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Khanal N, Padawer-Curry J, Voss T, Schulte K, Bice A, Bauer A. Concurrent optogenetic motor mapping of multiple limbs in awake mice reveals cortical organization of coordinated movements. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.05.602302. [PMID: 39005269 PMCID: PMC11245104 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.05.602302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Motor mapping allows for determining the macroscopic organization of motor circuits and corresponding motor movement representations on the cortex. Techniques such as intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) are robust, but can be time consuming and invasive, making them non-ideal for cortex-wide mapping or longitudinal studies. In contrast, optogenetic motor mapping offers a rapid and minimally invasive technique, enabling mapping with high spatiotemporal resolution. However, motor mapping has seen limited use in tracking 3-dimensonal, multi-limb movements in awake animals. This gap has left open questions regarding the underlying organizational principles of motor control of coordinated, ethologically relevant movements involving multiple limbs. Objective Our first objective was to develop Multi-limb Optogenetic Motor Mapping (MOMM) to concurrently map motor movement representations of multiple limbs with high fidelity in awake mice. Having established MOMM, our next objective was determine whether maps of coordinated and ethologically relevant motor output were topographically organized on the cortex. Methods We combine optogenetic stimulation with a deep learning driven pose-estimation toolbox, DeepLabCut (DLC), and 3-dimentional triangulation to concurrently map motor movements of multiple limbs in awake mice. Results MOMM consistently revealed cortical topographies for all mapped features within and across mice. Many motor maps overlapped and were topographically similar. Several motor movement representations extended beyond cytoarchitecturally defined somatomotor cortex. Finer articulations of the forepaw resided within gross motor movement representations of the forelimb. Moreover, many cortical sites exhibited concurrent limb coactivation when photostimulated, prompting the identification of several cortical regions harboring coordinated and ethologically relevant movements. Conclusions The cortex appears to be topographically organized by motor programs, which are responsible for coordinated, multi-limbed, and behavioral-like movements.
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Imai F, Matsuura K, Yang E, Klinefelter K, Alexandrou G, Letelier A, Takatani H, Osakada F, Yoshida Y. Layer Va neurons, as major presynaptic partners of corticospinal neurons, play critical roles in skilled movements. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.28.601172. [PMID: 38979259 PMCID: PMC11230360 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.28.601172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Corticospinal neurons (CSNs) are located in the cortex and projecting into the spinal cord. The activation of CSNs, which is associated with skilled motor behaviors, induces the activation of interneurons in the spinal cord. Eventually, motor neuron activation is induced by corticospinal circuits to coordinate muscle activation. Therefore, elucidating how the activation of CSNs in the brain is regulated is necessary for understanding the roles of CSNs in skilled motor behaviors. However, the presynaptic partners of CSNs in the brain remain to be identified. Here, we performed transsynaptic rabies virus-mediated brain-wide mapping to identify presynaptic partners of CSNs (pre-CSNs). We found that pre-CSNs are located in all cortical layers, but major pre-CSNs are located in layer Va. A small population of pre-CSNs are also located outside the cortex, such as in the thalamus. Inactivation of layer Va neurons in Tlx3-Cre mice results in deficits in skilled reaching and grasping behaviors, suggesting that, similar to CSNs, layer Va neurons are critical for skilled movements. Finally, we examined whether the connectivity of CSNs is altered after spinal cord injury (SCI). We found that unlike connections between CNSs and postsynaptic neurons, connections between pre-CSNs and CSNs do not change after SCI.
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3
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Wang Z, Kumaran M, Batsel E, Testor-Cabrera S, Beine Z, Ribelles AA, Tsoulfas P, Venkatesh I, Blackmore MG. Injury distance limits the transcriptional response to spinal injury. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.27.596075. [PMID: 38854133 PMCID: PMC11160615 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.27.596075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The ability of neurons to sense and respond to damage is fundamental to homeostasis and nervous system repair. For some cell types, notably dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), extensive profiling has revealed a large transcriptional response to axon injury that determines survival and regenerative outcomes. In contrast, the injury response of most supraspinal cell types, whose limited regeneration constrains recovery from spinal injury, is mostly unknown. Here we employed single-nuclei sequencing in mice to profile the transcriptional responses of diverse supraspinal cell types to spinal injury. Surprisingly, thoracic spinal injury triggered only modest changes in gene expression across all populations, including corticospinal tract (CST) neurons. Moreover, CST neurons also responded minimally to cervical injury but much more strongly to intracortical axotomy, including upregulation of numerous regeneration and apoptosis-related transcripts shared with injured DRG and RGC neurons. Thus, the muted response of CST neuron to spinal injury is linked to the injury's distal location, rather than intrinsic cellular characteristics. More broadly, these findings indicate that a central challenge for enhancing regeneration after a spinal injury is the limited sensing of distant injuries and the subsequent modest baseline neuronal response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zimei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Manojkumar Kumaran
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Elizabeth Batsel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
| | | | - Zac Beine
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
| | | | - Pantelis Tsoulfas
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Ishwariya Venkatesh
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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Saiki-Ishikawa A, Agrios M, Savya S, Forrest A, Sroussi H, Hsu S, Basrai D, Xu F, Miri A. Hierarchy between forelimb premotor and primary motor cortices and its manifestation in their firing patterns. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.23.559136. [PMID: 38798685 PMCID: PMC11118350 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.23.559136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Though hierarchy is commonly invoked in descriptions of motor cortical function, its presence and manifestation in firing patterns remain poorly resolved. Here we use optogenetic inactivation to demonstrate that short-latency influence between forelimb premotor and primary motor cortices is asymmetric during reaching in mice, demonstrating a partial hierarchy between the endogenous activity in each region. Multi-region recordings revealed that some activity is captured by similar but delayed patterns where either region's activity leads, with premotor activity leading more. Yet firing in each region is dominated by patterns shared between regions and is equally predictive of firing in the other region at the single-neuron level. In dual-region network models fit to data, regions differed in their dependence on across-region input, rather than the amount of such input they received. Our results indicate that motor cortical hierarchy, while present, may not be exposed when inferring interactions between populations from firing patterns alone.
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Stewart AN, Bosse-Joseph CC, Kumari R, Bailey WM, Park KA, Slone VK, Gensel JC. Non-resolving neuroinflammation regulates axon regeneration in chronic spinal cord injury. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.19.590106. [PMID: 38712123 PMCID: PMC11071389 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.19.590106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) lesions retain increased densities of microglia and macrophages. In acute SCI, macrophages induce growth cone collapse, facilitate axon retraction away from lesion boundaries, as well as play a key role in orchestrating the growth-inhibitory glial scar. Little is known about the role of sustained inflammation in chronic SCI, or whether chronic inflammation affects repair and regeneration. We performed transcriptional analysis using the Nanostring Neuropathology panel to characterize the resolution of inflammation into chronic SCI, to characterize the chronic SCI microenvironment, as well as to identify spinal cord responses to macrophage depletion and repopulation using the CSF1R inhibitor, PLX-5622. We determined the ability for macrophage depletion and repopulation to augment axon growth into chronic lesions both with and without regenerative stimulation using neuronal-specific PTEN knockout (PTEN-KO). PTEN-KO was delivered with spinal injections of retrogradely transported adeno associated viruses (AAVrg's). Both transcriptional analyses and immunohistochemistry revealed the ability for PLX-5622 to significantly deplete inflammation around and within chronic SCI lesions, with a return to pre-depleted inflammatory densities after treatment removal. Neuronal-specific transcripts were significantly elevated in mice after inflammatory repopulation, but no significant effects were observed with macrophage depletion alone. Axon densities significantly increased within the lesion after PLX-5622 treatment with a more consistent effect observed in mice with inflammatory repopulation. PTEN-KO did not further increase axon densities within the lesion beyond effects induced by PLX-5622. We identified that PLX-5622 increased axon densities within the lesion that are histologically identified as 5-HT+and CGRP+, both of which are not robustly transduced by AAVrg's. Our work identified that increased macrophage/microglia densities in the chronic SCI environment may be actively retained by homeostatic mechanisms likely affiliated with a sustained elevated expression of CSF1 and other chemokines. Finally, we identify a novel role of sustained inflammation as a prospective barrier to axon regeneration in chronic SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N. Stewart
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Christopher C. Bosse-Joseph
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Reena Kumari
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - William M. Bailey
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Kennedy A. Park
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Victoria K. Slone
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - John C. Gensel
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
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Xu P, Peng J, Yuan T, Chen Z, He H, Wu Z, Li T, Li X, Wang L, Gao L, Yan J, Wei W, Li CT, Luo ZG, Chen Y. High-throughput mapping of single-neuron projection and molecular features by retrograde barcoded labeling. eLife 2024; 13:e85419. [PMID: 38390967 PMCID: PMC10914349 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Deciphering patterns of connectivity between neurons in the brain is a critical step toward understanding brain function. Imaging-based neuroanatomical tracing identifies area-to-area or sparse neuron-to-neuron connectivity patterns, but with limited throughput. Barcode-based connectomics maps large numbers of single-neuron projections, but remains a challenge for jointly analyzing single-cell transcriptomics. Here, we established a rAAV2-retro barcode-based multiplexed tracing method that simultaneously characterizes the projectome and transcriptome at the single neuron level. We uncovered dedicated and collateral projection patterns of ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) neurons to five downstream targets and found that projection-defined vmPFC neurons are molecularly heterogeneous. We identified transcriptional signatures of projection-specific vmPFC neurons, and verified Pou3f1 as a marker gene enriched in neurons projecting to the lateral hypothalamus, denoting a distinct subset with collateral projections to both dorsomedial striatum and lateral hypothalamus. In summary, we have developed a new multiplexed technique whose paired connectome and gene expression data can help reveal organizational principles that form neural circuits and process information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peibo Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired TechnologyShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jian Peng
