed aversive stimuli evoke NAc core ensemble activity that is largely positive, with a smaller subset of negative responses. The size of the NAc single cell ensemble response was greater for experienced aversive stimuli compared to observed aversive events. Our results also revealed sex differences in the NAc core single cell ensembles responses to experience aversive stimuli, where females showed a greater accumbal response. Importantly, we found a subpopulation within the NAc core single cell ensembles that show a bidirectional response to experienced aversive stimuli versus observed aversive stimuli (i.e., negative response to experienced and positive response to observed). Our results suggest that the NAc plays a role in differentiating somatosensory experience from social observation of aversion at a single cell level. These results have important implications for psychopathologies where social information processing is maladaptive, such as autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyku Dinckol
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Noah Harris Wenger
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Jennifer E Zachry
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Munir Gunes Kutlu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA.
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA.
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Dinckol O, Zachry JE, Kutlu MG. Nucleus accumbens core single cell ensembles bidirectionally respond to experienced versus observed aversive events. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.17.549364. [PMID: 37503203 PMCID: PMC10370069 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.17.549364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Empathy is the ability to adopt others' sensory and emotional states and is an evolutionarily conserved trait among mammals. In rodents, empathy manifests itself as social modulation of aversive stimuli such as acknowledging and acting on conspecifics' distress. The neuronal network underlying social transmission of information is known to overlap with the brain regions that mediate behavioral responses to aversive and rewarding stimuli. In this study, we recorded single cell activity patterns of nucleus accumbens (NAc) core neurons using in vivo optical imaging of calcium transients via miniature scopes. This cutting-edge imaging methodology not only allows us to record activity patterns of individual neurons but also lets us longitudinally follow these individual neurons across time and different behavioral states. Using this approach, we identified NAc core single cell ensembles that respond to experienced and/or observed aversive stimuli. Our results showed that experienced and observed aversive stimuli evoke NAc core ensemble activity that is largely positive, with a smaller subset of negative responses. The size of the NAc single cell ensemble response was greater for experienced aversive stimuli compared to observed aversive events. Our results also revealed a subpopulation within the NAc core single cell ensembles that show a bidirectional response to experienced aversive stimuli versus observed aversive stimuli (i.e., negative response to experienced and positive response to observed). These results suggest that the NAc plays a role in differentiating somatosensory experience from social observation of aversion at a single cell level. This has important implications for psychopathologies where social information processing is maladaptive, such as autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Munir Gunes Kutlu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA
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Wang B, Zhao T, Chen XX, Zhu YY, Lu X, Qian QH, Chen HR, Meng XH, Wang H, Wei W, Xu DX. Gestational 1-nitropyrene exposure causes anxiety-like behavior partially by altering hippocampal epigenetic reprogramming of synaptic plasticity in male adult offspring. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 453:131427. [PMID: 37080034 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
1-Nitropyrene (1-NP), a typical nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is a developmental toxicant. This study was to evaluate gestational 1-NP-induced anxiety-like behavior in male adult offspring. Pregnant mice were orally administered to 1-NP daily throughout pregnancy. Anxiety-like behaviors, as determined by Elevated Plus-Maze (EPM) and Open-Field Test (OFT), were showed in male adult offspring whose mothers were exposed to 1-NP. Gestational 1-NP exposure reduced dendritic arborization, dendritic length and dendritic spine density in ventral hippocampus of male adult offspring. Additional experiments showed that gephyrin, an inhibitory synaptic marker, was reduced in fetal forebrain and hippocampus in male adult offspring. Nrg1 and Erbb4, two gephyrin-related genes, were reduced in 1-NP-exposed fetuses. Accordingly, 5hmC contents in two CpG sites (32008909 and 32009239) of Nrg1 gene and three CpG sites (69107743, 69107866 and 69107899) of Erbb4 gene were decreased in 1-NP-exposed fetuses. Mechanistically, ten-eleven translocation (TET) activity and alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG) content were decreased in 1-NP-exposed fetal forebrain. Supplementation with α-KG alleviated 1-NP-induced downregulation of gephyrin-related genes, prevented hippocampal synaptic damage, and improved anxiety-like behavior in male adult offspring. These results indicate that early-life 1-NP exposure causes anxiety-like behavior in male adulthood partially by altering hippocampal epigenetic reprogramming of synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ting Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xiao-Xi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yan-Yan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xue Lu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Qing-Hua Qian
