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You Z, Gao X, Kang X, Yang W, Xiong T, Li Y, Wei F, Zhuang Y, Zhang T, Sun Y, Shen H, Dai J. Microvascular endothelial cells derived from spinal cord promote spinal cord injury repair. Bioact Mater 2023; 29:36-49. [PMID: 37621772 PMCID: PMC10444976 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI) closely relates to the microvascular endothelial cell (MEC)-mediated neurovascular unit formation. However, the effects of central nerve system-derived MECs on neovascularization and neurogenesis, and potential signaling involved therein, are unclear. Here, we established a primary spinal cord-derived MECs (SCMECs) isolation with high cell yield and purity to describe the differences with brain-derived MECs (BMECs) and their therapeutic effects on SCI. Transcriptomics and proteomics revealed differentially expressed genes and proteins in SCMECs were involved in angiogenesis, immunity, metabolism, and cell adhesion molecular signaling was the only signaling pathway enriched of top 10 in differentially expressed genes and proteins KEGG analysis. SCMECs and BMECs could be induced angiogenesis by different stiffness stimulation of PEG hydrogels with elastic modulus 50-1650 Pa for SCMECs and 50-300 Pa for BMECs, respectively. Moreover, SCMECs and BMECs promoted spinal cord or brain-derived NSC (SNSC/BNSC) proliferation, migration, and differentiation at different levels. At certain dose, SCMECs in combination with the NeuroRegen scaffold, showed higher effectiveness in the promotion of vascular reconstruction. The potential underlying mechanism of this phenomenon may through VEGF/AKT/eNOS- signaling pathway, and consequently accelerated neuronal regeneration and functional recovery of SCI rats compared to BMECs. Our findings suggested a promising role of SCMECs in restoring vascularization and neural regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng You
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xu Gao
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, China
| | - Xinyi Kang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China
| | - Wen Yang
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Tiandi Xiong
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yue Li
- i-Lab, Key Laboratory of Multifunction Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Feng Wei
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yan Zhuang
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- i-Lab, Key Laboratory of Multifunction Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yifu Sun
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, China
| | - He Shen
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Jianwu Dai
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Gerhart J, Bowers J, Gugerty L, Gerhart C, Martin M, Abdalla F, Bravo-Nuevo A, Sullivan JT, Rimkunas R, Albertus A, Casta L, Getts L, Getts R, George-Weinstein M. Brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 is expressed in the Myo/Nog cell lineage. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234792. [PMID: 32614850 PMCID: PMC7332021 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Myo/Nog cell lineage was discovered in the chick embryo and is also present in adult mammalian tissues. The cells are named for their expression of mRNA for the skeletal muscle specific transcription factor MyoD and bone morphogenetic protein inhibitor Noggin. A third marker for Myo/Nog cells is the cell surface molecule recognized by the G8 monoclonal antibody (mAb). G8 has been used to detect, track, isolate and kill Myo/Nog cells. In this study, we screened a membrane proteome array for the target of the G8 mAb. The array consisted of >5,000 molecules, each synthesized in their native confirmation with appropriate post-translational modifications in a single clone of HEK-293T cells. G8 mAb binding to the clone expressing brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) was detected by flow cytometry, re-verified by sequencing and validated by transfection with the plasmid construct for BAI1. Further validation of the G8 target was provided by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The G8 epitope was identified by screening a high-throughput, site directed mutagenesis library designed to cover 95–100% of the 954 amino acids of the extracellular domain of the BAI1 protein. The G8 mAb binds within the third thrombospondin repeat of the extracellular domain of human BAI1. Immunofluorescence localization experiments revealed that G8 and a commercially available BAI1 mAb co-localize to the subpopulation of Myo/Nog cells in the skin, eyes and brain. Expression of the multi-functional BAI1 protein in Myo/Nog cells introduces new possibilities for the roles of Myo/Nog cells in normal and diseased tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn Gerhart
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | | | - Lindsay Gugerty
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Colby Gerhart
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Mark Martin
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Fathma Abdalla
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Arturo Bravo-Nuevo
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | | | | | - Amie Albertus
- Integral Molecular, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Lou Casta
- Genisphere, LLC, Hatfield, PA, United States of America
| | - Lori Getts
- Genisphere, LLC, Hatfield, PA, United States of America
| | - Robert Getts
- Genisphere, LLC, Hatfield, PA, United States of America
| | - Mindy George-Weinstein
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Guadagni V, Biagioni M, Novelli E, Aretini P, Mazzanti CM, Strettoi E. Rescuing cones and daylight vision in retinitis pigmentosa mice. FASEB J 2019; 33:10177-10192. [PMID: 31199887 PMCID: PMC6764477 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201900414r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Hallmark of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the primary, genetic degeneration of rods followed by secondary loss of cones, caused by still elusive biologic mechanisms. We previously shown that exposure of rd10 mutant mice, modeling autosomal recessive RP, to environmental enrichment (EE), with enhanced motor, sensorial and social stimuli, results into a sensible delay of retinal degeneration and vision loss. Searching for effectors of EE-mediated retinal protection, we performed transcriptome analysis of the retina of rd10 enriched and control mice and found that gene expression at the peaks of rod and cone degeneration is characterized by a strong inflammatory/immune response, which is however measurably lower in enrichment conditions. Treating rd10 mice with dexamethasone during the period of maximum photoreceptors death lowered retinal inflammation and caused a preservation of cones and cone-mediated vision. Our findings indicate a link between retinal inflammation and bystander cone degeneration, reinforcing the notion that cone vision in RP can be preserved using anti-inflammatory approaches.—Guadagni, V., Biagioni, M., Novelli, E., Aretini, P., Mazzanti, C. M., Strettoi, E. Rescuing cones and daylight vision in retinitis pigmentosa mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Guadagni