- School of Life Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Tingli Yuan
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired TechnologyShanghaiChina
| | - Zhaoqin Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired TechnologyShanghaiChina
| | - Hui He
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired TechnologyShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Ziyan Wu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired TechnologyShanghaiChina
| | - Ting Li
- School of Life Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired TechnologyShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Luyue Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of ScienceShanghaiChina
| | - Le Gao
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired TechnologyShanghaiChina
| | - Jun Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired TechnologyShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence TechnologyShanghaiChina
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Wu Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of ScienceShanghaiChina
- Lingang LaboratoryShanghaiChina
| | - Chengyu T Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired TechnologyShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence TechnologyShanghaiChina
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Lingang LaboratoryShanghaiChina
| | - Zhen-Ge Luo
- School of Life Science and Technology & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yuejun Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired TechnologyShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence TechnologyShanghaiChina
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7
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Vidman S, Dion E, Tedeschi A. A Versatile Pipeline for High-fidelity Imaging and Analysis of Vascular Networks Across the Body. Bio Protoc 2024; 14:e4938. [PMID: 38405081 PMCID: PMC10883894 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Structural and functional changes in vascular networks play a vital role during development, causing or contributing to the pathophysiology of injury and disease. Current methods to trace and image the vasculature in laboratory settings have proven inconsistent, inaccurate, and labor intensive, lacking the inherent three-dimensional structure of vasculature. Here, we provide a robust and highly reproducible method to image and quantify changes in vascular networks down to the capillary level. The method combines vasculature tracing, tissue clearing, and three-dimensional imaging techniques with vessel segmentation using AI-based convolutional reconstruction to rapidly process large, unsectioned tissue specimens throughout the body with high fidelity. The practicality and scalability of our protocol offer application across various fields of biomedical sciences. Obviating the need for sectioning of samples, this method will expedite qualitative and quantitative analyses of vascular networks. Preparation of the fluorescent gel perfusate takes < 30 min per study. Transcardiac perfusion and vasculature tracing takes approximately 20 min, while dissection of tissue samples ranges from 5 to 15 min depending on the tissue of interest. The tissue clearing protocol takes approximately 24-48 h per whole-tissue sample. Lastly, three-dimensional imaging and analysis can be completed in one day. The entire procedure can be carried out by a competent graduate student or experienced technician. Key features • This robust and highly reproducible method allows users to image and quantify changes in vascular networks down to the capillary level. • Three-dimensional imaging techniques with vessel segmentation enable rapid processing of large, unsectioned tissue specimens throughout the body. • It takes approximately 2-3 days for sample preparation, three-dimensional imaging, and analysis. • The user-friendly pipeline can be completed by experienced and non-experienced users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Vidman
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center,
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Elliot Dion
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center,
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Andrea Tedeschi
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center,
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Chronic Brain Injury Program, The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH, USA
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8
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Winter CC, Jacobi A, Su J, Chung L, van Velthoven CTJ, Yao Z, Lee C, Zhang Z, Yu S, Gao K, Duque Salazar G, Kegeles E, Zhang Y, Tomihiro MC, Zhang Y, Yang Z, Zhu J, Tang J, Song X, Donahue RJ, Wang Q, McMillen D, Kunst M, Wang N, Smith KA, Romero GE, Frank MM, Krol A, Kawaguchi R, Geschwind DH, Feng G, Goodrich LV, Liu Y, Tasic B, Zeng H, He Z. A transcriptomic taxonomy of mouse brain-wide spinal projecting neurons. Nature 2023; 624:403-414. [PMID: 38092914 PMCID: PMC10719099 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06817-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The brain controls nearly all bodily functions via spinal projecting neurons (SPNs) that carry command signals from the brain to the spinal cord. However, a comprehensive molecular characterization of brain-wide SPNs is still lacking. Here we transcriptionally profiled a total of 65,002 SPNs, identified 76 region-specific SPN types, and mapped these types into a companion atlas of the whole mouse brain1. This taxonomy reveals a three-component organization of SPNs: (1) molecularly homogeneous excitatory SPNs from the cortex, red nucleus and cerebellum with somatotopic spinal terminations suitable for point-to-point communication; (2) heterogeneous populations in the reticular formation with broad spinal termination patterns, suitable for relaying commands related to the activities of the entire spinal cord; and (3) modulatory neurons expressing slow-acting neurotransmitters and/or neuropeptides in the hypothalamus, midbrain and reticular formation for 'gain setting' of brain-spinal signals. In addition, this atlas revealed a LIM homeobox transcription factor code that parcellates the reticulospinal neurons into five molecularly distinct and spatially segregated populations. Finally, we found transcriptional signatures of a subset of SPNs with large soma size and correlated these with fast-firing electrophysiological properties. Together, this study establishes a comprehensive taxonomy of brain-wide SPNs and provides insight into the functional organization of SPNs in mediating brain control of bodily functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla C Winter
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- PhD Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT MD-PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anne Jacobi
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- F. Hoffman-La Roche, pRED, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Junfeng Su
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Leeyup Chung
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Zizhen Yao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Changkyu Lee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Zicong Zhang
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shuguang Yu
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kun Gao
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Geraldine Duque Salazar
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Evgenii Kegeles
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- PhD Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Makenzie C Tomihiro
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yiming Zhang
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhiyun Yang
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Junjie Zhu
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jing Tang
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xuan Song
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan J Donahue
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Qing Wang
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Ning Wang
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Gabriel E Romero
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michelle M Frank
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexandra Krol
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Riki Kawaguchi
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Guoping Feng
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lisa V Goodrich
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- Somatosensation and Pain Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Zhigang He
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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9
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Metcalfe M, Steward O. PTEN deletion in spinal pathways via retrograde transduction with AAV-RG enhances forelimb motor recovery after cervical spinal cord injury; Sex differences and late-onset pathophysiologies. Exp Neurol 2023; 370:114551. [PMID: 37778650 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) cause permanent functional impairments due to interruption of motor and sensory pathways. Regeneration of axons does not occur due to lack of intrinsic growth capacity of adult neurons and extrinsic inhibitory factors, especially at the injury site. However, some regeneration can be achieved via deletion of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in cells of origin of spinal pathways. Here, we deployed an AAV variant that is retrogradely transported (AAV-rg) to deliver gene modifying cargos to the cells of origin of multiple pathways interrupted by SCI, testing whether this promoted recovery of motor function. PTENf/f;RosatdTomato mice and control RosatdTomato mice received injections of different doses (number of genome copies, GCs) of AAV-rg/Cre into the cervical spinal cord at the time of a C5 dorsal hemisection injury. Forelimb grip strength was tested over time using a grip strength meter. PTENf/f;RosatdTomato mice with AAV-rg/Cre (PTEN-deleted) exhibited substantial improvements in forelimb gripping ability in comparison to controls. Of note, there were major sex differences in the extent of recovery, with male mice exhibiting greater recovery than females. However, at around 5-7 weeks post-injury/injection, many mice with SCI and AAV-rg-mediated PTEN deletion began to exhibit pathophysiologies involving excessive scratching of the ears and back of the neck and rigid forward extension of the hindlimbs. These pathophysiologies increased in incidence and severity over time. Our results reveal that although intra-spinal injections of AAV-rg/Cre in PTENf/f;RosatdTomato mice can enhance forelimb motor recovery after SCI, late-developing functional abnormalities occur with the experimental conditions used here. Mechanisms underlying late-developing pathophysiologies remain to be defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariajose Metcalfe
- Reeve-Irvine Research Center University of California Irvine School of Medicine, USA; Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, USA
| | - Oswald Steward
- Reeve-Irvine Research Center University of California Irvine School of Medicine, USA; Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California Irvine, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, USA.
