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Akçimen F, Chia R, Saez-Atienzar S, Ruffo P, Rasheed M, Ross JP, Liao C, Ray A, Dion PA, Scholz SW, Rouleau GA, Traynor BJ. Genomic Analysis Identifies Risk Factors in Restless Legs Syndrome. Ann Neurol 2024. [PMID: 39078117 DOI: 10.1002/ana.27040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them, typically during periods of rest. The genetic basis and pathophysiology of RLS are incompletely understood. We sought to identify additional novel genetic risk factors associated with RLS susceptibility. METHODS We performed a whole-genome sequencing and genome-wide association meta-analysis of RLS cases (n = 9,851) and controls (n = 38,957) in 3 population-based biobanks (All of Us, Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, and CARTaGENE). RESULTS Genome-wide association analysis identified 9 independent risk loci, of which 8 had been previously reported, and 1 was a novel risk locus (LMX1B, rs35196838, OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.09-1.19, p value = 2.2 × 10-9). Furthermore, a transcriptome-wide association study also identified GLO1 and a previously unreported gene, ELFN1. A genetic correlation analysis revealed significant common variant overlaps between RLS and neuroticism (rg = 0.40, se = 0.08, p value = 5.4 × 10-7), depression (rg = 0.35, se = 0.06, p value = 2.17 × 10-8), and intelligence (rg = -0.20, se = 0.06, p value = 4.0 × 10-4). INTERPRETATION Our study expands the understanding of the genetic architecture of RLS, and highlights the contributions of common variants to this prevalent neurological disorder. ANN NEUROL 2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulya Akçimen
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ruth Chia
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sara Saez-Atienzar
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Paola Ruffo
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Memoona Rasheed
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jay P Ross
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Calwing Liao
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anindita Ray
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Patrick A Dion
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sonja W Scholz
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Guy A Rouleau
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Lin L, Deng J, Peng J, Cui J, Wang L, Zhang M, Gao J, Li F, Shi Y, Lv M. Structural insights into the recognition of the A/T-rich motif in target gene promoters by the LMX1a homeobox domain. FEBS J 2024; 291:2792-2810. [PMID: 38465368 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17118] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
LIM homeodomain transcription factor 1-alpha (LMX1a) is a neuronal lineage-specific transcription activator that plays an essential role during the development of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons. LMX1a induces the expression of multiple key genes, which ultimately determine the morphology, physiology, and functional identity of mDA neurons. This function of LMX1a is dependent on its homeobox domain. Here, we determined the structures of the LMX1a homeobox domain in complex with the promoter sequences of the Wnt family member 1 (WNT1) or paired like homeodomain 3 (Pitx3) gene, respectively. The complex structures revealed that the LMX1a homeobox domain employed its α3 helix and an N-terminal loop to achieve specific target recognition. The N-terminal loop (loop1) interacted with the minor groove of the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), whereas the third α-helix (α3) was tightly packed into the major groove of the dsDNA. Structure-based mutations in the α3 helix of the homeobox domain significantly reduced the binding affinity of LMX1a to dsDNA. Moreover, we identified a nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL)-related mutation, R199, which yielded a more flexible loop and disturbed the recognition in the minor groove of dsDNA, consistent with the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Furthermore, overexpression of Lmx1a promoted the differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells and upregulated the transcription of WNT1 and PITX3 genes. Hence, our work provides a detailed elucidation of the specific recognition between the LMX1a homeobox domain and its specific dsDNA targets, which represents valuable information for future investigations of the functional pathways that are controlled by LMX1a during mDA neuron development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Lin
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jie Deng
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Junhui Peng
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing Cui
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jia Gao
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Fudong Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yunyu Shi
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Mengqi Lv
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
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Rifes P, Kajtez J, Christiansen JR, Schörling A, Rathore GS, Wolf DA, Heuer A, Kirkeby A. Forced LMX1A expression induces dorsal neural fates and disrupts patterning of human embryonic stem cells into ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:830-838. [PMID: 38759646 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic (DA) fate is relevant for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Shortcuts to obtaining DA cells through direct reprogramming often include forced expression of the transcription factor LMX1A. Although reprogramming with LMX1A can generate tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells, their regional identity remains elusive. Using an in vitro model of early human neural tube patterning, we report that forced LMX1A expression induced a ventral-to-dorsal fate shift along the entire neuroaxis with the emergence of roof plate fates despite the presence of ventralizing molecules. The LMX1A-expressing progenitors gave rise to grafts containing roof plate-derived choroid plexus cysts as well as ectopically induced TH-positive neurons of a forebrain identity. Early activation of LMX1A prior to floor plate specification was necessary for the dorsalizing effect. Our work suggests using caution in employing LMX1A for the induction of DA fate, as this factor may generate roof plate rather than midbrain fates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Rifes
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Janko Kajtez
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Josefine Rågård Christiansen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Alrik Schörling
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark; Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden; Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Gaurav Singh Rathore
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Daniel A Wolf
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Andreas Heuer
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden; Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Agnete Kirkeby
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark; Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden; Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden.
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Gaertner Z, Oram C, Schneeweis A, Schonfeld E, Bolduc C, Chen C, Dombeck D, Parisiadou L, Poulin JF, Awatramani R. Molecular and spatial transcriptomic classification of midbrain dopamine neurons and their alterations in a LRRK2 G2019S model of Parkinson's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.06.597807. [PMID: 38895448 PMCID: PMC11185743 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.06.597807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Several studies have revealed that midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons, even within a single neuroanatomical area, display heterogeneous properties. In parallel, studies using single cell profiling techniques have begun to cluster DA neurons into subtypes based on their molecular signatures. Recent work has shown that molecularly defined DA subtypes within the substantia nigra (SNc) display distinctive anatomic and functional properties, and differential vulnerability in Parkinson's disease (PD). Based on these provocative results, a granular understanding of these putative subtypes and their alterations in PD models, is imperative. We developed an optimized pipeline for single-nuclear RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and generated a high-resolution hierarchically organized map revealing 20 molecularly distinct DA neuron subtypes belonging to three main families. We integrated this data with spatial MERFISH technology to map, with high definition, the location of these subtypes in the mouse midbrain, revealing heterogeneity even within neuroanatomical sub-structures. Finally, we demonstrate that in the preclinical LRRK2G2019S knock-in mouse model of PD, subtype organization and proportions are preserved. Transcriptional alterations occur in many subtypes including those localized to the ventral tier SNc, where differential expression is observed in synaptic pathways, which might account for previously described DA release deficits in this model. Our work provides an advancement of current taxonomic schemes of the mouse midbrain DA neuron subtypes, a high-resolution view of their spatial locations, and their alterations in a prodromal mouse model of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Gaertner
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept of Neurology, Chicago, IL 60611
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Cameron Oram
- McGill University (Montreal Neurological Institute), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dept of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal (QC), Canada
| | - Amanda Schneeweis
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept of Neurology, Chicago, IL 60611
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Elan Schonfeld
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept of Neurology, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Cyril Bolduc
- McGill University (Montreal Neurological Institute), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dept of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal (QC), Canada
| | - Chuyu Chen
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept of Pharmacology, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Daniel Dombeck
- Northwestern University, Dept of Neurobiology, Evanston, IL 60201
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Loukia Parisiadou
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept of Pharmacology, Chicago, IL 60611
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Jean Francois Poulin
- McGill University (Montreal Neurological Institute), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dept of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal (QC), Canada
| | - Rajeshwar Awatramani
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Dept of Neurology, Chicago, IL 60611
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
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Zhao B, Zhang H, Liu Y, Zu G, Zhang Y, Hu J, Liu S, You L. Forebrain excitatory neuron-specific loss of Brpf1 attenuates excitatory synaptic transmission and impairs spatial and fear memory. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1133-1141. [PMID: 37862219 PMCID: PMC10749587 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385307] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain and plant homeodomain (PHD) finger containing protein 1 (Brpf1) is an activator and scaffold protein of a multiunit complex that includes other components involving lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) 6A/6B/7. Brpf1, KAT6A, and KAT6B mutations were identified as the causal genes of neurodevelopmental disorders leading to intellectual disability. Our previous work revealed strong and specific expression of Brpf1 in both the postnatal and adult forebrain, especially the hippocampus, which has essential roles in learning and memory. Here, we hypothesized that Brpf1 plays critical roles in the function of forebrain excitatory neurons, and that its deficiency leads to learning and memory deficits. To test this, we knocked out Brpf1 in forebrain excitatory neurons using CaMKIIa-Cre. We found that Brpf1 deficiency reduced the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents and downregulated the expression of genes Pcdhgb1, Slc16a7, Robo3, and Rho, which are related to neural development, synapse function, and memory, thereby damaging spatial and fear memory in mice. These findings help explain the mechanisms of intellectual impairment in patients with BRPF1 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baicheng Zhao
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gaoyu Zu
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxiao Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
- NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayi Hu
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
- NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Linya You
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
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Senovilla-Ganzo R, García-Moreno F. The Phylotypic Brain of Vertebrates, from Neural Tube Closure to Brain Diversification. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2024; 99:45-68. [PMID: 38342091 DOI: 10.1159/000537748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The phylotypic or intermediate stages are thought to be the most evolutionary conserved stages throughout embryonic development. The contrast with divergent early and later stages derived from the concept of the evo-devo hourglass model. Nonetheless, this developmental constraint has been studied as a whole embryo process, not at organ level. In this review, we explore brain development to assess the existence of an equivalent brain developmental hourglass. In the specific case of vertebrates, we propose to split the brain developmental stages into: (1) Early: Neurulation, when the neural tube arises after gastrulation. (2) Intermediate: Brain patterning and segmentation, when the neuromere identities are established. (3) Late: Neurogenesis and maturation, the stages when the neurons acquire their functionality. Moreover, we extend this analysis to other chordates brain development to unravel the evolutionary origin of this evo-devo constraint. SUMMARY Based on the existing literature, we hypothesise that a major conservation of the phylotypic brain might be due to the pleiotropy of the inductive regulatory networks, which are predominantly expressed at this stage. In turn, earlier stages such as neurulation are rather mechanical processes, whose regulatory networks seem to adapt to environment or maternal geometries. The later stages are also controlled by inductive regulatory networks, but their effector genes are mostly tissue-specific and functional, allowing diverse developmental programs to generate current brain diversity. Nonetheless, all stages of the hourglass are highly interconnected: divergent neurulation must have a vertebrate shared end product to reproduce the vertebrate phylotypic brain, and the boundaries and transcription factor code established during the highly conserved patterning will set the bauplan for the specialised and diversified adult brain. KEY MESSAGES The vertebrate brain is conserved at phylotypic stages, but the highly conserved mechanisms that occur during these brain mid-development stages (Inducing Regulatory Networks) are also present during other stages. Oppositely, other processes as cell interactions and functional neuronal genes are more diverse and majoritarian in early and late stages of development, respectively. These phenomena create an hourglass of transcriptomic diversity during embryonic development and evolution, with a really conserved bottleneck that set the bauplan for the adult brain around the phylotypic stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Senovilla-Ganzo
