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Nguyen H, Sokpor G, Parichha A, Pham L, Saikhedkar N, Xie Y, Ulmke PA, Rosenbusch J, Pirouz M, Behr R, Stoykova A, Brand-Saberi B, Nguyen HP, Staiger JF, Tole S, Tuoc T. BAF (mSWI/SNF) complex regulates mediolateral cortical patterning in the developing forebrain. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1011109. [PMID: 36263009 PMCID: PMC9573979 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1011109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Early forebrain patterning entails the correct regional designation of the neuroepithelium, and appropriate specification, generation, and distribution of neural cells during brain development. Specific signaling and transcription factors are known to tightly regulate patterning of the dorsal telencephalon to afford proper structural/functional cortical arealization and morphogenesis. Nevertheless, whether and how changes of the chromatin structure link to the transcriptional program(s) that control cortical patterning remains elusive. Here, we report that the BAF chromatin remodeling complex regulates the spatiotemporal patterning of the mouse dorsal telencephalon. To determine whether and how the BAF complex regulates cortical patterning, we conditionally deleted the BAF complex scaffolding subunits BAF155 and BAF170 in the mouse dorsal telencephalic neuroepithelium. Morphological and cellular changes in the BAF mutant forebrain were examined using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. RNA sequencing, Co-immunoprecipitation, and mass spectrometry were used to investigate the molecular basis of BAF complex involvement in forebrain patterning. We found that conditional ablation of BAF complex in the dorsal telencephalon neuroepithelium caused expansion of the cortical hem and medial cortex beyond their developmental boundaries. Consequently, the hippocampal primordium is not specified, the mediolateral cortical patterning is compromised, and the cortical identity is disturbed in the absence of BAF complex. The BAF complex was found to interact with the cortical hem suppressor LHX2. The BAF complex suppresses cortical hem fate to permit proper forebrain patterning. We provide evidence that BAF complex modulates mediolateral cortical patterning possibly by interacting with the transcription factor LHX2 to drive the LHX2-dependent transcriptional program essential for dorsal telencephalon patterning. Our data suggest a putative mechanistic synergy between BAF chromatin remodeling complex and LHX2 in regulating forebrain patterning and ontogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huong Nguyen
- Institute for Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Thai Nguyen University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen, Vietnam
| | - Godwin Sokpor
- Institute for Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Embryology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Linh Pham
- Institute for Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Yuanbin Xie
- Institute for Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Pauline Antonie Ulmke
- Institute for Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Joachim Rosenbusch
- Institute for Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Mehdi Pirouz
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rüdiger Behr
- German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Goettingen, Germany
| | | | - Beate Brand-Saberi
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Embryology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Huu Phuc Nguyen
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jochen F. Staiger
- Institute for Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Shubha Tole
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
- *Correspondence: Shubha Tole, ; Tran Tuoc,
| | - Tran Tuoc
- Institute for Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- *Correspondence: Shubha Tole, ; Tran Tuoc,
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Fischer M, Chander P, Kang H, Mellios N, Weick JP. Transcriptomic changes due to early, chronic intermittent alcohol exposure during forebrain development implicate WNT signaling, cell-type specification, and cortical regionalization as primary determinants of fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:979-995. [PMID: 33682149 PMCID: PMC8643076 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) due to gestational alcohol exposure represents one of the most common causes of nonheritable lifelong disability worldwide. In vitro and in vivo models have successfully recapitulated multiple facets of the disorder, including morphological and behavioral deficits, but far less is understood regarding the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying FAS. METHODS In this study, we utilized an in vitro human pluripotent stem cell-based (hPSC) model of corticogenesis to probe the effects of early, chronic intermittent alcohol exposure on the transcriptome of first trimester-equivalent cortical neurons. RESULTS We used RNA sequencing of developing hPSC-derived neurons treated for 50 days with 50 mM ethanol and identified a relatively small number of biological pathways significantly altered by alcohol exposure. These included cell-type specification, axon guidance, synaptic function, and regional patterning, with a notable upregulation of WNT signaling-associated transcripts observed in alcohol-exposed cultures relative to alcohol-naïve controls. Importantly, this effect paralleled a shift in gene expression of transcripts associated with regional patterning, such that caudal forebrain-related transcripts were upregulated at the expense of more anterior ones. Results from H9 embryonic stem cells were largely replicated in an induced pluripotent stem cell line (IMR90-4), indicating that these patterning alterations are not cell line-specific. CONCLUSIONS We found that a major effect of chronic intermittent alcohol on the developing cerebral cortex is an overall imbalance in regionalization, with enrichment of gene expression related to the production of posterodorsal progenitors and a diminution of anteroventral progenitors. This finding parallels behavioral and morphological phenotypes observed in animal models of high-dose prenatal alcohol exposure, as well as patients with FAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máté Fischer
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Praveen Chander
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Huining Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Nikolaos Mellios
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Autophagy Inflammation and Metabolism (AIM) Center, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Jason P Weick
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Center for Brain Recovery and Repair, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,New Mexico Alcohol Research Center, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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3
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Ben-Reuven L, Reiner O. Toward Spatial Identities in Human Brain Organoids-on-Chip Induced by Morphogen-Soaked Beads. Bioengineering (Basel) 2020; 7:E164. [PMID: 33352983 PMCID: PMC7766968 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering7040164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in stem-cell technologies include the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into organ-like structures (organoids). These organoids exhibit remarkable self-organization that resembles key aspects of in vivo organ development. However, organoids have an unpredictable anatomy, and poorly reflect the topography of the dorsoventral, mediolateral, and anteroposterior axes. In vivo the temporal and the spatial patterning of the developing tissue is orchestrated by signaling molecules called morphogens. Here, we used morphogen-soaked beads to influence the spatial identities within hESC-derived brain organoids. The morphogen- and synthetic molecules-soaked beads were interpreted as local organizers, and key transcription factor expression levels within the organoids were affected as a function of the distance from the bead. We used an on-chip imaging device that we have developed, that allows live imaging of the developing hESC-derived organoids. This platform enabled studying the effect of changes in WNT/BMP gradients on the expression of key landmark genes in the on-chip human brain organoids. Titration of CHIR99201 (WNT agonist) and BMP4 directed the expression of telencephalon and medial pallium genes; dorsal and ventral midbrain markers; and isthmus-related genes. Overall, our protocol provides an opportunity to study phenotypes of altered regional specification and defected connectivity, which are found in neurodevelopmental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Orly Reiner
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel;
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4
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Vasung L, Rollins CK, Velasco-Annis C, Yun HJ, Zhang J, Warfield SK, Feldman HA, Gholipour A, Grant PE. Spatiotemporal Differences in the Regional Cortical Plate and Subplate Volume Growth during Fetal Development. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:4438-4453. [PMID: 32147720 PMCID: PMC7325717 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The regional specification of the cerebral cortex can be described by protomap and protocortex hypotheses. The protomap hypothesis suggests that the regional destiny of cortical neurons and the relative size of the cortical area are genetically determined early during embryonic development. The protocortex hypothesis suggests that the regional growth rate is predominantly shaped by external influences. In order to determine regional volumes of cortical compartments (cortical plate (CP) or subplate (SP)) and estimate their growth rates, we acquired T2-weighted in utero MRIs of 40 healthy fetuses and grouped them into early (<25.5 GW), mid- (25.5-31.6 GW), and late (>31.6 GW) prenatal periods. MRIs were segmented into CP and SP and further parcellated into 22 gyral regions. No significant difference was found between periods in regional volume fractions of the CP or SP. However, during the early and mid-prenatal periods, we found significant differences in relative growth rates (% increase per GW) between regions of cortical compartments. Thus, the relative size of these regions are most likely conserved and determined early during development whereas more subtle growth differences between regions are fine-tuned later, during periods of peak thalamocortical growth. This is in agreement with both the protomap and protocortex hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana Vasung
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center (FNNDSC), Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Caitlin K Rollins
- Computational Radiology Laboratory, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Clemente Velasco-Annis
- Computational Radiology Laboratory, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hyuk Jin Yun
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center (FNNDSC), Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jennings Zhang
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center (FNNDSC), Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Simon K Warfield
- Computational Radiology Laboratory, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Henry A Feldman
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ali Gholipour
- Computational Radiology Laboratory, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - P Ellen Grant
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center (FNNDSC), Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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5
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Pecheva D, Lee A, Poh JS, Chong YS, Shek LP, Gluckman PD, Meaney MJ, Fortier MV, Qiu A. Neural Transcription Correlates of Multimodal Cortical Phenotypes during Development. Cereb Cortex 2019; 30:2740-2754. [PMID: 31773128 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
During development, cellular events such as cell proliferation, migration, and synaptogenesis determine the structural organization of the brain. These processes are driven in part by spatiotemporally regulated gene expression. We investigated how the genetic signatures of specific neural cell types shape cortical organization of the human brain throughout infancy and childhood. Using a transcriptional atlas and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, we demonstrated time-dependent associations between the expression levels of neuronal and glial genes and cortical macro- and microstructure. Neonatal cortical phenotypes were associated with prenatal glial but not neuronal gene expression. These associations reflect cell migration and proliferation during fetal development. Childhood cortical phenotypes were associated with neuronal and astrocyte gene expression related to synaptic signaling processes, reflecting the refinement of cortical connections. These findings indicate that sequential developmental stages contribute to distinct MRI measures at different time points. This helps to bridge the gap between the genetic mechanisms driving cellular changes and widely used neuroimaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diliana Pecheva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Clinical Imaging Research Center, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Annie Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Clinical Imaging Research Center, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joann S Poh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Clinical Imaging Research Center, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yap-Seng Chong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Lynette P Shek