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10
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Golan N, Ehrlich D, Bonanno J, O'Brien RF, Murillo M, Kauer SD, Ravindra N, Van Dijk D, Cafferty WB. Anatomical Diversity of the Adult Corticospinal Tract Revealed by Single-Cell Transcriptional Profiling. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7929-7945. [PMID: 37748862 PMCID: PMC10669816 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0811-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The corticospinal tract (CST) forms a central part of the voluntary motor apparatus in all mammals. Thus, injury, disease, and subsequent degeneration within this pathway result in chronic irreversible functional deficits. Current strategies to repair the damaged CST are suboptimal in part because of underexplored molecular heterogeneity within the adult tract. Here, we combine spinal retrograde CST tracing with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) in adult male and female mice to index corticospinal neuron (CSN) subtypes that differentially innervate the forelimb and hindlimb. We exploit publicly available datasets to confer anatomic specialization among CSNs and show that CSNs segregate not only along the forelimb and hindlimb axis but also by supraspinal axon collateralization. These anatomically defined transcriptional data allow us to use machine learning tools to build classifiers that discriminate between CSNs and cortical layer 2/3 and nonspinally terminating layer 5 neurons in M1 and separately identify limb-specific CSNs. Using these tools, CSN subtypes can be differentially identified to study postnatal patterning of the CST in vivo, leveraged to screen for novel limb-specific axon growth survival and growth activators in vitro, and ultimately exploited to repair the damaged CST after injury and disease.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Therapeutic interventions designed to repair the damaged CST after spinal cord injury have remained functionally suboptimal in part because of an incomplete understanding of the molecular heterogeneity among subclasses of CSNs. Here, we combine spinal retrograde labeling with scRNAseq and annotate a CSN index by the termination pattern of their primary axon in the cervical or lumbar spinal cord and supraspinal collateral terminal fields. Using machine learning we have confirmed the veracity of our CSN gene lists to train classifiers to identify CSNs among all classes of neurons in primary motor cortex to study the development, patterning, homeostasis, and response to injury and disease, and ultimately target streamlined repair strategies to this critical motor pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Golan
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Daniel Ehrlich
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - James Bonanno
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Rory F O'Brien
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Matias Murillo
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Sierra D Kauer
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Neal Ravindra
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Computer Science, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - David Van Dijk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Computer Science, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - William B Cafferty
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
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11
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Stewart AN, Kumari R, Bailey WM, Glaser EP, Bosse-Joseph CC, Park KA, Hammers GV, Wireman OH, Gensel JC. PTEN knockout using retrogradely transported AAVs transiently restores locomotor abilities in both acute and chronic spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2023; 368:114502. [PMID: 37558155 PMCID: PMC10498341 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114502] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Restoring function in chronic stages of spinal cord injury (SCI) has often been met with failure or reduced efficacy when regenerative strategies are delayed past the acute or sub-acute stages of injury. Restoring function in the chronically injured spinal cord remains a critical challenge. We found that a single injection of retrogradely transported adeno-associated viruses (AAVrg) to knockout the phosphatase and tensin homolog protein (PTEN) in chronic SCI can effectively target both damaged and spared axons and transiently restore locomotor functions in near-complete injury models. AAVrg's were injected to deliver cre recombinase and/or a red fluorescent protein (RFP) under the human Synapsin 1 promoter (hSyn1) into the spinal cords of C57BL/6 PTENFloxΔ/Δ mice to knockout PTEN (PTEN-KO) in a severe thoracic SCI crush model at both acute and chronic time points. PTEN-KO improved locomotor abilities in both acute and chronic SCI conditions over a 9-week period. Regardless of whether treatment was initiated at the time of injury (acute), or three months after SCI (chronic), mice with limited hindlimb joint movement gained hindlimb weight support after treatment. Interestingly, functional improvements were not sustained beyond 9 weeks coincident with a loss of RFP reporter-gene expression and a near-complete loss of treatment-associated functional recovery by 6 months post-treatment. Treatment effects were also specific to severely injured mice; animals with weight support at the time of treatment lost function over a 6-month period. Retrograde tracing with Fluorogold revealed viable neurons throughout the motor cortex despite a loss of RFP expression at 9 weeks post-PTEN-KO. However, few Fluorogold labeled neurons were detected within the motor cortex at 6 months post-treatment. BDA labeling from the motor cortex revealed a dense corticospinal tract (CST) bundle in all groups except chronically treated PTEN-KO mice, indicating a potential long-term toxic effect of PTEN-KO to neurons in the motor cortex which was corroborated by a loss of β-tubulin III labeling above the lesion within spinal cords after PTEN-KO. PTEN-KO mice had significantly more β-tubulin III labeled axons within the lesion when treatment was delivered acutely, but not chronically post-SCI. In conclusion, we have found that using AAVrg's to knockout PTEN is an effective manipulation capable of restoring motor functions in chronic SCI and can enhance axon growth of currently unidentified axon populations when delivered acutely after injury. However, the long-term consequences of PTEN-KO on neuronal health and viability should be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N Stewart
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
| | - Reena Kumari
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - William M Bailey
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Ethan P Glaser
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Christopher C Bosse-Joseph
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Kennedy A Park
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Gabrielle V Hammers
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Olivia H Wireman
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - John C Gensel
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
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12
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Carbo-Tano M, Lapoix M, Jia X, Thouvenin O, Pascucci M, Auclair F, Quan FB, Albadri S, Aguda V, Farouj Y, Hillman EMC, Portugues R, Del Bene F, Thiele TR, Dubuc R, Wyart C. The mesencephalic locomotor region recruits V2a reticulospinal neurons to drive forward locomotion in larval zebrafish. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1775-1790. [PMID: 37667039 PMCID: PMC10545542 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01418-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) is a brain stem area whose stimulation triggers graded forward locomotion. How MLR neurons recruit downstream vsx2+ (V2a) reticulospinal neurons (RSNs) is poorly understood. Here, to overcome this challenge, we uncovered the locus of MLR in transparent larval zebrafish and show that the MLR locus is distinct from the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus. MLR stimulations reliably elicit forward locomotion of controlled duration and frequency. MLR neurons recruit V2a RSNs via projections onto somata in pontine and retropontine areas, and onto dendrites in the medulla. High-speed volumetric imaging of neuronal activity reveals that strongly MLR-coupled RSNs are active for steering or forward swimming, whereas weakly MLR-coupled medullary RSNs encode the duration and frequency of the forward component. Our study demonstrates how MLR neurons recruit specific V2a RSNs to control the kinematics of forward locomotion and suggests conservation of the motor functions of V2a RSNs across vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Carbo-Tano
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Mathilde Lapoix
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Xinyu Jia
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Thouvenin
- Institut Langevin, École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Marco Pascucci
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, NeuroSpin, Baobab, Centre d'études de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- The American University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - François Auclair
- Département de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Feng B Quan
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Shahad Albadri
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Vernie Aguda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Younes Farouj
- Institute of Neuroscience, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elizabeth M C Hillman
- Laboratory for Functional Optical Imaging, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruben Portugues
- Institute of Neuroscience, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Filippo Del Bene
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Tod R Thiele
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Réjean Dubuc
- Département de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
- Groupe de Recherche en Activité Physique Adaptée, Department of Exercise Science, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Claire Wyart
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau, ICM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Campus Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
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13
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Xie J, Feng R, Chen Y, Gao L. Morphological analysis of descending tracts in mouse spinal cord using tissue clearing, tissue expansion and tiling light sheet microscopy techniques. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16445. [PMID: 37777565 PMCID: PMC10542777 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43610-z] [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: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Descending tracts carry motor signals from the brain to spinal cord. However, few previous studies show the full view of the long tracts from a 3D perspective. In this study, we have followed five less well-known tracts that project from midbrain, hindbrain, and cerebellum to the mouse spinal cord, using the tissue clearing method in combination with tiling light sheet microscopy. By tracing axons in spinal cord, we found several notable features: among the five tracts the collateral "sister" branches occurred only in the axons originating from the cerebellospinal tracts; the axons from the spinal trigeminal nucleus crossed the midline of spinal cord to the contralateral side; those arising in the medullary reticular formation ventral part gave many branches in both cervical and lumbar segments; the axons from superior colliculus terminated only at upper cervical but with abundant branches in the hindbrain. Furthermore, we investigated the monosynaptic connections between the tracts and motor neurons in the spinal cord through hydrogel-based tissue expansion, and found several monosynaptic connections between the medullary reticular formation ventral part axons and spinal motor neurons. We believe that this is the first study to show the full 3D scope of the projection patterns and axonal morphologies of these five descending tracts to the mouse spinal cord. In addition, we have developed a new method for future study of descending tracts by three-dimensional imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiongfang Xie
- Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, Zhejiang, China.
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
| | - Ruili Feng
- Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, Zhejiang, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Yanlu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, Zhejiang, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Liang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, Zhejiang, China.
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
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14
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Metcalfe M, Steward O. PTEN deletion in spinal pathways via retrograde transduction with AAV-rg enhances forelimb motor recovery after cervical spinal cord injury; sex differences and late-onset pathophysiologies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.20.533502. [PMID: 36993317 PMCID: PMC10055283 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.20.533502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) cause permanent functional impairments due to interruption of motor and sensory pathways. Regeneration of axons does not occur due to lack of intrinsic growth capacity of adult neurons and extrinsic inhibitory factors, especially at the injury site. However, some regeneration can be achieved via deletion of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in cells of origin of spinal pathways. Here, we deployed an AAV variant that is retrogradely transported (AAV-rg) to deliver gene modifying cargos to the cells of origin of multiple pathways interrupted by SCI, testing whether this promoted recovery of motor function. PTEN f/f ;Rosa tdTomato mice and control Rosa tdTomato mice received injections of different doses (number of genome copies, GCs) of AAV-rg/Cre into the cervical spinal cord at the time of a C5 dorsal hemisection injury. Forelimb grip strength was tested over time using a grip strength meter. PTEN f/f ;Rosa tdTomato mice with AAV-rg/Cre (PTEN-deleted) exhibited substantial improvements in forelimb gripping ability in comparison to controls. Of note, there were major sex differences in the extent of recovery, with male mice exhibiting greater recovery than females. However, at around 5-7 weeks post-injury/injection, many mice with SCI and AAV-rg-mediated PTEN deletion began to exhibit pathophysiologies involving excessive scratching of the ears and back of the neck and rigid forward extension of the hindlimbs. These pathophysiologies increased in incidence and severity over time. Our results reveal that although intra-spinal injections of AAV-rg/Cre in PTEN f/f ;Rosa tdTomato mice can enhance forelimb motor recovery after SCI, late-developing functional abnormalities occur with the experimental conditions used here. Mechanisms underlying late-developing pathophysiologies remain to be defined.