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Hui-Ru Chen
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xiu-Hong Meng
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory & Immune Medicine, Education Ministry of China, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
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Ng R, Kalinousky A, Harris J. Epigenetics of cognition and behavior: insights from Mendelian disorders of epigenetic machinery. J Neurodev Disord 2023; 15:16. [PMID: 37245029 PMCID: PMC10224589 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09482-0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics, one mechanism by which gene expression can change without any changes to the DNA sequence, was described nearly a century ago. However, the importance of epigenetic processes to neurodevelopment and higher order neurological functions like cognition and behavior is only now being realized. A group of disorders known as the Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery are caused by the altered function of epigenetic machinery proteins, which consequently affects downstream expression of many genes. These disorders almost universally have cognitive dysfunction and behavioral issues as core features. Here, we review what is known about the neurodevelopmental phenotypes of some key examples of these disorders divided into categories based on the underlying function of the affected protein. Understanding these Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery can illuminate the role of epigenetic regulation in typical brain function and can lead to future therapies and better management for a host of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Ng
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Allison Kalinousky
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacqueline Harris
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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On making (and turning adaptive to) maladaptive aversive memories in laboratory rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105101. [PMID: 36804263 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Fear conditioning and avoidance tasks usually elicit adaptive aversive memories. Traumatic memories are more intense, generalized, inflexible, and resistant to attenuation via extinction- and reconsolidation-based strategies. Inducing and assessing these dysfunctional, maladaptive features in the laboratory are crucial to interrogating posttraumatic stress disorder's neurobiology and exploring innovative treatments. Here we analyze over 350 studies addressing this question in adult rats and mice. There is a growing interest in modeling several qualitative and quantitative memory changes by exposing already stressed animals to freezing- and avoidance-related tests or using a relatively high aversive training magnitude. Other options combine aversive/fearful tasks with post-acquisition or post-retrieval administration of one or more drugs provoking neurochemical or epigenetic alterations reported in the trauma aftermath. It is potentially instructive to integrate these procedures and incorporate the measurement of autonomic and endocrine parameters. Factors to consider when defining the organismic and procedural variables, partially neglected aspects (sex-dependent differences and recent vs. remote data comparison) and suggestions for future research (identifying reliable individual risk and treatment-response predictors) are discussed.
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Xia M, Yan R, Kim MH, Xu X. Tet Enzyme-Mediated Response in Environmental Stress and Stress-Related Psychiatric Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:1594-1608. [PMID: 36534335 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03168-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Mental disorders caused by stress have become a worldwide public health problem. These mental disorders are often the results of a combination of genes and environment, in which epigenetic modifications play a crucial role. At present, the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder or depression caused by environmental stress are not entirely clear. Although many epigenetic modifications affect gene regulation, the most well-known modification in eukaryotic cells is the DNA methylation of CpG islands. Stress causes changes in DNA methylation in the brain to participate in the neuronal function or mood-modulating behaviors, and these epigenetic modifications can be passed on to offspring. Ten-eleven translocation (Tet) enzymes are the 5-methylcytosine (5mC) hydroxylases of DNA, which recognize 5mC on the DNA sequence and oxidize it to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). Tet regulates gene expression at the transcriptional level through the demethylation of DNA. This review will elaborate on the molecular mechanism and the functions of Tet enzymes in environmental stress-related disorders and discuss future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Xia
- Departments of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, 215006, China.,Department of Physiology and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul City, 03080, Korea
| | - Rui Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Myoung-Hwan Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul City, 03080, Korea.
| | - Xingshun Xu
- Departments of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, 215006, China. .,Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China.
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