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Qneibi M, Bdir S, Bdair M, Aldwaik SA, Heeh M, Sandouka D, Idais T. Exploring the role of AMPA receptor auxiliary proteins in synaptic functions and diseases. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 39394632 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 10/13/2024]
Abstract
α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) ionotropic glutamate receptors (AMPARs) mediate rapid excitatory synaptic transmission in the mammalian brain, primarily driven by the neurotransmitter glutamate. The modulation of AMPAR activity, particularly calcium-permeable AMPARs (CP-AMPARs), is crucially influenced by various auxiliary subunits. These subunits are integral membrane proteins that bind to the receptor's core and modify its functional properties, including ion channel kinetics and receptor trafficking. This review comprehensively catalogs all known AMPAR auxiliary proteins, providing vital insights into the biochemical mechanisms governing synaptic modulation and the specific impact of CP-AMPARs compared to their calcium-impermeable AMPA receptor (CI-AMPARs). Understanding the complex interplay between AMPARs and their auxiliary subunits in different brain regions is essential for elucidating their roles in cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Importantly, alterations in these auxiliary proteins' expression, function or interactions have been implicated in various neurological disorders. Aberrant signaling through CP-AMPARs, in particular, is associated with severe synaptic dysfunctions across neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions. Targeting the distinct properties of AMPAR-auxiliary subunit complexes, especially those involving CP-AMPARs, could disclose new therapeutic strategies, potentially allowing for more precise interventions in treating complex neuronal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Qneibi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Sosana Bdir
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Mohammad Bdair
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Samia Ammar Aldwaik
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | | | - Dana Sandouka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Tala Idais
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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2
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Zhang W, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Cha S, Li J, Chen L, Wu J, Teng J, Guo G, Zhang J. Effects of DeSUMOylated Spastin on AMPA Receptor Surface Delivery and Synaptic Function Are Enhanced by Phosphorylating at Ser210. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:6045-6059. [PMID: 38267753 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03935-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Surface trafficking of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) is one of the important mechanisms mediating synaptic plasticity which is essential for cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Spastin, as a novel binding partner for the AMPAR, has been reported to regulate AMPAR surface expression and synaptic function. Additionally, Spastin undergoes two posttranslational modifications, phosphorylation and SUMOylation, both of which are crucial for synaptic function. However, gaps exist in our knowledge of how Spastin phosphorylation cross-talks with its SUMOylation in the regulation of AMPAR surface expression and synaptic function. Here, we reported that deSUMOylation of Spastin at Lys427 increased the surface level of AMPAR GluA2 subunit, the amplitude and frequency of miniature excitatory synaptic currents (mEPSC), and facilitated the morphological maturation of dendritic spines in cultured hippocampal neurons. Further studies demonstrated that Spastin phosphorylation at Ser210 further increased the enhancement of GluA2 surface expression and synaptic function by deSUMOylated Spastin, while dephosphorylation had the opposite effect. Simultaneously, deSUMOylation at Lys427 significantly increased the promoting effect of Spastin phosphorylation on synaptic function. In conclusion, our study suggests that cooperative interactions between phosphorylated and deSUMOylated Spastin are novel pathways to enhance synaptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
- Department of Surgery, The First Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Zhongqi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Shunde Hospital of Jinan University, Foshan, 528305, China
| | - Shuhan Cha
- Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jiong Li
- Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jiaming Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jijun Teng
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266011, China.
| | - Guoqing Guo
- Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
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3
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Qin L, Liu Z, Guo S, Han Y, Wang X, Ren W, Chen J, Zhen H, Nie C, Xing KK, Chen T, Südhof TC, Sun Y, Zhang B. Astrocytic Neuroligin-3 influences gene expression and social behavior, but is dispensable for synapse number. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02659-6. [PMID: 39003414 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02659-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Neuroligin-3 (Nlgn3) is an autism-associated cell-adhesion molecule that interacts with neurexins and is robustly expressed in both neurons and astrocytes. Neuronal Nlgn3 is an essential regulator of synaptic transmission but the function of astrocytic Nlgn3 is largely unknown. Given the high penetrance of Nlgn3 mutations in autism and the emerging role of astrocytes in neuropsychiatric disorders, we here asked whether astrocytic Nlgn3 might shape neural circuit properties in the cerebellum similar to neuronal Nlgn3. Imaging of tagged Nlgn3 protein produced by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing showed that Nlgn3 is enriched in the cell body but not the fine processes of cerebellar astrocytes (Bergmann glia). Astrocyte-specific knockout of Nlgn3 did not detectably alter the number of synapses, synaptic transmission, or astrocyte morphology in mouse cerebellum. However, spatial transcriptomic analyses revealed a significant shift in gene expression among multiple cerebellar cell types after the deletion of astrocytic Nlgn3. Hence, in contrast to neuronal Nlgn3, astrocytic Nlgn3 in the cerebellum is not involved in shaping synapses but may modulate gene expression in specific brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Qin
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Zhili Liu
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sile Guo
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Ying Han
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Xiankun Wang
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Wen Ren
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Jiewen Chen
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Hefu Zhen
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Chao Nie
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Ke-Ke Xing
- Department of Anatomy and K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Anatomy and K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Thomas C Südhof
- Department of molecular and cellular physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94043, USA.
| | - Yuzhe Sun
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- BGI Research, 102601, Beijing, China.
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neurogenomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
| | - Bo Zhang
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China.
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4
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Gargiulo MR, Argibay LM, Molina VA, Calfa GD, Bender CL. Role of amygdala astrocytes in different phases of contextual fear memory. Behav Brain Res 2024; 468:115017. [PMID: 38679145 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates a critical role of astrocytes in learning and memory. However, little is known about the role of basolateral amygdala complex (BLA-C) astrocytes in contextual fear conditioning (CFC), a paradigm relevant to understand and generate treatments for fear- and anxiety-related disorders. To get insights on the involvement of BLA-C astrocytes in fear memory, fluorocitrate (FLC), a reversible astroglial metabolic inhibitor, was applied at critical moments of the memory processing in order to target the acquisition, consolidation, retrieval and reconsolidation process of the fear memory. Adult Wistar male rats were bilaterally cannulated in BLA-C. Ten days later they were infused with different doses of FLC (0.5 or 1 nmol/0.5 µl) or saline before or after CFC and before or after retrieval. FLC impaired fear memory expression when administered before and shortly after CFC, but not one hour later. Infusion of FLC prior and after retrieval did not affect the memory. Our findings suggest that BLA-C astrocytes are critically involved in the acquisition/early consolidation of fear memory but not in the retrieval and reconsolidation. Furthermore, the extinction process was presumably not affected (considering that peri-retrieval administration could also affect this process).
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Riva Gargiulo
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET) - Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher (FCQ-UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lourdes María Argibay
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET) - Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher (FCQ-UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Víctor Alejandro Molina
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET) - Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher (FCQ-UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Gastón Diego Calfa
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET) - Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher (FCQ-UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Crhistian Luis Bender
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET) - Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher (FCQ-UNC), Córdoba, Argentina.
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5
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Asano Y, Sasaki D, Ikoma Y, Matsui K. Glial tone of aggression. Neurosci Res 2024; 202:39-51. [PMID: 38007191 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Anger transition is often abrupt. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms responsible for switching and modulating aggression levels. The cerebellum is considered a center for motor coordination and learning; however, its connection to social behavior has long been observed. Here, we used the resident-intruder paradigm in male mice and examined local field potential (LFP) changes, glial cytosolic ion fluctuations, and vascular dynamics in the cerebellar vermis throughout various phases of a combat sequence. Notably, we observed the emergence of theta band oscillations in the LFP and sustained elevations in glial Ca2+ levels during combat breakups. When astrocytes, including Bergmann glial cells, were photoactivated using channelrhodopsin-2, the theta band emerged and an early combat breakup occurred. Within a single combat sequence, rapid alteration of offensive (fight) and passive (flight) responses were observed, which roughly correlated with decreases and increases in glial Ca2+, respectively. Neuron-glial interactions in the cerebellar vermis may play a role in adjusting Purkinje cell excitability and setting the tone of aggression. Future anger management strategies and clinical control of excessive aggression and violent behavior may be realized by developing a therapeutic strategy that adjusts glial activity in the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Asano
- Super-network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577 Japan
| | - Daichi Sasaki
- Super-network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577 Japan
| | - Yoko Ikoma
- Super-network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577 Japan
| | - Ko Matsui
- Super-network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577 Japan.