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15
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Han Z, Luo N, Ma W, Liu X, Cai Y, Kou J, Wang J, Li L, Peng S, Xu Z, Zhang W, Qiu Y, Wu Y, Ye C, Lin K, Xu F. AAV11 enables efficient retrograde targeting of projection neurons and enhances astrocyte-directed transduction. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3792. [PMID: 37365155 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39554-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral tracers that enable efficient retrograde labeling of projection neurons are powerful vehicles for structural and functional dissections of the neural circuit and for the treatment of brain diseases. Currently, some recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) based on capsid engineering are widely used for retrograde tracing, but display undesirable brain area selectivity due to inefficient retrograde transduction in certain neural connections. Here we developed an easily editable toolkit to produce high titer AAV11 and demonstrated that it exhibits potent and stringent retrograde labeling of projection neurons in adult male wild-type or Cre transgenic mice. AAV11 can function as a powerful retrograde viral tracer complementary to AAV2-retro in multiple neural connections. In combination with fiber photometry, AAV11 can be used to monitor neuronal activities in the functional network by retrograde delivering calcium-sensitive indicator under the control of a neuron-specific promoter or the Cre-lox system. Furthermore, we showed that GfaABC1D promoter embedding AAV11 is superior to AAV8 and AAV5 in astrocytic tropism in vivo, combined with bidirectional multi-vector axoastrocytic labeling, AAV11 can be used to study neuron-astrocyte connection. Finally, we showed that AAV11 allows for analyzing circuit connectivity difference in the brains of the Alzheimer's disease and control mice. These properties make AAV11 a promising tool for mapping and manipulating neural circuits and for gene therapy of some neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengpeng Han
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Quality Control Technology for Virus-Based Therapeutics, Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, PR China
| | - Nengsong Luo
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Wenyu Ma
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Peter Hung Pain Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Yuxiang Cai
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Jiaxin Kou
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
| | - Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, PR China
| | - Lei Li
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Siqi Peng
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, PR China
| | - Zihong Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, PR China
| | - Wen Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, PR China
| | - Yuxiang Qiu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Quality Control Technology for Virus-Based Therapeutics, Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, PR China
| | - Chaohui Ye
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, PR China
| | - Kunzhang Lin
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Quality Control Technology for Virus-Based Therapeutics, Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China.
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Quality Control Technology for Virus-Based Therapeutics, Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, PR China.
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, PR China.
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, PR China.
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16
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Maurer L, Brown M, Saggi T, Cardiges A, Kolarcik CL. Hindlimb muscle representations in mouse motor cortex defined by viral tracing. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:965318. [PMID: 37303816 PMCID: PMC10248224 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.965318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Descending pathways from the cortex to the spinal cord are involved in the control of natural movement. Although mice are widely used to study the neurobiology of movement and as models of neurodegenerative disease, an understanding of motor cortical organization is lacking, particularly for hindlimb muscles. Methods In this study, we used the retrograde transneuronal transport of rabies virus to compare the organization of descending cortical projections to fast- and slow-twitch hindlimb muscles surrounding the ankle joint in mice. Results Although the initial stage of virus transport from the soleus muscle (predominantly slow-twitch) appeared to be more rapid than that associated with the tibialis anterior muscle (predominantly fast-twitch), the rate of further transport of virus to cortical projection neurons in layer V was equivalent for the two injected muscles. After appropriate survival times, dense concentrations of layer V projection neurons were identified in three cortical areas: the primary motor cortex (M1), secondary motor cortex (M2), and primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Discussion The origin of the cortical projections to each of the two injected muscles overlapped almost entirely within these cortical areas. This organization suggests that cortical projection neurons maintain a high degree of specificity; that is, even when cortical projection neurons are closely located, each neuron could have a distinct functional role (controlling fast- versus slow-twitch and/or extensor versus flexor muscles). Our results represent an important addition to the understanding of the mouse motor system and lay the foundation for future studies investigating the mechanisms underlying motor system dysfunction and degeneration in diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Maurer
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Maia Brown
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Tamandeep Saggi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Alexia Cardiges
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Christi L. Kolarcik
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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17
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Stewart AN, Kumari R, Bailey WM, Glaser EP, Hammers GV, Wireman OH, Gensel JC. PTEN knockout using retrogradely transported AAVs restores locomotor abilities in both acute and chronic spinal cord injury. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.17.537179. [PMID: 37131840 PMCID: PMC10153160 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.17.537179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Restoring function in chronic stages of spinal cord injury (SCI) has often been met with failure or reduced efficacy when regenerative strategies are delayed past the acute or sub-acute stages of injury. Restoring function in the chronically injured spinal cord remains a critical challenge. We found that a single injection of retrogradely transported adeno-associated viruses (AAVrg) to knockout the phosphatase and tensin homolog protein (PTEN) in chronic SCI can effectively target both damaged and spared axons and restore locomotor functions in near-complete injury models. AAVrg's were injected to deliver cre recombinase and/or a red fluorescent protein (RFP) under the human Synapsin 1 promoter (hSyn1) into the spinal cords of C57BL/6 PTEN FloxΔ / Δ mice to knockout PTEN (PTEN-KO) in a severe thoracic SCI crush model at both acute and chronic time points. PTEN-KO improved locomotor abilities in both acute and chronic SCI conditions over a 9-week period. Regardless of whether treatment was initiated at the time of injury (acute), or three months after SCI (chronic), mice with limited hindlimb joint movement gained hindlimb weight support after treatment. Interestingly, functional improvements were not sustained beyond 9 weeks coincident with a loss of RFP reporter-gene expression and a near-complete loss of treatment-associated functional recovery by 6 months post-treatment. Treatment effects were also specific to severely injured mice; animals with weight support at the time of treatment lost function over a 6-month period. Retrograde tracing with Fluorogold revealed viable neurons throughout the motor cortex despite a loss of RFP expression at 9 weeks post-PTEN-KO. However, few Fluorogold labeled neurons were detected within the motor cortex at 6 months post-treatment. BDA labeling from the motor cortex revealed a dense corticospinal tract (CST) bundle in all groups except chronically treated PTEN-KO mice indicating a potential long-term toxic effect of PTEN-KO to neurons in the motor cortex. PTEN-KO mice had significantly more β - tubulin III labeled axons within the lesion when treatment was delivered acutely, but not chronically post-SCI. In conclusion, we have found that using AAVrg's to knockout PTEN is an effective manipulation capable of restoring motor functions in chronic SCI and can enhance axon growth of currently unidentified axon populations when delivered acutely after injury. However, the long-term consequences of PTEN-KO may exert neurotoxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N. Stewart
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Reena Kumari
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - William M. Bailey
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Ethan P. Glaser
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Gabrielle V. Hammers
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - Olivia H. Wireman
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
| | - John C. Gensel
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
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18
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Ganley RP, de Sousa MM, Werder K, Öztürk T, Mendes R, Ranucci M, Wildner H, Zeilhofer HU. Targeted anatomical and functional identification of antinociceptive and pronociceptive serotonergic neurons that project to the spinal dorsal horn. eLife 2023; 12:78689. [PMID: 36752606 PMCID: PMC9943064 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinally projecting serotonergic neurons play a key role in controlling pain sensitivity and can either increase or decrease nociception depending on physiological context. It is currently unknown how serotonergic neurons mediate these opposing effects. Utilizing virus-based strategies and Tph2-Cre transgenic mice, we identified two anatomically separated populations of serotonergic hindbrain neurons located in the lateral paragigantocellularis (LPGi) and the medial hindbrain, which respectively innervate the superficial and deep spinal dorsal horn and have contrasting effects on sensory perception. Our tracing experiments revealed that serotonergic neurons of the LPGi were much more susceptible to transduction with spinally injected AAV2retro vectors than medial hindbrain serotonergic neurons. Taking advantage of this difference, we employed intersectional chemogenetic approaches to demonstrate that activation of the LPGi serotonergic projections decreases thermal sensitivity, whereas activation of medial serotonergic neurons increases sensitivity to mechanical von Frey stimulation. Together these results suggest that there are functionally distinct classes of serotonergic hindbrain neurons that differ in their anatomical location in the hindbrain, their postsynaptic targets in the spinal cord, and their impact on nociceptive sensitivity. The LPGi neurons that give rise to rather global and bilateral projections throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the spinal cord appear to be ideally poised to contribute to widespread systemic pain control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Philip Ganley