- Department of Pediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Marielle V Fortier
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Anqi Qiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Clinical Imaging Research Center, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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6
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Cadwell CR, Bhaduri A, Mostajo-Radji MA, Keefe MG, Nowakowski TJ. Development and Arealization of the Cerebral Cortex. Neuron 2019; 103:980-1004. [PMID: 31557462 PMCID: PMC9245854 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Adult cortical areas consist of specialized cell types and circuits that support unique higher-order cognitive functions. How this regional diversity develops from an initially uniform neuroepithelium has been the subject of decades of seminal research, and emerging technologies, including single-cell transcriptomics, provide a new perspective on area-specific molecular diversity. Here, we review the early developmental processes that underlie cortical arealization, including both cortex intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms as embodied by the protomap and protocortex hypotheses, respectively. We propose an integrated model of serial homology whereby intrinsic genetic programs and local factors establish early transcriptomic differences between excitatory neurons destined to give rise to broad "proto-regions," and activity-dependent mechanisms lead to progressive refinement and formation of sharp boundaries between functional areas. Finally, we explore the potential of these basic developmental processes to inform our understanding of the emergence of functional neural networks and circuit abnormalities in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathryn R Cadwell
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Aparna Bhaduri
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Mohammed A Mostajo-Radji
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Matthew G Keefe
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Tomasz J Nowakowski
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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7
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Development and Organization of the Evolutionarily Conserved Three-Layered Olfactory Cortex. eNeuro 2017; 4:eN-REV-0193-16. [PMID: 28144624 PMCID: PMC5272922 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0193-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The olfactory cortex is part of the mammalian cerebral cortex together with the neocortex and the hippocampus. It receives direct input from the olfactory bulbs and participates in odor discrimination, association, and learning (Bekkers and Suzuki, 2013). It is thought to be an evolutionarily conserved paleocortex, which shares common characteristics with the three-layered general cortex of reptiles (Aboitiz et al., 2002). The olfactory cortex has been studied as a “simple model” to address sensory processing, though little is known about its precise cell origin, diversity, and identity. While the development and the cellular diversity of the six-layered neocortex are increasingly understood, the olfactory cortex remains poorly documented in these aspects. Here is a review of current knowledge of the development and organization of the olfactory cortex, keeping the analogy with those of the neocortex. The comparison of olfactory cortex and neocortex will allow the opening of evolutionary perspectives on cortical development.
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8
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The marmoset: An emerging model to unravel the evolution and development of the primate neocortex. Dev Neurobiol 2016; 77:263-272. [DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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9
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Tonchev AB, Tuoc TC, Rosenthal EH, Studer M, Stoykova A. Zbtb20 modulates the sequential generation of neuronal layers in developing cortex. Mol Brain 2016; 9:65. [PMID: 27282384 PMCID: PMC4901408 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-016-0242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During corticogenesis, genetic programs encoded in progenitor cells at different developmental stages and inherited in postmitotic neurons specify distinct layer and area identities. Transcription factor Zbtb20 has been shown to play a role for hippocampal development but whether it is implicated in mammalian neocortical morphogenesis remains unknown. Results Here, we report that during embyogenesis transcription factor Zbtb20 has a dynamic spatio-temporal expression pattern in mitotic cortical progenitors through which it modulates the sequential generation of cortical neuronal layer identities. Zbtb20 knock out mice exhibited enhanced populations of early born L6-L4 neuronal subtypes and a dramatic reduction of the late born L3/L2 neurons. This defect was due to a temporal misbalance in the production of earlier versus later born neurons, leading to a progressive diminishing of the progenitor pool for the generation of L3-L2 neurons. Zbtb20 implements these temporal effects in part by binding to promoter of the orphan nuclear receptor CoupTF1/Nr2f1. In addition to its effects exerted in cortical progenitors, the postmitotic expression of Zbtb20 in L3/L2 neurons starting at birth may contribute to their proper differentiation and migration. Conclusions Our findings reveal Zbtb20 as a novel temporal regulator for the generation of layer-specific neuronal identities. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13041-016-0242-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton B Tonchev
- Molecular Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory, Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg, 37077, Gottingen, Germany. .,Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), 37075, Göttingen, Germany. .,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University-Varna, Varna, Bulgaria.
| | - Tran Cong Tuoc
- Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), 37075, Göttingen, Germany.,Molecular Neurobiology Group, Institute of Neuroanatomy, University of Goettingen Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Eva H Rosenthal
- Molecular Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory, Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg, 37077, Gottingen, Germany
| | - Michèle Studer
- University Nice Sophia Antipolis, iBV, UMR 7277, F-06108, Nice, France.,Inserm, iBV, U1091, F-06108, Nice, France
| | - Anastassia Stoykova
- Molecular Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory, Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg, 37077, Gottingen, Germany. .,Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), 37075, Göttingen, Germany. .,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University-Varna, Varna, Bulgaria.
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10
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Egusa SF, Inoue YU, Asami J, Terakawa YW, Hoshino M, Inoue T. Classic cadherin expressions balance postnatal neuronal positioning and dendrite dynamics to elaborate the specific cytoarchitecture of the mouse cortical area. Neurosci Res 2016; 105:49-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Revised: 09/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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11
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Jernigan TL, Brown TT, Bartsch H, Dale AM. Toward an integrative science of the developing human mind and brain: Focus on the developing cortex. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2016; 18:2-11. [PMID: 26347228 PMCID: PMC4762760 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on the Huttenlocher lecture, this article describes the need for a more integrative scientific paradigm for addressing important questions raised by key observations made over 2 decades ago. Among these are the early descriptions by Huttenlocher of variability in synaptic density in cortex of postmortem brains of children of different ages and the almost simultaneous reports of cortical volume reductions on MR imaging in children and adolescents. In spite of much progress in developmental neurobiology, developmental cognitive neuroscience, and behavioral and imaging genetics, we still do not know how these early observations relate to each other. It is argued that large scale, collaborative research programs are needed to establish the associations between behavioral differences among children and imaging biomarkers, and to link the latter to cellular changes in the developing brain. Examples of progress and challenges remaining are illustrated with data from the Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics Project (PING).
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry L Jernigan
- Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.
| | - Timothy T Brown
- Multimodal Imaging Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Hauke Bartsch
- Multimodal Imaging Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Multimodal Imaging Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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12
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Barber M, Pierani A. Tangential migration of glutamatergic neurons and cortical patterning during development: Lessons from Cajal-Retzius cells. Dev Neurobiol 2015; 76:847-81. [PMID: 26581033 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Revised: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Tangential migration is a mode of cell movement, which in the developing cerebral cortex, is defined by displacement parallel to the ventricular surface and orthogonal to the radial glial fibers. This mode of long-range migration is a strategy by which distinct neuronal classes generated from spatially and molecularly distinct origins can integrate to form appropriate neural circuits within the cortical plate. While it was previously believed that only GABAergic cortical interneurons migrate tangentially from their origins in the subpallial ganglionic eminences to integrate in the cortical plate, it is now known that transient populations of glutamatergic neurons also adopt this mode of migration. These include Cajal-Retzius cells (CRs), subplate neurons (SPs), and cortical plate transient neurons (CPTs), which have crucial roles in orchestrating the radial and tangential development of the embryonic cerebral cortex in a noncell-autonomous manner. While CRs have been extensively studied, it is only in the last decade that the molecular mechanisms governing their tangential migration have begun to be elucidated. To date, the mechanisms of SPs and CPTs tangential migration remain unknown. We therefore review the known signaling pathways, which regulate parameters of CRs migration including their motility, contact-redistribution and adhesion to the pial surface, and discuss this in the context of how CR migration may regulate their signaling activity in a spatial and temporal manner. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 847-881, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Barber
- Institut Jacques-Monod, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Cité, Paris, France.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandra Pierani
- Institut Jacques-Monod, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Cité, Paris, France
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13
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Golonzhka O, Nord A, Tang PLF, Lindtner S, Ypsilanti AR, Ferretti E, Visel A, Selleri L, Rubenstein JLR. Pbx Regulates Patterning of the Cerebral Cortex in Progenitors and Postmitotic Neurons. Neuron 2015; 88:1192-1207. [PMID: 26671461 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrate using conditional mutagenesis that Pbx1, with and without Pbx2(+/-) sensitization, regulates regional identity and laminar patterning of the developing mouse neocortex in cortical progenitors (Emx1-Cre) and in newly generated neurons (Nex1-Cre). Pbx1/2 mutants have three salient molecular phenotypes of cortical regional and laminar organization: hypoplasia of the frontal cortex, ventral expansion of the dorsomedial cortex, and ventral expansion of Reelin expression in the cortical plate of the frontal cortex, concomitant with an inversion of cortical layering in the rostral cortex. Molecular analyses, including PBX ChIP-seq, provide evidence that PBX promotes frontal cortex identity by repressing genes that promote dorsocaudal fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Golonzhka
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Program and the Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, 70 Fargo Street, Suite 205, Boston, MA 02210, USA.