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Scientific Park of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
| | - Fernando García-Moreno
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Scientific Park of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
- IKERBASQUE Foundation, Bilbao, Spain
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Akçimen F, Chia R, Saez-Atienzar S, Ruffo P, Rasheed M, Ross JP, Liao C, Ray A, Dion PA, Scholz SW, Rouleau GA, Traynor BJ. Genomic analysis identifies risk factors in restless legs syndrome. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.12.19.23300211. [PMID: 38168192 PMCID: PMC10760278 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.19.23300211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them, typically during periods of rest. The genetic basis and pathophysiology of RLS are incompletely understood. Here, we present a whole-genome sequencing and genome-wide association meta-analysis of RLS cases (n = 9,851) and controls (n = 38,957) in three population-based biobanks (All of Us, Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, and CARTaGENE). Genome-wide association analysis identified nine independent risk loci, of which eight had been previously reported, and one was a novel risk locus (LMX1B, rs35196838, OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.09-1.19, p-value = 2.2 × 10-9). A genome-wide, gene-based common variant analysis identified GLO1 as an additional risk gene (p-value = 8.45 × 10-7). Furthermore, a transcriptome-wide association study also identified GLO1 and a previously unreported gene, ELFN1. A genetic correlation analysis revealed significant common variant overlaps between RLS and neuroticism (rg = 0.40, se = 0.08, p-value = 5.4 × 10-7), depression (rg = 0.35, se = 0.06, p-value = 2.17 × 10-8), and intelligence (rg = -0.20, se = 0.06, p-value = 4.0 × 10-4). Our study expands the understanding of the genetic architecture of RLS and highlights the contributions of common variants to this prevalent neurological disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulya Akçimen
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ruth Chia
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sara Saez-Atienzar
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paola Ruffo
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Memoona Rasheed
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jay P. Ross
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Calwing Liao
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anindita Ray
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Patrick A. Dion
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sonja W. Scholz
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Guy A. Rouleau
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Bryan J. Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
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8
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Cardo LF, Monzón-Sandoval J, Li Z, Webber C, Li M. Single-Cell Transcriptomics and In Vitro Lineage Tracing Reveals Differential Susceptibility of Human iPSC-Derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons in a Cellular Model of Parkinson's Disease. Cells 2023; 12:2860. [PMID: 38132179 PMCID: PMC10741976 DOI: 10.3390/cells12242860] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in stem cell technologies open up new avenues for modelling development and diseases. The success of these pursuits, however, relies on the use of cells most relevant to those targeted by the disease of interest, for example, midbrain dopaminergic neurons for Parkinson's disease. In the present study, we report the generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line capable of purifying and tracing nascent midbrain dopaminergic progenitors and their differentiated progeny via the expression of a Blue Fluorescent Protein (BFP). This was achieved by CRISPR/Cas9-assisted knock-in of BFP and Cre into the safe harbour locus AAVS1 and an early midbrain dopaminergic lineage marker gene LMX1A, respectively. Immunocytochemical analysis and single-cell RNA sequencing of iPSC-derived neural cultures confirm developmental recapitulation of the human fetal midbrain and high-quality midbrain cells. By modelling Parkinson's disease-related drug toxicity using 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), we showed a preferential reduction of BFP+ cells, a finding demonstrated independently by cell death assays and single-cell transcriptomic analysis of MPP+ treated neural cultures. Together, these results highlight the importance of disease-relevant cell types in stem cell modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia F. Cardo
- Dementia Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (L.F.C.); (J.M.-S.); (Z.L.)
| | - Jimena Monzón-Sandoval
- Dementia Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (L.F.C.); (J.M.-S.); (Z.L.)
| | - Zongze Li
- Dementia Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (L.F.C.); (J.M.-S.); (Z.L.)
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Caleb Webber
- Dementia Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (L.F.C.); (J.M.-S.); (Z.L.)
| | - Meng Li
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
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9
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Molina MD, Abduljabbar D, Guixeras A, Fraguas S, Cebrià F. LIM-HD transcription factors control axial patterning and specify distinct neuronal and intestinal cell identities in planarians. Open Biol 2023; 13:230327. [PMID: 38086422 PMCID: PMC10715919 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult planarians can regenerate the gut, eyes and even a functional brain. Proper identity and patterning of the newly formed structures require signals that guide and commit their adult stem cells. During embryogenesis, LIM-homeodomain (LIM-HD) transcription factors act in a combinatorial 'LIM code' to control cell fate determination and differentiation. However, our understanding about the role these genes play during regeneration and homeostasis is limited. Here, we report the full repertoire of LIM-HD genes in Schmidtea mediterranea. We found that lim homeobox (lhx) genes appear expressed in complementary patterns along the cephalic ganglia and digestive system of the planarian, with some of them being co-expressed in the same cell types. We have identified that Smed-islet1, -lhx1/5-1, -lhx2/9-3, -lhx6/8, -lmx1a/b-2 and -lmx1a/b-3 are essential to pattern and size the planarian brain as well as for correct regeneration of specific subpopulations of dopaminergic, serotonergic, GABAergic and cholinergic neurons, while Smed-lhx1/5.2 and -lhx2/9.2 are required for the proper expression of intestinal cell type markers, specifically the goblet subtype. LIM-HD are also involved in controlling axonal pathfinding (lhx6/8), axial patterning (islet1, lhx1/5-1, lmx1a/b-3), head/body proportions (islet2) and stem cell proliferation (lhx3/4, lhx2/9-3, lmx1a/b-2, lmx1a/b-3). Altogether, our results suggest that planarians might present a combinatorial LIM code that controls axial patterning and axonal growing and specifies distinct neuronal and intestinal cell identities.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Dolores Molina
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dema Abduljabbar
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Guixeras
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susanna Fraguas
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Cebrià
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
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10
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Yao Z, van Velthoven CTJ, Kunst M, Zhang M, McMillen D, Lee C, Jung W, Goldy J, Abdelhak A, Aitken M, Baker K, Baker P, Barkan E, Bertagnolli D, Bhandiwad A, Bielstein C, Bishwakarma P, Campos J, Carey D, Casper T, Chakka AB, Chakrabarty R, Chavan S, Chen M, Clark M, Close J, Crichton K, Daniel S, DiValentin P, Dolbeare T, Ellingwood L, Fiabane E, Fliss T, Gee J, Gerstenberger J, Glandon A, Gloe J, Gould J, Gray J, Guilford N, Guzman J, Hirschstein D, Ho W, Hooper M, Huang M, Hupp M, Jin K, Kroll M, Lathia K, Leon A, Li S, Long B, Madigan Z, Malloy J, Malone J, Maltzer Z, Martin N, McCue R, McGinty R, Mei N, Melchor J, Meyerdierks E, Mollenkopf T, Moonsman S, Nguyen TN, Otto S, Pham T, Rimorin C, Ruiz A, Sanchez R, Sawyer L, Shapovalova N, Shepard N, Slaughterbeck C, Sulc J, Tieu M, Torkelson A, Tung H, Valera Cuevas N, Vance S, Wadhwani K, Ward K, Levi B, Farrell C, Young R, Staats B, Wang MQM, Thompson CL, Mufti S, Pagan CM, Kruse L, Dee N, Sunkin SM, Esposito L, Hawrylycz MJ, Waters J, Ng L, Smith K, Tasic B, Zhuang X, Zeng H. A high-resolution transcriptomic and spatial atlas of cell types in the whole mouse brain. Nature 2023; 624:317-332. [PMID: 38092916 PMCID: PMC10719114 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06812-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian brain consists of millions to billions of cells that are organized into many cell types with specific spatial distribution patterns and structural and functional properties1-3. Here we report a comprehensive and high-resolution transcriptomic and spatial cell-type atlas for the whole adult mouse brain. The cell-type atlas was created by combining a single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset of around 7 million cells profiled (approximately 4.0 million cells passing quality control), and a spatial transcriptomic dataset of approximately 4.3 million cells using multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH). The atlas is hierarchically organized into 4 nested levels of classification: 34 classes, 338 subclasses, 1,201 supertypes and 5,322 clusters. We present an online platform, Allen Brain Cell Atlas, to visualize the mouse whole-brain cell-type atlas along with the single-cell RNA-sequencing and MERFISH datasets. We systematically analysed the neuronal and non-neuronal cell types across the brain and identified a high degree of correspondence between transcriptomic identity and spatial specificity for each cell type. The results reveal unique features of cell-type organization in different brain regions-in particular, a dichotomy between the dorsal and ventral parts of the brain. The dorsal part contains relatively fewer yet highly divergent neuronal types, whereas the ventral part contains more numerous neuronal types that are more closely related to each other. Our study also uncovered extraordinary diversity and heterogeneity in neurotransmitter and neuropeptide expression and co-expression patterns in different cell types. Finally, we found that transcription factors are major determinants of cell-type classification and identified a combinatorial transcription factor code that defines cell types across all parts of the brain. The whole mouse brain transcriptomic and spatial cell-type atlas establishes a benchmark reference atlas and a foundational resource for integrative investigations of cellular and circuit function, development and evolution of the mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zizhen Yao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | | | - Meng Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Changkyu Lee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Won Jung
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jeff Goldy
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Pamela Baker
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eliza Barkan
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Daniel Carey
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Min Chen
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Jennie Close
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Scott Daniel
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Tim Dolbeare
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - James Gee
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Jessica Gloe
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - James Gray
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Windy Ho
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Mike Huang
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Madie Hupp
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kelly Jin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Kanan Lathia
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Arielle Leon
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Su Li
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brian Long
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Zach Madigan
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Zoe Maltzer
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Naomi Martin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rachel McCue
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ryan McGinty
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nicholas Mei
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jose Melchor
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Sven Otto
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Lane Sawyer
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Noah Shepard
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Josef Sulc
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael Tieu
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Herman Tung
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Shane Vance
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Katelyn Ward
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Boaz Levi
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Rob Young
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brian Staats
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Shoaib Mufti
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Lauren Kruse
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nick Dee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jack Waters
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lydia Ng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Xiaowei Zhuang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA.
