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Rivi V, Benatti C, Blom JMC, Pani L, Brunello N, Drago F, Papaleo F, Caraci F, Geraci F, Torrisi SA, Leggio GM, Tascedda F. The Role of Dopamine D3 Receptors, Dysbindin, and Their Functional Interaction in the Expression of Key Genes for Neuroplasticity and Neuroinflammation in the Mouse Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8699. [PMID: 37240042 PMCID: PMC10218262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108699] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia remains a clinically and pharmacologically unsolved challenge. Clinical and preclinical studies have revealed that the concomitant reduction in dysbindin (DYS) and dopamine receptor D3 functionality improves cognitive functions. However, the molecular machinery underlying this epistatic interaction has not yet been fully elucidated. The glutamate NMDA receptors and the neurotrophin BDNF, with their established role in promoting neuroplasticity, may be involved in the complex network regulated by the D3/DYS interaction. Furthermore, as inflammation is involved in the etiopathogenesis of several psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia, the D3/DYS interaction may affect the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, by employing mutant mice bearing selective heterozygosis for D3 and/or DYS, we provide new insights into the functional interactions (single and synergic) between these schizophrenia susceptibility genes and the expression levels of key genes for neuroplasticity and neuroinflammation in three key brain areas for schizophrenia: the prefrontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. In the hippocampus, the epistatic interaction between D3 and DYS reversed to the wild-type level the downregulated mRNA levels of GRIN1 and GRIN2A were observed in DYS +/- and D3 +/- mice. In all the areas investigated, double mutant mice had higher BDNF levels compared to their single heterozygote counterparts, whereas D3 hypofunction resulted in higher pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results may help to clarify the genetic mechanisms and functional interactions involved in the etiology and development of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.R.); (C.B.); (J.M.C.B.); (L.P.)
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.R.); (C.B.); (J.M.C.B.); (L.P.)
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Joan M. C. Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.R.); (C.B.); (J.M.C.B.); (L.P.)
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Luca Pani
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (V.R.); (C.B.); (J.M.C.B.); (L.P.)
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Nicoletta Brunello
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.D.); (F.C.); (F.G.); (S.A.T.)
| | - Francesco Papaleo
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Italian Institute of Technology, 16132 Genova, Italy;
| | - Filippo Caraci
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.D.); (F.C.); (F.G.); (S.A.T.)
| | - Federica Geraci
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.D.); (F.C.); (F.G.); (S.A.T.)
| | - Sebastiano Alfio Torrisi
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.D.); (F.C.); (F.G.); (S.A.T.)
| | - Gian Marco Leggio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.D.); (F.C.); (F.G.); (S.A.T.)
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
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Iacobucci GJ, Liu B, Wen H, Sincox B, Zheng W, Popescu GK. Complex functional phenotypes of NMDA receptor disease variants. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:5113-5123. [PMID: 36117210 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01774-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
NMDA receptors have essential roles in the physiology of central excitatory synapses and their dysfunction causes severe neuropsychiatric symptoms. Recently, a series of genetic variants have been identified in patients, however, functional information about these variants is sparse and their role in pathogenesis insufficiently known. Here we investigate the mechanism by which two GluN2A variants may be pathogenic. We use molecular dynamics simulation and single-molecule electrophysiology to examine the contribution of GluN2A subunit-residues, P552 and F652, and their pathogenic substitutions, P552R and F652V, affect receptor functions. We found that P552 and F652 interact during the receptors' normal activity cycle; the interaction stabilizes receptors in open conformations and is required for a normal electrical response. Engineering shorter side-chains at these positions (P552A and/or F652V) caused a loss of interaction energy and produced receptors with severe gating, conductance, and permeability deficits. In contrast, the P552R side chain resulted in stronger interaction and produced a distinct, yet still drastically abnormal electrical response. These results identify the dynamic contact between P552 and F652 as a critical step in the NMDA receptor activation, and show that both increased and reduced communication through this interaction cause dysfunction. Results show that subtle differences in NMDA receptor primary structure can generate complex phenotypic alterations whose binary classification is too simplistic to serve as a therapeutic guide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary J Iacobucci
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - Beiying Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Han Wen
- Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Brittany Sincox
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Wenjun Zheng
- Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - Gabriela K Popescu
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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Marwick KFM, Skehel PA, Hardingham GE, Wyllie DJA. The human NMDA receptor GluN2A N615K variant influences channel blocker potency. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2019; 7:e00495. [PMID: 31249692 PMCID: PMC6584472 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are glutamate receptors with key roles in synaptic plasticity, due in part to their Mg2+ mediated voltage-dependence. A large number of genetic variants affecting NMDA receptor subunits have been found in people with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including GluN2AN615K (GRIN2AC1845A) in two unrelated individuals with severe epileptic encephalopathy. This missense variant substitutes a lysine in place of an asparagine known to be important for blockade by Mg2+ and other small molecule channel blockers. We therefore measured the impact of GluN2AN615K on a range of NMDA receptor channel blockers using two-electrode voltage clamp recordings made in Xenopus oocytes. We found that GluN2AN615K resulted in block by Mg2+ 1 mmol/L being greatly reduced (89% vs 8%), block by memantine 10 μmol/L (76% vs 27%) and amantadine 100 μmol/L (45% vs 17%) being substantially reduced, block by ketamine 10 μmol/L being modestly reduced (79% vs 73%) and block by dextromethorphan 10 μmol/L being enhanced (45% vs 55%). Coapplying Mg2+ with memantine or amantadine did not reduce the GluN2AN615K block seen with either small molecule. In addition, we measured single-channel conductance of GluN2AN615K-containing NMDA receptors in outside-out patches pulled from Xenopus oocytes, finding a 4-fold reduction in conductance (58 vs 15 pS). In conclusion, the GluN2AN615K variant is associated with substantial changes to important physiological and pharmacological properties of the NMDA receptor. Our findings are consistent with GluN2AN615K having a disease-causing role, and inform potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie F. M. Marwick