| | - Alex Nord
- Departments of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Paul L F Tang
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Susan Lindtner
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Program and the Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Athena R Ypsilanti
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Program and the Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Elisabetta Ferretti
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA; The Danish Stem Cell Center, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Axel Visel
- Genomics Division, MS 84-171, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA; School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Licia Selleri
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - John L R Rubenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Program and the Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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14
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Ypsilanti AR, Rubenstein JLR. Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms of early cortical development: An examination of how Pax6 coordinates cortical development. J Comp Neurol 2015; 524:609-29. [PMID: 26304102 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Revised: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The development of the cortex is an elaborate process that integrates a plethora of finely tuned molecular processes ranging from carefully regulated gradients of transcription factors, dynamic changes in the chromatin landscape, or formation of protein complexes to elicit and regulate transcription. Combined with cellular processes such as cell type specification, proliferation, differentiation, and migration, all of these developmental processes result in the establishment of an adult mammalian cortex with its typical lamination and regional patterning. By examining in-depth the role of one transcription factor, Pax6, on the regulation of cortical development, its integration in the regulation of chromatin state, and its regulation by cis-regulatory elements, we aim to demonstrate the importance of integrating each level of regulation in our understanding of cortical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athéna R Ypsilanti
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Program, and the Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - John L R Rubenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Program, and the Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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15
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Tuoc TC, Pavlakis E, Tylkowski MA, Stoykova A. Control of cerebral size and thickness. Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:3199-218. [PMID: 24614969 PMCID: PMC11113230 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1590-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian neocortex is a sheet of cells covering the cerebrum that provides the structural basis for the perception of sensory inputs, motor output responses, cognitive function, and mental capacity of primates. Recent discoveries promote the concept that increased cortical surface size and thickness in phylogenetically advanced species is a result of an increased generation of neurons, a process that underlies higher cognitive and intellectual performance in higher primates and humans. Here, we review some of the advances in the field, focusing on the diversity of neocortical progenitors in different species and the cellular mechanisms of neurogenesis. We discuss recent views on intrinsic and extrinsic molecular determinants, including the role of epigenetic chromatin modifiers and microRNA, in the control of neuronal output in developing cortex and in the establishment of normal cortical architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tran Cong Tuoc
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Kreuzbergring 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany,
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16
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Pattabiraman K, Golonzhka O, Lindtner S, Nord AS, Taher L, Hoch R, Silberberg SN, Zhang D, Chen B, Zeng H, Pennacchio LA, Puelles L, Visel A, Rubenstein JLR. Transcriptional regulation of enhancers active in protodomains of the developing cerebral cortex. Neuron 2014; 82:989-1003. [PMID: 24814534 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Elucidating the genetic control of cerebral cortical (pallial) development is essential for understanding function, evolution, and disorders of the brain. Transcription factors (TFs) that embryonically regulate pallial regionalization are expressed in gradients, raising the question of how discrete domains are generated. We provide evidence that small enhancer elements active in protodomains integrate broad transcriptional information. CreER(T2) and GFP expression from 14 different enhancer elements in stable transgenic mice allowed us to define a comprehensive regional fate map of the pallium. We explored transcriptional mechanisms that control the activity of the enhancers using informatics, in vivo occupancy by TFs that regulate cortical patterning (CoupTFI, Pax6, and Pbx1), and analysis of enhancer activity in Pax6 mutants. Overall, the results provide insights into how broadly expressed patterning TFs regulate the activity of small enhancer elements that drive gene expression in pallial protodomains that fate map to distinct cortical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Pattabiraman
- Department of Psychiatry, Program in Neuroscience, Rock Hall, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158-2324, USA
| | - Olga Golonzhka
- Department of Psychiatry, Program in Neuroscience, Rock Hall, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158-2324, USA; Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Susan Lindtner
- Department of Psychiatry, Program in Neuroscience, Rock Hall, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158-2324, USA
| | - Alex S Nord
- Genomics Division, MS 84-171, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Leila Taher
- Computational Biology Branch, National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Department of Medicine, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Renee Hoch
- Department of Psychiatry, Program in Neuroscience, Rock Hall, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158-2324, USA
| | - Shanni N Silberberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Program in Neuroscience, Rock Hall, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158-2324, USA
| | - Dongji Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Program in Neuroscience, Rock Hall, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158-2324, USA
| | - Bin Chen
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - HongKui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Len A Pennacchio
- Genomics Division, MS 84-171, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA
| | - Luis Puelles
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Axel Visel
- Genomics Division, MS 84-171, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA; School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - John L R Rubenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Program in Neuroscience, Rock Hall, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158-2324, USA.
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17
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Miller JA, Ding SL, Sunkin SM, Smith KA, Ng L, Szafer A, Ebbert A, Riley ZL, Royall JJ, Aiona K, Arnold JM, Bennet C, Bertagnolli D, Brouner K, Butler S, Caldejon S, Carey A, Cuhaciyan C, Dalley RA, Dee N, Dolbeare TA, Facer BAC, Feng D, Fliss TP, Gee G, Goldy J, Gourley L, Gregor BW, Gu G, Howard RE, Jochim JM, Kuan CL, Lau C, Lee CK, Lee F, Lemon TA, Lesnar P, McMurray B, Mastan N, Mosqueda N, Naluai-Cecchini T, Ngo NK, Nyhus J, Oldre A, Olson E, Parente J, Parker PD, Parry SE, Stevens A, Pletikos M, Reding M, Roll K, Sandman D, Sarreal M, Shapouri S, Shapovalova NV, Shen EH, Sjoquist N, Slaughterbeck CR, Smith M, Sodt AJ, Williams D, Zöllei L, Fischl B, Gerstein MB, Geschwind DH, Glass IA, Hawrylycz MJ, Hevner RF, Huang H, Jones AR, Knowles JA, Levitt P, Phillips JW, Sestan N, Wohnoutka P, Dang C, Bernard A, Hohmann JG, Lein ES. Transcriptional landscape of the prenatal human brain. Nature 2014; 508:199-206. [PMID: 24695229 PMCID: PMC4105188 DOI: 10.1038/nature13185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 869] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The anatomical and functional architecture of the human brain is largely determined by prenatal transcriptional processes. We describe an anatomically comprehensive atlas of mid-gestational human brain, including de novo reference atlases, in situ hybridization, ultra-high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and microarray analysis on highly discrete laser microdissected brain regions. In developing cerebral cortex, transcriptional differences are found between different proliferative and postmitotic layers, wherein laminar signatures reflect cellular composition and developmental processes. Cytoarchitectural differences between human and mouse have molecular correlates, including species differences in gene expression in subplate, although surprisingly we find minimal differences between the inner and human-expanded outer subventricular zones. Both germinal and postmitotic cortical layers exhibit fronto-temporal gradients, with particular enrichment in frontal lobe. Finally, many neurodevelopmental disorder and human evolution-related genes show patterned expression, potentially underlying unique features of human cortical formation. These data provide a rich, freely-accessible resource for understanding human brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Miller
- 1] Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA [2]
| | - Song-Lin Ding
- 1] Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA [2]
| | - Susan M Sunkin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Kimberly A Smith
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Lydia Ng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Aaron Szafer
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Amanda Ebbert
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Zackery L Riley
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Joshua J Royall
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Kaylynn Aiona
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - James M Arnold
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Crissa Bennet
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | | | - Krissy Brouner
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Stephanie Butler
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Shiella Caldejon
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Anita Carey
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | | | - Rachel A Dalley
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Nick Dee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Tim A Dolbeare
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | | | - David Feng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Tim P Fliss
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Garrett Gee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Jeff Goldy
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Lindsey Gourley
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | | | - Guangyu Gu
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Robert E Howard
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Jayson M Jochim
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Chihchau L Kuan
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Christopher Lau
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Chang-Kyu Lee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Felix Lee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Tracy A Lemon
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Phil Lesnar
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Bergen McMurray
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Naveed Mastan
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Nerick Mosqueda
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Theresa Naluai-Cecchini
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, 1959 North East Pacific Street, Box 356320, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Nhan-Kiet Ngo
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Julie Nyhus
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Aaron Oldre
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Eric Olson
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Jody Parente
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Patrick D Parker
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Sheana E Parry
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Allison Stevens
- 1] Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA [2] Computer Science and AI Lab, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Mihovil Pletikos
- Department of Neurobiology and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
| | - Melissa Reding
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Kate Roll
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - David Sandman
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Melaine Sarreal
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Sheila Shapouri
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | | | - Elaine H Shen
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Nathan Sjoquist
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | | | - Michael Smith
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Andy J Sodt
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Derric Williams
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Lilla Zöllei
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA
| | - Bruce Fischl
- 1] Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA [2] Computer Science and AI Lab, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Mark B Gerstein
- 1] Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA [2] Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology and Semel Institute David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Ian A Glass