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11
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Park JY, Lee JJ, Lee Y, Lee D, Gim J, Farrer L, Lee KH, Won S. Machine learning-based quantification for disease uncertainty increases the statistical power of genetic association studies. Bioinformatics 2023; 39:btad534. [PMID: 37665736 PMCID: PMC10539075 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btad534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Allowance for increasingly large samples is a key to identify the association of genetic variants with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Accordingly, we aimed to develop a method that incorporates patients with mild cognitive impairment and unknown cognitive status in GWAS using a machine learning-based AD prediction model. RESULTS Simulation analyses showed that weighting imputed phenotypes method increased the statistical power compared to ordinary logistic regression using only AD cases and controls. Applied to real-world data, the penalized logistic method had the highest AUC (0.96) for AD prediction and weighting imputed phenotypes method performed well in terms of power. We identified an association (P<5.0×10-8) of AD with several variants in the APOE region and rs143625563 in LMX1A. Our method, which allows the inclusion of individuals with mild cognitive impairment, improves the statistical power of GWAS for AD. We discovered a novel association with LMX1A. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Simulation codes can be accessed at https://github.com/Junkkkk/wGEE_GWAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Young Park
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Neurozen Inc., Seoul 06168, Korea
- Gwangju Alzheimer’s & Related Dementia Cohort Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Jang Jae Lee
- Gwangju Alzheimer’s & Related Dementia Cohort Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Younghwa Lee
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Dongsoo Lee
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jungsoo Gim
- Gwangju Alzheimer’s & Related Dementia Cohort Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Lindsay Farrer
- Departments of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Neurology, and Ophthalmology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, United States
- Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Kun Ho Lee
- Gwangju Alzheimer’s & Related Dementia Cohort Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu 41068, Korea
| | - Sungho Won
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- RexSoft Inc, Seoul 08826, Korea
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12
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Li Y, Zhu M, Chen WX, Luo J, Li X, Cao Y, Zheng M, Ma S, Xiao Z, Zhang Y, Jiang L, Wang X, Tan T, Li X, Gong Q, Xiong X, Wang J, Tang M, Li M, Tang YP. A novel mutation in intron 1 of Wnt1 causes developmental loss of dopaminergic neurons in midbrain and ASD-like behaviors in rats. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3795-3805. [PMID: 37658228 PMCID: PMC10730402 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02223-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with a strong genetic liability. Despite extensive studies, however, the underlying pathogenic mechanism still remains elusive. In the present study, we identified a homozygous mutation in the intron 1 of Wnt1 via large-scale screening of ASD risk/causative genes and verified that this mutation created a new splicing donor site in the intron 1, and consequently, a decrease of WNT1 expression. Interestingly, humanized rat models harboring this mutation exhibited robust ASD-like behaviors including impaired ultrasonic vocalization (USV), decreased social interactions, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Moreover, in the substantia nigra compacta (SNpc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of mutant rats, dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons were dramatically lost, together with a comparable decrease in striatal DAergic fibers. Furthermore, using single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that the decreased DAergic neurons in these midbrain areas might attribute to a shift of the boundary of the local pool of progenitor cells from the hypothalamic floor plate to the midbrain floor plate during the early embryonic stage. Moreover, treatments of mutant rats with levodopa could attenuate the impaired USV and social interactions almost completely, but not the restricted and repetitive behaviors. Our results for the first time documented that the developmental loss of DAergic neurons in the midbrain underlies the pathogenesis of ASD, and that the abnormal progenitor cell patterning is a cellular underpinning for this developmental DAergic neuronal loss. Importantly, the effective dopamine therapy suggests a translational significance in the treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyi Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Mingwei Zhu
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Wen-Xiong Chen
- Department of Neurology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Jing Luo
- School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xin Li
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yangyang Cao
- Department of Child Health, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Meng Zheng
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Shanshan Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zhilan Xiao
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Yani Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Linyan Jiang
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Xiumin Wang
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Ting Tan
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Xia Li
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Qian Gong
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Xiaoli Xiong
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Child Health, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Mingxi Tang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
| | - Mingtao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Ya-Ping Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China.
- Department of Child Health, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
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13
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Glass MR, Waxman EA, Yamashita S, Lafferty M, Beltran A, Farah T, Patel NK, Matoba N, Ahmed S, Srivastava M, Drake E, Davis LT, Yeturi M, Sun K, Love MI, Hashimoto-Torii K, French DL, Stein JL. Cross-site reproducibility of human cortical organoids reveals consistent cell type composition and architecture. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.28.550873. [PMID: 37546772 PMCID: PMC10402155 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.28.550873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Reproducibility of human cortical organoid (hCO) phenotypes remains a concern for modeling neurodevelopmental disorders. While guided hCO protocols reproducibly generate cortical cell types in multiple cell lines at one site, variability across sites using a harmonized protocol has not yet been evaluated. We present an hCO cross-site reproducibility study examining multiple phenotypes. Methods Three independent research groups generated hCOs from one induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line using a harmonized miniaturized spinning bioreactor protocol. scRNA-seq, 3D fluorescent imaging, phase contrast imaging, qPCR, and flow cytometry were used to characterize the 3 month differentiations across sites. Results In all sites, hCOs were mostly cortical progenitor and neuronal cell types in reproducible proportions with moderate to high fidelity to the in vivo brain that were consistently organized in cortical wall-like buds. Cross-site differences were detected in hCO size and morphology. Differential gene expression showed differences in metabolism and cellular stress across sites. Although iPSC culture conditions were consistent and iPSCs remained undifferentiated, primed stem cell marker expression prior to differentiation correlated with cell type proportions in hCOs. Conclusions We identified hCO phenotypes that are reproducible across sites using a harmonized differentiation protocol. Previously described limitations of hCO models were also reproduced including off-target differentiations, necrotic cores, and cellular stress. Improving our understanding of how stem cell states influence early hCO cell types may increase reliability of hCO differentiations. Cross-site reproducibility of hCO cell type proportions and organization lays the foundation for future collaborative prospective meta-analytic studies modeling neurodevelopmental disorders in hCOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison R Glass
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Elisa A Waxman
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Satoshi Yamashita
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Michael Lafferty
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Alvaro Beltran
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Tala Farah
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Niyanta K Patel
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Nana Matoba
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Sara Ahmed
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Mary Srivastava
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Emma Drake
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Liam T Davis
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Meghana Yeturi
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Kexin Sun
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Michael I Love
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Departments of Pediatrics, and Pharmacology & Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Kazue Hashimoto-Torii
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Deborah L French
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jason L Stein
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
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14
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Dovonou A, Bolduc C, Soto Linan V, Gora C, Peralta Iii MR, Lévesque M. Animal models of Parkinson's disease: bridging the gap between disease hallmarks and research questions. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:36. [PMID: 37468944 PMCID: PMC10354932 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00368-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. More than 200 years after its first clinical description, PD remains a serious affliction that affects a growing proportion of the population. Prevailing treatments only alleviate symptoms; there is still neither a cure that targets the neurodegenerative processes nor therapies that modify the course of the disease. Over the past decades, several animal models have been developed to study PD. Although no model precisely recapitulates the pathology, they still provide valuable information that contributes to our understanding of the disease and the limitations of our treatment options. This review comprehensively summarizes the different animal models available for Parkinson's research, with a focus on those induced by drugs, neurotoxins, pesticides, genetic alterations, α-synuclein inoculation, and viral vector injections. We highlight their characteristics and ability to reproduce PD-like phenotypes. It is essential to realize that the strengths and weaknesses of each model and the induction technique at our disposal are determined by the research question being asked. Our review, therefore, seeks to better aid researchers by ensuring a concrete discernment of classical and novel animal models in PD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axelle Dovonou
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Cyril Bolduc
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Victoria Soto Linan
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Charles Gora
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Modesto R Peralta Iii
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Martin Lévesque
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
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15
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Dorsey SG, Mocci E, Lane MV, Krueger BK. Rapid effects of valproic acid on the fetal brain transcriptome: Implications for brain development and autism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.01.538959. [PMID: 37205520 PMCID: PMC10187231 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.01.538959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
There is an increased incidence of autism among the children of women who take the anti-epileptic, mood stabilizing drug, valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy; moreover, exposure to VPA in utero causes autistic-like symptoms in rodents and non-human primates. Analysis of RNAseq data obtained from fetal mouse brains 3 hr after VPA administration revealed that VPA significantly [p(FDR) ≤ 0.025] increased or decreased the expression of approximately 7,300 genes. No significant sex differences in VPA-induced gene expression were observed. Expression of genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism as well as neurogenesis, axon growth and synaptogenesis, GABAergic, glutaminergic and dopaminergic synaptic transmission, perineuronal nets, and circadian rhythms was dysregulated by VPA. Moreover, expression of 400 autism risk genes was significantly altered by VPA as was expression of 247 genes that have been reported to play fundamental roles in the development of the nervous system, but are not linked to autism by GWAS. The goal of this study was to identify mouse genes that are: (a) significantly up- or down-regulated by VPA in the fetal brain and (b) known to be associated with autism and/or to play a role in embryonic neurodevelopmental processes, perturbation of which has the potential to alter brain connectivity in the postnatal and adult brain. The set of genes meeting these criteria provides potential targets for future hypothesis-driven approaches to elucidating the proximal underlying causes of defective brain connectivity in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
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16
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Reddy DS, Abeygunaratne HN. Experimental and Clinical Biomarkers for Progressive Evaluation of Neuropathology and Therapeutic Interventions for Acute and Chronic Neurological Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:11734. [PMID: 36233034 PMCID: PMC9570151 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This article describes commonly used experimental and clinical biomarkers of neuronal injury and neurodegeneration for the evaluation of neuropathology and monitoring of therapeutic interventions. Biomarkers are vital for diagnostics of brain disease and therapeutic monitoring. A biomarker can be objectively measured and evaluated as a proxy indicator for the pathophysiological process or response to therapeutic interventions. There are complex hurdles in understanding the molecular pathophysiology of neurological disorders and the ability to diagnose them at initial stages. Novel biomarkers for neurological diseases may surpass these issues, especially for early identification of disease risk. Validated biomarkers can measure the severity and progression of both acute neuronal injury and chronic neurological diseases such as epilepsy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, traumatic brain injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and other brain diseases. Biomarkers are deployed to study progression and response to treatment, including noninvasive imaging tools for both acute and chronic brain conditions. Neuronal biomarkers are classified into four core subtypes: blood-based, immunohistochemical-based, neuroimaging-based, and electrophysiological biomarkers. Neuronal conditions have progressive stages, such as acute injury, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and neurogenesis, which can serve as indices of pathological status. Biomarkers are critical for the targeted identification of specific molecules, cells, tissues, or proteins that dramatically alter throughout the progression of brain conditions. There has been tremendous progress with biomarkers in acute conditions and chronic diseases affecting the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doodipala Samba Reddy
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
- Institute of Pharmacology and Neurotherapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
- Intercollegiate School of Engineering Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Hasara Nethma Abeygunaratne
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
- Institute of Pharmacology and Neurotherapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
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17
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Abdelrahman S, Alsanie WF, Khan ZN, Albalawi HI, Felimban RI, Moretti M, Steiner N, Chaudhary AG, Hauser CAE. A Parkinson's disease model composed of 3D bioprinted dopaminergic neurons within a biomimetic peptide scaffold. Biofabrication 2022; 14. [PMID: 35793642 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac7eec] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. It is associated with lost dopaminergic (DA) neurons in thesubstantia nigra, a process that is not yet fully understood. To understand this deleterious disorder, there is an immense need to develop efficientin vitrothree-dimensional (3D) models that can recapitulate complex organs such as the brain. However, due to the complexity of neurons, selecting suitable biomaterials to accommodate them is challenging. Here, we report on the fabrication of functional DA neuronal 3D models using ultrashort self-assembling tetrapeptide scaffolds. Our peptide-based models demonstrate biocompatibility both for primary mouse embryonic DA neurons and for human DA neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells. DA neurons encapsulated in these scaffolds responded to 6-hydroxydopamine, a neurotoxin that selectively induces loss of DA neurons. Using multi-electrode arrays, we recorded spontaneous activity in DA neurons encapsulated within these 3D peptide scaffolds for more than 1 month without decrease of signal intensity. Additionally, vascularization of our 3D models in a co-culture with endothelial cells greatly promoted neurite outgrowth, leading to denser network formation. This increase of neuronal networks through vascularization was observed for both primary mouse DA and cortical neurons. Furthermore, we present a 3D bioprinted model of DA neurons inspired by the mouse brain and created with an extrusion-based 3D robotic bioprinting system that was developed during previous studies and is optimized with time-dependent pulsing by microfluidic pumps. We employed a hybrid fabrication strategy that relies on an external mold of the mouse brain construct that complements the shape and size of the desired bioprinted model to offer better support during printing. We hope that our 3D model provides a platform for studies of the pathogenesis of PD and other neurodegenerative disorders that may lead to better understanding and more efficient treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherin Abdelrahman
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.,Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Walaa F Alsanie
- Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.,Center of Biomedical Sciences Research (CBSR), Deanship of Scientific Research, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zainab N Khan
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.,Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamed I Albalawi
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.,Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raed I Felimban
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.,Center of Innovation in Personalized Medicine (CIPM), 3D Bioprinting Unit, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manola Moretti
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.,Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nadia Steiner
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Laboratory of Cellular Imaging and Energetics (LCIE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adeel G Chaudhary
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.,Center of Innovation in Personalized Medicine (CIPM), 3D Bioprinting Unit, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Charlotte A E Hauser
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.,Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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18
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Lmx1a-Dependent Activation of miR-204/211 Controls the Timing of Nurr1-Mediated Dopaminergic Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23136961. [PMID: 35805964 PMCID: PMC9266978 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23136961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons requires a fine temporal and spatial regulation of a very specific gene expression program. Here, we report that during mouse brain development, the microRNA (miR-) 204/211 is present at a high level in a subset of DA precursors expressing the transcription factor Lmx1a, an early determinant for DA-commitment, but not in more mature neurons expressing Th or Pitx3. By combining different in vitro model systems of DA differentiation, we show that the levels of Lmx1a influence the expression of miR-204/211. Using published transcriptomic data, we found a significant enrichment of miR-204/211 target genes in midbrain dopaminergic neurons where Lmx1a was selectively deleted at embryonic stages. We further demonstrated that miR-204/211 controls the timing of the DA differentiation by directly downregulating the expression of Nurr1, a late DA differentiation master gene. Thus, our data indicate the Lmx1a-miR-204/211-Nurr1 axis as a key component in the cascade of events that ultimately lead to mature midbrain dopaminergic neurons differentiation and point to miR-204/211 as the molecular switch regulating the timing of Nurr1 expression.