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6
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Hjukse JB, Puebla MFDL, Vindedal GF, Sprengel R, Jensen V, Nagelhus EA, Tang W. Increased membrane Ca 2+ permeability drives astrocytic Ca 2+ dynamics during neuronal stimulation at excitatory synapses. Glia 2023; 71:2770-2781. [PMID: 37564028 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are intricately involved in the activity of neural circuits; however, their basic physiology of interacting with nearby neurons is not well established. Using two-photon imaging of neurons and astrocytes during higher frequency stimulation of hippocampal CA3-CA1 Schaffer collateral (Scc) excitatory synapses, we could show that increasing levels of released glutamate accelerated local astrocytic Ca2+ elevation. However, blockage of glutamate transporters did not abolish this astrocytic Ca2+ response, suggesting that astrocytic Ca2+ elevation is indirectly associated with an uptake of extracellular glutamate. However, during the astrocytic glutamate uptake, the Na+ /Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) reverse mode was activated, and mediated extracellular Ca2+ entry, thereby triggering the internal release of Ca2+ . In addition, extracellular Ca2+ entry via membrane P2X receptors further facilitated astrocytic Ca2+ elevation via ATP binding. These findings suggest a novel mechanism of activity induced Ca2+ permeability increases of astrocytic membranes, which drives astrocytic responses during neuronal stimulation of CA3-CA1 Scc excitatory synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarand B Hjukse
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mario F D L Puebla
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Neuroclinic, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gry Fluge Vindedal
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rolf Sprengel
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vidar Jensen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Erlend A Nagelhus
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Research Group of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wannan Tang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Neuroclinic, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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7
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Hull VL, Wang Y, Burns T, Sternbach S, Gong S, McDonough J, Guo F, Borodinsky LN, Pleasure D. Pathological Bergmann glia alterations and disrupted calcium dynamics in ataxic Canavan disease mice. Glia 2023; 71:2832-2849. [PMID: 37610133 PMCID: PMC10591969 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Canavan disease (CD) is a recessively inherited pediatric leukodystrophy resulting from inactivating mutations to the oligodendroglial enzyme aspartoacylase (ASPA). ASPA is responsible for hydrolyzing the amino acid derivative N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA), and without it, brain NAA concentrations increase by 50% or more. Infants and children with CD present with progressive cognitive and motor delays, cytotoxic edema, astroglial vacuolation, and prominent spongiform brain degeneration. ASPA-deficient CD mice (Aspanur7/nur7 ) present similarly with elevated NAA, widespread astroglial dysfunction, ataxia, and Purkinje cell (PC) dendritic atrophy. Bergmann glia (BG), radial astrocytes essential for cerebellar development, are intimately intertwined with PCs, where they regulate synapse stability, functionality, and plasticity. BG damage is common to many neurodegenerative conditions and frequently associated with PC dysfunction and ataxia. Here, we report that, in CD mice, BG exhibit significant morphological alterations, decreased structural associations with PCs, loss of synaptic support proteins, and altered calcium dynamics. We also find that BG dysfunction predates cerebellar vacuolation and PC damage in CD mice. Previously, we developed an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy targeting Nat8l (N-acetyltransferase-8-like, "Nat8l ASO") that inhibits the production of NAA and reverses ataxia and PC atrophy in CD mice. Here, we show that Nat8l ASO administration in adult CD mice also leads to BG repair. Furthermore, blocking astroglial uptake of NAA is neuroprotective in astroglia-neuron cocultures exposed to elevated NAA. Our findings suggest that restoration of BG structural and functional integrity could be a mechanism for PC regeneration and improved motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa L. Hull
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Travis Burns
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Sarah Sternbach
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Shuaishuai Gong
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jennifer McDonough
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Fuzheng Guo
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Laura N. Borodinsky
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children, Sacramento, California, USA
- Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - David Pleasure
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children, Sacramento, California, USA
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Nanclares C, Noriega-Prieto JA, Labrada-Moncada FE, Cvetanovic M, Araque A, Kofuji P. Altered calcium signaling in Bergmann glia contributes to spinocerebellar ataxia type-1 in a mouse model of SCA1. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 187:106318. [PMID: 37802154 PMCID: PMC10624966 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by an abnormal expansion of glutamine (Q) encoding CAG repeats in the ATAXIN1 (ATXN1) gene and characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, and eventual deterioration of bulbar functions. SCA1 shows severe degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) and activation of Bergmann glia (BG), a type of cerebellar astroglia closely associated with PCs. Combining electrophysiological recordings, calcium imaging techniques, and chemogenetic approaches, we have investigated the electrical intrinsic and synaptic properties of PCs and the physiological properties of BG in SCA1 mouse model expressing mutant ATXN1 only in PCs. PCs of SCA1 mice displayed lower spontaneous firing rate and larger slow afterhyperpolarization currents (sIAHP) than wildtype mice, whereas the properties of the synaptic inputs were unaffected. BG of SCA1 mice showed higher calcium hyperactivity and gliotransmission, manifested by higher frequency of NMDAR-mediated slow inward currents (SICs) in PC. Preventing the BG calcium hyperexcitability of SCA1 mice by loading BG with the calcium chelator BAPTA restored sIAHP and spontaneous firing rate of PCs to similar levels of wildtype mice. Moreover, mimicking the BG hyperactivity by activating BG expressing Gq-DREADDs in wildtype mice reproduced the SCA1 pathological phenotype of PCs, i.e., enhancement of sIAHP and decrease of spontaneous firing rate. These results indicate that the intrinsic electrical properties of PCs, but not their synaptic properties, were altered in SCA1 mice and that these alterations were associated with the hyperexcitability of BG. Moreover, preventing BG hyperexcitability in SCA1 mice and promoting BG hyperexcitability in wildtype mice prevented and mimicked, respectively, the pathological electrophysiological phenotype of PCs. Therefore, BG plays a relevant role in the dysfunction of the electrical intrinsic properties of PCs in SCA1 mice, suggesting that they may serve as potential targets for therapeutic approaches to treat the spinocerebellar ataxia type 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Nanclares
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | | | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Alfonso Araque
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Paulo Kofuji
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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9
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Lia A, Di Spiezio A, Vitalini L, Tore M, Puja G, Losi G. Ion Channels and Ionotropic Receptors in Astrocytes: Physiological Functions and Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease and Glioblastoma. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2038. [PMID: 37895420 PMCID: PMC10608464 DOI: 10.3390/life13102038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The human brain is composed of nearly one hundred billion neurons and an equal number of glial cells, including macroglia, i.e., astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain. In the last few decades, compelling evidence has revealed that glial cells are far more active and complex than previously thought. In particular, astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell population, not only take part in brain development, metabolism, and defense against pathogens and insults, but they also affect sensory, motor, and cognitive functions by constantly modulating synaptic activity. Not surprisingly, astrocytes are actively involved in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and other neurological disorders like brain tumors, in which they rapidly become reactive and mediate neuroinflammation. Reactive astrocytes acquire or lose specific functions that differently modulate disease progression and symptoms, including cognitive impairments. Astrocytes express several types of ion channels, including K+, Na+, and Ca2+ channels, transient receptor potential channels (TRP), aquaporins, mechanoreceptors, and anion channels, whose properties and functions are only partially understood, particularly in small processes that contact synapses. In addition, astrocytes express ionotropic receptors for several neurotransmitters. Here, we provide an extensive and up-to-date review of the roles of ion channels and ionotropic receptors in astrocyte physiology and pathology. As examples of two different brain pathologies, we focus on Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the most diffuse neurodegenerative disorders, and glioblastoma (GBM), the most common brain tumor. Understanding how ion channels and ionotropic receptors in astrocytes participate in NDs and tumors is necessary for developing new therapeutic tools for these increasingly common neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Lia
- Department Biomedical Science, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (A.L.); (A.D.S.)
| | - Alessandro Di Spiezio
- Department Biomedical Science, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (A.L.); (A.D.S.)
- Neuroscience Institute (CNR-IN), Padova Section, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Vitalini
- Department Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (L.V.); (G.P.)
| | - Manuela Tore
- Institute of Nanoscience (CNR-NANO), Modena Section, 41125 Modena, Italy;
- Department Biomedical Science, Metabolic and Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Puja
- Department Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (L.V.); (G.P.)
| | - Gabriele Losi
- Institute of Nanoscience (CNR-NANO), Modena Section, 41125 Modena, Italy;
- Department Biomedical Science, Metabolic and Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
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10
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Mockenhaupt K, Tyc KM, McQuiston A, Gonsiewski AK, Zarei-Kheirabadi M, Hariprashad A, Biswas DD, Gupta AS, Olex AL, Singh SK, Waters MR, Dupree JL, Dozmorov MG, Kordula T. Yin Yang 1 controls cerebellar astrocyte maturation. Glia 2023; 71:2437-2455. [PMID: 37417428 PMCID: PMC10529878 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Diverse subpopulations of astrocytes tile different brain regions to accommodate local requirements of neurons and associated neuronal circuits. Nevertheless, molecular mechanisms governing astrocyte diversity remain mostly unknown. We explored the role of a zinc finger transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) that is expressed in astrocytes. We found that specific deletion of YY1 from astrocytes causes severe motor deficits in mice, induces Bergmann gliosis, and results in simultaneous loss of GFAP expression in velate and fibrous cerebellar astrocytes. Single cell RNA-seq analysis showed that YY1 exerts specific effects on gene expression in subpopulations of cerebellar astrocytes. We found that although YY1 is dispensable for the initial stages of astrocyte development, it regulates subtype-specific gene expression during astrocyte maturation. Moreover, YY1 is continuously needed to maintain mature astrocytes in the adult cerebellum. Our findings suggest that YY1 plays critical roles regulating cerebellar astrocyte maturation during development and maintaining a mature phenotype of astrocytes in the adult cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karli Mockenhaupt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Katarzyna M. Tyc
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Massey Cancer Center Bioinformatics Shared Resource Core, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Adam McQuiston
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Alexandra K. Gonsiewski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Masoumeh Zarei-Kheirabadi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Avani Hariprashad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Debolina D. Biswas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Angela S. Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Amy L. Olex
- C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Sandeep K. Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Michael R. Waters
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Jeff L. Dupree
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Research Service, Central Virginia VA Health Care System, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Mikhail G. Dozmorov
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Tomasz Kordula
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- The Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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11
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Kanaya T, Ito R, Morizawa YM, Sasaki D, Yamao H, Ishikane H, Hiraoka Y, Tanaka K, Matsui K. Glial modulation of the parallel memory formation. Glia 2023. [PMID: 37364894 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Actions from glial cells could affect the readiness and efficacy of learning and memory. Using a mouse cerebellar-dependent horizontal optokinetic response motor learning paradigm, short-term memory (STM) formation during the online training period and long-term memory (LTM) formation during the offline rest period were studied. A large variability of online and offline learning efficacies was found. The early bloomers with booming STM often had a suppressed LTM formation and late bloomers with no apparent acute training effect often exhibited boosted offline learning performance. Anion channels containing LRRC8A are known to release glutamate. Conditional knockout of LRRC8A specifically in astrocytes including cerebellar Bergmann glia resulted in a complete loss of STM formation while the LTM formation during the rest period remained. Optogenetic manipulation of glial activity by channelrhodopsin-2 or archaerhodopsin-T (ArchT) during the online training resulted in enhancement or suppression of STM formation, respectively. STM and LTM are likely to be triggered simultaneously during online training, but LTM is expressed later during the offline period. STM appears to be volatile and the achievement during the online training is not handed over to LTM. In addition, we found that glial ArchT photoactivation during the rest period resulted in the augmentation of LTM formation. These data suggest that STM formation and LTM formation are parallel separate processes. Strategies to weigh more on the STM or the LTM could depend on the actions of the glial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teppei Kanaya
- Super-Network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryo Ito
- Super-Network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yosuke M Morizawa
- Super-Network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Daichi Sasaki
- Super-Network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yamao
- Super-Network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ishikane
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities, Senshu University, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Yuichi Hiraoka
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute (MRI), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohichi Tanaka
