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Callahan JW, Morales JC, Atherton JF, Wang D, Kostic S, Bevan MD. Movement-related increases in subthalamic activity optimize locomotion. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114495. [PMID: 39068661 PMCID: PMC11407793 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114495] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is traditionally thought to restrict movement. Lesion or prolonged STN inhibition increases movement vigor and propensity, while optogenetic excitation has opposing effects. However, STN neurons often exhibit movement-related increases in firing. To address this paradox, STN activity was recorded and manipulated in head-fixed mice at rest and during self-initiated and self-paced treadmill locomotion. We found that (1) most STN neurons (type 1) exhibit locomotion-dependent increases in activity, with half firing preferentially during the propulsive phase of the contralateral locomotor cycle; (2) a minority of STN neurons exhibit dips in activity or are uncorrelated with movement; (3) brief optogenetic inhibition of the lateral STN (where type 1 neurons are concentrated) slows and prematurely terminates locomotion; and (4) in Q175 Huntington's disease mice, abnormally brief, low-velocity locomotion is associated with type 1 hypoactivity. Together, these data argue that movement-related increases in STN activity contribute to optimal locomotor performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W Callahan
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Juan Carlos Morales
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jeremy F Atherton
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Dorothy Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Selena Kostic
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Mark D Bevan
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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Callahan JW, Morales JC, Atherton JF, Wang D, Kostic S, Bevan MD. Movement-related increases in subthalamic activity optimize locomotion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.07.570617. [PMID: 38105984 PMCID: PMC10723456 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.07.570617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is traditionally thought to restrict movement. Lesion or prolonged STN inhibition increases movement vigor and propensity, while ontogenetic excitation typically has opposing effects. Subthalamic and motor activity are also inversely correlated in movement disorders. However, most STN neurons exhibit movement-related increases in firing. To address this paradox, STN activity was recorded and manipulated in head-fixed mice at rest and during self-initiated treadmill locomotion. The majority of STN neurons (type 1) exhibited locomotion-dependent increases in activity, with half encoding the locomotor cycle. A minority of neurons exhibited dips in activity or were uncorrelated with movement. Brief optogenetic inhibition of the dorsolateral STN (where type 1 neurons are concentrated) slowed and prematurely terminated locomotion. In Q175 Huntington's disease mice abnormally brief, low-velocity locomotion was specifically associated with type 1 hyperactivity. Together these data argue that movement-related increases in STN activity contribute to optimal locomotor performance.
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Vasilkovska T, Salajeghe S, Vanreusel V, Van Audekerke J, Verschuuren M, Hirschler L, Warnking J, Pintelon I, Pustina D, Cachope R, Mrzljak L, Muñoz-Sanjuan I, Barbier EL, De Vos WH, Van der Linden A, Verhoye M. Longitudinal alterations in brain perfusion and vascular reactivity in the zQ175DN mouse model of Huntington's disease. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:37. [PMID: 38627751 PMCID: PMC11022401 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01028-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is marked by a CAG-repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene that causes neuronal dysfunction and loss, affecting mainly the striatum and the cortex. Alterations in the neurovascular coupling system have been shown to lead to dysregulated energy supply to brain regions in several neurological diseases, including HD, which could potentially trigger the process of neurodegeneration. In particular, it has been observed in cross-sectional human HD studies that vascular alterations are associated to impaired cerebral blood flow (CBF). To assess whether whole-brain changes in CBF are present and follow a pattern of progression, we investigated both resting-state brain perfusion and vascular reactivity longitudinally in the zQ175DN mouse model of HD. METHODS Using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling (pCASL) MRI in the zQ175DN model of HD and age-matched wild-type (WT) mice, we assessed whole-brain, resting-state perfusion at 3, 6 and 9 and 13 months of age, and assessed hypercapnia-induced cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), at 4.5, 6, 9 