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Dong Y, Zhao K, Qin X, Du G, Gao L. The mechanisms of perineuronal net abnormalities in contributing aging and neurological diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 92:102092. [PMID: 37839757 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The perineuronal net (PNN) is a highly latticed extracellular matrix in the central nervous system, which is composed of hyaluronic acid, proteoglycan, hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein (Hapln), and tenascin. PNN is predominantly distributed in GABAergic interneurons expressing Parvalbumin (PV) and plays a critical role in synaptic function, learning and memory, oxidative stress, and inflammation. In addition, PNN's structure and function are also modulated by a variety of factors, including protein tyrosine phosphatase σ (PTPσ), orthodenticle homeo-box 2 (Otx2), and erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ErbB4). Glycosaminoglycan (GAG), a component of proteoglycan, also influences PNN through its sulfate mode. PNN undergoes abnormal changes during aging and in various neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and multiple sclerosis. Nevertheless, there is limited report on the relationship between PNN and aging or age-related neurological diseases. This review elaborates on the mechanisms governing PNN regulation and summarizes how PNN abnormalities contribute to aging and neurological diseases, offering insights for potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiao Dong
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Kunkun Zhao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Guanhua Du
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Li Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China.
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Nunes S. Animal-friendly behavioral testing in field studies: examples from ground squirrels. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1239774. [PMID: 37681193 PMCID: PMC10480841 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1239774] [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: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Field studies of behavior provide insight into the expression of behavior in its natural ecological context and can serve as an important complement to behavioral studies conducted in the lab under controlled conditions. In addition to naturalistic observations, behavioral testing can be an important component of field studies of behavior. This mini review evaluates a sample of behavioral testing methods in field studies to identify ways in which behavioral testing can be animal-friendly and generate ethologically relevant data. Specific examples, primarily from studies of ground squirrels, are presented to illustrate ways in which principles of animal-friendly behavioral testing can be applied to and guide testing methods. Tests conducted with animals in their natural habitat and that elicit naturally occurring behavioral responses can minimize stress and disturbance for animals, as well as disruption of the larger ecosystem, and can have high ethological validity. When animals are trapped or handled as part of a study, behavioral testing can be incorporated into handling procedures to reduce overall disturbance. When behavior is evaluated in a testing arena, the arena can be designed to resemble natural conditions to increase the ethological relevance of the test. Efforts to minimize time spent in testing arenas can also reduce disturbance to animals. Adapting a behavioral test to a species or habitat conditions can facilitate reduced disruption to subjects and increased ethological relevance of the test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Nunes
- Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Nunes S, Monroy Montemayor MP. Multiple benefits of juvenile play: A ground squirrel's perspective. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105099. [PMID: 36804264 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105099] [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: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Adaptive functions of play can vary across species, and also within species, reflecting behavioral ecology and evolutionary history. We evaluated juvenile play in Belding's ground squirrels (Urocitellus beldingi), a species for which field studies have assessed play behavior in the context of the squirrels' ecology and life history. Social play behavior in U. beldingi appears not to have the range of adaptive benefits related to social behavior apparent in species with more complex social organization. Play in juvenile U. beldingi improves general motor skill, which may translate to more proficient performance of behaviors during and beyond the juvenile period. Social play in juvenile squirrels is associated with refinement of temperament and behavior, promoting behavioral shifts toward less docile responses as well as more cautious behavior. Social play also influences behavior of juvenile squirrels in novel situations, fostering greater exploration and adaptability of responses. Important life events in U. beldingi such as the timing of natal dispersal and defense of maternal territories can be influenced by juvenile play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Nunes
- Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA.