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute (MRI), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ko Matsui
- Super-Network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Super-Network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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12
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Salinas-Birt A, Zhu X, Lim EY, Cruz Santory AJ, Ye L, Paukert M. Constraints of vigilance-dependent noradrenergic signaling to mouse cerebellar Bergmann glia. Glia 2023; 71:1451-1465. [PMID: 36790089 PMCID: PMC10082684 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral state plays an important role in determining astroglia Ca2+ signaling. In particular, locomotion-mediated elevated vigilance has been found to trigger norepinephrine-dependent whole cell Ca2+ elevations in astroglia throughout the brain. For cerebellar Bergmann glia it has recently been found that locomotion-induced transient Ca2+ elevations depend on their α1A -adrenergic receptors. With increasing availability and implementation of locomotion as behavioral parameter it becomes important to understand the constraints of noradrenergic signaling to astroglia. Here we evaluated the effect of speed, duration and interval of locomotion on Ca2+ signals in Bergmann glia as well as cerebellar noradrenergic axon terminals. We found almost no dependence on locomotion speed, but following the initial Ca2+ transient prolonged locomotion events revealed a steady-state Ca2+ elevation. Comparison of time course and recovery of transient Bergmann glia and noradrenergic terminal Ca2+ dynamics suggested that noradrenergic terminal Ca2+ activity determines Bergmann glia Ca2+ activation and does not require noradrenergic receptor desensitization to account for attenuation during prolonged locomotion. Further, analyzing the correlation among Ca2+ dynamics within regions within the field of observation we found that coordinated activity among noradrenergic terminals accounts for fluctuations of steady-state Bergmann glia Ca2+ activity. Together, our findings will help to better understand astroglia Ca2+ dynamics during less controlled awake behavior and may guide the identification of behavioral contexts preferably dependent on astroglia Ca2+ signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Salinas-Birt
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Xiangyu Zhu
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Eunice Y. Lim
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Aryana J. Cruz Santory
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Liang Ye
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Martin Paukert
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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13
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Li C, Saliba NB, Martin H, Losurdo NA, Kolahdouzan K, Siddiqui R, Medeiros D, Li W. Purkinje cell dopaminergic inputs to astrocytes regulate cerebellar-dependent behavior. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1613. [PMID: 36959176 PMCID: PMC10036610 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37319-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine has a significant role in motor and cognitive function. The dopaminergic pathways originating from the midbrain have received the most attention; however, the relevance of the cerebellar dopaminergic system is largely undiscovered. Here, we show that the major cerebellar astrocyte type Bergmann glial cells express D1 receptors. Dopamine can be synthesized in Purkinje cells by cytochrome P450 and released in an activity-dependent fashion. We demonstrate that activation of D1 receptors induces membrane depolarization and Ca2+ release from the internal store. These astrocytic activities in turn modify Purkinje cell output by altering its excitatory and inhibitory synaptic input. Lastly, we show that conditional knockout of D1 receptors in Bergmann glial cells results in decreased locomotor activity and impaired social activity. These results contribute to the understanding of the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms underlying dopamine function in the cerebellum, revealing a critical role for the cerebellar dopaminergic system in motor and social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Li
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Natalie B Saliba
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hannah Martin
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nicole A Losurdo
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Neuroscience Program, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kian Kolahdouzan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Riyan Siddiqui
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Destynie Medeiros
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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14
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Chierzi S, Kacerovsky JB, Fok AHK, Lahaie S, Shibi Rosen A, Farmer WT, Murai KK. Astrocytes Transplanted during Early Postnatal Development Integrate, Mature, and Survive Long Term in Mouse Cortex. J Neurosci 2023; 43:1509-1529. [PMID: 36669885 PMCID: PMC10008063 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0544-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes have complex structural, molecular, and physiological properties and form specialized microenvironments that support circuit-specific functions in the CNS. To better understand how astrocytes acquire their unique features, we transplanted immature mouse cortical astrocytes into the developing cortex of male and female mice and assessed their integration, maturation, and survival. Within days, transplanted astrocytes developed morphologies and acquired territories and tiling behavior typical of cortical astrocytes. At 35-47 d post-transplantation, astrocytes appeared morphologically mature and expressed levels of EAAT2/GLT1 similar to nontransplanted astrocytes. Transplanted astrocytes also supported excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) presynaptic terminals within their territories, and displayed normal Ca2+ events. Transplanted astrocytes showed initially reduced expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) at endfeet and elevated expression of EAAT1/GLAST, with both proteins showing normalized expression by 110 d and one year post-transplantation, respectively. To understand how specific brain regions support astrocytic integration and maturation, we transplanted cortical astrocytes into the developing cerebellum. Cortical astrocytes interlaced with Bergmann glia (BG) in the cerebellar molecular layer to establish discrete territories. However, transplanted astrocytes retained many cortical astrocytic features including higher levels of EAAT2/GLT1, lower levels of EAAT1/GLAST, and the absence of expression of the AMPAR subunit GluA1. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that immature cortical astrocytes integrate, mature, and survive (more than one year) following transplantation and retain cortical astrocytic properties. Astrocytic transplantation can be useful for investigating cell-autonomous (intrinsic) and non-cell-autonomous (environmental) mechanisms contributing to astrocytic development/diversity, and for determining the optimal timing for transplanting astrocytes for cellular delivery or replacement in regenerative medicine.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The mechanisms that enable astrocytes to acquire diverse molecular and structural properties remain to be better understood. In this study, we systematically analyzed the properties of cortical astrocytes following their transplantation to the early postnatal brain. We found that immature cortical astrocytes transplanted into cerebral cortex during early postnatal mouse development integrate and establish normal astrocytic properties, and show long-term survival in vivo (more than one year). In contrast, transplanted cortical astrocytes display reduced or altered ability to integrate into the more mature cerebral cortex or developing cerebellum, respectively. This study demonstrates the developmental potential of transplanted cortical astrocytes and provides an approach to tease apart cell-autonomous (intrinsic) and non-cell-autonomous (environmental) mechanisms that determine the structural, molecular, and physiological phenotype of astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Chierzi
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - J Benjamin Kacerovsky
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Albert H K Fok
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Sylvie Lahaie
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Arielle Shibi Rosen
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - W Todd Farmer
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Keith K Murai
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada
- Quantitative Life Sciences Graduate Program, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7, Canada
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15
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Prabhakar P, Pielot R, Landgraf P, Wissing J, Bayrhammer A, van Ham M, Gundelfinger ED, Jänsch L, Dieterich DC, Müller A. Monitoring regional astrocyte diversity by cell type-specific proteomic labeling in vivo. Glia 2023; 71:682-703. [PMID: 36401581 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes exhibit regional heterogeneity in morphology, function and molecular composition to support and modulate neuronal function and signaling in a region-specific manner. To characterize regional heterogeneity of astrocytic proteomes of different brain regions we established an inducible Aldh1l1-methionyl-tRNA-synthetaseL274G (MetRSL274G ) mouse line that allows astrocyte-specific metabolic labeling of newly synthesized proteins by azidonorleucine (ANL) in vivo and subsequent isolation of tagged proteins by click chemistry. We analyzed astrocytic proteins from four different brain regions by mass spectrometry. The induced expression of MetRSL274G is restricted to astrocytes and identified proteins show a high overlap with proteins compiled in "AstroProt," a newly established database for astrocytic proteins. Gene enrichment analysis reveals a high similarity among brain regions with subtle differences in enriched biological processes and in abundances of key astrocytic proteins for hippocampus, cortex and striatum. However, the cerebellar proteome stands out with proteins being highly associated with the calcium signaling pathway or with bipolar disorder. Subregional analysis of single astrocyte TAMRA intensities in hippocampal layers indicates distinct subregional heterogeneity of astrocytes and highlights the applicability of our toolbox to study differences of astrocytic proteomes in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyadharshini Prabhakar
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Pielot
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Peter Landgraf
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Josef Wissing
- Cellular Proteome Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Anne Bayrhammer
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Marco van Ham
- Cellular Proteome Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Eckart D Gundelfinger
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, RG Neuroplasticity, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lothar Jänsch
- Cellular Proteome Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Daniela C Dieterich
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Anke Müller
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
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16
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Fang LP, Liu Q, Meyer E, Welle A, Huang W, Scheller A, Kirchhoff F, Bai X. A subset of OPCs do not express Olig2 during development which can be increased in the adult by brain injuries and complex motor learning. Glia 2023; 71:415-430. [PMID: 36308278 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are uniformly distributed in the mammalian brain; however, their function is rather heterogeneous in respect to their origin, location, receptor/channel expression and age. The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Olig2 is expressed in all OPCs as a pivotal determinant of their differentiation. Here, we identified a subset (2%-26%) of OPCs lacking Olig2 in various brain regions including cortex, corpus callosum, CA1 and dentate gyrus. These Olig2 negative (Olig2neg ) OPCs were enriched in the juvenile brain and decreased subsequently with age, being rarely detectable in the adult brain. However, the loss of this population was not due to apoptosis or microglia-dependent phagocytosis. Unlike Olig2pos OPCs, these subset cells were rarely labeled for the mitotic marker Ki67. And, accordingly, BrdU was incorporated only by a three-day long-term labeling but not by a 2-hour short pulse, suggesting these cells do not proliferate any more but were derived from proliferating OPCs. The Olig2neg OPCs exhibited a less complex morphology than Olig2pos ones. Olig2neg OPCs preferentially remain in a precursor stage rather than differentiating into highly branched oligodendrocytes. Changing the adjacent brain environment, for example, by acute injuries or by complex motor learning tasks, stimulated the transition of Olig2pos OPCs to Olig2neg cells in the adult. Taken together, our results demonstrate that OPCs transiently suppress Olig2 upon changes of the brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Pao Fang
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | - Qing Liu
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | - Erika Meyer
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany.,Laboratory of Brain Ischemia and Neuroprotection, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Anna Welle
- Department of Genetics and EpiGenetics, University of Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Wenhui Huang
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | - Anja Scheller
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany.,Experimental Research Center for Normal and Pathological Aging, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova
| | - Xianshu Bai
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
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17
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Silva-Parra J, Sandu C, Felder-Schmittbuhl MP, Hernández-Kelly LC, Ortega A. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Glia Cells: A Plausible Glutamatergic Neurotransmission Orchestrator. Neurotox Res 2023; 41:103-117. [PMID: 36607593 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-022-00623-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Glutamate is the major excitatory amino acid in the vertebrate brain. Glutamatergic signaling is involved in most of the central nervous system functions. Its main components, namely receptors, ion channels, and transporters, are tightly regulated at the transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels through a diverse array of extracellular signals, such as food, light, and neuroactive molecules. An exquisite and well-coordinated glial/neuronal bidirectional communication is required for proper excitatory amino acid signal transactions. Biochemical shuttles such as the glutamate/glutamine and the astrocyte-neuronal lactate represent the fundamental involvement of glial cells in glutamatergic transmission. In fact, the disruption of any of these coordinated biochemical intercellular cascades leads to an excitotoxic insult that underlies some aspects of most of the neurodegenerative diseases characterized thus far. In this contribution, we provide a comprehensive summary of the involvement of the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor, a ligand-dependent transcription factor in the gene expression regulation of glial glutamate transporters. These receptors might serve as potential targets for the development of novel strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janisse Silva-Parra
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. IPN 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, CDMX, México
| | - Cristina Sandu
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marie-Paule Felder-Schmittbuhl
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Luisa C Hernández-Kelly
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. IPN 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, CDMX, México
| | - Arturo Ortega
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. IPN 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, CDMX, México.