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19
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Aydin B, Sierk M, Moreno-Estelles M, Tejavibulya L, Kumar N, Flames N, Mahony S, Mazzoni EO. Foxa2 and Pet1 Direct and Indirect Synergy Drive Serotonergic Neuronal Differentiation. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:903881. [PMID: 35801179 PMCID: PMC9254625 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.903881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal programming by forced expression of transcription factors (TFs) holds promise for clinical applications of regenerative medicine. However, the mechanisms by which TFs coordinate their activities on the genome and control distinct neuronal fates remain obscure. Using direct neuronal programming of embryonic stem cells, we dissected the contribution of a series of TFs to specific neuronal regulatory programs. We deconstructed the Ascl1-Lmx1b-Foxa2-Pet1 TF combination that has been shown to generate serotonergic neurons and found that stepwise addition of TFs to Ascl1 canalizes the neuronal fate into a diffuse monoaminergic fate. The addition of pioneer factor Foxa2 represses Phox2b to induce serotonergic fate, similar to in vivo regulatory networks. Foxa2 and Pet1 appear to act synergistically to upregulate serotonergic fate. Foxa2 and Pet1 co-bind to a small fraction of genomic regions but mostly bind to different regulatory sites. In contrast to the combinatorial binding activities of other programming TFs, Pet1 does not strictly follow the Foxa2 pioneer. These findings highlight the challenges in formulating generalizable rules for describing the behavior of TF combinations that program distinct neuronal subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begüm Aydin
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Michael Sierk
- Interdisciplinary Sciences Department, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, United States
| | - Mireia Moreno-Estelles
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York City, NY, United States
- Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia IIBV-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Link Tejavibulya
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Nikathan Kumar
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Nuria Flames
- Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia IIBV-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
- *Correspondence: Nuria Flames,
| | - Shaun Mahony
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Shaun Mahony,
| | - Esteban O. Mazzoni
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York City, NY, United States
- Esteban O. Mazzoni,
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20
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Maternal Herpesviridae infection during pregnancy alters midbrain dopaminergic signatures in adult offspring. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 169:105720. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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21
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Ni A, Ernst C. Evidence That Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta Dopaminergic Neurons Are Selectively Vulnerable to Oxidative Stress Because They Are Highly Metabolically Active. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:826193. [PMID: 35308118 PMCID: PMC8931026 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.826193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There are 400–500 thousand dopaminergic cells within each side of the human substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) making them a minuscule portion of total brain mass. These tiny clusters of cells have an outsized impact on motor output and behavior as seen in disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). SNpc dopaminergic neurons are more vulnerable to oxidative stress compared to other brain cell types, but the reasons for this are not precisely known. Here we provide evidence to support the hypothesis that this selective vulnerability is because SNpc neurons sustain high metabolic rates compared to other neurons. A higher baseline requirement for ATP production may lead to a selective vulnerability to impairments in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) or genetic insults that impair Complex I of the electron transport chain. We suggest that the energy demands of the unique morphological and electrophysiological properties of SNpc neurons may be one reason these cells produce more ATP than other cells. We further provide evidence to support the hypothesis that transcription factors (TFs) required to drive induction, differentiation, and maintenance of midbrain dopaminergic neural progenitor cells which give rise to terminally differentiated SNpc neurons are uniquely involved in both developmental patterning and metabolism, a dual function unlike other TFs that program neurons in other brain regions. The use of these TFs during induction and differentiation may program ventral midbrain progenitor cells metabolically to higher ATP levels, allowing for the development of those specialized cell processes seen in terminally differentiated cells. This paper provides a cellular and developmental framework for understanding the selective vulnerability of SNpc dopaminergic cells to oxidative stress.
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22
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Roles of Transcription Factors in the Development and Reprogramming of the Dopaminergic Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020845. [PMID: 35055043 PMCID: PMC8775916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The meso-diencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons regulate various critical processes in the mammalian nervous system, including voluntary movement and a wide range of behaviors such as mood, reward, addiction, and stress. mdDA neuronal loss is linked with one of the most prominent human movement neurological disorders, Parkinson’s disease (PD). How these cells die and regenerate are two of the most hotly debated PD research topics. As for the latter, it has been long known that a series of transcription factors (TFs) involves the development of mdDA neurons, specifying cell types and controlling developmental patterns. In vitro and in vivo, TFs regulate the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase, a dopamine transporter, vesicular monoamine transporter 2, and L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, all of which are critical for dopamine synthesis and transport in dopaminergic neurons (DA neurons). In this review, we encapsulate the molecular mechanism of TFs underlying embryonic growth and maturation of mdDA neurons and update achievements on dopaminergic cell therapy dependent on knowledge of TFs in mdDA neuronal development. We believe that a deeper understanding of the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that influence DA neurons’ fate and development in the midbrain could lead to a better strategy for PD cell therapy.
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23
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Spatiotemporal expression of sonic hedgehog signalling molecules in the embryonic mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. Gene Expr Patterns 2021; 42:119217. [PMID: 34767969 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2021.119217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDA) play an important role in controlling the voluntary motor movement, reward, and emotion-based behaviour. Differentiation of mDA neurons from progenitors depends on several secreted proteins, such as sonic hedgehog (SHH). The present study attempted to elucidate the possible role(s) of some SHH signaling components (Ptch1, Gli1, Gli2 and Gli3) in the spatiotemporal development of mDA neurons along the rostrocaudal axis of the midbrain and their possible roles in differentiation and survival of mDA neurons and the significance of using in vitro models for studying the development of mDA neurons. At E12 and E14, only Ptch1 and Gli1 were expressed in ventrolateral midbrain domains. All examined SHH signalling molecules were not detected in mDA area. Whereas, in MN9D cells, many SHH signalling molecules were expressed and co-localized with the dopaminergic marker; tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and their expression were upregulated with SHH treatment of the MN9D cells. These results suggest that mDA neurons differentiation and survival might be independent of SHH in the late developmental stages (E12-18). Besides, MN9D cell line is not the ideal in vitro model for investigating the differentiation of mDA and hence, the ventral midbrain primary culture might be favored over MN9D line.
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24
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Pereira Luppi M, Azcorra M, Caronia-Brown G, Poulin JF, Gaertner Z, Gatica S, Moreno-Ramos OA, Nouri N, Dubois M, Ma YC, Ramakrishnan C, Fenno L, Kim YS, Deisseroth K, Cicchetti F, Dombeck DA, Awatramani R. Sox6 expression distinguishes dorsally and ventrally biased dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra with distinctive properties and embryonic origins. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109975. [PMID: 34758317 PMCID: PMC8607753 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tier of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) degenerate prominently in Parkinson's disease, while those in the dorsal tier are relatively spared. Defining the molecular, functional, and developmental characteristics of each SNc tier is crucial to understand their distinct susceptibility. We demonstrate that Sox6 expression distinguishes ventrally and dorsally biased DA neuron populations in the SNc. The Sox6+ population in the ventral SNc includes an Aldh1a1+ subset and is enriched in gene pathways that underpin vulnerability. Sox6+ neurons project to the dorsal striatum and show activity correlated with acceleration. Sox6- neurons project to the medial, ventral, and caudal striatum and respond to rewards. Moreover, we show that this adult division is encoded early in development. Overall, our work demonstrates a dual origin of the SNc that results in DA neuron cohorts with distinct molecular profiles, projections, and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milagros Pereira Luppi
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Maite Azcorra
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Giuliana Caronia-Brown
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jean-Francois Poulin
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Zachary Gaertner
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Serafin Gatica
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Navid Nouri
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Marilyn Dubois
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Yongchao C Ma
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Charu Ramakrishnan
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lief Fenno
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yoon Seok Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Francesca Cicchetti
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Daniel A Dombeck
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
| | - Rajeshwar Awatramani
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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25
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Dynamic landscape of chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic changes during differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into dopaminergic neurons. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16977. [PMID: 34417498 PMCID: PMC8379280 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96263-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin architecture influences transcription by modulating the physical access of regulatory factors to DNA, playing fundamental roles in cell identity. Studies on dopaminergic differentiation have identified coding genes, but the relationship with non-coding genes or chromatin accessibility remains elusive. Using RNA-Seq and ATAC-Seq we profiled differentially expressed transcripts and open chromatin regions during early dopaminergic neuron differentiation. Hierarchical clustering of differentially expressed genes, resulted in 6 groups with unique characteristics. Surprisingly, the abundance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) was high in the most downregulated transcripts, and depicted positive correlations with target mRNAs. We observed that open chromatin regions decrease upon differentiation. Enrichment analyses of accessibility depict an association between open chromatin regions and specific functional pathways and gene-sets. A bioinformatic search for motifs allowed us to identify transcription factors and structural nuclear proteins that potentially regulate dopaminergic differentiation. Interestingly, we also found changes in protein and mRNA abundance of the CCCTC-binding factor, CTCF, which participates in genome organization and gene expression. Furthermore, assays demonstrated co-localization of CTCF with Polycomb-repressed chromatin marked by H3K27me3 in pluripotent cells, progressively decreasing in neural precursor cells and differentiated neurons. Our work provides a unique resource of transcription factors and regulatory elements, potentially involved in the acquisition of human dopaminergic neuron cell identity.