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Kira Werder
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Tugce Öztürk
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Raquel Mendes
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Matteo Ranucci
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Hendrik Wildner
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of TechnologyZurichSwitzerland
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19
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Beine Z, Wang Z, Tsoulfas P, Blackmore MG. Single Nuclei Analyses Reveal Transcriptional Profiles and Marker Genes for Diverse Supraspinal Populations. J Neurosci 2022; 42:8780-8794. [PMID: 36202615 PMCID: PMC9698772 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1197-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian brain contains numerous neurons distributed across forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain that project axons to the lower spinal cord and work in concert to control movement and achieve homeostasis. Extensive work has mapped the anatomic location of supraspinal cell types and continues to establish specific physiological functions. The patterns of gene expression that typify and distinguish these disparate populations, however, are mostly unknown. Here, using adult mice of mixed sex, we combined retrograde labeling of supraspinal cell nuclei with fluorescence-activated nuclei sorting and single-nuclei RNA sequencing analyses to transcriptionally profile neurons that project axons from the brain to lumbar spinal cord. We identified 14 transcriptionally distinct cell types and used a combination of established and newly identified marker genes to assign an anatomic location to each. To validate the putative marker genes, we visualized selected transcripts and confirmed selective expression within lumbar-projecting neurons in discrete supraspinal regions. Finally, we illustrate the potential utility of these data by examining the expression of transcription factors that distinguish different supraspinal cell types and by surveying the expression of receptors for growth and guidance cues that may be present in the spinal cord. Collectively, these data establish transcriptional differences between anatomically defined supraspinal populations, identify a new set of marker genes of use in future experiments, and provide insight into potential differences in cellular and physiological activity across the supraspinal connectome.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The brain communicates with the body through a wide variety of neuronal populations with distinct functions and differential sensitivity to damage and disease. We have used single-nuclei RNA sequencing technology to distinguish patterns of gene expression within a diverse set of neurons that project axons from the mouse brain to the lumbar spinal cord. The results reveal transcriptional differences between populations previously defined on the basis of anatomy, provide new marker genes to facilitate rapid identification of cell type in future work, and suggest distinct responsiveness of different supraspinal populations to external growth and guidance cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Beine
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
| | - Zimei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
| | - Pantelis Tsoulfas
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Murray G Blackmore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
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20
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Matson KJE, Russ DE, Kathe C, Hua I, Maric D, Ding Y, Krynitsky J, Pursley R, Sathyamurthy A, Squair JW, Levi BP, Courtine G, Levine AJ. Single cell atlas of spinal cord injury in mice reveals a pro-regenerative signature in spinocerebellar neurons. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5628. [PMID: 36163250 PMCID: PMC9513082 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33184-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
After spinal cord injury, tissue distal to the lesion contains undamaged cells that could support or augment recovery. Targeting these cells requires a clearer understanding of their injury responses and capacity for repair. Here, we use single nucleus RNA sequencing to profile how each cell type in the lumbar spinal cord changes after a thoracic injury in mice. We present an atlas of these dynamic responses across dozens of cell types in the acute, subacute, and chronically injured spinal cord. Using this resource, we find rare spinal neurons that express a signature of regeneration in response to injury, including a major population that represent spinocerebellar projection neurons. We characterize these cells anatomically and observed axonal sparing, outgrowth, and remodeling in the spinal cord and cerebellum. Together, this work provides a key resource for studying cellular responses to injury and uncovers the spontaneous plasticity of spinocerebellar neurons, uncovering a potential candidate for targeted therapy. Matson et al. performed single nucleus sequencing of the “spared” spinal cord tissue distal to an injury in mice. They found that spinocerebellar neurons expressed a pro-regenerative gene signature and showed axon outgrowth after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaya J E Matson
- Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Johns Hopkins University Department of Biology, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniel E Russ
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Data Science Research Group, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Claudia Kathe
- Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,NeuroRestore, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Hua
- Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dragan Maric
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yi Ding
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jonathan Krynitsky
- Signal Processing and Instrumentation Section, Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Randall Pursley
- Signal Processing and Instrumentation Section, Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anupama Sathyamurthy
- Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Jordan W Squair
- Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,NeuroRestore, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Boaz P Levi
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gregoire Courtine
- Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,NeuroRestore, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ariel J Levine
- Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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21
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Lu T, Shinozaki M, Nagoshi N, Nakamura M, Okano H. Long Preservation of AAV-Transduced Fluorescence by a Modified Organic Solvent-Based Clearing Method. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179637. [PMID: 36077034 PMCID: PMC9455935 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of tissue clearing technologies allows 3D imaging of whole tissues and organs, especially in studies of the central nervous system innervated throughout the body. Although the three-dimensional imaging of solvent-cleared organs (3DISCO) method provides a powerful clearing capacity and high transparency, the rapid quenching of endogenous fluorescence and peroxide removal process decreases its practicability. This study provides a modified method named tDISCO to solve these limitations. The tDISCO protocol can preserve AAV-transduced endogenous EGFP fluorescence for months and achieve high transparency in a fast and simple clearing process. In addition to the brain, tDISCO was applied to other organs and even hard bone tissue. tDISCO also enabled us to visualize the long projection neurons and axons with high resolution. This method provides a fast and simple clearing protocol for 3D visualization of the AAV- transduced long projection neurons throughout the brain and spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Lu
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Munehisa Shinozaki
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Narihito Nagoshi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Correspondence: (M.N.); (H.O.)
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Correspondence: (M.N.); (H.O.)
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22
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biPACT: A method for three-dimensional visualization of mouse spinal cord circuits of long segments with high resolution. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 379:109672. [PMID: 35843371 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109672] [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: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spatial complexity of neuronal circuits in the central nervous system is a hurdle in understanding and treating brain and spinal cord injury (SCI). Although several methods have recently been developed to render the spinal cord transparent and label specific neural circuits, three-dimensional visualization of long segments of spinal cord with high resolution remains challenging for SCI researchers. NEW METHOD We present a method that combines tissue staining of neuronal tracts traced with biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) and a modified passive clarity clearing protocol to describe individual fibers in long segments of mouse spinal cord. RESULTS Corticospinal tract was traced with BDA with a mouse model of thoracic spinal cord injury. The spinal cord was stained and cleared in two weeks with four solutions: staining solution, hydrogel solution, clearing solution, and observation solution. The samples were observed with a light-sheet microscope, and three-dimensional reconstruction was performed with ImageJ software. High resolution-images comparable with tissue sections were obtained continuously and circumferentially. By tiling, it was possible to obtain high-resolution images of long segments of the spinal cord. The tissue could be easily re-stained in case of fading. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS The present method does not require special equipment such as vacuum devices, can label specific circuits without genetic technology, and re-staining rounds can be easily implemented. CONCLUSIONS By using simple neural staining and clearing methods, it was possible to acquire a wide range of high-resolution three-dimensional images of the spinal cord.