and 15 months of age. RESULTS We found increased perfusion in cortical regions of zQ175DN HET mice at 3 months of age, and a reduction of this anomaly at 6 and 9 months, ages at which behavioural deficits have been reported. On the other hand, under hypercapnia, CBF was reduced in zQ175DN HET mice as compared to the WT: for multiple brain regions at 6 months of age, for only somatosensory and retrosplenial cortices at 9 months of age, and brain-wide by 15 months. CVR impairments in cortical regions, the thalamus and globus pallidus were observed in zQ175DN HET mice at 9 months, with whole brain reactivity diminished at 15 months of age. Interestingly, blood vessel density was increased in the motor cortex at 3 months, while average vessel length was reduced in the lateral portion of the caudate putamen at 6 months of age. CONCLUSION Our findings reveal early cortical resting-state hyperperfusion and impaired CVR at ages that present motor anomalies in this HD model, suggesting that further characterization of brain perfusion alterations in animal models is warranted as a potential therapeutic target in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Vasilkovska
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Somaie Salajeghe
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Verdi Vanreusel
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johan Van Audekerke
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marlies Verschuuren
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
- Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lydiane Hirschler
- C.J. Gorter MRI Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Warnking
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Isabel Pintelon
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
- Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dorian Pustina
- CHDI Management, Inc., the company that manages the scientific activities of CHDI Foundation, Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Roger Cachope
- CHDI Management, Inc., the company that manages the scientific activities of CHDI Foundation, Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Ladislav Mrzljak
- CHDI Management, Inc., the company that manages the scientific activities of CHDI Foundation, Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Present Address: Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ignacio Muñoz-Sanjuan
- CHDI Management, Inc., the company that manages the scientific activities of CHDI Foundation, Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Present Address: Cajal Neuroscience Inc, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Emmanuel L Barbier
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Winnok H De Vos
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
- Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annemie Van der Linden
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marleen Verhoye
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Ambesi-Impiombato A, Cox K, Ramboz S, Brunner D, Bansal M, Leahy E. Enrichment analysis of phenotypic data for drug repurposing in rare diseases. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1128562. [PMID: 37560472 PMCID: PMC10407094 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1128562] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced Behavioral Signature Analysis (DBSA), is a machine learning (ML) method for in silico screening of compounds, inspired by analytical methods quantifying gene enrichment in genomic analyses. When applied to behavioral data it can identify drugs that can potentially reverse in vivo behavioral symptoms in animal models of human disease and suggest new hypotheses for drug discovery and repurposing. We present a proof-of-concept study aiming to assess Drug-induced Behavioral Signature Analysis (DBSA) as a systematic approach for drug discovery for rare disorders. We applied Drug-induced Behavioral Signature Analysis to high-content behavioral data obtained with SmartCube®, an automated in vivo phenotyping platform. The therapeutic potential of several dozen approved drugs was assessed for phenotypic reversal of the behavioral profile of a Huntington's Disease (HD) murine model, the Q175 heterozygous knock-in mice. The in silico Drug-induced Behavioral Signature Analysis predictions were enriched for drugs known to be effective in the symptomatic treatment of Huntington's Disease, including bupropion, modafinil, methylphenidate, and several SSRIs, as well as the atypical antidepressant tianeptine. To validate the method, we tested acute and chronic effects of tianeptine (20 mg/kg, i. p.) in vivo, using Q175 mice and wild type controls. In both experiments, tianeptine significantly rescued the behavioral phenotype assessed with the SmartCube® platform. Our target-agnostic method thus showed promise for identification of symptomatic relief treatments for rare disorders, providing an alternative method for hypothesis generation and drug discovery for disorders with huge disease burden and unmet medical needs.