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18
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Goenaga J, Araque A, Kofuji P, Herrera Moro Chao D. Calcium signaling in astrocytes and gliotransmitter release. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2023; 15:1138577. [PMID: 36937570 PMCID: PMC10017551 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2023.1138577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glia are as numerous in the brain as neurons and widely known to serve supportive roles such as structural scaffolding, extracellular ionic and neurotransmitter homeostasis, and metabolic support. However, over the past two decades, several lines of evidence indicate that astrocytes, which are a type of glia, play active roles in neural information processing. Astrocytes, although not electrically active, can exhibit a form of excitability by dynamic changes in intracellular calcium levels. They sense synaptic activity and release neuroactive substances, named gliotransmitters, that modulate neuronal activity and synaptic transmission in several brain areas, thus impacting animal behavior. This "dialogue" between astrocytes and neurons is embodied in the concept of the tripartite synapse that includes astrocytes as integral elements of synaptic function. Here, we review the recent work and discuss how astrocytes via calcium-mediated excitability modulate synaptic information processing at various spatial and time scales.
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19
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Synaptic pruning through glial synapse engulfment upon motor learning. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:1458-1469. [PMID: 36319770 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01184-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Synaptic pruning is a fundamental process of neuronal circuit refinement in learning and memory. Accumulating evidence suggests that glia participates in sculpting the neuronal circuits through synapse engulfment. However, whether glial involvement in synaptic pruning has a role in memory formation remains elusive. Using newly developed phagocytosis reporter mice and three-dimensional ultrastructural characterization, we found that synaptic engulfment by cerebellar Bergmann glia (BG) frequently occurred upon cerebellum-dependent motor learning in mice. We observed increases in pre- and postsynaptic nibbling by BG along with a reduction in spine volume after learning. Pharmacological blockade of engulfment with Annexin V inhibited both the spine volume reduction and overnight improvement of motor adaptation. These results indicate that BG contribute to the refinement of the mature cerebellar cortical circuit through synaptic engulfment during motor learning.
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20
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Masoli S, Rizza MF, Tognolina M, Prestori F, D’Angelo E. Computational models of neurotransmission at cerebellar synapses unveil the impact on network computation. Front Comput Neurosci 2022; 16:1006989. [PMID: 36387305 PMCID: PMC9649760 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2022.1006989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuroscientific field benefits from the conjoint evolution of experimental and computational techniques, allowing for the reconstruction and simulation of complex models of neurons and synapses. Chemical synapses are characterized by presynaptic vesicle cycling, neurotransmitter diffusion, and postsynaptic receptor activation, which eventually lead to postsynaptic currents and subsequent membrane potential changes. These mechanisms have been accurately modeled for different synapses and receptor types (AMPA, NMDA, and GABA) of the cerebellar cortical network, allowing simulation of their impact on computation. Of special relevance is short-term synaptic plasticity, which generates spatiotemporal filtering in local microcircuits and controls burst transmission and information flow through the network. Here, we present how data-driven computational models recapitulate the properties of neurotransmission at cerebellar synapses. The simulation of microcircuit models is starting to reveal how diverse synaptic mechanisms shape the spatiotemporal profiles of circuit activity and computation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Masoli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Prestori
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Egidio D’Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Brain Connectivity Center, Pavia, Italy
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21
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Lee B, Beuhler L, Lee HY. The Primary Ciliary Deficits in Cerebellar Bergmann Glia of the Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 21:801-813. [PMID: 35438410 PMCID: PMC10857775 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01382-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Primary cilia are non-motile cilia that function as antennae for cells to sense signals. Deficits of primary cilia cause ciliopathies, leading to the pathogenesis of various developmental disorders; however, the contribution of primary cilia to neurodevelopmental disorders is largely unknown. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetically inherited disorder and is the most common known cause of autism spectrum disorders. FXS is caused by the silencing of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene, which encodes for the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). Here, we discovered a reduction in the number of primary cilia and the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling in cerebellar Bergmann glia of Fmr1 KO mice. We further found reduced granule neuron precursor (GNP) proliferation and thickness of the external germinal layer (EGL) in Fmr1 KO mice, implicating that primary ciliary deficits in Bergmann glia may contribute to cerebellar developmental phenotypes in FXS, as Shh signaling through primary cilia in Bergmann glia is known to mediate proper GNP proliferation in the EGL. Taken together, our study demonstrates that FMRP loss leads to primary ciliary deficits in cerebellar Bergmann glia which may contribute to cerebellar deficits in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bumwhee Lee
- The Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Laura Beuhler
- The Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Hye Young Lee
- The Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
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22
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Asthana P, Kumar G, Milanowski LM, Au NPB, Chan SC, Huang J, Feng H, Kwan KM, He J, Chan KWY, Wszolek ZK, Ma CHE. Cerebellar glutamatergic system impacts spontaneous motor recovery by regulating Gria1 expression. NPJ Regen Med 2022; 7:45. [PMID: 36064798 PMCID: PMC9445039 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-022-00243-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) often results in spontaneous motor recovery; however, how disrupted cerebellar circuitry affects PNI-associated motor recovery is unknown. Here, we demonstrated disrupted cerebellar circuitry and poor motor recovery in ataxia mice after PNI. This effect was mimicked by deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) lesion, but not by damaging non-motor area hippocampus. By restoring cerebellar circuitry through DCN stimulation, and reversal of neurotransmitter imbalance using baclofen, ataxia mice achieve full motor recovery after PNI. Mechanistically, elevated glutamate-glutamine level was detected in DCN of ataxia mice by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Transcriptomic study revealed that Gria1, an ionotropic glutamate receptor, was upregulated in DCN of control mice but failed to be upregulated in ataxia mice after sciatic nerve crush. AAV-mediated overexpression of Gria1 in DCN rescued motor deficits of ataxia mice after PNI. Finally, we found a correlative decrease in human GRIA1 mRNA expression in the cerebellum of patients with ataxia-telangiectasia and spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 patient iPSC-derived Purkinje cells, pointing to the clinical relevance of glutamatergic system. By conducting a large-scale analysis of 9,655,320 patients with ataxia, they failed to recover from carpal tunnel decompression surgery and tibial neuropathy, while aged-match non-ataxia patients fully recovered. Our results provide insight into cerebellar disorders and motor deficits after PNI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Asthana
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Gajendra Kumar
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Lukasz M Milanowski
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, USA.,Department of Neurology, Faculty of Health Science, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ngan Pan Bennett Au
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Siu Chung Chan
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Jianpan Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Hemin Feng
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Kin Ming Kwan
- School of Life Sciences, Center for Cell and Developmental Biology and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Jufang He
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Kannie Wai Yan Chan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR.,Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | | | - Chi Him Eddie Ma
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR.
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23
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Gómez-González GB, Becerra-González M, Martínez-Mendoza ML, Rodríguez-Arzate CA, Martínez-Torres A. Organization of the ventricular zone of the cerebellum. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:955550. [PMID: 35959470 PMCID: PMC9358289 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.955550] [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: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The roof of the fourth ventricle (4V) is located on the ventral part of the cerebellum, a region with abundant vascularization and cell heterogeneity that includes tanycyte-like cells that define a peculiar glial niche known as ventromedial cord. This cord is composed of a group of biciliated cells that run along the midline, contacting the ventricular lumen and the subventricular zone. Although the complex morphology of the glial cells composing the cord resembles to tanycytes, cells which are known for its proliferative capacity, scarce or non-proliferative activity has been evidenced in this area. The subventricular zone of the cerebellum includes astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons whose function has not been extensively studied. This review describes to some extent the phenotypic, morphological, and functional characteristics of the cells that integrate the roof of the 4V, primarily from rodent brains.
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24
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Hösli L, Zuend M, Bredell G, Zanker HS, Porto de Oliveira CE, Saab AS, Weber B. Direct vascular contact is a hallmark of cerebral astrocytes. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110599. [PMID: 35385728 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes establish extensive networks via gap junctions that allow each astrocyte to connect indirectly to the vasculature. However, the proportion of astrocytes directly associated with blood vessels is unknown. Here, we quantify structural contacts of cortical astrocytes with the vasculature in vivo. We show that all cortical astrocytes are connected to at least one blood vessel. Moreover, astrocytes contact more vessels in deeper cortical layers where vessel density is known to be higher. Further examination of different brain regions reveals that only the hippocampus, which has the lowest vessel density of all investigated brain regions, harbors single astrocytes with no apparent vascular connection. In summary, we show that almost all gray matter astrocytes have direct contact to the vasculature. In addition to the glial network, a direct vascular access may represent a complementary pathway for metabolite uptake and distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ladina Hösli
- University of Zurich, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marc Zuend
- University of Zurich, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gustav Bredell
- ETH Zurich, Computer Vision Laboratory, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Henri S Zanker
- University of Zurich, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carlos Eduardo Porto de Oliveira
- ETH Zurich, Computer Vision Laboratory, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aiman S Saab
- University of Zurich, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Weber
- University of Zurich, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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25
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Hösli L, Binini N, Ferrari KD, Thieren L, Looser ZJ, Zuend M, Zanker HS, Berry S, Holub M, Möbius W, Ruhwedel T, Nave KA, Giaume C, Weber B, Saab AS. Decoupling astrocytes in adult mice impairs synaptic plasticity and spatial learning. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110484. [PMID: 35263595 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms by which astrocytes modulate neural homeostasis, synaptic plasticity, and memory are still poorly explored. Astrocytes form large intercellular networks by gap junction coupling, mainly composed of two gap junction channel proteins, connexin 30 (Cx30) and connexin 43 (Cx43). To circumvent developmental perturbations and to test whether astrocytic gap junction coupling is required for hippocampal neural circuit function and behavior, we generate and study inducible, astrocyte-specific Cx30 and Cx43 double knockouts. Surprisingly, disrupting astrocytic coupling in adult mice results in broad activation of astrocytes and microglia, without obvious signs of pathology. We show that hippocampal CA1 neuron excitability, excitatory synaptic transmission, and long-term potentiation are significantly affected. Moreover, behavioral inspection reveals deficits in sensorimotor performance and a complete lack of spatial learning and memory. Together, our findings establish that astrocytic connexins and an intact astroglial network in the adult brain are vital for neural homeostasis, plasticity, and spatial cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ladina Hösli
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Noemi Binini
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kim David Ferrari
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Laetitia Thieren
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zoe J Looser
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marc Zuend
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Henri S Zanker
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stewart Berry
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Holub
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wiebke Möbius
- Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Torben Ruhwedel
- Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Klaus-Armin Nave
- Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Giaume
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Bruno Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Aiman S Saab
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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26