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23
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Wang Z, Romanski A, Mehra V, Wang Y, Brannigan M, Campbell BC, Petsko GA, Tsoulfas P, Blackmore MG. Brain-wide analysis of the supraspinal connectome reveals anatomical correlates to functional recovery after spinal injury. eLife 2022; 11:76254. [PMID: 35838234 PMCID: PMC9345604 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The supraspinal connectome is essential for normal behavior and homeostasis and consists of numerous sensory, motor, and autonomic projections from brain to spinal cord. Study of supraspinal control and its restoration after damage has focused mostly on a handful of major populations that carry motor commands, with only limited consideration of dozens more that provide autonomic or crucial motor modulation. Here, we assemble an experimental workflow to rapidly profile the entire supraspinal mesoconnectome in adult mice and disseminate the output in a web-based resource. Optimized viral labeling, 3D imaging, and registration to a mouse digital neuroanatomical atlas assigned tens of thousands of supraspinal neurons to 69 identified regions. We demonstrate the ability of this approach to clarify essential points of topographic mapping between spinal levels, measure population-specific sensitivity to spinal injury, and test the relationships between region-specific neuronal sparing and variability in functional recovery. This work will spur progress by broadening understanding of essential but understudied supraspinal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zimei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Adam Romanski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Vatsal Mehra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Yunfang Wang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, United States
| | - Matthew Brannigan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Benjamin C Campbell
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Cornell University, New York, United States
| | - Gregory A Petsko
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Cornell University, New York, United States
| | - Pantelis Tsoulfas
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, United States
| | - Murray G Blackmore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, United States
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24
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Lu T, Shinozaki M, Nagoshi N, Nakamura M, Okano H. 3D imaging of supraspinal inputs to the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord mapped by retrograde tracing and light-sheet microscopy. J Neurochem 2022; 162:352-370. [PMID: 35674500 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The supraspinal inputs play a major role in tuning the hindlimb locomotion function. While most research on spinal cord injury (SCI) with rodents is based on thoracic segments, the difference in connectivity of the supraspinal centers to the thoracic and lumbar cord is still unknown. Here, we combined retrograde tracing and 3D imaging to map the connectivity of supraspinal neurons projecting to thoracic (T9-vertebral) and lumbar (T13-vertebral) spinal levels in adult female mice. We dissected the difference in connections of corticospinal neurons (CSNs), rubrospinal neurons, and reticulospinal neurons projecting to thoracic and lumbar cords. The ratio of double-labeled neurons is higher in T13-vertebral projection CSNs and parvocellular part of the red nucleus (RPC) than in T9-vertebral projection. Using the Cre-DIO system, we precisely targeted CSNs projecting to T9-vertebral or T13-vertebral. We found that abundant axon branches communicated with the red nucleus and reticular formation and distributed from cervical gray matter to the lumbar cord. Their collateral branches showed a distinct innervation pattern in thoracic and lumbar gray matters and a similar distribution pattern in the cervical spinal cord. These results revealed the difference in connectivity between the thoracic and lumbar projection supraspinal centers and clarified the collateralization of thoracic/lumbar projection CSNs throughout the brain and spinal cord. This study highlights brain-spinal cord neural networks and the complexity of the axon terminals of spinal projection CSNs, which could contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies connecting CST fibers and hindlimb function recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Lu
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Munehisa Shinozaki
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Narihito Nagoshi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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25
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Islam A, Tom VJ. The use of viral vectors to promote repair after spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2022; 354:114102. [PMID: 35513025 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating event that can permanently disrupt multiple modalities. Unfortunately, the combination of the inhibitory environment at a central nervous system (CNS) injury site and the diminished intrinsic capacity of adult axons for growth results in the failure for robust axonal regeneration, limiting the ability for repair. Delivering genetic material that can either positively or negatively modulate gene expression has the potential to counter the obstacles that hinder axon growth within the spinal cord after injury. A popular gene therapy method is to deliver the genetic material using viral vectors. There are considerations when deciding on a viral vector approach for a particular application, including the type of vector, as well as serotypes, and promoters. In this review, we will discuss some of the aspects to consider when utilizing a viral vector approach to as a therapy for SCI. Additionally, we will discuss some recent applications of gene therapy to target extrinsic and/or intrinsic barriers to promote axon regeneration after SCI in preclinical models. While still in early stages, this approach has potential to treat those living with SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraful Islam
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Veronica J Tom
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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26
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Multicolor strategies for investigating clonal expansion and tissue plasticity. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:141. [PMID: 35187598 PMCID: PMC8858928 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04077-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the generation of complexity in living organisms requires the use of lineage tracing tools at a multicellular scale. In this review, we describe the different multicolor strategies focusing on mouse models expressing several fluorescent reporter proteins, generated by classical (MADM, Brainbow and its multiple derivatives) or acute (StarTrack, CLoNe, MAGIC Markers, iOn, viral vectors) transgenesis. After detailing the multi-reporter genetic strategies that serve as a basis for the establishment of these multicolor mouse models, we briefly mention other animal and cellular models (zebrafish, chicken, drosophila, iPSC) that also rely on these constructs. Then, we highlight practical applications of multicolor mouse models to better understand organogenesis at single progenitor scale (clonal analyses) in the brain and briefly in several other tissues (intestine, skin, vascular, hematopoietic and immune systems). In addition, we detail the critical contribution of multicolor fate mapping strategies in apprehending the fine cellular choreography underlying tissue morphogenesis in several models with a particular focus on brain cytoarchitecture in health and diseases. Finally, we present the latest technological advances in multichannel and in-depth imaging, and automated analyses that enable to better exploit the large amount of data generated from multicolored tissues.
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27
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Pantazis CB, James MH, O’Connor S, Shin N, Aston-Jones G. Orexin-1 receptor signaling in ventral tegmental area mediates cue-driven demand for cocaine. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:741-751. [PMID: 34635803 PMCID: PMC8782853 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01173-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Drug-associated sensory cues increase motivation for drug and the orexin system is importantly involved in this stimulus-enhanced motivation. Ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a major target by which orexin signaling modulates reward behaviors, but it is unknown whether this circuit is necessary for cue-driven motivation for cocaine. Here, we investigated the role of VTA orexin signaling in cue-driven motivation for cocaine using a behavioral economics (BE) paradigm. We found that infusion of the orexin-1 receptor (Ox1R) antagonist SB-334867 (SB) into VTA prior to BE testing reduced motivation when animals were trained to self-administer cocaine with discrete cues and tested on BE with those cues. SB had no effect when animals were trained to self-administer cocaine without cues or tested on BE without cues, indicating that learning to associate cues with drug delivery during self-administration training was necessary for cues to recruit orexin signaling in VTA. These effects were specific to VTA, as injections of SB immediately dorsal had no effect. Moreover, intra-VTA SB did not have an impact on locomotor activity, or low- or high-effort consumption of sucrose. Finally, we microinjected a novel retrograde adeno-associated virus (AAVretro) containing an orexin-specific short hairpin RNA (OxshRNA) into VTA to knock down orexin in the hypothalamus-VTA circuit. These injections significantly reduced orexin expression in lateral hypothalamus (LH) and decreased cue-driven motivation. These studies demonstrate a role for orexin signaling in VTA, specifically when cues predict drug reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline B. Pantazis
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University/Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ USA ,grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Neurobiology of Addiction Section, Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Morgan H. James
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University/Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ USA ,grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers Unviversity, Piscataway, NJ USA
| | - Shayna O’Connor
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University/Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ USA
| | - Noah Shin
- grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University/Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ USA ,grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ USA
| | - Gary Aston-Jones
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University/Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
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Harnessing rAAV-retro for gene manipulations in multiple pathways that are interrupted after spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2021; 350:113965. [PMID: 34973965 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This paper explores the potential of rAAV2-retro to deliver gene modifying cargoes to the cells of origin of multiple pathways that are interrupted by spinal cord injury (SCI), summarizing data from previous studies and new data from additional experiments. rAAV-retro exhibits uniquely robust and reliable long-distance retrograde transport from pre-terminal axons and synapses back to neuronal bodies. Previous studies have documented that various AAV-based genetic modifications can enable axon regeneration after SCI, but these have targeted the cells of origin of one pathway at a time. In contrast, rAAV-retro can simultaneously transduce large numbers of neurons of origin of multiple spinal pathways with single injections into the spinal cord. Our initial studies use RosatdTomato and double transgenic PTENf/f; RosatdTomato mice in which transfection with rAAV-retro/Cre deletes PTEN and activates tdT expression in the same neurons. Injections of rAAV-retro/Cre into the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord led to topographically specific retrograde transduction in cortical motoneurons and neurons in subcortical regions that give rise to different spinal pathways. Our results confirm and extend previous studies indicating selective transduction of neurons that terminate at the level of the injection with minimal retrograde transduction of axons in transit to lower levels. We document feasibility of using rAAV-retro expressing shRNA against PTEN along with a GFP reporter (rAAV-retro-shPTEN/GFP) to effectively knock down PTEN in multiple populations of neurons, which can be used in any species. Some limitations and caveats of currently available rAAV-retros are discussed. Together, our results support the potential applications of rAAV-retro for AAV-based gene-modifications for SCI.
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Abstract
This protocol provides an improved pipeline for dissociating intact projection neurons from adult mouse cortex for applications including droplet and plate-based single-cell RNA sequencing, qPCR, immunocytochemistry, and long-term in vitro cell culture. This protocol provides a robust and reproducible dissociation pipeline that uses exclusively off-the-shelf reagents, not requiring the use of expensive dissociation kits. The unique incubation steps, in combination with the FACS gating strategy, results in unparalleled enrichment for intact cortical neurons from the adult brain. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Golan et al. (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Golan
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - William B. Cafferty
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Sahni V, Shnider SJ, Jabaudon D, Song JHT, Itoh Y, Greig LC, Macklis JD. Corticospinal neuron subpopulation-specific developmental genes prospectively indicate mature segmentally specific axon projection targeting. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109843. [PMID: 34686320 PMCID: PMC8653526 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
For precise motor control, distinct subpopulations of corticospinal neurons (CSN) must extend axons to distinct spinal segments, from proximal targets in the brainstem and cervical cord to distal targets in thoracic and lumbar spinal segments. We find that developing CSN subpopulations exhibit striking axon targeting specificity in spinal white matter, which establishes the foundation for durable specificity of adult corticospinal circuitry. Employing developmental retrograde and anterograde labeling, and their distinct neocortical locations, we purified developing CSN subpopulations using fluorescence-activated cell sorting to identify genes differentially expressed between bulbar-cervical and thoracolumbar-projecting CSN subpopulations at critical developmental times. These segmentally distinct CSN subpopulations are molecularly distinct from the earliest stages of axon extension, enabling prospective identification even before eventual axon targeting decisions are evident in the spinal cord. This molecular delineation extends beyond simple spatial separation of these subpopulations in the cortex. Together, these results identify candidate molecular controls over segmentally specific corticospinal axon projection targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibhu Sahni
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sara J Shnider
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Denis Jabaudon
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Janet H T Song
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yasuhiro Itoh
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Luciano C Greig
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Macklis
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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Sahni V, Itoh Y, Shnider SJ, Macklis JD. Crim1 and Kelch-like 14 exert complementary dual-directional developmental control over segmentally specific corticospinal axon projection targeting. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109842. [PMID: 34686337 PMCID: PMC8697027 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebral cortex executes highly skilled movement, necessitating that it connects accurately with specific brainstem and spinal motor circuitry. Corticospinal neurons (CSN) must correctly target specific spinal segments, but the basis for this targeting remains unknown. In the accompanying report, we show that segmentally distinct CSN subpopulations are molecularly distinct from early development, identifying candidate molecular controls over segmentally specific axon targeting. Here, we functionally investigate two of these candidate molecular controls, Crim1 and Kelch-like 14 (Klhl14), identifying their critical roles in directing CSN axons to appropriate spinal segmental levels in the white matter prior to axon collateralization. Crim1 and Klhl14 are specifically expressed by distinct CSN subpopulations and regulate their differental white matter projection targeting-Crim1 directs thoracolumbar axon extension, while Klhl14 limits axon extension to bulbar-cervical segments. These molecular regulators of descending spinal projections constitute the first stages of a dual-directional set of complementary controls over CSN diversity for segmentally and functionally distinct circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibhu Sahni
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yasuhiro Itoh
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sara J Shnider
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Macklis
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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Van Steenbergen V, Bareyre FM. Chemogenetic approaches to unravel circuit wiring and related behavior after spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2021; 345:113839. [PMID: 34389362 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
A critical shortcoming of the central nervous system is its limited ability to repair injured nerve connections. Trying to overcome this limitation is not only relevant to understand basic neurobiological principles but also holds great promise to advance therapeutic strategies related, in particular, to spinal cord injury (SCI). With barely any SCI patients re-gaining complete neurological function, there is a high need to understand how we could target and improve spinal plasticity to re-establish neuronal connections into a functional network. The development of chemogenetic tools has proven to be of great value to understand functional circuit wiring before and after injury and to correlate novel circuit formation with behavioral outcomes. This review covers commonly used chemogenetic approaches based on metabotropic receptors and their use to improve our understanding of circuit wiring following spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Van Steenbergen
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Florence M Bareyre
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; Biomedical Center Munich (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany.