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesHugh Robson Building, University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Paul A. Skehel
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesHugh Robson Building, University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Giles E. Hardingham
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesHugh Robson Building, University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Hugh Robson BuildingUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- UK Dementia Research InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - David J. A. Wyllie
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesHugh Robson Building, University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, Hugh Robson BuildingUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Centre for Brain Development and RepairInstitute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative MedicineBangaloreIndia
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Marwick KFM, Hansen KB, Skehel PA, Hardingham GE, Wyllie DJA. Functional assessment of triheteromeric NMDA receptors containing a human variant associated with epilepsy. J Physiol 2019; 597:1691-1704. [PMID: 30604514 PMCID: PMC6418762 DOI: 10.1113/jp277292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS NMDA receptors are neurotransmitter-gated ion channels that are critically involved in brain cell communication Variations in genes encoding NMDA receptor subunits have been found in a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. We investigated a de novo genetic variant found in patients with epileptic encephalopathy that changes a residue located in the ion channel pore of the GluN2A NMDA receptor subunit. We found that this variant (GluN2AN615K ) impairs physiologically important receptor properties: it markedly reduces Mg2+ blockade and channel conductance, even for receptors in which one GluN2AN615K is co-assembled with one wild-type GluN2A subunit. Our findings are consistent with the GluN2AN615K mutation being the primary cause of the severe neurodevelopmental disorder in carriers. ABSTRACT NMDA receptors are ionotropic calcium-permeable glutamate receptors with a voltage-dependence mediated by blockade by Mg2+ . Their activation is important in signal transduction, as well as synapse formation and maintenance. Two unrelated individuals with epileptic encephalopathy carry a de novo variant in the gene encoding the GluN2A NMDA receptor subunit: a N615K missense variant in the M2 pore helix (GRIN2AC1845A ). We hypothesized that this variant underlies the neurodevelopmental disorders in carriers and explored its functional consequences by electrophysiological analysis in heterologous systems. We focused on GluN2AN615K co-expressed with wild-type GluN2 subunits in physiologically relevant triheteromeric NMDA receptors containing two GluN1 and two distinct GluN2 subunits, whereas previous studies have investigated the impact of the variant in diheteromeric NMDA receptors with two GluN1 and two identical GluN2 subunits. We found that GluN2AN615K -containing triheteromers showed markedly reduced Mg2+ blockade, with a value intermediate between GluN2AN615K diheteromers and wild-type NMDA receptors. Single-channel conductance was reduced by four-fold in GluN2AN615K diheteromers, again with an intermediate value in GluN2AN615K -containing triheteromers. Glutamate deactivation rates were unaffected. Furthermore, we expressed GluN2AN615K in cultured primary mouse cortical neurons, observing a decrease in Mg2+ blockade and reduction in current density, confirming that the variant continues to have significant functional impact in neuronal systems. Our results demonstrate that the GluN2AN615K variant has substantial effects on NMDA receptor properties fundamental to the roles of the receptor in synaptic plasticity, even when expressed alongside wild-type subunits. This work strengthens the evidence indicating that the GluN2AN615K variant underlies the disabling neurodevelopmental phenotype in carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie F. M. Marwick
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesHugh Robson BuildingUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Kasper B. Hansen
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical SciencesCenter for Structural and Functional Neuroscienceand Center for Biomolecular Structure and DynamicsUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMTUSA
| | - Paul A. Skehel
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesHugh Robson BuildingUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Giles E. Hardingham
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesHugh Robson BuildingUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- UK Dementia Research InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - David J. A. Wyllie
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesHugh Robson BuildingUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Centre for Brain Development and RepairInstitute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative MedicineBangaloreIndia
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Minnella AM, Zhao JX, Jiang X, Jakobsen E, Lu F, Wu L, El-Benna J, Gray JA, Swanson RA. Excitotoxic superoxide production and neuronal death require both ionotropic and non-ionotropic NMDA receptor signaling. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17522. [PMID: 30504838 PMCID: PMC6269523 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35725-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