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García-Hernández S, Rubio ME. Role of GluA4 in the acoustic and tactile startle responses. Hear Res 2022; 414:108410. [PMID: 34915397 PMCID: PMC8776314 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2021.108410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The primary startle response (SR) is an innate reaction evoked by sudden and intense acoustic, tactile or visual stimuli. In rodents and humans the SR involves reflexive contractions of the face, neck and limb muscles. The acoustic startle response (ASR) pathway consists of auditory nerve fibers (AN), cochlear root neurons (CRNs) and giant neurons of the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (PnC), which synapse on cranial and spinal motor neurons. The tactile startle response (TSR) is transmitted by primary sensory neurons to the principal sensory (Pr5) and spinal (Sp5) trigeminal nuclei. The ventral part of Pr5 projects directly to the PnC neurons. The SR requires rapid transmission of sensory information to initiate a fast motor response. Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPAR) are necessary to transmit auditory information to the PnC neurons and elicit the SR. AMPARs containing the glutamate AMPAR subunit 4 (GluA4) have fast kinetics, which makes them ideal candidates to transmit the SR signal. This study examined the role of GluA4 within the primary SR pathway by using GluA4 knockout (GluA4-KO) mice. Deletion of GluA4 considerably decreased the amplitude and probability of successful ASR and TSR, indicating that the presence of this subunit is critical at a common station within the startle pathway. We conclude that deletion of GluA4 affects the transmission of sensory signals from acoustic and tactile pathways to the motor component of the startle reflex. Therefore, GluA4 is required for the full response and for reliable elicitation of the startle response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía García-Hernández
- Corresponding authors. Sofía García-Hernández, María E. Rubio, Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, BST3 Building, 3501 Fifth Avenue #10016, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, ,
| | - María E. Rubio
- Corresponding authors. Sofía García-Hernández, María E. Rubio, Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, BST3 Building, 3501 Fifth Avenue #10016, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, ,
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27
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Loschky SS, Spano GM, Marshall W, Schroeder A, Nemec KM, Schiereck SS, de Vivo L, Bellesi M, Banningh SW, Tononi G, Cirelli C. Ultrastructural effects of sleep and wake on the parallel fiber synapses of the cerebellum. eLife 2022; 11:84199. [PMID: 36576248 PMCID: PMC9797193 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple evidence in rodents shows that the strength of excitatory synapses in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus is greater after wake than after sleep. The widespread synaptic weakening afforded by sleep is believed to keep the cost of synaptic activity under control, promote memory consolidation, and prevent synaptic saturation, thus preserving the brain's ability to learn day after day. The cerebellum is highly plastic and the Purkinje cells, the sole output neurons of the cerebellar cortex, are endowed with a staggering number of excitatory parallel fiber synapses. However, whether these synapses are affected by sleep and wake is unknown. Here, we used serial block face scanning electron microscopy to obtain the full 3D reconstruction of more than 7000 spines and their parallel fiber synapses in the mouse posterior vermis. This analysis was done in mice whose cortical and hippocampal synapses were previously measured, revealing that average synaptic size was lower after sleep compared to wake with no major changes in synapse number. Here, instead, we find that while the average size of parallel fiber synapses does not change, the number of branched synapses is reduced in half after sleep compared to after wake, corresponding to ~16% of all spines after wake and ~8% after sleep. Branched synapses are harbored by two or more spines sharing the same neck and, as also shown here, are almost always contacted by different parallel fibers. These findings suggest that during wake, coincidences of firing over parallel fibers may translate into the formation of synapses converging on the same branched spine, which may be especially effective in driving Purkinje cells to fire. By contrast, sleep may promote the off-line pruning of branched synapses that were formed due to spurious coincidences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia S Loschky
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | | | - William Marshall
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States,Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Brock UniversitySt. CatharinesCanada
| | - Andrea Schroeder
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Kelsey Marie Nemec
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | | | - Luisa de Vivo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Michele Bellesi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | | | - Giulio Tononi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Chiara Cirelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
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28
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Trobisch T, Zulji A, Stevens NA, Schwarz S, Wischnewski S, Öztürk M, Perales-Patón J, Haeussler M, Saez-Rodriguez J, Velmeshev D, Schirmer L. Cross-regional homeostatic and reactive glial signatures in multiple sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 144:987-1003. [PMID: 36112223 PMCID: PMC9547805 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02497-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifocal and progressive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). However, the compartmentalized pathology of the disease affecting various anatomical regions including gray and white matter and lack of appropriate disease models impede understanding of the disease. Utilizing single-nucleus RNA-sequencing and multiplex spatial RNA mapping, we generated an integrated transcriptomic map comprising leukocortical, cerebellar and spinal cord areas in normal and MS tissues that captures regional subtype diversity of various cell types with an emphasis on astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. While we found strong cross-regional diversity among glial subtypes in control tissue, regional signatures become more obscure in MS. This suggests that patterns of transcriptomic changes in MS are shared across regions and converge on specific pathways, especially those regulating cellular stress and immune activation. In addition, we found evidence that a subtype of white matter oligodendrocytes appearing across all three CNS regions adopt pro-remyelinating gene signatures in MS. In summary, our data suggest that cross-regional transcriptomic glial signatures overlap in MS, with different reactive glial cell types capable of either exacerbating or ameliorating pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Trobisch
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Amel Zulji
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Nikolas A. Stevens
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany ,Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sophia Schwarz
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sven Wischnewski
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Mikail Öztürk
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Javier Perales-Patón
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University and Heidelberg University Hospital, BioQuant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Julio Saez-Rodriguez
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University and Heidelberg University Hospital, BioQuant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dmitry Velmeshev
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA ,Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA ,Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Lucas Schirmer
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. .,Mannheim Center for Translational Neuroscience and Institute for Innate Immunoscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. .,Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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29
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Lalo U, Koh W, Lee CJ, Pankratov Y. The tripartite glutamatergic synapse. Neuropharmacology 2021; 199:108758. [PMID: 34433089 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Astroglial cells were long considered as structural and metabolic supporting cells are which do not directly participate in information processing in the brain. Discoveries of responsiveness of astrocytes to synaptically-released glutamate and their capability to release agonists of glutamate receptors awakened extensive studies of glia-neuron communications and led to the revolutionary changes in our understanding of brain cellular networks. Nowadays, astrocytes are widely acknowledged as inseparable element of glutamatergic synapses and role for glutamatergic astrocyte-neuron interactions in the brain computation is emerging. Astroglial glutamate receptors, in particular of NMDA, mGluR3 and mGluR5 types, can activate a variety of molecular cascades leading astroglial-driven modulation of extracellular levels of glutamate and activity of neuronal glutamate receptors. Their preferential location to the astroglial perisynaptic processes facilitates interaction of astrocytes with individual excitatory synapses. Bi-directional glutamatergic communication between astrocytes and neurons underpins a complex, spatially-distributed modulation of synaptic signalling thus contributing to the enrichment of information processing by the neuronal networks. Still, further research is needed to bridge the substantial gaps in our understanding of mechanisms and physiological relevance of astrocyte-neuron glutamatergic interactions, in particular ability of astrocytes directly activate neuronal glutamate receptors by releasing glutamate and, arguably, d-Serine. An emerging roles for aberrant changes in glutamatergic astroglial signalling, both neuroprotective and pathogenic, in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases also require further investigation. This article is part of the special Issue on 'Glutamate Receptors - The Glutamatergic Synapse'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulyana Lalo
- School of Life Sciences, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Kaliningrad, Russia
| | - Wuhyun Koh
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34126, South Korea
| | - C Justin Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34126, South Korea
| | - Yuriy Pankratov
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.
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30
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Muñoz Y, Cuevas-Pacheco F, Quesseveur G, Murai KK. Light microscopic and heterogeneity analysis of astrocytes in the common marmoset brain. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:3121-3147. [PMID: 34716617 PMCID: PMC9541330 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are abundant cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and are involved in processes including synapse formation/function, ion homeostasis, neurotransmitter uptake, and neurovascular coupling. Recent evidence indicates that astrocytes show diverse molecular, structural, and physiological properties within the CNS. This heterogeneity is reflected in differences in astrocyte structure, gene expression, functional properties, and responsiveness to injury/pathological conditions. Deeper investigation of astrocytic heterogeneity is needed to understand how astrocytes are configured to enable diverse roles in the CNS. While much has been learned about astrocytic heterogeneity in rodents, much less is known about astrocytic heterogeneity in the primate brain where astrocytes have greater size and complexity. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a promising non‐human primate model because of similarities between marmosets and humans with respect to genetics, brain anatomy, and cognition/behavior. Here, we investigated the molecular and structural heterogeneity of marmoset astrocytes using an array of astrocytic markers, multi‐label confocal microscopy, and quantitative analysis. We used male and female marmosets and found that marmoset astrocytes show differences in expression of astrocytic markers in cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. These differences were accompanied by intra‐regional variation in expression of markers for glutamate/GABA transporters, and potassium and water channels. Differences in astrocyte structure were also found, along with complex interactions with blood vessels, microglia, and neurons. This study contributes to our knowledge of the cellular and molecular features of marmoset astrocytes and is useful for understanding the complex properties of astrocytes in the primate CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yorka Muñoz
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Francisco Cuevas-Pacheco
- Department of Mathematics, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa Maria, Valparaiso, Chile.,Advanced Center for Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa Maria, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Gaël Quesseveur
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Keith K Murai
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Quantitative Life Sciences Graduate Program, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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31
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Ahmadpour N, Kantroo M, Stobart JL. Extracellular Calcium Influx Pathways in Astrocyte Calcium Microdomain Physiology. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1467. [PMID: 34680100 PMCID: PMC8533159 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are complex glial cells that play many essential roles in the brain, including the fine-tuning of synaptic activity and blood flow. These roles are linked to fluctuations in intracellular Ca2+ within astrocytes. Recent advances in imaging techniques have identified localized Ca2+ transients within the fine processes of the astrocytic structure, which we term microdomain Ca2+ events. These Ca2+ transients are very diverse and occur under different conditions, including in the presence or absence of surrounding circuit activity. This complexity suggests that different signalling mechanisms mediate microdomain events which may then encode specific astrocyte functions from the modulation of synapses up to brain circuits and behaviour. Several recent studies have shown that a subset of astrocyte microdomain Ca2+ events occur rapidly following local neuronal circuit activity. In this review, we consider the physiological relevance of microdomain astrocyte Ca2+ signalling within brain circuits and outline possible pathways of extracellular Ca2+ influx through ionotropic receptors and other Ca2+ ion channels, which may contribute to astrocyte microdomain events with potentially fast dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jillian L. Stobart
- College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 750 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MG R3E 0T5, Canada; (N.A.); (M.K.)