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Coles C, Lasek AW. Binge-Like Ethanol Drinking Increases Otx2, Wnt1, and Mdk Gene Expression in the Ventral Tegmental Area of Adult Mice. Neurosci Insights 2021; 16:26331055211009850. [PMID: 33954290 PMCID: PMC8058803 DOI: 10.1177/26331055211009850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder is associated with pathophysiological changes in the dopaminergic system. Orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2) is a transcription factor important for the development of dopaminergic neurons residing in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a critical region of the brain involved in drug reinforcement. Previous studies have demonstrated that ethanol exposure during embryonic development reduces Otx2 mRNA levels in the central nervous system. We hypothesized that levels of OTX2 would be altered by binge-like ethanol consumption in adult animals. To test this, Otx2 mRNA and protein levels in the mouse VTA were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively, after mice drank ethanol for 4 days in a procedure that elicits binge levels of ethanol consumption (drinking in the dark). Expression of known and putative OTX2 transcriptional target genes (Sema3c, Wnt1, and Mdk) were also measured in the VTA after ethanol drinking. Otx2 mRNA and protein levels were elevated in the VTA 24 hours after the fourth drinking session and there was a corresponding increase in the expression of Mdk transcript. Interestingly, Wnt1 transcript was elevated in the VTA immediately after the fourth drinking session but returned to control levels 24 hours later. We next investigated if viral-mediated reduction of Otx2 in the mouse VTA would alter ethanol or sucrose intake. Lentiviral vectors expressing a shRNA targeting Otx2 or a control shRNA were injected into the VTA and mice were tested in the drinking in the dark protocol for ethanol and sucrose drinking. Reducing levels of OTX2 in the VTA did not alter ethanol or sucrose consumption. One limitation is that the extent of OTX2 reduction may not have been sufficient. Although OTX2 in the VTA may not play a role in binge-like drinking in adult mice, OTX2 could contribute to ethanol-induced transcriptional changes in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandre Coles
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Amy W Lasek
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Herzog DP, Pascual Cuadrado D, Treccani G, Jene T, Opitz V, Hasch A, Lutz B, Lieb K, Sillaber I, van der Kooij MA, Tiwari VK, Müller MB. A distinct transcriptional signature of antidepressant response in hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cells. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:4. [PMID: 33414410 PMCID: PMC7791134 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01136-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is the most prevalent mental illness worldwide, still its pharmacological treatment is limited by various challenges, such as the large heterogeneity in treatment response and the lack of insight into the neurobiological pathways underlying this phenomenon. To decode the molecular mechanisms shaping antidepressant response and to distinguish those from general paroxetine effects, we used a previously established approach targeting extremes (i.e., good vs poor responder mice). We focused on the dentate gyrus (DG), a subregion of major interest in the context of antidepressant mechanisms. Transcriptome profiling on micro-dissected DG granule cells was performed to (i) reveal cell-type-specific changes in paroxetine-induced gene expression (paroxetine vs vehicle) and (ii) to identify molecular signatures of treatment response within a cohort of paroxetine-treated animals. We identified 112 differentially expressed genes associated with paroxetine treatment. The extreme group comparison (good vs poor responder) yielded 211 differentially expressed genes. General paroxetine effects could be distinguished from treatment response-associated molecular signatures, with a differential gene expression overlap of only 4.6% (15 genes). Biological pathway enrichment and cluster analyses identified candidate mechanisms associated with good treatment response, e.g., neuropeptide signaling, synaptic transmission, calcium signaling, and regulation of glucocorticoid secretion. Finally, we examined glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-dependent regulation of selected response-associated genes to analyze a hypothesized interplay between GR signaling and good antidepressant treatment response. Among the most promising candidates, we suggest potential targets such as the developmental gene Otx2 or Htr2c for further investigations into antidepressant treatment response in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P. Herzog
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Diego Pascual Cuadrado
- grid.410607.4Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Giulia Treccani
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Institute of Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tanja Jene
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Verena Opitz
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Annika Hasch
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Beat Lutz
- grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Klaus Lieb
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Michael A. van der Kooij
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Vijay K. Tiwari
- grid.5802.f0000 0001 1941 7111Institute of Molecular Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.4777.30000 0004 0374 7521Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Marianne B. Müller
- grid.410607.4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany ,grid.410607.4Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Schwartz BA, Wang W, Bao S. Pharmacological DNA Demethylation Weakens Inhibitory Synapses in the Auditory Cortex and Re-opens the Critical Period for Frequency Map Plasticity. Neuroscience 2020; 440:239-248. [PMID: 32512139 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The critical period is a time of maximal plasticity within the cortex. The progression of the critical period is marked by experience-dependent transcriptional alterations in cortical neurons, which in turn shifts the excitatory-inhibitory balance in the brain, and accordingly reduces plasticity. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, control the transcriptional state of neurons, and have been shown to be dynamically regulated during the critical period. Here we show that adult animals have a significantly higher concentration of DNA methylation than critical period animals. Pharmacological reduction of DNA methylation in adult animals re-establishes critical period auditory map plasticity. Furthermore, the reduction of DNA methylation in adult animals, reverted intrinsic characteristics of inhibitory synapses to an immature state. Our data suggest that accumulation of DNA methylation during the critical period confers a mature phenotype to cortical neurons, which in turn, facilitates the reduction in plasticity seen after the critical period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Schwartz
- Neuroscience Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Weihua Wang
- Departments of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Shaowen Bao
- Neuroscience Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States; Departments of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States.
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