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26
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Toledo EM, Yang S, Gyllborg D, van Wijk KE, Sinha I, Varas-Godoy M, Grigsby CL, Lönnerberg P, Islam S, Steffensen KR, Linnarsson S, Arenas E. Srebf1 Controls Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurogenesis. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107601. [PMID: 32375051 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107601] [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: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver X receptors (LXRs) and their ligands are potent regulators of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurogenesis and differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which LXRs control these functions remain to be elucidated. Here, we perform a combined transcriptome and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis of midbrain cells after LXR activation, followed by bioinformatic analysis to elucidate the transcriptional networks controlling mDA neurogenesis. Our results identify the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) as part of a cluster of proneural transcription factors in radial glia and as a regulator of transcription factors controlling mDA neurogenesis, such as Foxa2. Moreover, loss- and gain-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo demonstrate that Srebf1 is both required and sufficient for mDA neurogenesis. Our data, thus, identify Srebf1 as a central player in mDA neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique M Toledo
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shanzheng Yang
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniel Gyllborg
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kim E van Wijk
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Indranil Sinha
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Manuel Varas-Godoy
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christopher L Grigsby
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Biomaterials, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Lönnerberg
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Saiful Islam
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Knut R Steffensen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Sten Linnarsson
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ernest Arenas
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
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27
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Partington HS, Nutter JM, Eells JB. Nurr1 deficiency shortens free running period, enhances photoentrainment to phase advance, and disrupts circadian cycling of the dopamine neuron phenotype. Behav Brain Res 2021; 411:113347. [PMID: 33991560 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including addiction, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease (PD), involve dysfunction in midbrain dopamine (DA) neurotransmission with severity of disease symptoms and progression associated with disrupted circadian rhythms. The nuclear transcription factor Nurr1, essential for DA neuron (DAN) development, survival, and maintenance, is also known to interact with circadian rhythm regulating clock proteins. In the Nurr1-null heterozygous (+/-) mice, a Nurr1 deficient model which reproduces some of the alterations in DA function found in schizophrenia and PD, we measured, using wheel-running activity, the free running period (tau) and photoperiod entrainment. Because Nurr1 has a role in regulating the DA phenotype, we also measured the circadian fluctuations in the number of DANs using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunofluorescence. In Nurr1 +/- mice, tau was significantly shorter and entrainment to a 6 h earlier shift in the dark cycle was accelerated. The Nurr1 wild-type (+/+) mice cycled DAN numbers across time, with a significantly greater number (∼2-fold increase) of DANs at zeitgeber time (ZT) 0 than ZT12. The +/- mice, however, did not cycle the DA phenotype, as no differences in DAN numbers were observed between ZT0 and ZT12. Additionally, the +/- mice had significantly fewer DANs at ZT0 but not at ZT12 as compared to +/+ mice. Based these data, circadian rhythms and fluctuations in the DA phenotype requires normal Nurr1 function. A better understanding is needed of the mechanisms regulating the DA phenotype and subsequent neurotransmission across the circadian cycle and how this is altered in circadian rhythm and DA neurotransmission-associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heath S Partington
- East Carolina University, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer Makenzie Nutter
- East Carolina University, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Eells
- East Carolina University, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC, USA.
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Kosior-Jarecka E, Czop M, Gasińska K, Wróbel-Dudzińska D, Zalewski DP, Bogucka-Kocka A, Kocki J, Żarnowski T. MicroRNAs in the aqueous humor of patients with different types of glaucoma. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2021; 259:2337-2349. [PMID: 33929592 PMCID: PMC8352835 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-021-05214-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The aim of the study was to compare the frequency and the level of expression of selected miRNAs in the aqueous humor of patients with various types of glaucoma. Methods The studied group consisted of 42 patients with glaucoma: 19 with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), 14 with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG), 9 with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), and the control group of 36 patients with senile cataract without glaucoma. The real-time polymerase chain reaction method was used to analyze the expression of miRNAs. Results There were no significant differences in the frequency and the level of miRNA expression between various types of glaucoma. There was a tendency for hsa-miR-6722-3p and hsa-miR-184 to be expressed more frequently in PEXG and hsa-miR-1260b in POAG. The expression levels of hsa-miR-1260b and hsa-miR-6515-3p were correlated with age in POAG. Target annotation and functional analyses showed that genes targeted by the most frequently expressed miRNAs (hsa-miR-1202, -1260b, -184, -187-5p, -6515-3p, -6722-3p, and hsa-mir-4634) are involved mainly in response to hypoxia, cardiovascular system development, and apoptosis. Conclusion Hsa-miR-1260b was the most abundantly expressed among studied miRNAs and may be a potential biomarker of clinical status in PEXG and PACG. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00417-021-05214-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Kosior-Jarecka
- Department of Diagnostics and Microsurgery of Glaucoma, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chmielna 1, 20-079, Lublin, Poland
| | - Marcin Czop
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - Karolina Gasińska
- Department of Diagnostics and Microsurgery of Glaucoma, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chmielna 1, 20-079, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Dominika Wróbel-Dudzińska
- Department of Diagnostics and Microsurgery of Glaucoma, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chmielna 1, 20-079, Lublin, Poland
| | - Daniel P Zalewski
- Department of Biology and Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodźki 4a, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Bogucka-Kocka
- Department of Biology and Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodźki 4a, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Janusz Kocki
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - Tomasz Żarnowski
- Department of Diagnostics and Microsurgery of Glaucoma, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chmielna 1, 20-079, Lublin, Poland
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Salesse C, Charest J, Doucet-Beaupré H, Castonguay AM, Labrecque S, De Koninck P, Lévesque M. Opposite Control of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapse Formation by Slitrk2 and Slitrk5 on Dopamine Neurons Modulates Hyperactivity Behavior. Cell Rep 2021; 30:2374-2386.e5. [PMID: 32075770 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.01.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurodevelopmental origin of hyperactivity disorder has been suggested to involve the dopaminergic system, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Here, transcription factors Lmx1a and Lmx1b are shown to be essential for midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neuron excitatory synaptic inputs and dendritic development. Strikingly, conditional knockout (cKO) of Lmx1a/b in postmitotic mDA neurons results in marked hyperactivity. In seeking Lmx1a/b target genes, we identify positively regulated Slitrk2 and negatively regulated Slitrk5. These two synaptic adhesion proteins promote excitatory and inhibitory synapses on mDA neurons, respectively. Knocking down Slitrk2 reproduces some of the Lmx1a/b cKO cellular and behavioral phenotypes, whereas Slitrk5 knockdown has opposite effects. The hyperactivity caused by this imbalance in excitatory/inhibitory synaptic inputs on dopamine neurons is reproduced by chronically inhibiting the ventral tegmental area during development using pharmacogenetics. Our study shows that alterations in developing dopaminergic circuits strongly impact locomotor activity, shedding light on mechanisms causing hyperactivity behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charleen Salesse
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601 de la Canardière, Québec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Julien Charest
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601 de la Canardière, Québec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada
| | | | | | - Simon Labrecque
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601 de la Canardière, Québec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Paul De Koninck
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601 de la Canardière, Québec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Martin Lévesque
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601 de la Canardière, Québec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
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Wulansari N, Darsono WHW, Woo HJ, Chang MY, Kim J, Bae EJ, Sun W, Lee JH, Cho IJ, Shin H, Lee SJ, Lee SH. Neurodevelopmental defects and neurodegenerative phenotypes in human brain organoids carrying Parkinson's disease-linked DNAJC6 mutations. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabb1540. [PMID: 33597231 PMCID: PMC7888924 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb1540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations of DNAJC6, encoding HSP40 auxilin, have recently been identified in patients with early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD). To study the roles of DNAJC6 in PD pathogenesis, we used human embryonic stem cells with CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing. Here, we show that DNAJC6 mutations cause key PD pathologic features, i.e., midbrain-type dopamine (mDA) neuron degeneration, pathologic α-synuclein aggregation, increase of intrinsic neuronal firing frequency, and mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunctions in human midbrain-like organoids (hMLOs). In addition, neurodevelopmental defects were also manifested in hMLOs carrying the mutations. Transcriptomic analyses followed by experimental validation revealed that defects in DNAJC6-mediated endocytosis impair the WNT-LMX1A signal during the mDA neuron development. Furthermore, reduced LMX1A expression during development caused the generation of vulnerable mDA neurons with the pathologic manifestations. These results suggest that the human model of DNAJC6-PD recapitulates disease phenotypes and reveals mechanisms underlying disease pathology, providing a platform for assessing therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noviana Wulansari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Biomedical Research Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wahyu Handoko Wibowo Darsono
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Biomedical Research Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Ji Woo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Biomedical Research Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Yoon Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Biomedical Research Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinil Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Biomedical Research Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Jin Bae
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woong Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Program for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Hyun Lee
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Program for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Joo Cho
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyogeun Shin
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Jae Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang-Hun Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Hanyang Biomedical Research Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Sasai N, Kadoya M, Ong Lee Chen A. Neural induction: Historical views and application to pluripotent stem cells. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:26-37. [PMID: 33289091 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are a useful experimental material to recapitulate the differentiation steps of early embryos, which are usually invisible and inaccessible from outside of the body, especially in mammals. ES cells have greatly facilitated the analyses of gene expression profiles and cell characteristics. In addition, understanding the mechanisms during neural differentiation is important for clinical purposes, such as developing new therapeutic methods or regenerative medicine. As neurons have very limited regenerative ability, neurodegenerative diseases are usually intractable, and patients suffer from the disease throughout their lifetimes. The functional cells generated from ES cells in vitro could replace degenerative areas by transplantation. In this review, we will first demonstrate the historical views and widely accepted concepts regarding the molecular mechanisms of neural induction and positional information to produce the specific types of neurons in model animals. Next, we will describe how these concepts have recently been applied to the research in the establishment of the methodology of neural differentiation from mammalian ES cells. Finally, we will focus on examples of the applications of differentiation systems to clinical purposes. Overall, the discussion will focus on how historical developmental studies are applied to state-of-the-art stem cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriaki Sasai