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32
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Akther S, Hirase H. Assessment of astrocytes as a mediator of memory and learning in rodents. Glia 2021; 70:1484-1505. [PMID: 34582594 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The classical view of astrocytes is that they provide supportive functions for neurons, transporting metabolites and maintaining the homeostasis of the extracellular milieu. This view is gradually changing with the advent of molecular genetics and optical methods allowing interrogation of selected cell types in live experimental animals. An emerging view that astrocytes additionally act as a mediator of synaptic plasticity and contribute to learning processes has gained in vitro and in vivo experimental support. Here we focus on the literature published in the past two decades to review the roles of astrocytes in brain plasticity in rodents, whereby the roles of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators are considered to be comparable to those in humans. We outline established inputs and outputs of astrocytes and discuss how manipulations of astrocytes have impacted the behavior in various learning paradigms. Multiple studies suggest that the contribution of astrocytes has a considerably longer time course than neuronal activation, indicating metabolic roles of astrocytes. We advocate that exploring upstream and downstream mechanisms of astrocytic activation will further provide insight into brain plasticity and memory/learning impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Akther
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hajime Hirase
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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33
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Rossetto IMU, Cagnon VHA, Kido LA, Lizarte Neto FS, Tirapelli LF, Tirapelli DPDC, de Almeida Chuffa LG, Martinez FE, Martinez M. Caffeine consumption attenuates ethanol-induced inflammation through the regulation of adenosinergic receptors in the UChB rats cerebellum. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2021; 10:835-849. [PMID: 34484675 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfab067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Caffeine consumption is able to interfere in cellular processes related to inflammatory mechanisms by acting through the adenosinergic system. This study aimed to recognize alterations related to adenosinergic system and inflammatory process in the cerebellum of University of Chile Bibulous (UChB) rats after the consumption of ethanol and caffeine. UChB and Wistar rats, males at 5 months old, were divided into the groups (n = 15/group): (i) Control (Wistar rats receiving water); (ii) Ethanol group (UChB rats receiving ethanol solution at 10%) and (iii) Ethanol+caffeine group (UChB rats receiving ethanol solution at 10% added of 3 g/L of caffeine). The cerebellar tissue was collected and processed for immunohistochemistry, Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting techniques for the adenosinergic receptors A1 and A2a and inflammatory markers, including Nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB), TLR4, TLR2, MyD88, TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS and microglial marker Iba-1. Results showed ethanol and caffeine consumption differentially altering the immunolocalization of adenosinergic receptors and inflammatory markers in the cerebellar tissue. The A2a receptor was overexpressed in the Ethanol group and was evident in the glial cells. The Ethanol group had increased protein levels for NFκB and TLR4, expressively in Bergmann glia and Purkinje cells. Caffeine reduced the expression of these markers to levels similar to those found in the Control group. The A1 gene was upregulated the Ethanol group, but not its protein levels, suggesting post-transcriptional interference. In conclusion, caffeine seems to attenuate ethanol-induced inflammation in the cerebellum of UChB rats through the A1 and A2a modulation, playing a neuroprotective role in the chronic context of ethanol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Maria Urra Rossetto
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 255 Monteiro Lobato St, Campinas, SP 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Valéria Helena Alves Cagnon
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 255 Monteiro Lobato St, Campinas, SP 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Larissa Akemi Kido
- Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 80 Monteiro Lobato St, Campinas, SP 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Fermino Sanches Lizarte Neto
- Department of Surgery and Anatomy, University of São Paulo (USP), 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Luís Fernando Tirapelli
- Department of Surgery and Anatomy, University of São Paulo (USP), 3900 Bandeirantes Ave, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Gustavo de Almeida Chuffa
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, State University of São Paulo (UNESP), 250 Prof. Dr. Antônio Celso Wagner Zanin St, Botucatu, SP 18618-689, Brazil
| | - Francisco Eduardo Martinez
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, State University of São Paulo (UNESP), 250 Prof. Dr. Antônio Celso Wagner Zanin St, Botucatu, SP 18618-689, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Martinez
- Department of Morphology and Pathology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), 13571 Biblioteca Comunitária Ave, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil
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34
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Kita K, Albergaria C, Machado AS, Carey MR, Müller M, Delvendahl I. GluA4 facilitates cerebellar expansion coding and enables associative memory formation. eLife 2021; 10:65152. [PMID: 34219651 PMCID: PMC8291978 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
AMPA receptors (AMPARs) mediate excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS) and their subunit composition determines synaptic efficacy. Whereas AMPAR subunits GluA1–GluA3 have been linked to particular forms of synaptic plasticity and learning, the functional role of GluA4 remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate a crucial function of GluA4 for synaptic excitation and associative memory formation in the cerebellum. Notably, GluA4-knockout mice had ~80% reduced mossy fiber to granule cell synaptic transmission. The fidelity of granule cell spike output was markedly decreased despite attenuated tonic inhibition and increased NMDA receptor-mediated transmission. Computational network modeling incorporating these changes revealed that deletion of GluA4 impairs granule cell expansion coding, which is important for pattern separation and associative learning. On a behavioral level, while locomotor coordination was generally spared, GluA4-knockout mice failed to form associative memories during delay eyeblink conditioning. These results demonstrate an essential role for GluA4-containing AMPARs in cerebellar information processing and associative learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kita
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Catarina Albergaria
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana S Machado
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Megan R Carey
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Martin Müller
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Igor Delvendahl
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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35
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Cutando L, Puighermanal E, Castell L, Tarot P, Bertaso F, Bonnavion P, Kerchove d'Exaerde A, Isingrini E, Galante M, Dallerac G, Pascoli V, Lüscher C, Giros B, Valjent E. Regulation of GluA1 phosphorylation by d-amphetamine and methylphenidate in the cerebellum. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e12995. [PMID: 33368923 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Prescription stimulants, such as d-amphetamine or methylphenidate are used to treat suffering from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They potently release dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) and cause phosphorylation of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunit GluA1 in the striatum. Whether other brain regions are also affected remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that d-amphetamine and methylphenidate increase phosphorylation at Ser845 (pS845-GluA1) in the membrane fraction of mouse cerebellum homogenate. We identify Bergmann glial cells as the source of pS845-GluA1 and demonstrate a requirement for intact NE release. Consequently, d-amphetamine-induced pS845-GluA1 was prevented by β1-adenoreceptor antagonist, whereas the blockade of DA D1 receptor had no effect. Together, these results indicate that NE regulates GluA1 phosphorylation in Bergmann glial cells in response to prescription stimulants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cutando
- IGF University of Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm Montpellier France
| | - Emma Puighermanal
- IGF University of Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm Montpellier France
- Neurosciences Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology Autonomous University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - Laia Castell
- IGF University of Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm Montpellier France
| | - Pauline Tarot
- IGF University of Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm Montpellier France
| | | | - Patricia Bonnavion
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB Neuroscience Institute Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) Brussels Belgium
| | - Alban Kerchove d'Exaerde
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB Neuroscience Institute Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) Brussels Belgium
| | - Elsa Isingrini
- Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center University of Paris, CNRS Paris France
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Hospital McGill University Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - Micaela Galante
- Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, Institut des Neurosciences Paris‐Saclay University of Paris‐Saclay, University of Paris‐Sud, CNRS, UMR Orsay France
| | - Glenn Dallerac
- Pharmacologie et Biochimie de la Synapse, Institut des Neurosciences Paris‐Saclay University of Paris‐Saclay, University of Paris‐Sud, CNRS, UMR Orsay France
| | - Vincent Pascoli
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Medical Faculty University of Geneva Geneva Switzerland
| | - Christian Lüscher
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Medical Faculty University of Geneva Geneva Switzerland
| | - Bruno Giros
- Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center University of Paris, CNRS Paris France
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Hospital McGill University Montreal Quebec Canada
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36
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Tsunematsu T, Sakata S, Sanagi T, Tanaka KF, Matsui K. Region-Specific and State-Dependent Astrocyte Ca 2+ Dynamics during the Sleep-Wake Cycle in Mice. J Neurosci 2021; 41:5440-5452. [PMID: 34006590 PMCID: PMC8221592 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2912-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural activity is diverse, and varies depending on brain regions and sleep/wakefulness states. However, whether astrocyte activity differs between sleep/wakefulness states, and whether there are differences in astrocyte activity among brain regions remain poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, we recorded astrocyte intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentrations of mice during sleep/wakefulness states in the cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and pons using fiber photometry. For this purpose, male transgenic mice expressing the genetically encoded ratiometric Ca2+ sensor YCnano50 specifically in their astrocytes were used. We demonstrated that Ca2+ levels in astrocytes substantially decrease during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and increase after the onset of wakefulness. In contrast, differences in Ca2+ levels during non-REM (NREM) sleep were observed among the different brain regions, and no significant decrease was observed in the hypothalamus and pons. Further analyses focusing on the transition between sleep/wakefulness states and correlation analysis with the duration of REM sleep showed that Ca2+ dynamics differs among brain regions, suggesting the existence of several clusters, i.e., the first comprising the cortex and hippocampus, the second comprising the hypothalamus and pons, and the third comprising the cerebellum. Our study thus demonstrated that astrocyte Ca2+ levels change substantially according to sleep/wakefulness states. These changes were consistent in general unlike neural activity. However, we also clarified that Ca2+ dynamics varies depending on the brain region, implying that astrocytes may play various physiological roles in sleep.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sleep is an instinctive behavior of many organisms. In the previous five decades, the mechanism of the neural circuits controlling sleep/wakefulness states and the neural activities associated with sleep/wakefulness states in various brain regions have been elucidated. However, whether astrocytes, which are a type of glial cell, change their activity during different sleep/wakefulness states was poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that dynamic changes in astrocyte Ca2+ concentrations occur in the cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and pons of mice during natural sleep. Further analyses demonstrated that Ca2+ dynamics slightly differ among different brain regions, implying that the physiological roles of astrocytes in sleep/wakefulness might vary depending on the brain region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomomi Tsunematsu
- Super-network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Advanced Interdisciplinary Research Division, Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
- Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan
| | - Shuzo Sakata
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Tomomi Sanagi
- Advanced Interdisciplinary Research Division, Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Kenji F Tanaka
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Ko Matsui
- Super-network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
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37
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Rodríguez-Arzate CA, Martínez-Mendoza ML, Rocha-Mendoza I, Luna-Palacios Y, Licea-Rodríguez J, Martínez-Torres A. Morphological and Calcium Signaling Alterations of Neuroglial Cells in Cerebellar Cortical Dysplasia Induced by Carmustine. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071581. [PMID: 34201497 PMCID: PMC8304447 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical dysplasias are alterations in the organization of the layers of the brain cortex due to problems in neuronal migration during development. The neuronal component has been widely studied in experimental models of cortical dysplasias. In contrast, little is known about how glia are affected. In the cerebellum, Bergmann glia (BG) are essential for neuronal migration during development, and in adult they mediate the control of fine movements through glutamatergic transmission. The aim of this study was to characterize the morphology and intracellular calcium dynamics of BG and astrocytes from mouse cerebellum and their modifications in a model of cortical dysplasia induced by carmustine (BCNU). Carmustine-treated mice were affected in their motor coordination and balance. Cerebellar dysplasias and heterotopias were more frequently found in lobule X. Morphology of BG cells and astrocytes was affected, as were their spontaneous [Ca2+]i transients in slice preparation and in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Alejandra Rodríguez-Arzate
- Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, QT, Mexico; (C.A.R.-A.); (M.L.M.-M.)
| | - Marianne Lizeth Martínez-Mendoza
- Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, QT, Mexico; (C.A.R.-A.); (M.L.M.-M.)
| | - Israel Rocha-Mendoza
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana, No. 3918, Zona Playitas, Ensenada 22860, BC, Mexico; (I.R.-M.); (Y.L.-P.); (J.L.-R.)
| | - Yryx Luna-Palacios
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana, No. 3918, Zona Playitas, Ensenada 22860, BC, Mexico; (I.R.-M.); (Y.L.-P.); (J.L.-R.)
| | - Jacob Licea-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana, No. 3918, Zona Playitas, Ensenada 22860, BC, Mexico; (I.R.-M.); (Y.L.-P.); (J.L.-R.)