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, 1959 North East Pacific Street, Box 356320, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | | | - Robert F Hevner
- 1] Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA [2] Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
| | - Hao Huang
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Allan R Jones
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - James A Knowles
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
| | - Pat Levitt
- 1] Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA [2] Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
| | - John W Phillips
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Nenad Sestan
- Department of Neurobiology and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
| | - Paul Wohnoutka
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Chinh Dang
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Amy Bernard
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - John G Hohmann
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
| | - Ed S Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA
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18
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Giacomantonio CE, Goodhill GJ. A computational model of the effect of gene misexpression on the development of cortical areas. BIOLOGICAL CYBERNETICS 2014; 108:203-221. [PMID: 24570351 DOI: 10.1007/s00422-014-0590-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Brain function depends on the specialisation of brain areas. In the murine cerebral cortex, the development of these areas depends on the coordinated expression of several genes in precise spatial patterns in the telencephalon during embryogenesis. Manipulating the expression of these genes during development alters the positions and sizes of cortical areas in the adult. Qualitative data also show that these genes regulate each other's expression during development so that they form a regulatory network with many feedback loops. However, it is currently unknown which regulatory interactions are critical to generating the correct expression patterns to lead to normal cortical development. Here, we formalise the relationships inferred from genetic manipulations into computational models. We simulate many different networks potentially consistent with the experimental data and show that a surprising diversity of networks produce similar results. This demonstrates that existing data cannot uniquely specify the network. We conclude by suggesting experiments necessary to constrain the model and help identify and understand the true structure of this regulatory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare E Giacomantonio
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia,
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19
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Bielen H, Houart C. The Wnt cries many: Wnt regulation of neurogenesis through tissue patterning, proliferation, and asymmetric cell division. Dev Neurobiol 2014; 74:772-80. [DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Revised: 11/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Holger Bielen
- MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology; King's College London, Guy's Campus; London SE1 1UL United Kingdom
| | - Corinne Houart
- MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology; King's College London, Guy's Campus; London SE1 1UL United Kingdom
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20
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MuhChyi C, Juliandi B, Matsuda T, Nakashima K. Epigenetic regulation of neural stem cell fate during corticogenesis. Int J Dev Neurosci 2013; 31:424-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2013.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Revised: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/14/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chai MuhChyi
- Laboratory of Molecular NeuroscienceGraduate School of Biological SciencesNara Institute of Science and TechnologyTakayama 8916‐5IkomaNara630‐0192Japan
| | - Berry Juliandi
- Laboratory of Molecular NeuroscienceGraduate School of Biological SciencesNara Institute of Science and TechnologyTakayama 8916‐5IkomaNara630‐0192Japan
- Department of BiologyBogor Agricultural University (IPB)DramagaBogor16680Indonesia
| | - Taito Matsuda
- Laboratory of Molecular NeuroscienceGraduate School of Biological SciencesNara Institute of Science and TechnologyTakayama 8916‐5IkomaNara630‐0192Japan
| | - Kinichi Nakashima
- Laboratory of Molecular NeuroscienceGraduate School of Biological SciencesNara Institute of Science and TechnologyTakayama 8916‐5IkomaNara630‐0192Japan
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21
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Nomura T, Kawaguchi M, Ono K, Murakami Y. Reptiles: a new model for brain evo-devo research. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2013; 320:57-73. [PMID: 23319423 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2012] [Revised: 10/05/2012] [Accepted: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Vertebrate brains exhibit vast amounts of anatomical diversity. In particular, the elaborate and complex nervous system of amniotes is correlated with the size of their behavioral repertoire. However, the evolutionary mechanisms underlying species-specific brain morphogenesis remain elusive. In this review we introduce reptiles as a new model organism for understanding brain evolution. These animal groups inherited ancestral traits of brain architectures. We will describe several unique aspects of the reptilian nervous system with a special focus on the telencephalon, and discuss the genetic mechanisms underlying reptile-specific brain morphology. The establishment of experimental evo-devo approaches to studying reptiles will help to shed light on the origin of the amniote brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Nomura
- Developmental Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Taisyogun, Kitaku, Kyoto, Japan.
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22
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Kwan KY. Transcriptional dysregulation of neocortical circuit assembly in ASD. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2013; 113:167-205. [PMID: 24290386 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-418700-9.00006-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) impair social cognition and communication, key higher-order functions centered in the human neocortex. The assembly of neocortical circuitry is a precisely regulated developmental process susceptible to genetic alterations that can ultimately affect cognitive abilities. Because ASD is an early onset neurodevelopmental disorder that disrupts functions executed by the neocortex, miswiring of neocortical circuits has been hypothesized to be an underlying mechanism of ASD. This possibility is supported by emerging genetic findings and data from imaging studies. Recent research on neocortical development has identified transcription factors as key determinants of neocortical circuit assembly, mediating diverse processes including neuronal specification, migration, and wiring. Many of these TFs (TBR1, SOX5, FEZF2, and SATB2) have been implicated in ASD. Here, I will discuss the functional roles of these transcriptional programs in neocortical circuit development and their neurobiological implications for the emerging etiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Y Kwan
- Department of Human Genetics, Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (MBNI), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
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23
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Suzuki IK, Hirata T. Neocortical neurogenesis is not really “neo”: A new evolutionary model derived from a comparative study of chick pallial development. Dev Growth Differ 2012; 55:173-87. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Revised: 10/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ikuo K. Suzuki
- Division of Brain Function; National Institute of Genetics; Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai); Yata 1111; Mishima; 411-8540; Japan
| | - Tatsumi Hirata
- Division of Brain Function; National Institute of Genetics; Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai); Yata 1111; Mishima; 411-8540; Japan
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24
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Paul V, Tonchev AB, Henningfeld KA, Pavlakis E, Rust B, Pieler T, Stoykova A. Scratch2 modulates neurogenesis and cell migration through antagonism of bHLH proteins in the developing neocortex. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [PMID: 23180754 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhs356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Scratch genes (Scrt) are neural-specific zinc-finger transcription factors (TFs) with an unknown function in the developing brain. Here, we show that, in addition to the reported expression of mammalian Scrt2 in postmitotic differentiating and mature neurons in the developing and early postnatal brain, Scrt2 is also localized in subsets of mitotic and neurogenic radial glial (RGP) and intermediate (IP) progenitors, as well as in their descendants-postmitotic IPs and differentiating neurons at the border subventricular/intermediate zone. Conditional activation of transgenic Scrt2 in cortical progenitors in mice promotes neuronal differentiation by favoring the direct mode of neurogenesis of RGPs at the onset of neurogenesis, at the expense of IP generation. Neuronal amplification via indirect IP neurogenesis is thereby extenuated, leading to a mild postnatal reduction of cortical thickness. Forced in vivo overexpression of Scrt2 suppressed the generation of IPs from RGPs and caused a delay in the radial migration of upper layer neurons toward the cortical plate. Mechanistically, our results indicate that Scrt2 negatively regulates the transcriptional activation of the basic helix loop helix TFs Ngn2/NeuroD1 on E-box containing common target genes, including Rnd2, a well-known major effector for migrational defects in developing cortex. Altogether, these findings reveal a modulatory role of Scrt2 protein in cortical neurogenesis and neuronal migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Paul
- Research Group Molecular Developmental Neurobiology, Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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25
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Huffman K. The developing, aging neocortex: how genetics and epigenetics influence early developmental patterning and age-related change. Front Genet 2012; 3:212. [PMID: 23087707 PMCID: PMC3473232 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2012.00212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Accepted: 09/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A hallmark of mammalian development is the generation of functional subdivisions within the nervous system. In humans, this regionalization creates a complex system that regulates behavior, cognition, memory, and emotion. During development, specification of neocortical tissue that leads to functional sensory and motor regions results from an interplay between cortically intrinsic, molecular processes, such as gene expression, and extrinsic processes regulated by sensory input. Cortical specification in mice occurs pre- and perinatally, when gene expression is robust and various anatomical distinctions are observed alongside an emergence of physiological function. After patterning, gene expression continues to shift and axonal connections mature into an adult form. The function of adult cortical gene expression may be to maintain neocortical subdivisions that were established during early patterning. As some changes in neocortical gene expression have been observed past early development into late adulthood, gene expression may also play a role in the altered neocortical function observed in age-related cognitive decline and brain dysfunction. This review provides a discussion of how neocortical gene expression and specific patterns of neocortical sensori-motor axonal connections develop and change throughout the lifespan of the animal. We posit that a role of neocortical gene expression in neocortex is to regulate plasticity mechanisms that impact critical periods for sensory and motor plasticity in aging. We describe results from several studies in aging brain that detail changes in gene expression that may relate to microstructural changes observed in brain anatomy. We discuss the role of altered glucocorticoid signaling in age-related cognitive and functional decline, as well as how aging in the brain may result from immune system activation. We describe how caloric restriction or reduction of oxidative stress may ameliorate effects of aging on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Huffman
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
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26
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Terakawa YW, Inoue YU, Asami J, Hoshino M, Inoue T. A sharp cadherin-6 gene expression boundary in the developing mouse cortical plate demarcates the future functional areal border. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 23:2293-308. [PMID: 22875867 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhs221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian cerebral cortex can be tangentially subdivided into tens of functional areas with distinct cyto-architectures and neural circuitries; however, it remains elusive how these areal borders are genetically elaborated during development. Here we establish original bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mouse lines that specifically recapitulate cadherin-6 (Cdh6) mRNA expression profiles in the layer IV of the somatosensory cortex and by detailing their cortical development, we show that a sharp Cdh6 gene expression boundary is formed at a mediolateral coordinate along the cortical layer IV as early as the postnatal day 5 (P5). By further applying mouse genetics that allows rigid cell fate tracing with CreERT2 expression, it is demonstrated that the Cdh6 gene expression boundary set at around P4 eventually demarcates the areal border between the somatosensory barrel and limb field at P20. In the P6 cortical cell pellet culture system, neurons with Cdh6 expression preferentially form aggregates in a manner dependent on Ca(2+) and electroporation-based Cdh6 overexpression limited to the postnatal stages perturbs area-specific cell organization in the barrel field. These results suggest that Cdh6 expression in the nascent cortical plate may serve solidification of the protomap for cortical functional areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhei W Terakawa