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Adhikari MH, Vasilkovska T, Cachope R, Tang H, Liu L, Keliris GA, Munoz-Sanjuan I, Pustina D, Van der Linden A, Verhoye M. Longitudinal investigation of changes in resting-state co-activation patterns and their predictive ability in the zQ175 DN mouse model of Huntington's disease. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10194. [PMID: 37353500 PMCID: PMC10290061 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36812-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by expanded (≥ 40) glutamine-encoding CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene, which leads to dysfunction and death of predominantly striatal and cortical neurons. While the genetic profile and clinical signs and symptoms of the disease are better known, changes in the functional architecture of the brain, especially before the clinical expression becomes apparent, are not fully and consistently characterized. In this study, we sought to uncover functional changes in the brain in the heterozygous (HET) zQ175 delta-neo (DN) mouse model at 3, 6, and 10 months of age, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI). This mouse model shows molecular, cellular and circuitry alterations that worsen through age. Motor function disturbances are manifested in this model at 6 and 10 months of age. Specifically, we investigated, longitudinally, changes in co-activation patterns (CAPs) that are the transient states of brain activity constituting the resting-state networks (RSNs). Most robust changes in the temporal properties of CAPs occurred at the 10-months time point; the durations of two anti-correlated CAPs, characterized by simultaneous co-activation of default-mode like network (DMLN) and co-deactivation of lateral-cortical network (LCN) and vice-versa, were reduced in the zQ175 DN HET animals compared to the wild-type mice. Changes in the spatial properties, measured in terms of activation levels of different brain regions, during CAPs were found at all three ages and became progressively more pronounced at 6-, and 10 months of age. We then assessed the cross-validated predictive power of CAP metrics to distinguish HET animals from controls. Spatial properties of CAPs performed significantly better than the chance level at all three ages with 80% classification accuracy at 6 and 10 months of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit H Adhikari
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Tamara Vasilkovska
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Roger Cachope
- CHDI Management for CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Haiying Tang
- CHDI Management for CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Longbin Liu
- CHDI Management for CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Georgios A Keliris
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | | | | | - Annemie Van der Linden
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marleen Verhoye
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Vasilkovska T, Adhikari M, Van Audekerke J, Salajeghe S, Pustina D, Cachope R, Tang H, Liu L, Munoz-Sanjuan I, Van der Linden A, Verhoye M. Resting-state fMRI reveals longitudinal alterations in brain network connectivity in the zQ175DN mouse model of Huntington's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 181:106095. [PMID: 36963694 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is an autosomal, dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by an expansion of the CAG repeats in exon 1 of the huntingtin gene. Neuronal degeneration and dysfunction that precedes regional atrophy result in the impairment of striatal and cortical circuits that affect the brain's large-scale network functionality. However, the evolution of these disease-driven, large-scale connectivity alterations is still poorly understood. Here we used resting-state fMRI to investigate functional connectivity changes in a mouse model of Huntington's disease in several relevant brain networks and how they are affected at different ages that follow a disease-like phenotypic progression. Towards this, we used the heterozygous (HET) form of the zQ175DN Huntington's disease mouse model that recapitulates aspects of human disease pathology. Seed- and Region-based analyses were performed at different ages, on 3-, 6-, 10-, and 12-month-old HET and age-matched wild-type mice. Our results demonstrate decreased connectivity starting at 6 months of age, most prominently in regions such as the retrosplenial and cingulate cortices, pertaining to the default mode-like network and auditory and visual cortices, part of the associative cortical network. At 12 months, we observe a shift towards decreased connectivity in regions such as the somatosensory cortices, pertaining to the lateral cortical network, and the caudate putamen, a constituent of the subcortical network. Moreover, we assessed the impact of distinct Huntington's Disease-like pathology of the zQ175DN HET mice on age-dependent connectivity between different brain regions and networks where we demonstrate that connectivity strength follows a nonlinear, inverted U-shape pattern, a well-known phenomenon of development and normal aging. Conversely, the neuropathologically driven alteration of connectivity, especially in the default mode and associative cortical networks, showed diminished age-dependent evolution of functional connectivity. These findings reveal that in this Huntington's disease model, altered connectivity starts with cortical network aberrations which precede striatal connectivity changes, that appear only at a later age. Taken together, these results suggest that the age-dependent cortical network dysfunction seen in rodents could represent a relevant pathological process in Huntington's disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Vasilkovska