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Ganley RP, Werder K, Wildner H, Zeilhofer HU. Spinally projecting noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus display resistance to AAV2retro-mediated transduction. Mol Pain 2021; 17:17448069211037887. [PMID: 34344259 PMCID: PMC8351027 DOI: 10.1177/17448069211037887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The locus coeruleus (LC) is the principal source of noradrenaline (NA) in the central nervous system. Projection neurons in the ventral portion of the LC project to the spinal cord and are considered the main source of spinal NA. To understand the precise physiology of this pathway, it is important to have tools that allow specific genetic access to these descending projections. AAV2retro serotype vectors are a potential tool to transduce these neurons via their axon terminals in the spinal cord, and thereby limit the expression of genetic material to the spinal projections from the LC. Here, we assess the suitability of AAV2retro to target these neurons and investigate strategies to increase their labelling efficiency. RESULTS We show that the neurons in the LC that project to the spinal dorsal horn are largely resistant to transduction with AAV2retro serotype vectors. Compared to Cholera toxin B (CTb) tracing, AAV2retro.eGFP labelled far fewer neurons within the LC and surrounding regions, particularly within neurons that express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme for NA synthesis. We also show that the sensitivity for transduction of this projection can be increased using AAV2retro.eGFP.cre in ROSA26tdTom reporter mice (23% increase), with a higher proportion of the newly revealed neurons expressing TH compared to those directly labelled with AAV2retro containing an eGFP expression sequence. CONCLUSION These tracing studies identify limitations in AAV2retro-mediated retrograde transduction of a subset of projection neurons, specifically those that express NA and project to the spinal cord. This is likely to have implications for the study of NA-containing projections as well as other types of projection neuron in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P Ganley
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kira Werder
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hendrik Wildner
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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McCreedy DA, Jalufka FL, Platt ME, Min SW, Kirchhoff MA, Pritchard AL, Reid SK, Manlapaz R, Mihaly E, Butts JC, Iyer NR, Sakiyama-Elbert SE, Crone SA, McDevitt TC. Passive Clearing and 3D Lightsheet Imaging of the Intact and Injured Spinal Cord in Mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:684792. [PMID: 34408627 PMCID: PMC8366232 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.684792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The spinal cord contains a diverse array of sensory and motor circuits that are essential for normal function. Spinal cord injury (SCI) permanently disrupts neural circuits through initial mechanical damage, as well as a cascade of secondary injury events that further expand the spinal cord lesion, resulting in permanent paralysis. Tissue clearing and 3D imaging have recently emerged as promising techniques to improve our understanding of the complex neural circuitry of the spinal cord and the changes that result from damage due to SCI. However, the application of this technology for studying the intact and injured spinal cord remains limited. Here, we optimized the passive CLARITY technique (PACT) to obtain gentle and efficient clearing of the murine spinal cord without the need for specialized equipment. We demonstrate that PACT clearing enables 3D imaging of multiple fluorescent labels in the spinal cord to assess molecularly defined neuronal populations, acute inflammation, long-term tissue damage, and cell transplantation. Collectively, these procedures provide a framework for expanding the utility of tissue clearing to enhance the study of spinal cord neural circuits, as well as cellular- and tissue-level changes that occur following SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan A. McCreedy
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Frank L. Jalufka
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Madison E. Platt
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Sun Won Min
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Megan A. Kirchhoff
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Anna L. Pritchard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Shelby K. Reid
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, College Station, TX, United States
| | | | - Eszter Mihaly
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Nisha R. Iyer
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Steven A. Crone
- Division of Neurosurgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Todd C. McDevitt
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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35
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Sathyamurthy A, Barik A, Dobrott CI, Matson KJE, Stoica S, Pursley R, Chesler AT, Levine AJ. Cerebellospinal Neurons Regulate Motor Performance and Motor Learning. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107595. [PMID: 32402292 PMCID: PMC7263484 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
To understand the neural basis of behavior, it is important to reveal how movements are planned, executed, and refined by networks of neurons distributed throughout the nervous system. Here, we report the neuroanatomical organization and behavioral roles of cerebellospinal (CeS) neurons. Using intersectional genetic techniques, we find that CeS neurons constitute a small minority of excitatory neurons in the fastigial and interpositus deep cerebellar nuclei, target pre-motor circuits in the ventral spinal cord and the brain, and control distinct aspects of movement. CeS neurons that project to the ipsilateral cervical cord are required for skilled forelimb performance, while CeS neurons that project to the contralateral cervical cord are involved in skilled locomotor learning. Together, this work establishes CeS neurons as a critical component of the neural circuitry for skilled movements and provides insights into the organizational logic of motor networks. Sathyamurthy et al. define the organization, function, and targets of cerebellospinal neurons, revealing a direct link between the deep cerebellar nuclei and motor execution circuits in the spinal cord and demonstrating a role for these neurons in motor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupama Sathyamurthy
- Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Arnab Barik
- Sensory Cells and Circuits Section, National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Courtney I Dobrott
- Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kaya J E Matson
- Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Stefan Stoica
- Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Randall Pursley
- Signal Processing and Instrumentation Section, Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alexander T Chesler
- Sensory Cells and Circuits Section, National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ariel J Levine
- Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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36
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Venkatesh I, Mehra V, Wang Z, Simpson MT, Eastwood E, Chakraborty A, Beine Z, Gross D, Cabahug M, Olson G, Blackmore MG. Co-occupancy identifies transcription factor co-operation for axon growth. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2555. [PMID: 33953205 PMCID: PMC8099911 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22828-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) act as powerful levers to regulate neural physiology and can be targeted to improve cellular responses to injury or disease. Because TFs often depend on cooperative activity, a major challenge is to identify and deploy optimal sets. Here we developed a bioinformatics pipeline, centered on TF co-occupancy of regulatory DNA, and used it to predict factors that potentiate the effects of pro-regenerative Klf6 in vitro. High content screens of neurite outgrowth identified cooperative activity by 12 candidates, and systematic testing in a mouse model of corticospinal tract (CST) damage substantiated three novel instances of pairwise cooperation. Combined Klf6 and Nr5a2 drove the strongest growth, and transcriptional profiling of CST neurons identified Klf6/Nr5a2-responsive gene networks involved in macromolecule biosynthesis and DNA repair. These data identify TF combinations that promote enhanced CST growth, clarify the transcriptional correlates, and provide a bioinformatics approach to detect TF cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishwariya Venkatesh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
| | - Vatsal Mehra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Zimei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Matthew T Simpson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Erik Eastwood
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | - Zac Beine
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Derek Gross
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Michael Cabahug
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Greta Olson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Murray G Blackmore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
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Wang J, Zhang L. Retrograde Axonal Transport Property of Adeno-Associated Virus and Its Possible Application in Future. Microbes Infect 2021; 23:104829. [PMID: 33878458 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2021.104829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy has become a treatment method for many diseases. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is one of the most common virus vectors, is also widely used in the gene therapy field. During the past 2 decades, the retrograde axonal transportability of AAV has been discovered and utilized. Many studies have worked on the retrograde axonal transportability of AAV, and more and more people are interested in this field. This review described the current application, influence factors, and mechanism of retrograde axonal transportability of AAV and predicted its potential use in disease treatment in near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, 83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300170, China
| | - Liqin Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Dongcheng Qu, Beijing, 100730, China.