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
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27
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Rosenthal EH, Tonchev AB, Stoykova A, Chowdhury K. Regulation of archicortical arealization by the transcription factor Zbtb20. Hippocampus 2012; 22:2144-56. [PMID: 22689450 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms of regionalization of the medial pallium (MP), the anlage of the hippocampus, and transitional (cingulate and retrosplenial) cortices are largely unknown. Previous analyses have outlined an important role of the transcription factor (TF) Zbtb20 for hippocampal CA1 field specification (Nielsen et al. (2007) Development 134:1133-1140; Nielsen et al. (2010) Cereb Cortex 20:1904-1914; Xie et al. (2010) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:6510-6515). Here, we present novel data showing that Zbtb20 exhibits a ventral(high)-to-dorsal(low) gradient of expression in MP progenitors as well as an expression in postmitotic cells at the transitional cortex/neocortex border. Our detailed pattern analysis revealed that in Zbtb20 loss-of-function the molecular borders between neocortical, transitional, and hippocampal fields are progressively shifted ventrally, leading to an ectopic positioning of all dorsal fields into the neighboring ventrally located areas. Thus, in addition to its known importance for the specification of the hippocampal CA1 sector, the graded expression of TF Zbtb20 in ventricular zone of MP appears to translate early positional information for establishment of all developing MP fields. Our data also suggest that the signaling factor Wnt3a is a putative molecular partner of TF Zbtb20 in this patterning process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva H Rosenthal
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg, Goettingen, Germany
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28
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Kwan KY, Sestan N, Anton ES. Transcriptional co-regulation of neuronal migration and laminar identity in the neocortex. Development 2012; 139:1535-46. [PMID: 22492350 DOI: 10.1242/dev.069963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The cerebral neocortex is segregated into six horizontal layers, each containing unique populations of molecularly and functionally distinct excitatory projection (pyramidal) neurons and inhibitory interneurons. Development of the neocortex requires the orchestrated execution of a series of crucial processes, including the migration of young neurons into appropriate positions within the nascent neocortex, and the acquisition of layer-specific neuronal identities and axonal projections. Here, we discuss emerging evidence supporting the notion that the migration and final laminar positioning of cortical neurons are also co-regulated by cell type- and layer-specific transcription factors that play concomitant roles in determining the molecular identity and axonal connectivity of these neurons. These transcriptional programs thus provide direct links between the mechanisms controlling the laminar position and identity of cortical neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Y Kwan
- Department of Neurobiology and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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29
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Barkovich AJ, Guerrini R, Kuzniecky RI, Jackson GD, Dobyns WB. A developmental and genetic classification for malformations of cortical development: update 2012. Brain 2012; 135:1348-69. [PMID: 22427329 PMCID: PMC3338922 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aws019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 658] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malformations of cerebral cortical development include a wide range of developmental disorders that are common causes of neurodevelopmental delay and epilepsy. In addition, study of these disorders contributes greatly to the understanding of normal brain development and its perturbations. The rapid recent evolution of molecular biology, genetics and imaging has resulted in an explosive increase in our knowledge of cerebral cortex development and in the number and types of malformations of cortical development that have been reported. These advances continue to modify our perception of these malformations. This review addresses recent changes in our perception of these disorders and proposes a modified classification based upon updates in our knowledge of cerebral cortical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- A James Barkovich
- Neuroradiology, University of California at San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94913-0628, USA.
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Dye CA, Abbott CW, Huffman KJ. Bilateral enucleation alters gene expression and intraneocortical connections in the mouse. Neural Dev 2012; 7:5. [PMID: 22289655 PMCID: PMC3347983 DOI: 10.1186/1749-8104-7-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Anatomically and functionally distinct sensory and motor neocortical areas form during mammalian development through a process called arealization. This process is believed to be reliant on both activity-dependent and activity-independent mechanisms. Although both mechanisms are thought to function concurrently during arealization, the nature of their interaction is not understood. To examine the potential interplay of extrinsic activity-dependent mechanisms, such as sensory input, and intrinsic activity-independent mechanisms, including gene expression in mouse neocortical development, we performed bilateral enucleations in newborn mice and conducted anatomical and molecular analyses 10 days later. In this study, by surgically removing the eyes of the newborn mouse, we examined whether early enucleation would impact normal gene expression and the development of basic anatomical features such as intraneocortical connections and cortical area boundaries in the first 10 days of life, before natural eye opening. We examined the acute effects of bilateral enucleation on the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus and the neocortical somatosensory-visual area boundary through detailed analyses of intraneocortical connections and gene expression of six developmentally regulated genes at postnatal day 10. Results Our results demonstrate short-term plasticity on postnatal day 10 resulting from the removal of the eyes at birth, with changes in nuclear size and gene expression within the lateral geniculate nucleus as well as a shift in intraneocortical connections and ephrin A5 expression at the somatosensory-visual boundary. In this report, we highlight the correlation between positional shifts in ephrin A5 expression and improper refinement of intraneocortical connections observed at the somatosensory-visual boundary in enucleates on postnatal day 10. Conclusions Bilateral enucleation induces a positional shift of both ephrin A5 expression and intraneocortical projections at the somatosensory-visual border in only 10 days. These changes occur prior to natural eye opening, suggesting a possible role of spontaneous retinal activity in area border formation within the neocortex. Through these analyses, we gain a deeper understanding of how extrinsic activity-dependent mechanisms, particularly input from sensory organs, are integrated with intrinsic activity-independent mechanisms to regulate neocortical arealization and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Dye
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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31
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Jabaudon D, Shnider SJ, Tischfield DJ, Galazo MJ, Macklis JD. RORβ induces barrel-like neuronal clusters in the developing neocortex. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 22:996-1006. [PMID: 21799210 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhr182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neurons in layer IV of the rodent whisker somatosensory cortex are tangentially organized in periodic clusters called barrels, each of which is innervated by thalamocortical axons transmitting sensory information from a single principal whisker, together forming a somatotopic map of the whisker pad. Proper thalamocortical innervation is critical for barrel formation during development, but the molecular mechanisms controlling layer IV neuron clustering are unknown. Here, we investigate the role in this mapping of the nuclear orphan receptor RORβ, which is expressed in neurons in layer IV during corticogenesis. We find that RORβ protein expression specifically increases in the whisker barrel cortex during barrel formation and that in vivo overexpression of RORβ is sufficient to induce periodic barrel-like clustering of cortical neurons. Remarkably, this clustering can be induced as early as E18, prior to innervation by thalamocortical afferents and whisker derived-input. At later developmental stages, these ectopic neuronal clusters are specifically innervated by thalamocortical axons, demonstrated by anterograde labeling from the thalamus and by expression of thalamocortical-specific synaptic markers. Together, these data indicate that RORβ expression levels control cytoarchitectural patterning of neocortical neurons during development, a critical process for the topographical mapping of whisker input onto the cortical surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Jabaudon
- MGH-HMS Center for Nervous System Repair, Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Puelles L. Pallio-pallial tangential migrations and growth signaling: new scenario for cortical evolution? BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2011; 78:108-27. [PMID: 21701143 DOI: 10.1159/000327905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Observations accruing in recent years imply that the areal patterning and size dimensioning of the mammalian neocortex are influenced by diverse sets of tangentially migrating glutamatergic neurons that invade the cortical plate and, in so doing, modify the properties of the neopallial proliferative compartments. This developmental scenario sheds new light upon the old issue of how the mammalian neocortex evolved its more complex structure from nonmammalian antecedent forms. In reviewing these novelties, I first point out the topological position of the neopallial island as a central component of the pallium in all gnathostomes, surrounded by a ring of prospective allocortical pallial regions and a more distant set of peripheral neighboring forebrain areas. Early patterning arises from the periphery via passive planar signaling. This process probably establishes the pallium field and its basic island plus allocortical ring organization, as well as a rough prepatterning of some regional subareas. Afterwards, patterning and modulated growth are also actively influenced by the convergence of separate streams of tangentially migrating subpial cells (partly peripheral and partly allocortical in origin) which collectively form the Cajal-Retzius neuronal population in layer I. Effects of these cells include the inside-out stratification of the cortical plate and they may also contribute to the evolutionary emergence of the 6-layered neocortical structure. The most recent addition to our knowledge of pallio-pallial migrations is the existence of a subsequent deep tangential migration of ventropallial cells into the neopallial primordium, whose signaling influence upon local progenitors magnifies the cortex population by 20%. These glutamatergic cells dispersedly invade the entire cortex but largely die postnatally. The crucial implications of these data for comparative thinking on mammalian neocortex evolution and interpretation of potential homologs in sauropsids are explored. Finally, a new conjecture regarding a possible role of the hitherto disregarded lateral pallium is advanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Puelles
- Department of Human Anatomy and Psychobiology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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Rubenstein JLR. Annual Research Review: Development of the cerebral cortex: implications for neurodevelopmental disorders. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2011; 52:339-55. [PMID: 20735793 PMCID: PMC3429600 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02307.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The cerebral cortex has a central role in cognitive and emotional processing. As such, understanding the mechanisms that govern its development and function will be central to understanding the bases of severe neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly those that first appear in childhood. In this review, I highlight recent progress in elucidating genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms that control cortical development. I discuss basic aspects of cortical developmental anatomy, and mechanisms that regulate cortical size and area formation, with an emphasis on the roles of fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) signaling and specific transcription factors. I then examine how specific types of cortical excitatory projection neurons are generated, and how their axons grow along stereotyped pathways to their targets. Next, I address how cortical inhibitory (GABAergic) neurons are generated, and point out the role of these cells in controlling cortical plasticity and critical periods. The paper concludes with an examination of four possible developmental mechanisms that could contribute to some forms of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L R Rubenstein
- Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Center for Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of California at San Francisco, CA 94158-2324, USA.