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Institute of Neuroscience, Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Biagioni
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Institute of Neuroscience, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Novelli
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Institute of Neuroscience, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Aretini
- Laboratory of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Maria Mazzanti
- Laboratory of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Pisa, Italy
| | - Enrica Strettoi
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Institute of Neuroscience, Pisa, Italy
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Ren H, Fabbri C, Uher R, Rietschel M, Mors O, Henigsberg N, Hauser J, Zobel A, Maier W, Dernovsek MZ, Souery D, Cattaneo A, Breen G, Craig IW, Farmer AE, McGuffin P, Lewis CM, Aitchison KJ. Genes associated with anhedonia: a new analysis in a large clinical trial (GENDEP). Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:150. [PMID: 30104601 PMCID: PMC6089928 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0198-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A key feature of major depressive disorder (MDD) is anhedonia, which is a predictor of response to antidepressant treatment. In order to shed light on its genetic underpinnings, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) followed by investigation of biological pathway enrichment using an anhedonia dimension for 759 patients with MDD in the GENDEP study. The GWAS identified 18 SNPs associated at genome-wide significance with the top one being an intronic SNP (rs9392549) in PRPF4B (pre-mRNA processing factor 4B) located on chromosome 6 (P = 2.07 × 10-9) while gene-set enrichment analysis returned one gene ontology term, axon cargo transport (GO: 0008088) with a nominally significant P value (1.15 × 10-5). Furthermore, our exploratory analysis yielded some interesting, albeit not statistically significant genetic correlation with Parkinson's Disease and nucleus accumbens gray matter. In addition, polygenic risk scores (PRSs) generated from our association analysis were found to be able to predict treatment efficacy of the antidepressants in this study. In conclusion, we found some markers significantly associated with anhedonia, and some suggestive findings of related pathways and biological functions, which could be further investigated in other studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Ren
- Psychiatry and Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Chiara Fabbri
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rudolf Uher
- Psychiatry Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ole Mors
- Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Neven Henigsberg
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Joanna Hauser
- Psychiatry Department, University of Poznan, Poznan, Poland
| | - Astrid Zobel
- Psychiatry Department, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Maier
- Psychiatry Department, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mojca Z Dernovsek
- University Psychiatric Clinic, University of Ljubliana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Daniel Souery
- Psychological Medicine, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Gerome Breen
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ian W Craig
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anne E Farmer
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Peter McGuffin
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Cathryn M Lewis
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Katherine J Aitchison
- Psychiatry and Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK.
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Siqueira M, Francis D, Gisbert D, Gomes FCA, Stipursky J. Radial Glia Cells Control Angiogenesis in the Developing Cerebral Cortex Through TGF-β1 Signaling. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:3660-3675. [PMID: 28523566 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0557-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Neuroangiogenesis in the developing central nervous system is controlled by interactions between endothelial cells (ECs) and radial glia (RG) neural stem cells, although RG-derived molecules implicated in these events are not fully known. Here, we investigated the role of RG-secreted TGF-β1, in angiogenesis in the developing cerebral cortex. By isolation of murine microcapillary brain endothelial cells (MBECs), we demonstrate that conditioned medium from RG cultures (RG-CM) promoted MBEC migration and formation of vessel-like structures in vitro, in a TGF-β1-dependent manner. These events were followed by endothelial regulation of GPR124 and BAI-1 gene expression by RG-CM. Proteome profile of RG-CM identified angiogenesis-related molecules IGFBP2/3, osteopontin, endostatin, SDF1, fractalkine, TIMP1/4, Ang-1, pentraxin3, and Cyr61, some of them modulated by TGF-β1 induction. In vivo gain and loss of function assays targeting RG cells demonstrates a specific TGF-β1-dependent control of blood vessels branching in the cerebral cortex. Together, our results point to TGF-β1 signaling pathway as a potential mediator of the RG-EC interactions and shed light to the key role of RG in paving the brain vascular network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Siqueira
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daniel Francis
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Diego Gisbert
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Joice Stipursky
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. .,Laboratório de Neurobiologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco F, Sala F15, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21949-902, Brazil.