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium; μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Mohit Adhikari
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium; μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johan Van Audekerke
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium; μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Somaie Salajeghe
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Haiying Tang
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Longbin Liu
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Annemie Van der Linden
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium; μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marleen Verhoye
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium; μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Gangwani MR, Soto JS, Jami-Alahmadi Y, Tiwari S, Kawaguchi R, Wohlschlegel JA, Khakh BS. Neuronal and astrocytic contributions to Huntington's disease dissected with zinc finger protein transcriptional repressors. Cell Rep 2023; 42:111953. [PMID: 36640336 PMCID: PMC9898160 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by expanded CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT) resulting in expression of mutant HTT proteins (mHTT) with extended polyglutamine tracts, including in striatal neurons and astrocytes. It is unknown whether pathophysiology in vivo can be attenuated by lowering mHTT in either cell type throughout the brain, and the relative contributions of neurons and astrocytes to HD remain undefined. We use zinc finger protein (ZFP) transcriptional repressors to cell-selectively lower mHTT in vivo. Astrocytes display loss of essential functions such as cholesterol metabolism that are partly driven by greater neuronal dysfunctions, which encompass neuromodulation, synaptic, and intracellular signaling pathways. Using transcriptomics, proteomics, electrophysiology, and behavior, we dissect neuronal and astrocytic contributions to HD pathophysiology. Remarkably, brain-wide delivery of neuronal ZFPs results in strong mHTT lowering, rescue of HD-associated behavioral and molecular phenotypes, and significant extension of lifespan, findings that support translational development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohitkumar R. Gangwani
- Department of Physiology, University of California Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Joselyn S. Soto
- Department of Physiology, University of California Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Yasaman Jami-Alahmadi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Srushti Tiwari
- Department of Physiology, University of California Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Riki Kawaguchi
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - James A. Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Baljit S. Khakh
- Department of Physiology, University of California Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA,Department of Neurobiology, University of California Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
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8
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Matsushima A, Pineda SS, Crittenden JR, Lee H, Galani K, Mantero J, Tombaugh G, Kellis M, Heiman M, Graybiel AM. Transcriptional vulnerabilities of striatal neurons in human and rodent models of Huntington's disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:282. [PMID: 36650127 PMCID: PMC9845362 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35752-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Striatal projection neurons (SPNs), which progressively degenerate in human patients with Huntington's disease (HD), are classified along two axes: the canonical direct-indirect pathway division and the striosome-matrix compartmentation. It is well established that the indirect-pathway SPNs are susceptible to neurodegeneration and transcriptomic disturbances, but less is known about how the striosome-matrix axis is compromised in HD in relation to the canonical axis. Here we show, using single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data from male Grade 1 HD patient post-mortem brain samples and male zQ175 and R6/2 mouse models, that the two axes are multiplexed and differentially compromised in HD. In human HD, striosomal indirect-pathway SPNs are the most depleted SPN population. In mouse HD models, the transcriptomic distinctiveness of striosome-matrix SPNs is diminished more than that of direct-indirect pathway SPNs. Furthermore, the loss of striosome-matrix distinction is more prominent within indirect-pathway SPNs. These results open the possibility that the canonical direct-indirect pathway and striosome-matrix compartments are differentially compromised in late and early stages of disease progression, respectively, differentially contributing to the symptoms, thus calling for distinct therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayano Matsushima