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Schmitt O, Birkholz H. Improvement in cytoarchitectonic mapping by combining electrodynamic modeling with local orientation in high-resolution images of the cerebral cortex. Microsc Res Tech 2011; 74:225-43. [DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2010] [Accepted: 05/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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35
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Brancaccio M, Pivetta C, Granzotto M, Filippis C, Mallamaci A. Emx2 and Foxg1 inhibit gliogenesis and promote neuronogenesis. Stem Cells 2010; 28:1206-18. [PMID: 20506244 DOI: 10.1002/stem.443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) give rise to all cell types forming the cortex: neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. The transition from the former to the latter ones takes place via lineage-restricted progenitors in a highly regulated way. This process is mastered by large sets of genes, among which some implicated in central nervous system pattern formation. The aim of this study was to disentangle the kinetic and histogenetic roles exerted by two of these genes, Emx2 and Foxg1, in cortico-cerebral precursors. For this purpose, we set up a new integrated in vitro assay design. Embryonic cortical progenitors were transduced with lentiviral vectors driving overexpression of Emx2 and Foxg1 in NSCs and neuronal progenitors. Cells belonging to different neuronogenic and gliogenic compartments were labeled by spectrally distinguishable fluoroproteins driven by cell type-specific promoters and by cell type-specific antibodies and were scored via multiplex cytofluorometry and immunocytofluorescence. A detailed picture of Emx2 and Foxg1 activities in cortico-cerebral histogenesis resulted from this study. Unexpectedly, we found that both genes inhibit gliogenesis and promote neuronogenesis, through distinct mechanisms, and Foxg1 also dramatically stimulates neurite outgrowth. Remarkably, such activities, alone or combined, may be exploited to ameliorate the neuronal output obtainable from neural cultures, for purposes of cell-based brain repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Brancaccio
- SISSA, Neurobiology Sector, Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Trieste, Italy
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36
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Dye CA, El Shawa H, Huffman KJ. A lifespan analysis of intraneocortical connections and gene expression in the mouse I. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 21:1311-30. [PMID: 21060110 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhq212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
A hallmark of mammalian evolution is the structural and functional complexity of the cerebral cortex. Within the cerebral cortex, the neocortex, or isocortex, is a 6-layered complexly organized structure that is comprised of multiple interconnected sensory and motor areas. These areas and their precise patterns of connections arise during development, through a process termed arealization. Intrinsic, activity-independent and extrinsic, activity-dependent mechanisms are involved in the development of neocortical areas and their connections. The intrinsic molecular mechanisms involved in the establishment of this sophisticated network are not fully understood. In this report (I) and the companion report (II), we present the first lifespan analysis of ipsilateral intraneocortical connections (INCs) among multiple sensory and motor regions, from the embryonic period to adulthood in the mouse. Additionally, we characterize the neocortical expression patterns of several developmentally regulated genes that are of central importance to studies investigating the molecular control of arealization from embryonic day 13.5 to postnatal day (P) 3 (I) and P6 to 50 (II). In this analysis, we utilize novel methods to correlate the boundaries of gene expression with INCs and developing areal boundaries, in order to better understand the nature of gene-areal relationships during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Dye
- Department of Psychology and Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California-Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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Giacomantonio CE, Goodhill GJ. A Boolean model of the gene regulatory network underlying Mammalian cortical area development. PLoS Comput Biol 2010; 6. [PMID: 20862356 PMCID: PMC2940723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2010] [Accepted: 08/17/2010] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebral cortex is divided into many functionally distinct areas. The emergence of these areas during neural development is dependent on the expression patterns of several genes. Along the anterior-posterior axis, gradients of Fgf8, Emx2, Pax6, Coup-tfi, and Sp8 play a particularly strong role in specifying areal identity. However, our understanding of the regulatory interactions between these genes that lead to their confinement to particular spatial patterns is currently qualitative and incomplete. We therefore used a computational model of the interactions between these five genes to determine which interactions, and combinations of interactions, occur in networks that reproduce the anterior-posterior expression patterns observed experimentally. The model treats expression levels as Boolean, reflecting the qualitative nature of the expression data currently available. We simulated gene expression patterns created by all possible networks containing the five genes of interest. We found that only of these networks were able to reproduce the experimentally observed expression patterns. These networks all lacked certain interactions and combinations of interactions including auto-regulation and inductive loops. Many higher order combinations of interactions also never appeared in networks that satisfied our criteria for good performance. While there was remarkable diversity in the structure of the networks that perform well, an analysis of the probability of each interaction gave an indication of which interactions are most likely to be present in the gene network regulating cortical area development. We found that in general, repressive interactions are much more likely than inductive ones, but that mutually repressive loops are not critical for correct network functioning. Overall, our model illuminates the design principles of the gene network regulating cortical area development, and makes novel predictions that can be tested experimentally. Understanding the development of the brain is an important challenge. Progress on this problem will give insight into how the brain works and what can go wrong to cause developmental disorders like autism and learning disability. This paper examines the development of the outer part of the mammalian brain, the cerebral cortex. This part of the brain contains different areas with specialised functions. Over the past decade, several genes have been identified that play a major role in the development of cortical areas. During development, these genes are expressed in different patterns across the surface of the cortex. Experiments have shown that these genes interact with each other so that they each regulate how much other genes in the group are expressed. However, the experimental data are consistent with many different regulatory networks. In this study, we use a computational model to systematically screen many possible networks. This allows us to predict which regulatory interactions between these genes are important for the patterns of gene expression in the cortex to develop correctly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare E. Giacomantonio
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Geoffrey J. Goodhill
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Toyoda R, Assimacopoulos S, Wilcoxon J, Taylor A, Feldman P, Suzuki-Hirano A, Shimogori T, Grove EA. FGF8 acts as a classic diffusible morphogen to pattern the neocortex. Development 2010; 137:3439-48. [PMID: 20843859 DOI: 10.1242/dev.055392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Gain- and loss-of-function experiments have demonstrated that a source of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 8 regulates anterior to posterior (A/P) patterning in the neocortical area map. Whether FGF8 controls patterning as a classic diffusible morphogen has not been directly tested. We report evidence that FGF8 diffuses through the mouse neocortical primordium from a discrete source in the anterior telencephalon, forms a protein gradient across the entire A/P extent of the primordium, and acts directly at a distance from its source to determine area identity. FGF8 immunofluorescence revealed FGF8 protein distributed in an A/P gradient. Fate-mapping experiments showed that outside the most anterior telencephalon, neocortical progenitor cells did not express Fgf8, nor were they derived from Fgf8-expressing cells, suggesting that graded distribution of FGF8 results from protein diffusion from the anterior source. Supporting this conclusion, a dominant-negative high-affinity FGF8 receptor captured endogenous FGF8 at a distance from the FGF8 source. New FGF8 sources introduced by electroporation showed haloes of FGF8 immunofluorescence indicative of FGF8 diffusion, and surrounding cells reacted to a new source of FGF8 by upregulating different FGF8-responsive genes in concentric domains around the source. Reducing endogenous FGF8 with the dominant-negative receptor in the central neocortical primordium induced cells to adopt a more posterior area identity, demonstrating long-range area patterning by FGF8. These observations support FGF8 as a classic diffusible morphogen in neocortex, thereby guiding future studies of neocortical pattern formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reiko Toyoda
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Abstract
How much neocortical development depends on connections remains elusive. Here, we show that Celsr3|Dlx mutant mice have no extrinsic neocortical connections yet survive to postnatal day 20, acquire a basic behavioral repertoire, and display spontaneous hyperactivity, with abnormal light/dark activity cycling. Except for hallmarks related to thalamic input, such as barrels in somatosensory cortex, cortical arealization and laminar maturation proceeded normally. However, the tangential extension of the mature cortex was diminished, with radial thickness less severely affected. Deep layer neurons were reduced in number, and their apical and basal dendritic arbors were blunted, with reduced synapse density. Interneurons reached the cortex, and their density was comparable with wild type. The excitability of mutant pyramidal neurons, measured in vitro in patch-clamp experiments in acute slices, was decreased. However, their firing activity in vivo was quite similar to the wild type, except for the presence of rapid firing exhaustion in some mutant neurons. Local field potential and electrocorticogram showed similar range of oscillations, albeit with higher frequency peaks and reduced left-right synchrony in the mutant. Thus, "protomap" formation, namely cortical lamination and arealization, proceed normally in absence of extrinsic connections, but survival of projection neurons and acquisition of mature morphological and some electrophysiological features depend on the establishment of normal cortical-subcortical relationships.
