1
|
Untiet V, Verkhratsky A. How astrocytic chloride modulates brain states. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2400004. [PMID: 38615322 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400004] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The way the central nervous system (CNS) responds to diverse stimuli is contingent upon the specific brain state of the individual, including sleep and wakefulness. Despite the wealth of readout parameters and data delineating the brain states, the primary mechanisms are yet to be identified. Here we highlight the role of astrocytes, with a specific emphasis on chloride (Cl-) homeostasis as a modulator of brain states. Neuronal activity is regulated by the concentration of ions that determine excitability. Astrocytes, as the CNS homeostatic cells, are recognised for their proficiency in maintaining dynamic homeostasis of ions, known as ionostasis. Nevertheless, the contribution of astrocyte-driven ionostasis to the genesis of brain states or their response to sleep-inducing pharmacological agents has been overlooked. Our objective is to underscore the significance of astrocytic Cl- homeostasis, elucidating how it may underlie the modulation of brain states. We endeavour to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between astrocytes and brain states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena Untiet
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Löscher W, Gramer M, Römermann K. Heterogeneous brain distribution of bumetanide following systemic administration in rats. Biopharm Drug Dispos 2024; 45:138-148. [PMID: 38823029 DOI: 10.1002/bdd.2390] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Bumetanide is used widely as a tool and off-label treatment to inhibit the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter NKCC1 in the brain and thereby to normalize intra-neuronal chloride levels in several brain disorders. However, following systemic administration, bumetanide only poorly penetrates into the brain parenchyma and does not reach levels sufficient to inhibit NKCC1. The low brain penetration is a consequence of both the high ionization rate and plasma protein binding, which restrict brain entry by passive diffusion, and of brain efflux transport. In previous studies, bumetanide was determined in the whole brain or a few brain regions, such as the hippocampus. However, the blood-brain barrier and its efflux transporters are heterogeneous across brain regions, so it cannot be excluded that bumetanide reaches sufficiently high brain levels for NKCC1 inhibition in some discrete brain areas. Here, bumetanide was determined in 14 brain regions following i.v. administration of 10 mg/kg in rats. Because bumetanide is much more rapidly eliminated by rats than humans, its metabolism was reduced by pretreatment with piperonyl butoxide. Significant, up to 5-fold differences in regional bumetanide levels were determined with the highest levels in the midbrain and olfactory bulb and the lowest levels in the striatum and amygdala. Brain:plasma ratios ranged between 0.004 (amygdala) and 0.022 (olfactory bulb). Regional brain levels were significantly correlated with local cerebral blood flow. However, regional bumetanide levels were far below the IC50 (2.4 μM) determined previously for rat NKCC1. Thus, these data further substantiate that the reported effects of bumetanide in rodent models of brain disorders are not related to NKCC1 inhibition in the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Löscher
- Translational Neuropharmacology Laboratory, NIFE, Department of Experimental Otology of the ENT Clinics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martina Gramer
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kerstin Römermann
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Untiet V. Astrocytic chloride regulates brain function in health and disease. Cell Calcium 2024; 118:102855. [PMID: 38364706 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2024.102855] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Chloride ions (Cl-) play a pivotal role in synaptic inhibition in the central nervous system, primarily mediated through ionotropic mechanisms. A recent breakthrough emphathizes the significant influence of astrocytic intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl-]i) regulation, a field still in its early stages of exploration. Typically, the [Cl-]i in most animal cells is maintained at lower levels than the extracellular chloride [Cl-]o, a critical balance to prevent cell swelling due to osmotic pressure. Various Cl- transporters are expressed differently across cell types, fine-tuning the [Cl-]i, while Cl- gradients are utilised by several families of Cl- channels. Although the passive distribution of ions within cells is governed by basic biophysical principles, astrocytes actively expend energy to sustain [Cl-]i at much higher levels than those achieved passively, and much higher than neuronal [Cl-]i. Beyond the role in volume regulation, astrocytic [Cl-]i is dynamically linked to brain states and influences neuronal signalling in actively behaving animals. As a vital component of brain function, astrocytic [Cl-]i also plays a role in the development of disorders where inhibitory transmission is disrupted. This review synthesises the latest insights into astrocytic [Cl-]i, elucidating its role in modulating brain function and its implications in various pathophysiological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena Untiet