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Minori Kadoya
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Agnes Ong Lee Chen
- Developmental Biomedical Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
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Jin T, Gu J, Xia H, Chen H, Xu X, Li Z, Yue Y, Gui Y. Differential Expression of microRNA Profiles and Wnt Signals in Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes During Dopaminergic Neuron Differentiation. DNA Cell Biol 2020; 39:2143-2153. [PMID: 33064572 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2020.5931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of secreted exosomes during dopaminergic (DA) neuron differentiation is still unknown. To investigate the roles of exosomes in DA neuron fate specification, we profiled exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) during DA neuron differentiation of epiblast-derived stem cells (EpiSCs). There were 26 miRNAs differentially expressed (relative fold >2, p < 0.05) in EpiSC-derived exosomes at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days of DA epiblast differentiation. Among them, 23 exosomic miRNAs were significantly increased, including miR-124, miR-132, miR-133b, miR-218, miR-9, miR-34b, miR-34c, and miR-135a2, while three exosomic miRNAs (miR-214, miR-7a, and miR-302b) were decreased, when compared with control samples. Bioinformatics analysis by DIANA-mirPath demonstrated that extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells, FoxO signaling pathway, DA synapse, Wnt signaling pathway, GABAergic synapse, and neurotrophin signaling pathway were significantly enriched in DA differentiation-related miRNA signature (all p-values <0.012). Furthermore, messenger RNAs for nine DA neuronal markers tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), Nr4a2, Pitx3, Drd1a, Lmx1a, Lmx1b, Foxa1, Dmrt5, and Slc18a2 were significantly increased expressed over time in exosomes derived from differentiated EpiSCs. Interestingly, adding with exosomes derived from EpiSC induction experiment resulted in a twofold increase of TH-positive neurons production (35% vs. 17%, p < 0.01) during DA neuronal differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In summary, our results suggested exosomal miRNAs are potential regulators of DA neuron differentiation. More importantly, EpiSC-derived exosomes could promote the generation of DA neuron differentiation from ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jin
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiachen Gu
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongbo Xia
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Fuyang, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huimin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Xiaomin Xu
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zongshan Li
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yumei Yue
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yaxing Gui
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Morales-Garcia JA, Calleja-Conde J, Lopez-Moreno JA, Alonso-Gil S, Sanz-SanCristobal M, Riba J, Perez-Castillo A. N,N-dimethyltryptamine compound found in the hallucinogenic tea ayahuasca, regulates adult neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:331. [PMID: 32989216 PMCID: PMC7522265 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01011-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a component of the ayahuasca brew traditionally used for ritual and therapeutic purposes across several South American countries. Here, we have examined, in vitro and vivo, the potential neurogenic effect of DMT. Our results demonstrate that DMT administration activates the main adult neurogenic niche, the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, promoting newly generated neurons in the granular zone. Moreover, these mice performed better, compared to control non-treated animals, in memory tests, which suggest a functional relevance for the DMT-induced new production of neurons in the hippocampus. Interestingly, the neurogenic effect of DMT appears to involve signaling via sigma-1 receptor (S1R) activation since S1R antagonist blocked the neurogenic effect. Taken together, our results demonstrate that DMT treatment activates the subgranular neurogenic niche regulating the proliferation of neural stem cells, the migration of neuroblasts, and promoting the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus, therefore enhancing adult neurogenesis and improving spatial learning and memory tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A. Morales-Garcia
- grid.4711.30000 0001 2183 4846Institute for Biomedical Research “A. Sols” (CSIC-UAM). Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain ,grid.413448.e0000 0000 9314 1427Spanish Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), c/ Valderrebollo 5, 28031 Madrid, Spain ,grid.4795.f0000 0001 2157 7667Department of Cellular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal, 28040 Madrid, Spain ,grid.411347.40000 0000 9248 5770Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, Neurobiology Department, UCS-UCM, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Calleja-Conde
- grid.4795.f0000 0001 2157 7667Department of Psychobiology and Behavioural Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Carretera de Humera, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose A. Lopez-Moreno
- grid.4795.f0000 0001 2157 7667Department of Psychobiology and Behavioural Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Carretera de Humera, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Alonso-Gil
- grid.4711.30000 0001 2183 4846Institute for Biomedical Research “A. Sols” (CSIC-UAM). Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain ,grid.413448.e0000 0000 9314 1427Spanish Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), c/ Valderrebollo 5, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Sanz-SanCristobal
- grid.4711.30000 0001 2183 4846Institute for Biomedical Research “A. Sols” (CSIC-UAM). Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain ,grid.413448.e0000 0000 9314 1427Spanish Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), c/ Valderrebollo 5, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Riba
- grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6229 ER The Netherlands
| | - Ana Perez-Castillo
- Institute for Biomedical Research "A. Sols" (CSIC-UAM). Arturo Duperier 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain. .,Spanish Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), c/ Valderrebollo 5, 28031, Madrid, Spain. .,Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, Neurobiology Department, UCS-UCM, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain.
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Pascale E, Divisato G, Palladino R, Auriemma M, Ngalya EF, Caiazzo M. Noncoding RNAs and Midbrain DA Neurons: Novel Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets in Health and Disease. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1269. [PMID: 32899172 PMCID: PMC7563414 DOI: 10.3390/biom10091269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Midbrain dopamine neurons have crucial functions in motor and emotional control and their degeneration leads to several neurological dysfunctions such as Parkinson's disease, addiction, depression, schizophrenia, and others. Despite advances in the understanding of specific altered proteins and coding genes, little is known about cumulative changes in the transcriptional landscape of noncoding genes in midbrain dopamine neurons. Noncoding RNAs-specifically microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs-are emerging as crucial post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in the brain. The identification of noncoding RNA networks underlying all stages of dopamine neuron development and plasticity is an essential step to deeply understand their physiological role and also their involvement in the etiology of dopaminergic diseases. Here, we provide an update about noncoding RNAs involved in dopaminergic development and metabolism, and the related evidence of these biomolecules for applications in potential treatments for dopaminergic neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Pascale
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
| | - Giuseppina Divisato
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
| | - Renata Palladino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
| | - Margherita Auriemma
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
| | - Edward Faustine Ngalya
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
| | - Massimiliano Caiazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (G.D.); (R.P.); (M.A.); (E.F.N.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Li X, Li J, Li P, Jiang Y, Wu Y, Li B. Injury to dopaminergic neurons development via the Lmx1a/Wnt1 autoregulatory loop induced by simazine. Toxicol Lett 2020; 333:279-289. [PMID: 32822773 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Simazine is a kind of persistent organic pollutant that is detected in both ground and water and has several routes of exposure. Here, we explored the mechanisms underlying simazine-related effects on dopaminergic neurons via development-related factors using mouse embryos and embryonic mesencephalic hybrid cell line (MN9D cells). We treated pregnant mice with 50 μg/kg bw, 200 μg/kg bw simazine from the 0.5 day to the 10.5 day of embryonic phase and MN9D cells with 600 μM simazine for 24 h to research the mechanism of dopaminergic neurons acute respond to simazine through preliminary experiments. Protein expressions of LIM homeobox transcription factor 1-alpha (Lmx1a) and LIM homeobox transcription factor 1-beta (Lmx1b) displayed a dose- and time-dependent increase after the exposure to simazine. In the 200 μg/kg bw of embryos and the 24h-600 μM of MN9D cells, protein levels of dopaminergic developmental factors were significantly upregulated, and dopaminergic function was significantly damaged for the abnormal expression of Dyt5b. We demonstrated simazine induced the injury to dopaminergic neurons via the Lmx1a/wingless-related integration site 1 (Wnt1) and Lmx1b pathways. In the transfection experiments, we knocked down Lmx1a and Lmx1b of cells to verify the potential target of simazine-induced injury to dopaminergic neurons, respectively. We detected the protein and mRNA levels of development-related genes of dopaminergic neurons and intracellular dopamine levels in different treatment groups. Based on our experiments' results, we demonstrated an acute response to 24 h-600 μM simazine treatment, the simazine-induced injury to dopaminergic neuronal which leads to abnormal dopamine levels and dopaminergic impairment is via the activation of the Lmx1a/Wnt1 autoregulatory loop. Lmx1a is a promising target in the search for the mechanisms underlying simazine-induced dopaminergic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Li
- Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Street, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Jianan Li
- Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Street, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Street, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Yujia Jiang
- Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Street, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Yanping Wu
- Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Street, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China
| | - Baixiang Li
- Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Street, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150081, PR China.
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Mesman S, Smidt MP. Acquisition of the Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuronal Identity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134638. [PMID: 32629812 PMCID: PMC7369932 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) group of neurons comprises molecularly distinct subgroups, of which the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) are the best known, due to the selective degeneration of the SN during Parkinson’s disease. However, although significant research has been conducted on the molecular build-up of these subsets, much is still unknown about how these subsets develop and which factors are involved in this process. In this review, we aim to describe the life of an mdDA neuron, from specification in the floor plate to differentiation into the different subsets. All mdDA neurons are born in the mesodiencephalic floor plate under the influence of both SHH-signaling, important for floor plate patterning, and WNT-signaling, involved in establishing the progenitor pool and the start of the specification of mdDA neurons. Furthermore, transcription factors, like Ngn2, Ascl1, Lmx1a, and En1, and epigenetic factors, like Ezh2, are important in the correct specification of dopamine (DA) progenitors. Later during development, mdDA neurons are further subdivided into different molecular subsets by, amongst others, Otx2, involved in the specification of subsets in the VTA, and En1, Pitx3, Lmx1a, and WNT-signaling, involved in the specification of subsets in the SN. Interestingly, factors involved in early specification in the floor plate can serve a dual function and can also be involved in subset specification. Besides the mdDA group of neurons, other systems in the embryo contain different subsets, like the immune system. Interestingly, many factors involved in the development of mdDA neurons are similarly involved in immune system development and vice versa. This indicates that similar mechanisms are used in the development of these systems, and that knowledge about the development of the immune system may hold clues for the factors involved in the development of mdDA neurons, which may be used in culture protocols for cell replacement therapies.