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Borello U, Pierani A. Patterning the cerebral cortex: traveling with morphogens. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2010; 20:408-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2010.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2010] [Revised: 05/03/2010] [Accepted: 05/05/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Griveau A, Borello U, Causeret F, Tissir F, Boggetto N, Karaz S, Pierani A. A novel role for Dbx1-derived Cajal-Retzius cells in early regionalization of the cerebral cortical neuroepithelium. PLoS Biol 2010; 8:e1000440. [PMID: 20668538 PMCID: PMC2910656 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2009] [Accepted: 06/17/2010] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Patterning of the cerebral cortex during embryogenesis depends not only on passive diffusion of morphogens but also on signal delivery by Cajal-Retzius neurons that migrate over long distances. Patterning of the cortical neuroepithelium occurs at early stages of embryonic development in response to secreted molecules from signaling centers. These signals have been shown to establish the graded expression of transcription factors in progenitors within the ventricular zone and to control the size and positioning of cortical areas. Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells are among the earliest generated cortical neurons and migrate from the borders of the developing pallium to cover the cortical primordium by E11.5. We show that molecularly distinct CR subtypes distribute in specific combinations in pallial territories at the time of cortical regionalization. By means of genetic ablation experiments in mice, we report that loss of septum Dbx1-derived CR cells in the rostromedial pallium between E10.5 and E11.5 results in the redistribution of CR subtypes. This leads to changes in the expression of transcription factors within the neuroepithelium and in the proliferation properties of medial and dorsal cortical progenitors. Early regionalization defects correlate with shifts in the positioning of cortical areas at postnatal stages in the absence of alterations of gene expression at signaling centers. We show that septum-derived CR neurons express a highly specific repertoire of signaling factors. Our results strongly suggest that these cells, migrating over long distances and positioned in the postmitotic compartment, signal to ventricular zone progenitors and, thus, function as modulators of early cortical patterning. Patterning of the cerebral cortex occurs early during embryonic development in response to secreted molecules or morphogens produced at signaling centers. These morphogens establish the graded expression of transcription factors (TFs) in progenitor cells and control the size and positioning of cortical areas in the postnatal animal. CR cells are among the earliest born cortical neurons and play a crucial role in cortical lamination. They are generated at signaling centers and migrate over long distances to cover its entire surface. We show that three different CR subtypes distribute in specific proportions in cortical territories. Genetic ablation of one subpopulation leads to a highly dynamic redistribution of the two others. This results in defects in expression of transcription factors and in progenitor cell proliferation, which correlate with the resulting changes in the size and positioning of cortical areas. Given our additional evidence that CR subtypes express specific repertoires of signaling factors, the ablation phenotypes point to a novel early role for CR cells as mediators of cortical patterning and suggest that CR cells are able to signal to progenitor cells. Our data thus add to the conventional model that morphogens act by passive diffusion and point to a strategy of morphogen delivery over long distance by migrating cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Griveau
- CNRS-UMR 7592, Program of Development and Neurobiology, Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Ugo Borello
- CNRS-UMR 7592, Program of Development and Neurobiology, Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Causeret
- CNRS-UMR 7592, Program of Development and Neurobiology, Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Fadel Tissir
- Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicole Boggetto
- CNRS-UMR 7592, Program of Development and Neurobiology, Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Sonia Karaz
- CNRS-UMR 7592, Program of Development and Neurobiology, Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Alessandra Pierani
- CNRS-UMR 7592, Program of Development and Neurobiology, Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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42
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Shoemaker LD, Arlotta P. Untangling the cortex: Advances in understanding specification and differentiation of corticospinal motor neurons. Bioessays 2010; 32:197-206. [PMID: 20108227 DOI: 10.1002/bies.200900114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The mature cerebral cortex contains a staggering variety of projection neuron subtypes, and a number of complementary studies have recently begun to define their identity and embryonic origin. Among the different types of cortical projection neurons, subcerebral projection neurons, including corticospinal motor neurons (CSMN), have been extensively studied and some of the molecular controls over their differentiation have been elucidated. Here, we first provide an overview of the approaches used to purify and molecularly profile neuronal populations of the neocortex and, more broadly, of the central nervous system (CNS). Next, we specifically review recent progress in understanding the genes that define and control development of the CSMN population. Finally, we briefly discuss the relevance of this work to current questions regarding the mechanisms of the establishment of projection neuron subtype identity in the neocortex and its implications to direct the differentiation of CSMN for therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorelei D Shoemaker
- Center for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paola Arlotta
- Center for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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43
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Colloquium paper: a role for relaxed selection in the evolution of the language capacity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107 Suppl 2:9000-6. [PMID: 20445088 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0914624107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Explaining the extravagant complexity of the human language and our competence to acquire it has long posed challenges for natural selection theory. To answer his critics, Darwin turned to sexual selection to account for the extreme development of language. Many contemporary evolutionary theorists have invoked incredibly lucky mutation or some variant of the assimilation of acquired behaviors to innate predispositions in an effort to explain it. Recent evodevo approaches have identified developmental processes that help to explain how complex functional synergies can evolve by Darwinian means. Interestingly, many of these developmental mechanisms bear a resemblance to aspects of Darwin's mechanism of natural selection, often differing only in one respect (e.g., form of duplication, kind of variation, competition/cooperation). A common feature is an interplay between processes of stabilizing selection and processes of relaxed selection at different levels of organism function. These may play important roles in the many levels of evolutionary process contributing to language. Surprisingly, the relaxation of selection at the organism level may have been a source of many complex synergistic features of the human language capacity, and may help explain why so much language information is "inherited" socially.