NMDA-type glutamate receptors (NMDAR) trigger superoxide production by neuronal NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2), which if sustained leads to cell death. This process involves Ca2+ influx through NMDAR channels. By contrast, comparable Ca2+ influx by other routes does not induce NOX2 activation or cell death. This contrast has been attributed to site-specific effects of Ca2+ flux through NMDAR. Here we show instead that it stems from non-ionotropic signaling by NMDAR GluN2B subunits. To evaluate non-ionotropic effects, mouse cortical neurons were treated with NMDA together with 7-chlorokynurenate, L-689,560, or MK-801, which block Ca2+ influx through NMDAR channels but not NMDA binding. NMDA-induced superoxide formation was prevented by the channel blockers, restored by concurrent Ca2+ influx through ionomycin or voltage-gated calcium channels, and not induced by the Ca2+ influx in the absence of NMDAR ligand binding. Neurons expressing either GluN2B subunits or chimeric GluN2A/GluN2B C-terminus subunits exhibited NMDA-induced superoxide production, whereas neurons expressing chimeric GluN2B/GluN2A C-terminus subunits did not. Neuronal NOX2 activation requires phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and NMDA binding to NMDAR increased PI3K association with NMDA GluN2B subunits independent of Ca2+ influx. These findings identify a non-ionotropic signaling pathway that links NMDAR to NOX2 activation through the C-terminus domain of GluN2B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Minnella
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94122, USA.,San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA
| | - Jerry X Zhao
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94122, USA.,San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA
| | - Xiangning Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Emil Jakobsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Fuxin Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Long Wu
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94122, USA.,San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA
| | - Jamel El-Benna
- INSERM-U1149, CNRS-ERL8252, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Paris, France.,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire d'Excellence Inflamex, Faculté de Médecine, Site Xavier Bichat, Paris, France
| | - John A Gray
- Center for Neuroscience and Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95618, USA
| | - Raymond A Swanson
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94122, USA. .,San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA.
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XiangWei W, Jiang Y, Yuan H. De Novo Mutations and Rare Variants Occurring in NMDA Receptors. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 2:27-35. [PMID: 29756080 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2017.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A significant number of variants/mutations in the N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamatergic receptor (NMDAR) gene family (GRIN) have been identified along with stunning advances in the technologies of next generation of whole-exome sequencing. Mutations in human GRIN genes are distributed throughout the entire gene, from amino terminal domain to C-terminal domain, in patients with various neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Analyzing the currently available human genetic variations illustrates the genetic variation intolerance to missense mutations differs significantly among domains within the GRIN genes. Functional analyses of these mutations and their pharmacological profiles provide the first opportunity to understand the molecular mechanism and targeted therapeutic strategies for these neurological and psychiatric disorders, as well as unfold novel clues to channel function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshu XiangWei
- Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Yuwu Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.,Center of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Hongjie Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.,Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Mutations of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Subunits in Epilepsy. Neurosci Bull 2017; 34:549-565. [PMID: 29124671 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-017-0191-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases. Of all cases, 70%-80% are considered to be due to genetic factors. In recent years, a large number of genes have been identified as being involved in epilepsy. Among them, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunit-encoding genes represent a large proportion, suggesting an important role for NMDARs in epilepsy. In this review, we summarize and analyze the genotypes, functional alterations, and clinical aspects of NMDAR subunit mutations/variants identified from patients with epilepsy. These data will help to throw light upon the pathogenicity of these NMDAR mutations and advance our understanding of the subtle and complicated role of NMDARs in epilepsy. It will also offer new insights into precision therapy for this disorder.
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Marwick KFM, Parker P, Skehel P, Hardingham G, Wyllie DJA. Functional assessment of the NMDA receptor variant GluN2A R586K. Wellcome Open Res 2017; 2:20. [PMID: 28459106 PMCID: PMC5407442 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.10985.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is an ionotropic glutamate receptor that has important roles in synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission, and synaptic plasticity. Recently, a large number of rare genetic variants have been found in NMDAR subunits in people with neurodevelopmental disorders, and also in healthy individuals. One such is the GluN2AR586K variant, found in a person with intellectual disability. Identifying the functional consequences, if any, of such variants allows their potential contribution to pathogenesis to be assessed. Here, we assessed the effect of the GluN2AR586K variant on NMDAR pore properties. Methods: We expressed recombinant NMDARs with and without the GluN2AR586K variant in Xenopus laevis oocytes and in primary cultured mouse neurons, and made electrophysiological recordings assessing Mg2+ block, single-channel conductance, mean open time and current density. Results: The GluN2AR586K variant was not found to influence any of the properties assessed. Conclusions: Our findings suggest it is unlikely that the GluN2AR586K variant contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie F M Marwick
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Peter Parker
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Paul Skehel
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Giles Hardingham
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - David J A Wyllie
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
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