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Development and Differentiation of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuron: From Bench to Bedside. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061489. [PMID: 32570916 PMCID: PMC7349799 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting the motor system. It is primarily due to substantial loss of midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and to decreased innervation to the striatum. Although existing drug therapy available can relieve the symptoms in early-stage PD patients, it cannot reverse the pathogenic progression of PD. Thus, regenerating functional mDA neurons in PD patients may be a cure to the disease. The proof-of-principle clinical trials showed that human fetal graft-derived mDA neurons could restore the release of dopamine neurotransmitters, could reinnervate the striatum, and could alleviate clinical symptoms in PD patients. The invention of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), autologous source of neural progenitors with less ethical consideration, and risk of graft rejection can now be generated in vitro. This advancement also prompts extensive research to decipher important developmental signaling in differentiation, which is key to successful in vitro production of functional mDA neurons and the enabler of mass manufacturing of the cells required for clinical applications. In this review, we summarize the biology and signaling involved in the development of mDA neurons and the current progress and methodology in driving efficient mDA neuron differentiation from pluripotent stem cells.
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Molecular Regulation in Dopaminergic Neuron Development. Cues to Unveil Molecular Pathogenesis and Pharmacological Targets of Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21113995. [PMID: 32503161 PMCID: PMC7312927 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The relatively few dopaminergic neurons in the mammalian brain are mostly located in the midbrain and regulate many important neural functions, including motor integration, cognition, emotive behaviors and reward. Therefore, alteration of their function or degeneration leads to severe neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Unraveling the mechanisms of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) phenotype induction and maturation and elucidating the role of the gene network involved in the development and maintenance of these neurons is of pivotal importance to rescue or substitute these cells in order to restore dopaminergic functions. Recently, in addition to morphogens and transcription factors, microRNAs have been identified as critical players to confer mDA identity. The elucidation of the gene network involved in mDA neuron development and function will be crucial to identify early changes of mDA neurons that occur in pre-symptomatic pathological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. In addition, it can help to identify targets for new therapies and for cell reprogramming into mDA neurons. In this essay, we review the cascade of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation that confers mDA identity and regulates their functions. Additionally, we highlight certain mechanisms that offer important clues to unveil molecular pathogenesis of mDA neuron dysfunction and potential pharmacological targets for the treatment of mDA neuron dysfunction.
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Grandi FC, De Tomasi L, Mustapha M. Single-Cell RNA Analysis of Type I Spiral Ganglion Neurons Reveals a Lmx1a Population in the Cochlea. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:83. [PMID: 32523514 PMCID: PMC7261882 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the mature cochlea, each inner hair cell (IHC) is innervated by multiple spiral ganglion neurons of type I (SGNI). SGNIs are morphologically and electro-physiologically diverse. Also, they differ in their susceptibility to noise insult. However, the molecular underpinnings of their identity and physiological differences remain poorly understood. In this study, we developed a novel triple transgenic mouse, which enabled the isolation of pure populations of SGNIs and the analysis of a 96-gene panel via single-cell qPCR. We found three distinct populations of Type I SGNs, which were marked by their exclusive expression of Lmx1a, Slc4a4, or Mfap4/Fzd2, respectively, at postnatal days P3, P8, and P12. Our data suggest that afferent SGN subtypes are established genetically before the onset of hearing and that the expression of key physiological markers, such as ion channels, is heterogeneous and may be underlying the heterogeneous firing proprieties of SGNIs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lara De Tomasi
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Mirna Mustapha
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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40
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Poulin JF, Gaertner Z, Moreno-Ramos OA, Awatramani R. Classification of Midbrain Dopamine Neurons Using Single-Cell Gene Expression Profiling Approaches. Trends Neurosci 2020; 43:155-169. [PMID: 32101709 PMCID: PMC7285906 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunctional dopamine (DA) signaling has been associated with a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders, prompting investigations into how midbrain DA neuron heterogeneity may underpin this variety of behavioral symptoms. Emerging literature indeed points to functional heterogeneity even within anatomically defined DA clusters. Recognizing the need for a systematic classification scheme, several groups have used single-cell profiling to catalog DA neurons based on their gene expression profiles. We aim here not only to synthesize points of congruence but also to highlight key differences between the molecular classification schemes derived from these studies. In doing so, we hope to provide a common framework that will facilitate investigations into the functions of DA neuron subtypes in the healthy and diseased brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Francois Poulin
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Zachary Gaertner
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Rajeshwar Awatramani
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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41
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Peterson DJ, Marckini DN, Straight JL, King EM, Johnson W, Sarah SS, Chowdhary PK, DeLano-Taylor MK. The Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Gene Nato3 Drives Expression of Dopaminergic Neuron Transcription Factors in Neural Progenitors. Neuroscience 2019; 421:176-191. [PMID: 31672641 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The floor plate of the developing midbrain gives rise to dopaminergic (DA) neurons, an important class of cells involved in Parkinson's disease (PD). Neural progenitors of the midbrain floor plate utilize key genes in transcriptional networks to drive dopamine neurogenesis. Identifying factors that promote dopaminergic neuron transcriptional networks can provide insight into strategies for therapies in PD. Using the chick embryo, we developed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) based method to assess the potential of a candidate factor to drive DA neuron gene expression, including the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Nato3 (Ferd3l). We then showed that overexpression of Nato3 in the developing chick mesencephalon produces a regionally dependent increase in genes associated with the DA neurogenesis, (such as Foxa2, Lmx1b and Shh) as well as DA neuron genes Nurr1 (an immature DA neuron marker) and mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, a mature DA neuron marker). Interestingly, our data also showed that Nato3 is a potent regulator of Lmx1b by its broad induction of Lmx1b expression in neural progenitors of multiple regions of the CNS, including the midbrain and spinal cord. These data introduce a new, in vivo approach to identifying a gene that can drive DA transcriptional networks and provide the new insight that Nato3 can drive expression of key DA neuron genes, including Lmx1b, in neural progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug J Peterson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - Darcy N Marckini
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - Jordan L Straight
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - Elizabeth M King
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - William Johnson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - Sarala S Sarah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA
| | - Puneet K Chowdhary
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA; Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., Grand Rapids MI 49506, USA
| | - Merritt K DeLano-Taylor
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI 49401, USA; Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., Grand Rapids MI 49506, USA.
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42
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Isolation of LMX1a Ventral Midbrain Progenitors Improves the Safety and Predictability of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Transplants in Parkinsonian Disease. J Neurosci 2019; 39:9521-9531. [PMID: 31641054 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1160-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are a promising resource for the replacement of degenerated ventral midbrain dopaminergic (vmDA) neurons in Parkinson's disease. Despite recent advances in protocols for the in vitro generation of vmDA neurons, the asynchronous and heterogeneous nature of the differentiations results in transplants of surprisingly low vmDA neuron purity. As the field advances toward the clinic, it will be optimal, if not essential, to remove poorly specified and potentially proliferative cells from donor preparations to ensure safety and predictable efficacy. Here, we use two novel hPSC knock-in reporter lines expressing GFP under the LMX1A and PITX3 promoters, to selectively isolate vm progenitors and DA precursors, respectively. For each cell line, unsorted, GFP+, and GFP- cells were transplanted into male or female Parkinsonian rodents. Only rats receiving unsorted cells, LMX1A-eGFP+, or PITX3-eGFP- cell grafts showed improved motor function over 6 months. Postmortem analysis revealed small grafts from PITX3-eGFP+ cells, suggesting that these DA precursors were not compatible with cell survival and integration. In contrast, LMX1A-eGFP+ grafts were highly enriched for vmDA neurons, and importantly excluded expansive proliferative populations and serotonergic neurons. These LMX1A-eGFP+ progenitor grafts accelerated behavioral recovery and innervated developmentally appropriate forebrain targets, whereas LMX1A-eGFP- cell grafts failed to restore motor deficits, supported by increased fiber growth into nondopaminergic target nuclei. This is the first study to use an hPSC-derived reporter line to purify vm progenitors, resulting in improved safety, predictability of the graft composition, and enhanced motor function.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Clinical trials have shown functional integration of transplanted fetal-derived dopamine progenitors in Parkinson's disease. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived midbrain progenitors are now being tested as an alternative cell source; however, despite current differentiation protocols generating >80% correctly specified cells for implantation, resultant grafts contain a small fraction of dopamine neurons. Cell-sorting approaches, to select for correctly patterned cells before implantation, are being explored yet have been suboptimal to date. This study provides the first evidence of using 2 hPSC reporter lines (LMX1A-GFP and PITX3-GFP) to isolate correctly specified cells for transplantation. We show LMX1A-GFP+, but not PITX3-GFP+, cell grafts are more predictable, with smaller grafts, enriched in dopamine neurons, showing appropriate integration and accelerated functional recovery in Parkinsonian rats.