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Ling KH, Hewitt CA, Beissbarth T, Hyde L, Banerjee K, Cheah PS, Cannon PZ, Hahn CN, Thomas PQ, Smyth GK, Tan SS, Thomas T, Scott HS. Molecular networks involved in mouse cerebral corticogenesis and spatio-temporal regulation of Sox4 and Sox11 novel antisense transcripts revealed by transcriptome profiling. Genome Biol 2009; 10:R104. [PMID: 19799774 PMCID: PMC2784319 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2009-10-10-r104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2009] [Revised: 07/20/2009] [Accepted: 10/02/2009] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Development of the cerebral cortex requires highly specific spatio-temporal regulation of gene expression. It is proposed that transcriptome profiling of the cerebral cortex at various developmental time points or regions will reveal candidate genes and associated molecular pathways involved in cerebral corticogenesis. RESULTS Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) libraries were constructed from C57BL/6 mouse cerebral cortices of age embryonic day (E) 15.5, E17.5, postnatal day (P) 1.5 and 4 to 6 months. Hierarchical clustering analysis of 561 differentially expressed transcripts showed regionalized, stage-specific and co-regulated expression profiles. SAGE expression profiles of 70 differentially expressed transcripts were validated using quantitative RT-PCR assays. Ingenuity pathway analyses of validated differentially expressed transcripts demonstrated that these transcripts possess distinctive functional properties related to various stages of cerebral corticogenesis and human neurological disorders. Genomic clustering analysis of the differentially expressed transcripts identified two highly transcribed genomic loci, Sox4 and Sox11, during embryonic cerebral corticogenesis. These loci feature unusual overlapping sense and antisense transcripts with alternative polyadenylation sites and differential expression. The Sox4 and Sox11 antisense transcripts were highly expressed in the brain compared to other mouse organs and are differentially expressed in both the proliferating and differentiating neural stem/progenitor cells and P19 (embryonal carcinoma) cells. CONCLUSIONS We report validated gene expression profiles that have implications for understanding the associations between differentially expressed transcripts, novel targets and related disorders pertaining to cerebral corticogenesis. The study reports, for the first time, spatio-temporally regulated Sox4 and Sox11 antisense transcripts in the brain, neural stem/progenitor cells and P19 cells, suggesting they have an important role in cerebral corticogenesis and neuronal/glial cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- King-Hwa Ling
- Molecular Medicine Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- The School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor DE, Malaysia
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science and The Hanson Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Chelsee A Hewitt
- Molecular Medicine Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Current address: Pathology Department, The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrews Place, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia
| | - Tim Beissbarth
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Current address: Department of Medical Statistics (Biostatistics), University of Göttingen, Humboldtalle 32, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lavinia Hyde
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Current address: The Bioinformatics Unit, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Kakoli Banerjee
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Pike-See Cheah
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor DE, Malaysia
| | - Ping Z Cannon
- Molecular Medicine Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Christopher N Hahn
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science and The Hanson Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Paul Q Thomas
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Gordon K Smyth
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Seong-Seng Tan
- Howard Florey Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Tim Thomas
- Molecular Medicine Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Hamish S Scott
- Molecular Medicine Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- The School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science and The Hanson Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
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Abstract
The enlargement and species-specific elaboration of the cerebral neocortex during evolution holds the secret to the mental abilities of humans; however, the genetic origin and cellular mechanisms that generated the distinct evolutionary advancements are not well understood. This article describes how novelties that make us human may have been introduced during evolution, based on findings in the embryonic cerebral cortex in different mammalian species. The data on the differences in gene expression, new molecular pathways and novel cellular interactions that have led to these evolutionary advances may also provide insight into the pathogenesis and therapies for human-specific neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasko Rakic
- Department of Neurobiology and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.
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Abstract
This article reviews key recent findings in the field of human cortical development. This development is divided into three major time-dependent phases: neural proliferation of inhibitory and excitatory neurons in spatially distinct regions, migration through multiple cellular boundaries, and maturation through morphologic changes that result in the elaboration of dendrites and axons and that establish the multitude of cellular contacts that underlie neuronal processing. Many of the neurocognitive disorders treated in the clinic can trace their origin to a disorder in one or more of these key steps. Along with this update, work is highlighted that offers a glimpse at the future of therapy for developmental brain disorders that can result from disorders of these cellular events.
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Friedlander MJ, Torres-Reveron J. The changing roles of neurons in the cortical subplate. Front Neuroanat 2009; 3:15. [PMID: 19688111 PMCID: PMC2727405 DOI: 10.3389/neuro.05.015.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2009] [Accepted: 07/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons may serve different functions over the course of an organism's life. Recent evidence suggests that cortical subplate (SP) neurons including those that reside in the white matter may perform longitudinal multi-tasking at different stages of development. These cells play a key role in early cortical development in coordinating thalamocortical reciprocal innervation. At later stages of development, they become integrated within the cortical microcircuitry. This type of longitudinal multi-tasking can enhance the capacity for information processing by populations of cells serving different functions over the lifespan. Subplate cells are initially derived when cells from the ventricular zone underlying the cortex migrate to the cortical preplate that is subsequently split by the differentiating neurons of the cortical plate with some neurons locating in the marginal zone and others settling below in the SP. While the cortical plate neurons form most of the cortical layers (layers 2–6), the marginal zone neurons form layer 1 and the SP neurons become interstitial cells of the white matter as well as forming a compact sublayer along the bottom of layer 6. After serving as transient innervation targets for thalamocortical axons, most of these cells die and layer 4 neurons become innervated by thalamic axons. However, 10–20% survives, remaining into adulthood along the bottom of layer 6 and as a scattered population of interstitial neurons in the white matter. Surviving SP cells' axons project throughout the overlying laminae, reaching layer 1 and issuing axon collaterals within white matter and in lower layer 6. This suggests that they participate in local synaptic networks, as well. Moreover, they receive excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs, potentially monitoring outputs from axon collaterals of cortical efferents, from cortical afferents and/or from each other. We explore our understanding of the functional connectivity of these cells at different stages of development.
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Iwata T, Hevner RF. Fibroblast growth factor signaling in development of the cerebral cortex. Dev Growth Differ 2009; 51:299-323. [PMID: 19379279 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2009.01104.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Despite substantial and exciting recent progress in our understanding of developmental processes in the cerebral cortex, there is still much to be learned about the molecular and cellular mechanisms that account for formation of the cortical structures, and in turn, how the regulation of these mechanisms is linked to cortical functions and behaviors in animals and humans. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a classic family of growth factors that are important in neural development and whose structures and signaling have been well-studied molecularly and biochemically. Recent advances have revealed their diverse but specific functions in patterning and neurogenesis during cortical development, as evidenced by multiple experimental approaches using in vivo models. Importantly, changes in FGF signaling during development have been shown to influence structure and function of the cerebral cortex as well as animal behavior, and have been implicated in disorders of nervous system function and intellectual development in humans. For example, disturbance of FGF pathways during development has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders. Experimental models with altered cortical structure due to perturbations of FGF signaling present a unique opportunity whereby molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie cortical function and animal behavior can be directly studied and linked to each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Iwata
- Division of Cancer Sciences & Molecular Pathology, University of Glasgow, Beatson Laboratories, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK.
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Boretius S, Michaelis T, Tammer R, Ashery-Padan R, Frahm J, Stoykova A. In vivo MRI of altered brain anatomy and fiber connectivity in adult pax6 deficient mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 19:2838-47. [PMID: 19329571 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhp057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The impact of developmental ablation of Pax6 function on morphology and functional connectivity of the adult cerebrum was studied in cortex-specific Pax6 knockout mice (Pax6cKO) using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), manganese-enhanced MRI, and diffusion tensor MRI in conjunction with fiber tractography. Mutants presented with decreased volumes of total brain and olfactory bulb, reduced cortical thickness, and altered layering of the piriform cortex. Tracking of major neuronal fiber bundles revealed a disorganization of callosal fibers with an almost complete lack of interhemispheric connectivity. In Pax6cKO mice intrahemispheric callosal fibers as well as intracortical fibers were predominantly directed along a rostrocaudal orientation instead of a left-right and dorsoventral orientation found in controls. Fiber disorganization also involved the septohippocampal connection targeting mostly the lateral septal nucleus. The hippocampus was rostrally extended and its volume was increased relative to that of the forebrain and midbrain. Manganese-induced MRI signal enhancement in the CA3 region suggested a normal function of hippocampal pyramidal cells. Noteworthy, several morphologic disturbances in gray and white matter of Pax6cKO mice were similar to observations in human aniridia patients. The present findings indicate an important role of Pax6 in the development of both the cortex and cerebral fiber connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Boretius
- Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH am Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, 37070 Göttingen, Germany.
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Bayatti N, Sarma S, Shaw C, Eyre JA, Vouyiouklis DA, Lindsay S, Clowry GJ. Progressive loss of PAX6, TBR2, NEUROD and TBR1 mRNA gradients correlates with translocation of EMX2 to the cortical plate during human cortical development. Eur J Neurosci 2009; 28:1449-56. [PMID: 18973570 PMCID: PMC2675014 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2008.06475.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factors Emx2 and Pax6 are expressed in the proliferating zones of the developing rodent neocortex, and gradients of expression interact in specifying caudal and rostral identities. Pax6 is also involved in corticoneurogenesis, being expressed by radial glial progenitors that give rise to cells that also sequentially express Tbr2, NeuroD and Tbr1, genes temporally downstream of Pax6. In this study, using in situ hybridization, we analysed the expression of EMX2, PAX6, TBR2, NEUROD and TBR1 mRNA in the developing human cortex between 8 and 12 postconceptional weeks (PCW). EMX2 mRNA was expressed in the ventricular (VZ) and subventricular zones (SVZ), but also in the cortical plate, unlike in the rodent. However, gradients of expression were similar to that of the rodent at all ages studied. PAX6 mRNA expression was limited to the VZ and SVZ. At 8 PCW, PAX6 was highly expressed rostrally but less so caudally, as has been seen in the rodent, however this gradient disappeared early in corticogenesis, by 9 PCW. There was less restricted compartment-specific expression of TBR2, NEUROD and TBR1 mRNA than in the rodent, where the gradients of expression were similar to that of PAX6 prior to 9 PCW. The gradient disappeared for TBR2 by 10 PCW, and for NEUROD and TBR1 by 12 PCW. These data support recent reports that EMX2 but not PAX6 is more directly involved in arealization, highlighting that analysis of human development allows better spatio-temporal resolution than studies in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadhim Bayatti
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
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