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sergio Sebastian Pineda
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jill R Crittenden
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hyeseung Lee
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kyriakitsa Galani
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julio Mantero
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Manolis Kellis
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Myriam Heiman
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ann M Graybiel
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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9
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Choi SH, Yousefian-Jazi A, Hyeon SJ, Nguyen PTT, Chu J, Kim S, Kim S, Ryu HL, Kowall NW, Ryu H, Lee J. Modulation of histone H3K4 dimethylation by spermidine ameliorates motor neuron survival and neuropathology in a mouse model of ALS. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:106. [PMID: 36536341 PMCID: PMC9764677 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00890-3] [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: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive paralysis due to motor neuron degeneration. It has been proposed that epigenetic modification and transcriptional dysregulation may contribute to motor neuron death. In this study, we investigate the basis for therapeutic approaches to target lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1) and elucidate the mechanistic role of LSD1-histone H3K4 signaling pathway in ALS pathogenesis. METHODS In order to examine the role of spermidine (SD), we administered SD to an animal model of ALS (G93A) and performed neuropathological analysis, body weight, and survival evaluation. RESULTS Herein, we found that LSD1 activity is increased while levels of H3K4me2, a substrate of LSD1, is decreased in cellular and animal models of ALS. SD administration modulated the LSD1 activity and restored H3K4me2 levels in ChAT-positive motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord of ALS mice. SD prevented cellular damage by improving the number and size of motor neurons in ALS mice. SD administration also reduced GFAP-positive astrogliogenesis in the white and gray matter of the lumbar spinal cord, improving the neuropathology of ALS mice. Moreover, SD administration improved the rotarod performance and gait analysis of ALS mice. Finally, SD administration delayed disease onset and prolonged the lifespan of ALS (G93A) transgenic mice. CONCLUSION Together, modulating epigenetic targets such as LSD1 by small compounds may be a useful therapeutic strategy for treating ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Hye Choi
- grid.35541.360000000121053345K-Laboratory, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 South Korea
| | - Ali Yousefian-Jazi
- grid.35541.360000000121053345K-Laboratory, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 South Korea
| | - Seung Jae Hyeon
- grid.35541.360000000121053345K-Laboratory, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 South Korea
| | - Phuong Thi Thanh Nguyen
- grid.35541.360000000121053345K-Laboratory, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 South Korea ,grid.412786.e0000 0004 1791 8264KIST School, Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, 02792 South Korea
| | - Jiyeon Chu
- grid.35541.360000000121053345K-Laboratory, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 South Korea ,grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Integrated Biomedical and Life Science Department, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841 South Korea
| | - Sojung Kim
- grid.35541.360000000121053345K-Laboratory, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 South Korea
| | - Suhyun Kim
- grid.35541.360000000121053345K-Laboratory, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 South Korea
| | - Hannah L. Ryu
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Neil W. Kowall
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118 USA ,grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130 USA
| | - Hoon Ryu
- grid.35541.360000000121053345K-Laboratory, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 South Korea ,grid.412786.e0000 0004 1791 8264KIST School, Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, 02792 South Korea
| | - Junghee Lee
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118 USA ,grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130 USA
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10
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Callahan JW, Wokosin DL, Bevan MD. Dysregulation of the Basal Ganglia Indirect Pathway in Early Symptomatic Q175 Huntington's Disease Mice. J Neurosci 2022; 42:2080-2102. [PMID: 35058372 PMCID: PMC8916764 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0782-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The debilitating psychomotor symptoms of Huntington's disease (HD) are linked partly to degeneration of the basal ganglia indirect pathway. At early symptomatic stages, before major cell loss, indirect pathway neurons exhibit numerous cellular and synaptic changes in HD and its models. However, the impact of these alterations on circuit activity remains poorly understood. To address this gap, optogenetic- and reporter-guided electrophysiological interrogation was used in early symptomatic male and female