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Carusillo Theriault B, Woo SK, Karimy JK, Keledjian K, Stokum JA, Sarkar A, Coksaygan T, Ivanova S, Gerzanich V, Simard JM. Cerebral microbleeds in a neonatal rat model. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171163. [PMID: 28158198 PMCID: PMC5291518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In adult humans, cerebral microbleeds play important roles in neurodegenerative diseases but in neonates, the consequences of cerebral microbleeds are unknown. In rats, a single pro-angiogenic stimulus in utero predisposes to cerebral microbleeds after birth at term, a time when late oligodendrocyte progenitors (pre-oligodendrocytes) dominate in the rat brain. We hypothesized that two independent pro-angiogenic stimuli in utero would be associated with a high likelihood of perinatal microbleeds that would be severely damaging to white matter. METHODS Pregnant Wistar rats were subjected to intrauterine ischemia (IUI) and low-dose maternal lipopolysaccharide (mLPS) at embryonic day (E) 19. Pups were born vaginally or abdominally at E21-22. Brains were evaluated for angiogenic markers, microhemorrhages, myelination and axonal development. Neurological function was assessed out to 6 weeks. RESULTS mRNA (Vegf, Cd31, Mmp2, Mmp9, Timp1, Timp2) and protein (CD31, MMP2, MMP9) for angiogenic markers, in situ proteolytic activity, and collagen IV immunoreactivity were altered, consistent with an angiogenic response. Vaginally delivered pups exposed to prenatal IUI+mLPS had spontaneous cerebral microbleeds, abnormal neurological function, and dysmorphic, hypomyelinated white matter and axonopathy. Pups exposed to the same pro-angiogenic stimuli in utero but delivered abdominally had minimal cerebral microbleeds, preserved myelination and axonal development, and neurological function similar to naïve controls. CONCLUSIONS In rats, pro-angiogenic stimuli in utero can predispose to vascular fragility and lead to cerebral microbleeds. The study of microbleeds in the neonatal rat brain at full gestation may give insights into the consequences of microbleeds in human preterm infants during critical periods of white matter development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna Carusillo Theriault
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Seung Kyoon Woo
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jason K. Karimy
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kaspar Keledjian
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jesse A. Stokum
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Amrita Sarkar
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Turhan Coksaygan
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Svetlana Ivanova
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Volodymyr Gerzanich
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - J. Marc Simard
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Lacoste B, Gu C. Control of cerebrovascular patterning by neural activity during postnatal development. Mech Dev 2015; 138 Pt 1:43-9. [PMID: 26116138 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The brain represents only a small portion of the body mass and yet consumes almost a quarter of the available energy, and has a limited ability to store energy. The brain is therefore highly dependent on oxygen and nutrient supply from the blood circulation, which makes it vulnerable to vascular pathologies. Key vascular determinants will ensure proper brain maturation and function: the establishment of vascular networks, the formation of the blood-brain barrier, and the regulation of blood flow. Recent evidence suggests that the phenomenon of neurovascular coupling, during which increased neural activity normally leads to increased blood flow, is not functional until few weeks after birth, implying that the developing brain must rely on alternative mechanisms to adequately couple blood supply to increasing energy demands. This review will focus on these alternative mechanisms, which have been partly elucidated recently via the demonstration that neural activity influences the maturation of cerebrovascular networks. We also propose possible mechanisms underlying activity-induced vascular plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Lacoste
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Chenghua Gu
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Zhu D, Li C, Swanson AM, Villalba RM, Guo J, Zhang Z, Matheny S, Murakami T, Stephenson JR, Daniel S, Fukata M, Hall RA, Olson JJ, Neigh GN, Smith Y, Rainnie DG, Van Meir EG. BAI1 regulates spatial learning and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:1497-508. [PMID: 25751059 DOI: 10.1172/jci74603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses to modulate the strength of neuronal connections; however, the molecular factors that regulate this feature are incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrated that mice lacking brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) have severe deficits in hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory that are accompanied by enhanced long-term potentiation (LTP), impaired long-term depression (LTD), and a thinning of the postsynaptic density (PSD) at hippocampal synapses. We showed that compared with WT animals, mice lacking Bai1 exhibit reduced protein levels of the canonical PSD component PSD-95 in the brain, which stems from protein destabilization. We determined that BAI1 prevents PSD-95 polyubiquitination and degradation through an interaction with murine double minute 2 (MDM2), the E3 ubiquitin ligase that regulates PSD-95 stability. Restoration of PSD-95 expression in hippocampal neurons in BAI1-deficient mice by viral gene therapy was sufficient to compensate for Bai1 loss and rescued deficits in synaptic plasticity. Together, our results reveal that interaction of BAI1 with MDM2 in the brain modulates PSD-95 levels and thereby regulates synaptic plasticity. Moreover, these results suggest that targeting this pathway has therapeutic potential for a variety of neurological disorders.
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