- Cátedras CONACYT, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada 22860, BC, Mexico
| | - Ataúlfo Martínez-Torres
- Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, QT, Mexico; (C.A.R.-A.); (M.L.M.-M.)
- Correspondence:
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38
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Maugeri G, D’Agata V, Magrì B, Roggio F, Castorina A, Ravalli S, Di Rosa M, Musumeci G. Neuroprotective Effects of Physical Activity via the Adaptation of Astrocytes. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061542. [PMID: 34207393 PMCID: PMC8234474 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The multifold benefits of regular physical exercise have been largely demonstrated in human and animal models. Several studies have reported the beneficial effects of physical activity, both in peripheral tissues and in the central nervous system (CNS). Regular exercise improves cognition, brain plasticity, neurogenesis and reduces the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, making timeless the principle of “mens sana in corpore sano” (i.e., a healthy mind in a healthy body). Physical exercise promotes morphological and functional changes in the brain, acting not only in neurons but also in astrocytes, which represent the most numerous glial cells in the brain. The multiple effects of exercise on astrocytes comprise the increased number of new astrocytes, the maintenance of basal levels of catecholamine, the increase in glutamate uptake, the major release of trophic factors and better astrocytic coverage of cerebral blood vessels. The purpose of this review is to highlight the effects of exercise on brain function, emphasize the role of astrocytes in the healthy CNS, and provide an update for a better understanding of the effects of physical exercise in the modulation of astrocyte function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia Maugeri
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Human, Histology and Movement Science Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia n°87, 95100 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (V.D.); (B.M.); (F.R.); (S.R.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Velia D’Agata
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Human, Histology and Movement Science Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia n°87, 95100 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (V.D.); (B.M.); (F.R.); (S.R.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Benedetta Magrì
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Human, Histology and Movement Science Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia n°87, 95100 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (V.D.); (B.M.); (F.R.); (S.R.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Federico Roggio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Human, Histology and Movement Science Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia n°87, 95100 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (V.D.); (B.M.); (F.R.); (S.R.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Alessandro Castorina
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (LCMN), School of Life Science, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia;
- Laboratory of Neural Structure and Function (LNSF), School of Medical Sciences, (Anatomy and Histology), Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Silvia Ravalli
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Human, Histology and Movement Science Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia n°87, 95100 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (V.D.); (B.M.); (F.R.); (S.R.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Michelino Di Rosa
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Human, Histology and Movement Science Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia n°87, 95100 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (V.D.); (B.M.); (F.R.); (S.R.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Giuseppe Musumeci
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Human, Histology and Movement Science Section, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia n°87, 95100 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (V.D.); (B.M.); (F.R.); (S.R.); (M.D.R.)
- Research Center on Motor Activities (CRAM), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia n°97, 95100 Catania, Italy
- Department of Biology, Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-095-378-2043
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Hardt S, Tascio D, Passlick S, Timmermann A, Jabs R, Steinhäuser C, Seifert G. Auxiliary Subunits Control Function and Subcellular Distribution of AMPA Receptor Complexes in NG2 Glia of the Developing Hippocampus. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:669717. [PMID: 34177466 PMCID: PMC8222826 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.669717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic and axonal glutamatergic signaling to NG2 glia in white matter is critical for the cells' differentiation and activity dependent myelination. However, in gray matter the impact of neuron-to-NG2 glia signaling is still elusive, because most of these cells keep their non-myelinating phenotype throughout live. Early in postnatal development, hippocampal NG2 glia express AMPA receptors with a significant Ca2+ permeability allowing for plasticity of the neuron-glia synapses, but whether this property changes by adulthood is not known. Moreover, it is unclear whether NG2 glia express auxiliary transmembrane AMPA receptor related proteins (TARPs), which modify AMPA receptor properties, including their Ca2+ permeability. Through combined molecular and functional analyses, here we show that hippocampal NG2 glia abundantly express TARPs γ4, γ7, and γ8 as well as cornichon (CNIH)-2. TARP γ8 undergoes profound downregulation during development. Receptors of adult NG2 glia showed an increased sensitivity to blockers of Ca2+ permeable AMPA receptors, but this increase mainly concerned receptors located close to the soma. Evoked synaptic currents of NG2 glia were also sensitive to blockers of Ca2+ permeable AMPA receptors. The presence of AMPA receptors with varying Ca2+ permeability during postnatal maturation may be important for the cells' ability to sense and respond to local glutamatergic activity and for regulating process motility, differentiation, and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Hardt
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dario Tascio
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Stefan Passlick
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Aline Timmermann
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ronald Jabs
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Steinhäuser
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Gerald Seifert
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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40
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Lim EY, Ye L, Paukert M. Potential and Realized Impact of Astroglia Ca 2 + Dynamics on Circuit Function and Behavior. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:682888. [PMID: 34163330 PMCID: PMC8215280 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.682888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Astroglia display a wide range of spontaneous and behavioral state-dependent Ca2+ dynamics. During heightened vigilance, noradrenergic signaling leads to quasi-synchronous Ca2+ elevations encompassing soma and processes across the brain-wide astroglia network. Distinct from this vigilance-associated global Ca2+ rise are apparently spontaneous fluctuations within spatially restricted microdomains. Over the years, several strategies have been pursued to shed light on the physiological impact of these signals including deletion of endogenous ion channels or receptors and reduction of intracellular Ca2+ through buffering, extrusion or inhibition of release. Some experiments that revealed the most compelling behavioral alterations employed chemogenetic and optogenetic manipulations to modify astroglia Ca2+ signaling. However, there is considerable contrast between these findings and the comparatively modest effects of inhibiting endogenous sources of Ca2+. In this review, we describe the underlying mechanisms of various forms of astroglia Ca2+ signaling as well as the functional consequences of their inhibition. We then discuss how the effects of exogenous astroglia Ca2+ modification combined with our knowledge of physiological mechanisms of astroglia Ca2+ activation could guide further refinement of behavioral paradigms that will help elucidate the natural Ca2+-dependent function of astroglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice Y. Lim
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States,Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Liang Ye
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Martin Paukert
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States,Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Martin Paukert,
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41
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Kantzer CG, Parmigiani E, Cerrato V, Tomiuk S, Knauel M, Jungblut M, Buffo A, Bosio A. ACSA-2 and GLAST classify subpopulations of multipotent and glial-restricted cerebellar precursors. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:2228-2249. [PMID: 34060113 PMCID: PMC8453861 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The formation of the cerebellum is highly coordinated to obtain its characteristic morphology and all cerebellar cell types. During mouse postnatal development, cerebellar progenitors with astroglial‐like characteristics generate mainly astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. However, a subset of astroglial‐like progenitors found in the prospective white matter (PWM) produces astroglia and interneurons. Characterizing these cerebellar astroglia‐like progenitors and distinguishing their developmental fates is still elusive. Here, we reveal that astrocyte cell surface antigen‐2 (ACSA‐2), lately identified as ATPase, Na+/K+ transporting, beta 2 polypeptide, is expressed by glial precursors throughout postnatal cerebellar development. In contrast to common astrocyte markers, ACSA‐2 appears on PWM cells but is absent on Bergmann glia (BG) precursors. In the adult cerebellum, ACSA‐2 is broadly expressed extending to velate astrocytes in the granular layer, white matter astrocytes, and to a lesser extent to BG. Cell transplantation and transcriptomic analysis revealed that marker staining discriminates two postnatal progenitor pools. One subset is defined by the co‐expression of ACSA‐2 and GLAST and the expression of markers typical of parenchymal astrocytes. These are PWM precursors that are exclusively gliogenic. They produce predominantly white matter and granular layer astrocytes. Another subset is constituted by GLAST positive/ACSA‐2 negative precursors that express neurogenic and BG‐like progenitor genes. This population displays multipotency and gives rise to interneurons besides all glial types, including BG. In conclusion, this work reports about ACSA‐2, a marker that in combination with GLAST enables for the discrimination and isolation of multipotent and glia‐committed progenitors, which generate different types of cerebellar astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Geraldine Kantzer
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.,Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Elena Parmigiani
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Orbassano, Italy.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Valentina Cerrato
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Orbassano, Italy.,Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Tomiuk
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Michail Knauel
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | | | - Annalisa Buffo
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Andreas Bosio
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
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42
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Impaired calcium signaling in astrocytes modulates autism spectrum disorder-like behaviors in mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3321. [PMID: 34059669 PMCID: PMC8166865 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23843-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. The mechanisms underlying ASD are unclear. Astrocyte alterations are noted in ASD patients and animal models. However, whether astrocyte dysfunction is causal or consequential to ASD-like phenotypes in mice is unresolved. Type 2 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 6 receptors (IP3R2)-mediated Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores results in the activation of astrocytes. Mutations of the IP3R2 gene are associated with ASD. Here, we show that both IP3R2-null mutant mice and astrocyte-specific IP3R2 conditional knockout mice display ASD-like behaviors, such as atypical social interaction and repetitive behavior. Furthermore, we show that astrocyte-derived ATP modulates ASD-like behavior through the P2X2 receptors in the prefrontal cortex and possibly through GABAergic synaptic transmission. These findings identify astrocyte-derived ATP as a potential molecular player in the pathophysiology of ASD. Astrocytes contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pathophysiology. Here, the authors show that IP3R2 conditional KO mice show ASD-like behaviours and identify astrocyte-derived ATP as a modulator of these behaviours in mice.
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43
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GluA2 overexpression in oligodendrocyte progenitors promotes postinjury oligodendrocyte regeneration. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109147. [PMID: 34010640 PMCID: PMC8185898 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are essential for developmental myelination and oligodendrocyte regeneration after CNS injury. These progenitors express calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and form direct synapses with neurons throughout the CNS, but the roles of this signaling are unclear. To enable selective alteration of the properties of AMPARs in oligodendroglia, we generate mice that allow cell-specific overexpression of EGFP-GluA2 in vivo. In healthy conditions, OPC-specific GluA2 overexpression significantly increase their proliferation in an age-dependent manner but did not alter their rate of differentiation into oligodendrocytes. In contrast, after demyelinating brain injury in neonates or adults, higher GluA2 levels promote both OPC proliferation and oligodendrocyte regeneration, but do not prevent injury-induced initial cell loss. These findings indicate that AMPAR GluA2 content regulates the proliferative and regenerative behavior of adult OPCs, serving as a putative target for better myelin repair.