Q175 HD mice. D2 dopamine receptor-expressing striatal projection neurons (D2-SPNs) were hypoactive during synchronous cortical slow-wave activity, consistent with known reductions in dendritic excitability and cortical input strength. Downstream prototypic parvalbumin-expressing external globus pallidus (PV+ GPe) neurons discharged at 2-3 times their normal rate, even during periods of D2-SPN inactivity, arguing that defective striatopallidal inhibition was not the only cause of their hyperactivity. Indeed, PV+ GPe neurons also exhibited abnormally elevated autonomous firing ex vivo Optogenetic inhibition of PV+ GPe neurons in vivo partially and fully ameliorated the abnormal hypoactivity of postsynaptic subthalamic nucleus (STN) and putative PV- GPe neurons, respectively. In contrast to STN neurons whose autonomous firing is impaired in HD mice, putative PV- GPe neuron activity was unaffected ex vivo, implying that excessive inhibition was responsible for their hypoactivity in vivo Together with previous studies, these data demonstrate that (1) indirect pathway nuclei are dysregulated in Q175 mice through changes in presynaptic activity and/or intrinsic cellular and synaptic properties; and (2) prototypic PV+ GPe neuron hyperactivity and excessive target inhibition are prominent features of early HD pathophysiology.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The early symptoms of Huntington's disease (HD) are linked to degenerative changes in the action-suppressing indirect pathway of the basal ganglia. Consistent with this linkage, the intrinsic properties of cells in this pathway exhibit complex alterations in HD and its models. However, the impact of these changes on activity is poorly understood. Using electrophysiological and optogenetic approaches, we demonstrate that the indirect pathway is highly dysregulated in early symptomatic HD mice through changes in upstream activity and/or intrinsic properties. Furthermore, we reveal that hyperactivity of external globus pallidus neurons and excessive inhibition of their targets are key features of early HD pathophysiology. Together, these findings could help to inform the development and targeting of viral-based, gene therapeutic approaches for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W Callahan
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - David L Wokosin
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Mark D Bevan
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
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11
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Rebec GV, Koceja DM, Bunner KD. Measuring Movement in Health and Disease. Brain Res Bull 2022; 181:167-174. [PMID: 35122899 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Evaluating and quantifying the many aspects of movement -- from open-field locomotion and stepping patterns in rodent models to stride trajectory and postural sway in human patients -- are key to understanding brain function. Various experimental approaches have been used in applying these lines of research to investigate the brain mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease. Although valuable, data on movement are often limited by the shortcomings inherent in the data collection process itself. Steve Fowler and his research group have been instrumental in pioneering a technology that both minimizes these pitfalls in studies of rodent behavior and has applications to research on human patients. At the center of this technology is the force-plate actometer, developed by the Fowler group to assess multiple aspects of movement in rodent models. Our review highlights how use of the actometer and related behavioral measurements provides valuable insight into Huntington's disease (HD), an autosomal dominant condition of progressively deteriorating behavioral control. HD typically emerges in mid-life and has been replicated in multiple genetically engineered mouse models. The actometer also can be a valuable addition to cutting-edge neuronal and synaptic technologies that are now increasingly applied to studies of behaving animals. In short, the impact of the Fowler contribution to the neuroscience of movement is both meaningful and ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- George V Rebec
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States; Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
| | - David M Koceja
- Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States; Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
| | - Kendra D Bunner
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
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12