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43
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Donovan LJ, Spencer WC, Kitt MM, Eastman BA, Lobur KJ, Jiao K, Silver J, Deneris ES. Lmx1b is required at multiple stages to build expansive serotonergic axon architectures. eLife 2019; 8:e48788. [PMID: 31355748 PMCID: PMC6685705 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Formation of long-range axons occurs over multiple stages of morphological maturation. However, the intrinsic transcriptional mechanisms that temporally control different stages of axon projection development are unknown. Here, we addressed this question by studying the formation of mouse serotonin (5-HT) axons, the exemplar of long-range profusely arborized axon architectures. We report that LIM homeodomain factor 1b (Lmx1b)-deficient 5-HT neurons fail to generate axonal projections to the forebrain and spinal cord. Stage-specific targeting demonstrates that Lmx1b is required at successive stages to control 5-HT axon primary outgrowth, selective routing, and terminal arborization. We show a Lmx1b→Pet1 regulatory cascade is temporally required for 5-HT arborization and upregulation of the 5-HT axon arborization gene, Protocadherin-alphac2, during postnatal development of forebrain 5-HT axons. Our findings identify a temporal regulatory mechanism in which a single continuously expressed transcription factor functions at successive stages to orchestrate the progressive development of long-range axon architectures enabling expansive neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren J Donovan
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - William C Spencer
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Meagan M Kitt
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Brent A Eastman
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Katherine J Lobur
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Kexin Jiao
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Jerry Silver
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
| | - Evan S Deneris
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandUnited States
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Vargas-Romero F, González-Barrios R, Guerra-Calderas L, Escobedo-Avila I, Cortés-Pérez D, López-Ornelas A, Rocha L, Soto-Reyes E, Velasco I. Histamine Modulates Midbrain Dopamine Neuron Differentiation Through the Regulation of Epigenetic Marks. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:215. [PMID: 31178697 PMCID: PMC6536891 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
During midbrain development, dopamine neuron differentiation occurs before birth. Epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and demethylation as well as post-translational modification of histones occur during neurogenesis. Here, we administered histamine (HA) into the brain of E12 embryos in vivo and observed significant lower immunoreactivity of Lmx1a+ and Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH)+ cells, with parallel decreases in the expression of early (Lmx1a, Msx1) and late (Th) midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) genes. With MeDIP assays we found that HA decreases the percentage of 5-methylcytosine of Pitx3 and Th, without changes in 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. Additionally, HA treatment caused a significant increase in the repressive epigenetic modifications H3K9me3 in Pitx3 and Th, and also more H3K27me3 marks in Th. Furthermore, HA has a long-term effect on the formation of the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic/mesocortical pathways, since it causes a significant decrease in midbrain TH immunoreactivity, as well as alterations in dopaminergic neuronal fibers, and significant lower TH-positive area in the forebrain in whole-mount stainings. These findings suggest that HA diminishes dopaminergic gene transcription by altering several epigenetic components related to DNA and histone modifications, which affects mDA neuron progression during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Vargas-Romero
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo González-Barrios
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lissania Guerra-Calderas
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Unidad Cuajimalpa, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Itzel Escobedo-Avila
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Reprogramación Celular, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "Manuel Velasco Suárez" - Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Daniel Cortés-Pérez
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Reprogramación Celular, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "Manuel Velasco Suárez" - Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Adolfo López-Ornelas
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Reprogramación Celular, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "Manuel Velasco Suárez" - Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luisa Rocha
- Departamento de Farmacobiologia, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (Cinvestav), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ernesto Soto-Reyes
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Unidad Cuajimalpa, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Iván Velasco
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Reprogramación Celular, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "Manuel Velasco Suárez" - Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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45
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Pharmacological Transdifferentiation of Human Nasal Olfactory Stem Cells into Dopaminergic Neurons. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:2945435. [PMID: 31236114 PMCID: PMC6545791 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2945435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of novel drugs for neurodegenerative diseases has been a real challenge over the last decades. The development of patient- and/or disease-specific in vitro models represents a powerful strategy for the development and validation of lead candidates in preclinical settings. The implementation of a reliable platform modeling dopaminergic neurons will be an asset in the study of dopamine-associated pathologies such as Parkinson's disease. Disease models based on cell reprogramming strategies, using either human-induced pluripotent stem cells or transcription factor-mediated transdifferentiation, are among the most investigated strategies. However, multipotent adult stem cells remain of high interest to devise direct conversion protocols and establish in vitro models that could bypass certain limitations associated with reprogramming strategies. Here, we report the development of a six-step chemically defined protocol that drives the transdifferentiation of human nasal olfactory stem cells into dopaminergic neurons. Morphological changes were progressively accompanied by modifications matching transcript and protein dopaminergic signatures such as LIM homeobox transcription factor 1 alpha (LMX1A), LMX1B, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression, within 42 days of differentiation. Phenotypic changes were confirmed by the production of dopamine from differentiated neurons. This new strategy paves the way to develop more disease-relevant models by establishing reprogramming-free patient-specific dopaminergic cell models for drug screening and/or target validation for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Márquez-Valadez B, Aquino-Miranda G, Quintero-Romero MO, Papacostas-Quintanilla H, Bueno-Nava A, López-Rubalcava C, Díaz NF, Arias-Montaño JA, Molina-Hernández A. The Systemic Administration of the Histamine H 1 Receptor Antagonist/Inverse Agonist Chlorpheniramine to Pregnant Rats Impairs the Development of Nigro-Striatal Dopaminergic Neurons. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:360. [PMID: 31040765 PMCID: PMC6476962 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The dopaminergic and histaminergic systems are the first to appear during the development of the nervous system. Through the activation of H1 receptors (H1Rs), histamine increases neurogenesis of the cortical deep layers, while reducing the dopaminergic phenotype (cells immunoreactive to tyrosine hydroxylase, TH+) in embryo ventral mesencephalon. Although the function of histamine in neuronal differentiation has been studied, the role of H1Rs in neurogenesis has not been addressed. For this purpose, the H1R antagonist/inverse agonist chlorpheniramine was systemically administered (5 mg/kg, i.p.) to pregnant Wistar rats (gestational days 12-14, E12-14), and control and experimental embryos (E14 and E16) and pups (21-day-old) were evaluated for changes in nigro-striatal development. Western blot and immunohistochemistry determinations showed a significant increase in the dopaminergic markers' TH and PITX3 in embryos from chlorpheniramine-treated rats at E16. Unexpectedly, 21-day-old pups from the chlorpheniramine-treated group, showed a significant reduction in TH immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra pars compacta and dorsal striatum. Furthermore, striatal dopamine content, evoked [3H]-dopamine release and methamphetamine-stimulated motor activity were significantly lower compared to the control group. These results indicate that H1R blockade at E14-E16 favors the differentiation of dopaminergic neurons, but hampers their migration, leading to a decrease in dopaminergic innervation of the striatum in post-natal life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berenice Márquez-Valadez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Investigación en Células Troncales y Biología del Desarrollo, Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Guillermo Aquino-Miranda
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mijail-Oliver Quintero-Romero
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Células Troncales y Biología del Desarrollo, Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Helena Papacostas-Quintanilla
- Laboratorio de Psicofarmacología y Trastornos de la Alimentación, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados delInstituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Antonio Bueno-Nava
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carolina López-Rubalcava
- Laboratorio de Psicofarmacología y Trastornos de la Alimentación, Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados delInstituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Néstor Fabián Díaz
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Células Troncales y Biología del Desarrollo, Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José-Antonio Arias-Montaño
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Anayansi Molina-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Células Troncales y Biología del Desarrollo, Departamento de Fisiología y Desarrollo Celular, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, Mexico City, Mexico
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Wever I, Wagemans CMRJ, Smidt MP. EZH2 Is Essential for Fate Determination in the Mammalian Isthmic Area. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:76. [PMID: 31024250 PMCID: PMC6465967 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The polycomb group proteins (PcGs) are a group of epigenetic factors associated with gene silencing. They are found in several families of multiprotein complexes, including polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). EZH2, EED and SUZ12 form the core components of the PRC2 complex, which is responsible for the mono, di- and trimethylation of lysine 27 of histone 3 (H3K27Me3), the chromatin mark associated with gene silencing. Loss-of-function studies of Ezh2, the catalytic subunit of PRC2, have shown that PRC2 plays a role in regulating developmental transitions of neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs); from self-renewal to differentiation and the neurogenic-to-gliogenic fate switch. To further address the function of EZH2 and H3K27me3 during neuronal development, we generated a conditional mutant in which Ezh2 was removed in the mammalian isthmic (mid-hindbrain) region from E10.5 onward. Loss of Ezh2 changed the molecular coding of the anterior ventral hindbrain leading to a fate switch and the appearance of ectopic dopaminergic (DA) neurons. The correct specification of the isthmic region is dependent on the signaling factors produced by the Isthmic organizer (IsO), located at the border of the mid- and hindbrain. We propose that the change of cellular fate is a result of the presence of Otx2 in the hindbrain of Ezh2 conditional knock-outs (cKOs) and a dysfunctional IsO, as represented by the loss of Fgf8 and Wnt1. Our work implies that next to controlling developmental transitions, EZH2 mediated gene silencing is important for specification of the isthmic region by influencing IsO functioning and repressing Otx2 in the hindbrain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Wever
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Cindy M R J Wagemans
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marten P Smidt
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Wever I, Largo-Barrientos P, Hoekstra EJ, Smidt MP. Lmx1b Influences Correct Post-mitotic Coding of Mesodiencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:62. [PMID: 30930745 PMCID: PMC6427837 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Lim Homeobox transcription factor 1 beta (LMX1b) has been identified as one of the transcription factors important for the development of mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons. During early development, Lmx1b is essential for induction and maintenance of the Isthmic Organizer (IsO), and genetic ablation results in the disruption of inductive activity from the IsO and loss of properly differentiated mdDA neurons. To study the downstream targets of Lmx1b without affecting the IsO, we generated a conditional model in which Lmx1b was selectively deleted in Pitx3-expressing cells from embryonic day (E)13 onward. Supporting previous data, no significant changes could be observed in general dopamine (DA) marks, like Th, Pitx3and Vmat2 at E14.5. However, in depth analysis by means of RNA-sequencing revealed that Lmx1b is important for the mRNA expression level of survival factors En1 and En2 and for the repression of mdDA subset mark Ahd2 during (late) development. Interestingly, the regulation of Ahd2 by Lmx1b was found to be Pitx3 independent, since Pitx3 mRNA levels were not altered in Lmx1b conditional knock-outs (cKOs) and Ahd2 expression was also up-regulated in Lmx1b/Pitx3 double mutants compared to Pitx3 mutants. Further analysis of Lmx1b cKOs showed that post-mitotic deletion of Lmx1b additional leads to a loss of TH+ cells at 3 months age both in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Remarkably, different cell types were affected in the SNc and the VTA. While TH+AHD2+ cells were lost the SNc, TH+AHD2- neurons were affected in the VTA, reflected by a loss of Cck expression, indicating that Lmx1b is important for the survival of a sub-group of mdDA neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Wever
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Elisa J Hoekstra
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marten P Smidt
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Brodski C, Blaess S, Partanen J, Prakash N. Crosstalk of Intercellular Signaling Pathways in the Generation of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons In Vivo and from Stem Cells. J Dev Biol 2019; 7:jdb7010003. [PMID: 30650592 PMCID: PMC6473842 DOI: 10.3390/jdb7010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine-synthesizing neurons located in the mammalian ventral midbrain are at the center stage of biomedical research due to their involvement in severe human neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, most prominently Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The induction of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons depends on two important signaling centers of the mammalian embryo: the ventral midline or floor plate (FP) of the neural tube, and the isthmic organizer (IsO) at the mid-/hindbrain boundary (MHB). Cells located within and close to the FP secrete sonic hedgehog (SHH), and members of the wingless-type MMTV integration site family (WNT1/5A), as well as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family. The IsO cells secrete WNT1 and the fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8). Accordingly, the FGF8, SHH, WNT, and BMP signaling pathways play crucial roles during the development of the mDA neurons in the mammalian embryo. Moreover, these morphogens are essential for the generation of stem cell-derived mDA neurons, which are critical for the modeling, drug screening, and cell replacement therapy of PD. This review summarizes our current knowledge about the functions and crosstalk of these signaling pathways in mammalian mDA neuron development in vivo and their applications in stem cell-based paradigms for the efficient derivation of these neurons in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Brodski
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva 84105, Israel.
| | - Sandra Blaess
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Center, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Juha Partanen
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, FIN00014-University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, Viikinkaari 9, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Nilima Prakash
- Department Hamm 2, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, 59063 Hamm, Germany.
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Abstract
Preferential degeneration of dopamine neurons (DAn) in the midbrain represents the principal hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been hypothesized that major contributors to DAn vulnerability lie in their unique cellular physiology and architecture, which make them particularly susceptible to stress factors. Here, we report a concise overview of some of the cell mechanisms that may exacerbate DAn sensitivity and loss in PD. In particular, we highlight how defective protein sorting and clearance, endoplasmic reticulum stress, calcium dyshomeostasis and intracellular trafficking converge to contribute synergistically to neuronal dysfunction in PD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cherubini
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Le Gros Clark Building, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Richard Wade-Martins
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Le Gros Clark Building, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK.
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