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Cull‐Candy SG, Farrant M. Ca 2+ -permeable AMPA receptors and their auxiliary subunits in synaptic plasticity and disease. J Physiol 2021; 599:2655-2671. [PMID: 33533533 PMCID: PMC8436767 DOI: 10.1113/jp279029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AMPA receptors are tetrameric glutamate-gated ion channels that mediate a majority of fast excitatory neurotransmission in the brain. They exist as calcium-impermeable (CI-) and calcium-permeable (CP-) subtypes, the latter of which lacks the GluA2 subunit. CP-AMPARs display an array of distinctive biophysical and pharmacological properties that allow them to be functionally identified. This has revealed that they play crucial roles in diverse forms of central synaptic plasticity. Here we summarise the functional hallmarks of CP-AMPARs and describe how these are modified by the presence of auxiliary subunits that have emerged as pivotal regulators of AMPARs. A lasting change in the prevalence of GluA2-containing AMPARs, and hence in the fraction of CP-AMPARs, is a feature in many maladaptive forms of synaptic plasticity and neurological disorders. These include modifications of glutamatergic transmission induced by inflammatory pain, fear conditioning, cocaine exposure, and anoxia-induced damage in neurons and glia. Furthermore, defective RNA editing of GluA2 can cause altered expression of CP-AMPARs and is implicated in motor neuron damage (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and the proliferation of cells in malignant gliomas. A number of the players involved in CP-AMPAR regulation have been identified, providing useful insight into interventions that may prevent the aberrant CP-AMPAR expression. Furthermore, recent molecular and pharmacological developments, particularly the discovery of TARP subtype-selective drugs, offer the exciting potential to modify some of the harmful effects of increased CP-AMPAR prevalence in a brain region-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart G. Cull‐Candy
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and PharmacologyUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Mark Farrant
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and PharmacologyUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTUK
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45
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Slc1a3-2A-CreERT2 mice reveal unique features of Bergmann glia and augment a growing collection of Cre drivers and effectors in the 129S4 genetic background. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5412. [PMID: 33686166 PMCID: PMC7940647 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84887-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation is a primary determinant of phenotypic diversity. In laboratory mice, genetic variation can be a serious experimental confounder, and thus minimized through inbreeding. However, generalizations of results obtained with inbred strains must be made with caution, especially when working with complex phenotypes and disease models. Here we compared behavioral characteristics of C57Bl/6—the strain most widely used in biomedical research—with those of 129S4. In contrast to 129S4, C57Bl/6 demonstrated high within-strain and intra-litter behavioral hyperactivity. Although high consistency would be advantageous, the majority of disease models and transgenic tools are in C57Bl/6. We recently established six Cre driver lines and two Cre effector lines in 129S4. To augment this collection, we genetically engineered a Cre line to study astrocytes in 129S4. It was validated with two Cre effector lines: calcium indicator gCaMP5g-tdTomato and RiboTag—a tool widely used to study cell type-specific translatomes. These reporters are in different genomic loci, and in both the Cre was functional and astrocyte-specific. We found that calcium signals lasted longer and had a higher amplitude in cortical compared to hippocampal astrocytes, genes linked to a single neurodegenerative disease have highly divergent expression patterns, and that ribosome proteins are non-uniformly expressed across brain regions and cell types.
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46
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Fabbri R, Saracino E, Treossi E, Zamboni R, Palermo V, Benfenati V. Graphene glial-interfaces: challenges and perspectives. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:4390-4407. [PMID: 33599662 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr07824g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Graphene nanosheets are mechanically strong but flexible, electrically conductive and bio-compatible. Thus, due to these unique properties, they are being intensively studied as materials for the next generation of neural interfaces. Most of the literature focused on optimizing the interface between these materials and neurons. However, one of the most common causes of implant failure is the adverse inflammatory reaction of glial cells. These cells are not, as previously considered, just passive and supportive cells, but play a crucial role in the physiology and pathology of the nervous system, and in the interaction with implanted electrodes. Besides providing structural support to neurons, glia are responsible for the modulation of synaptic transmission and control of central and peripheral homeostasis. Accordingly, knowledge on the interaction between glia and biomaterials is essential to develop new implant-based therapies for the treatment of neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, brain tumours, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. This work provides an overview of the emerging literature on the interaction of graphene-based materials with glial cells, together with a complete description of the different types of glial cells and problems associated with them. We believe that this description will be important for researchers working in materials science and nanotechnology to develop new active materials to interface, measure and stimulate these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Fabbri
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (CNR-ISOF), via Piero Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy.
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Beppu K, Kubo N, Matsui K. Glial amplification of synaptic signals. J Physiol 2021; 599:2085-2102. [PMID: 33527421 DOI: 10.1113/jp280857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Recent studies have repeatedly demonstrated the cross-talk of heterogeneous signals between neuronal and glial circuits. Here, we investigated the mechanism and the influence of physiological interactions between neurons and glia in the cerebellum. We found that the cerebellar astrocytes, Bergmann glial cells, react to exogenously applied glutamate, glutamate transporter substrate (d-aspartate) and synaptically released glutamate. In response, the Bergmann glial cells release glutamate through volume-regulated anion channels. It is generally assumed that all of the postsynaptic current is mediated by presynaptically released glutamate. However, we showed that a part of the postsynaptic current is mediated by glutamate released from Bergmann glial cells. Optogenetic manipulation of Bergmann glial state with archaerhodpsin-T or channelrhodopsin-2 reduced or augmented the amount of glial glutamate release, respectively. Our data indicate that glutamate-induced glutamate release in Bergmann glia serves as an effective amplifier of excitatory information processing in the brain. ABSTRACT Transmitter released from presynaptic neurons has been considered to be the sole generator of postsynaptic excitatory signals. However, astrocytes of the glial cell population have also been shown to release transmitter that can react on postsynaptic receptors. Therefore, we investigated whether astrocytes take part in generation of at least a part of the synaptic current. In this study, mice cerebellar acute slices were prepared and whole cell patch clamp recordings were performed. We found that Bergmann glial cells (BGs), a type of astrocyte in the cerebellum, reacts to a glutamate transporter substrate, d-aspartate (d-Asp) and an anion conductance is generated and glutamate is released from the BGs. Glutamate release was attenuated or augmented by modulating the state of BGs with activation of light-sensitive proteins, archaerhodopsin-T (ArchT) or channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) expressed on BGs, respectively. Glutamate release appears to be mediated by anion channels that can be blocked by a volume-regulated anion channel-specific blocker. Synaptic response to a train of parallel fibre stimulation was recorded from Purkinje cells. The latter part of the response was also attenuated or augmented by glial modulation with ArchT or ChR2, respectively. Thus, BGs effectively function as an excitatory signal amplifier, and a part of the 'synaptic' current is actually mediated by glutamate released from BGs. These data show that the state of BGs have potential for having direct and fundamental consequences on the functioning of information processing in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Beppu
- Division of Interdisciplinary Medical Science, Center for Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Naoko Kubo
- Division of Interdisciplinary Medical Science, Center for Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Ko Matsui
- Division of Interdisciplinary Medical Science, Center for Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.,Super-network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
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48
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Hwang SN, Lee JS, Seo K, Lee H. Astrocytic Regulation of Neural Circuits Underlying Behaviors. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020296. [PMID: 33535587 PMCID: PMC7912785 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes, characterized by a satellite-like morphology, are the most abundant type of glia in the central nervous system. Their main functions have been thought to be limited to providing homeostatic support for neurons, but recent studies have revealed that astrocytes actually actively interact with local neural circuits and play a crucial role in information processing and generating physiological and behavioral responses. Here, we review the emerging roles of astrocytes in many brain regions, particularly by focusing on intracellular changes in astrocytes and their interactions with neurons at the molecular and neural circuit levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Nyoung Hwang
- Convergence Research Advanced Centre for Olfaction, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Korea;
| | - Jae Seung Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu 42988, Korea; (J.S.L.); (K.S.)
| | - Kain Seo
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu 42988, Korea; (J.S.L.); (K.S.)
| | - Hyosang Lee
- Convergence Research Advanced Centre for Olfaction, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Korea;
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu 42988, Korea; (J.S.L.); (K.S.)
- Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu 41062, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-53-785-6147
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Abstract
Animal behavior was classically considered to be determined exclusively by neuronal activity, whereas surrounding glial cells such as astrocytes played only supportive roles. However, astrocytes are as numerous as neurons in the mammalian brain, and current findings indicate a chemically based dialog between astrocytes and neurons. Activation of astrocytes by synaptically released neurotransmitters converges on regulating intracellular Ca2+ in astrocytes, which then can regulate the efficacy of near and distant tripartite synapses at diverse timescales through gliotransmitter release. Here, we discuss recent evidence on how diverse behaviors are impacted by this dialog. These recent findings support a paradigm shift in neuroscience, in which animal behavior does not result exclusively from neuronal activity but from the coordinated activity of both astrocytes and neurons. Decoding how astrocytes and neurons interact with each other in various brain circuits will be fundamental to fully understanding how behaviors originate and become dysregulated in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Kofuji
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA;
| | - Alfonso Araque
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA;
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50
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Caudal LC, Gobbo D, Scheller A, Kirchhoff F. The Paradox of Astroglial Ca 2 + Signals at the Interface of Excitation and Inhibition. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:609947. [PMID: 33324169 PMCID: PMC7726216 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.609947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Astroglial networks constitute a non-neuronal communication system in the brain and are acknowledged modulators of synaptic plasticity. A sophisticated set of transmitter receptors in combination with distinct secretion mechanisms enables astrocytes to sense and modulate synaptic transmission. This integrative function evolved around intracellular Ca2+ signals, by and large considered as the main indicator of astrocyte activity. Regular brain physiology meticulously relies on the constant reciprocity of excitation and inhibition (E/I). Astrocytes are metabolically, physically, and functionally associated to the E/I convergence. Metabolically, astrocytes provide glutamine, the precursor of both major neurotransmitters governing E/I in the central nervous system (CNS): glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Perisynaptic astroglial processes are structurally and functionally associated with the respective circuits throughout the CNS. Astonishingly, in astrocytes, glutamatergic as well as GABAergic inputs elicit similar rises in intracellular Ca2+ that in turn can trigger the release of glutamate and GABA as well. Paradoxically, as gliotransmitters, these two molecules can thus strengthen, weaken or even reverse the input signal. Therefore, the net impact on neuronal network function is often convoluted and cannot be simply predicted by the nature of the stimulus itself. In this review, we highlight the ambiguity of astrocytes on discriminating and affecting synaptic activity in physiological and pathological state. Indeed, aberrant astroglial Ca2+ signaling is a key aspect of pathological conditions exhibiting compromised network excitability, such as epilepsy. Here, we gather recent evidence on the complexity of astroglial Ca2+ signals in health and disease, challenging the traditional, neuro-centric concept of segregating E/I, in favor of a non-binary, mutually dependent perspective on glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Caudal
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | - Davide Gobbo
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | - Anja Scheller
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
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