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Heikkinen T, Bragge T, Kuosmanen J, Parkkari T, Gustafsson S, Kwan M, Beltran J, Ghavami A, Subramaniam S, Shahani N, Ramírez-Jarquín UN, Park L, Muñoz-Sanjuán I, Marchionini DM. Global Rhes knockout in the Q175 Huntington's disease mouse model. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258486. [PMID: 34648564 PMCID: PMC8516231 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) results from an expansion mutation in the polyglutamine tract in huntingtin. Although huntingtin is ubiquitously expressed in the body, the striatum suffers the most severe pathology. Rhes is a Ras-related small GTP-binding protein highly expressed in the striatum that has been reported to modulate mTOR and sumoylation of mutant huntingtin to alter HD mouse model pathogenesis. Reports have varied on whether Rhes reduction is desirable for HD. Here we characterize multiple behavioral and molecular endpoints in the Q175 HD mouse model with genetic Rhes knockout (KO). Genetic RhesKO in the Q175 female mouse resulted in both subtle attenuation of Q175 phenotypic features, and detrimental effects on other kinematic features. The Q175 females exhibited measurable pathogenic deficits, as measured by MRI, MRS and DARPP32, however, RhesKO had no effect on these readouts. Additionally, RhesKO in Q175 mixed gender mice deficits did not affect mTOR signaling, autophagy or mutant huntingtin levels. We conclude that global RhesKO does not substantially ameliorate or exacerbate HD mouse phenotypes in Q175 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timo Bragge
- Charles River Discovery Services, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | | | | | - Mei Kwan
- Psychogenics, Paramus, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Jose Beltran
- Psychogenics, Paramus, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Afshin Ghavami
- Psychogenics, Paramus, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Srinivasa Subramaniam
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida, United States of America
| | - Neelam Shahani
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida, United States of America
| | | | - Larry Park
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, New York, New York, United States of America
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13
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Bertoglio D, Verhaeghe J, Wyffels L, Miranda A, Stroobants S, Mrzljak L, Dominguez C, Skinbjerg M, Bard J, Liu L, Munoz-Sanjuan I, Staelens S. Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A is affected in the CNS of Huntington's Disease mice and post-mortem human HD brain. J Nucl Med 2021; 63:942-947. [PMID: 34531262 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.121.262709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic dysfunction is a primary mechanism underlying Huntington's Disease (HD) progression. This study investigated changes in synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) density by means of 11C-UCB-J microPET imaging in the central nervous system (CNS) of HD mice. METHODS: Dynamic 11C-UCB-J microPET imaging was performed at clinically relevant disease stages (at 3, 7, 10, and 16 months, M) in the heterozygous knock-in Q175DN mouse model of HD and WT littermates (n = 16-18/genotype and time point). Cerebral 11C-UCB-J analyses were performed to assess genotypic differences during pre-symptomatic (3M) and symptomatic (7-16M) disease stages. 11C-UCB-J binding in the spinal cord was quantified at 16M. 3H-UCB-J autoradiography and SV2A immunofluorescence were performed post-mortem in mouse and human brain tissue. RESULTS: 11C-UCB-J binding was declined in symptomatic heterozygous mice compared to WT littermates in parallel with disease progression (7M: p<0.01, 16M: p<0.0001). Specific 11C-UCB-J binding was detectable in the spinal cord, with symptomatic heterozygous mice displaying a significant reduction (p<0.0001). 3H-UCB-J autoradiography and SV2A immunofluorescence corroborated the in vivo measurements demonstrating lowered SV2A in heterozygous mice (p<0.05). Finally, preliminary analysis of SV2A in post-mortem human brain suggested lower SV2A in HD gene carrier compared to nondemented control. CONCLUSION: 11C-UCB-J PET detects SV2A deficits during symptomatic disease in heterozygous mice in both brain and spinal cord, offering a novel marker of synaptic integrity widely distributed in CNS. Upon clinical application, 11C-UCB-J PET imaging yields promise for SV2A measurement in patients with HD during disease progression and following disease-modifying therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Longbin Liu
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, United States
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14
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Aaronson J, Beaumont V, Blevins RA, Andreeva V, Murasheva I, Shneyderman A, Armah K, Gill R, Chen J, Rosinski J, Park LC, Coppola G, Munoz-Sanjuan I, Vogt TF. HDinHD: A Rich Data Portal for Huntington's Disease Research. J Huntingtons Dis 2021; 10:405-412. [PMID: 34397420 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-210491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
HDinHD (Huntington's Disease in High Definition; HDinHD.org) is an open online portal for the HD research community that presents a synthesized view of HD-related scientific data. Here, we present a broad overview of HDinHD and highlight the newly launched HDinHD Explorer tool that enables researchers to discover and explore a wide range of diverse yet interconnected HD-related data. We demonstrate the utility of HDinHD Explorer through data mining of a single collection of newly released in vivo therapeutic intervention study reports alongside previously published reports.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rob Gill
- Rancho Biosciences LLC, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jian Chen
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Jim Rosinski
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Larry C Park
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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