- Division of Glial Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Anders S, Breithausen B, Unichenko P, Herde MK, Minge D, Abramian A, Behringer C, Deshpande T, Boehlen A, Domingos C, Henning L, Pitsch J, Kim YB, Bedner P, Steinhäuser C, Henneberger C. Epileptic activity triggers rapid ROCK1-dependent astrocyte morphology changes. Glia 2024; 72:643-659. [PMID: 38031824 PMCID: PMC10842783 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24495] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Long-term modifications of astrocyte function and morphology are well known to occur in epilepsy. They are implicated in the development and manifestation of the disease, but the relevant mechanisms and their pathophysiological role are not firmly established. For instance, it is unclear how quickly the onset of epileptic activity triggers astrocyte morphology changes and what the relevant molecular signals are. We therefore used two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy to monitor astrocyte morphology in parallel to the induction of epileptiform activity. We uncovered astrocyte morphology changes within 10-20 min under various experimental conditions in acute hippocampal slices. In vivo, induction of status epilepticus resulted in similarly altered astrocyte morphology within 30 min. Further analysis in vitro revealed a persistent volume reduction of peripheral astrocyte processes triggered by induction of epileptiform activity. In addition, an impaired diffusion within astrocytes and within the astrocyte network was observed, which most likely is a direct consequence of the astrocyte remodeling. These astrocyte morphology changes were prevented by inhibition of the Rho GTPase RhoA and of the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK). Selective deletion of ROCK1 but not ROCK2 from astrocytes also prevented the morphology change after induction of epileptiform activity and reduced epileptiform activity. Together these observations reveal that epileptic activity triggers a rapid ROCK1-dependent astrocyte morphology change, which is mechanistically linked to the strength of epileptiform activity. This suggests that astrocytic ROCK1 signaling is a maladaptive response of astrocytes to the onset of epileptic activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Anders
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Björn Breithausen
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Petr Unichenko
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michel K. Herde
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Daniel Minge
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Adlin Abramian
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Charlotte Behringer
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tushar Deshpande
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anne Boehlen
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Cátia Domingos
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lukas Henning
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Julika Pitsch
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Young-Bum Kim
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter Bedner
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Steinhäuser
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Henneberger
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kim HR, Martina M. Bidirectional Regulation of GABA A Reversal Potential in the Adult Brain: Physiological and Pathological Implications. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:143. [PMID: 38276272 PMCID: PMC10817304 DOI: 10.3390/life14010143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In physiological conditions, the intracellular chloride concentration is much lower than the extracellular. As GABAA channels are permeable to anions, the reversal potential of GABAA is very close to that of Cl-, which is the most abundant free anion in the intra- and extracellular spaces. Intracellular chloride is regulated by the activity ratio of NKCC1 and KCC2, two chloride-cation cotransporters that import and export Cl-, respectively. Due to the closeness between GABAA reversal potential and the value of the resting membrane potential in most neurons, small changes in intracellular chloride have a major functional impact, which makes GABAA a uniquely flexible signaling system. In most neurons of the adult brain, the GABAA reversal potential is slightly more negative than the resting membrane potential, which makes GABAA hyperpolarizing. Alterations in GABAA reversal potential are a common feature in numerous conditions as they are the consequence of an imbalance in the NKCC1-KCC2 activity ratio. In most conditions (including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and Down's syndrome), GABAA becomes depolarizing, which causes network desynchronization and behavioral impairment. In other conditions (neonatal inflammation and neuropathic pain), however, GABAA reversal potential becomes hypernegative, which affects behavior through a potent circuit deactivation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haram R. Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA;
| | - Marco Martina
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA;
- Department of Psychiatry, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| |
Collapse
|