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38
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Steward O, Yee KM, Metcalfe M, Willenberg R, Luo J, Azevedo R, Martin-Thompson JH, Gandhi SP. Rostro-Caudal Specificity of Corticospinal Tract Projections in Mice. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:2322-2344. [PMID: 33350438 PMCID: PMC8023844 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Rostro-caudal specificity of corticospinal tract (CST) projections from different areas of the cortex was assessed by retrograde labeling with fluorogold and retrograde transfection following retro-AAV/Cre injection into the spinal cord of tdT reporter mice. Injections at C5 led to retrograde labeling of neurons throughout forelimb area of the sensorimotor cortex and a region in the dorsolateral cortex near the barrel field (S2). Injections at L2 led to retrograde labeling of neurons in the posterior sensorimotor cortex (hindlimb area) but not the dorsolateral cortex. With injections of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) into the main sensorimotor cortex (forelimb region), labeled axons terminated selectively at cervical levels. With BDA injections into caudal sensorimotor cortex (hindlimb region), labeled axons passed through cervical levels without sending collaterals into the gray matter and then elaborated terminal arbors at thoracic sacral levels. With BDA injections into the dorsolateral cortex near the barrel field, labeled axons terminated at high cervical levels. Axons from medial sensorimotor cortex terminated primarily in intermediate laminae and axons from lateral sensorimotor cortex terminated primarily in laminae III-V of the dorsal horn. One of the descending pathways seen in rats (the ventral CST) was not observed in most mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oswald Steward
- Reeve-Irvine Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Kelly M Yee
- Reeve-Irvine Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Mariajose Metcalfe
- Reeve-Irvine Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Rafer Willenberg
- Reeve-Irvine Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Juan Luo
- Department of Physiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ricardo Azevedo
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jacob H Martin-Thompson
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Sunil P Gandhi
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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Rosenberg JB, Chen A, De BP, Dyke JP, Ballon DJ, Monette S, Ricart Arbona RJ, Kaminsky SM, Crystal RG, Sondhi D. Safety of Direct Intraparenchymal AAVrh.10-Mediated Central Nervous System Gene Therapy for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:563-580. [PMID: 33380277 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Metachromatic leukodystrophy, a fatal pediatric neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the arylsulfatase A (ARSA) gene, is characterized by intracellular accumulation of sulfatides in the lysosomes of cells of the central nervous system (CNS). In previous studies, we have demonstrated efficacy of AAVrh.10hARSA, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype rh.10 vector coding for the human ARSA gene to the CNS of a mouse model of the disease, and that catheter-based intraparenchymal administration of AAVrh.10hARSA to the CNS of nonhuman primates (NHPs) white matter results in widespread expression of ARSA. As a formal dose-escalating safety/toxicology study, we assessed the safety of intraparenchymal delivery of AAVrh.10hARSA vector to 12 sites in the white matter of the CNS of NHPs at 2.85 × 1010 (total low dose, 2.4 × 109 genome copies [gc]/site) and 1.5 × 1012 (total high dose, 1.3 × 1011 gc/site) gc, compared to AAVrh.10Null (1.5 × 1012 gc total, 1.3 × 1011 gc/site) as a vector control, and phosphate buffered saline for a sham surgical control. No significant adverse effects were observed in animals treated with low dose AAVrh.10hARSA. However, animals treated with the high dose AAVrh.10ARSA and the high dose Null vector had highly localized CNS abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging scans at the sites of catheter infusions, and histopathology demonstrated that these sites were associated with infiltrates of T cells, B cells, microglial cells, and/or macrophages. Although these findings had no clinical consequences, these safety data contribute to understanding the dose limits for CNS white matter direct intraparenchymal administration of AAVrh.10 vectors for treatment of CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Rosenberg
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alvin Chen
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Bishnu P De
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jonathan P Dyke
- Department of Radiology, Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Douglas J Ballon
- Department of Radiology, Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sebastien Monette
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rodolfo J Ricart Arbona
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stephen M Kaminsky
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ronald G Crystal
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dolan Sondhi
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
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40
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Campbell BC, Nabel EM, Murdock MH, Lao-Peregrin C, Tsoulfas P, Blackmore MG, Lee FS, Liston C, Morishita H, Petsko GA. mGreenLantern: a bright monomeric fluorescent protein with rapid expression and cell filling properties for neuronal imaging. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:30710-30721. [PMID: 33208539 PMCID: PMC7720163 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2000942117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although ubiquitous in biological studies, the enhanced green and yellow fluorescent proteins (EGFP and EYFP) were not specifically optimized for neuroscience, and their underwhelming brightness and slow expression in brain tissue limits the fidelity of dendritic spine analysis and other indispensable techniques for studying neurodevelopment and plasticity. We hypothesized that EGFP's low solubility in mammalian systems must limit the total fluorescence output of whole cells, and that improving folding efficiency could therefore translate into greater brightness of expressing neurons. By introducing rationally selected combinations of folding-enhancing mutations into GFP templates and screening for brightness and expression rate in human cells, we developed mGreenLantern, a fluorescent protein having up to sixfold greater brightness in cells than EGFP. mGreenLantern illuminates neurons in the mouse brain within 72 h, dramatically reducing lag time between viral transduction and imaging, while its high brightness improves detection of neuronal morphology using widefield, confocal, and two-photon microscopy. When virally expressed to projection neurons in vivo, mGreenLantern fluorescence developed four times faster than EYFP and highlighted long-range processes that were poorly detectable in EYFP-labeled cells. Additionally, mGreenLantern retains strong fluorescence after tissue clearing and expansion microscopy, thereby facilitating superresolution and whole-brain imaging without immunohistochemistry. mGreenLantern can directly replace EGFP/EYFP in diverse systems due to its compatibility with GFP filter sets, recognition by EGFP antibodies, and excellent performance in mouse, human, and bacterial cells. Our screening and rational engineering approach is broadly applicable and suggests that greater potential of fluorescent proteins, including biosensors, could be unlocked using a similar strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin C Campbell
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021;
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021
| | - Elisa M Nabel
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Mitchell H Murdock
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021
| | - Cristina Lao-Peregrin
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021
| | - Pantelis Tsoulfas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53211
| | - Murray G Blackmore
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136
| | - Francis S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021
| | - Conor Liston
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021
| | - Hirofumi Morishita
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Gregory A Petsko
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021;
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021
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41
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Lin K, Zhong X, Li L, Ying M, Yang T, Zhang Z, He X, Xu F. AAV9-Retro mediates efficient transduction with axon terminal absorption and blood-brain barrier transportation. Mol Brain 2020; 13:138. [PMID: 33054827 PMCID: PMC7556953 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-00679-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs), particularly those that permit efficient gene transfer to neurons from axonal terminals or across the blood-brain barrier, are useful vehicles for structural and functional studies of the neural circuit and for the treatment of many gene-deficient brain diseases that need to compensate for the correct genes in every cell in the whole brain. However, AAVs with these two advantages have not been reported. Here, we describe a new capsid engineering method, which exploits the combination of different capsids and aims to yield a capsid that can provide more alternative routes of administration that are more suitable for the wide-scale transduction of the central nervous system (CNS). A new AAV variant, AAV9-Retro, was developed by inserting the 10-mer peptide fragment from AAV2-Retro into the capsid of AAV9, and the biodistribution properties were evaluated in mice. By intracranial and intravenous injection in the mice, we found that AAV9-Retro can retrogradely infect projection neurons with an efficiency comparable to that of AAV2-Retro and retains the characteristic of AAV9, which can be transported across the nervous system. Our strategy provides a new tool for the manipulation of neural circuits and future preclinical and clinical treatment of some neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunzhang Lin
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Center for Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xin Zhong
- Center for Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Lei Li
- Center for Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Min Ying
- Center for Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Tian Yang
- Center for Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zhijian Zhang
- Center for Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiaobin He
- Center for Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China.
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
- Center for Brain Science, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China.
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen, Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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42
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Tian T, Li X. Applications of tissue clearing in the spinal cord. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 52:4019-4036. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Tian
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering Beihang University Beijing China
| | - Xiaoguang Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering Beihang University Beijing China
- Beijing International Cooperation Bases for Science and Technology on Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering Beihang University Beijing China
- Department of Neurobiology School of Basic Medical Sciences Capital Medical University Beijing China
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43
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Frezel N, Platonova E, Voigt FF, Mateos JM, Kastli R, Ziegler U, Karayannis T, Helmchen F, Wildner H, Zeilhofer HU. In-Depth Characterization of Layer 5 Output Neurons of the Primary Somatosensory Cortex Innervating the Mouse Dorsal Spinal Cord. Cereb Cortex Commun 2020; 1:tgaa052. [PMID: 34296117 PMCID: PMC8152836 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal circuits of the spinal dorsal horn integrate sensory information from the periphery with inhibitory and facilitating input from higher central nervous system areas. Most previous work focused on projections descending from the hindbrain. Less is known about inputs descending from the cerebral cortex. Here, we identified cholecystokinin (CCK) positive layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the primary somatosensory cortex (CCK + S1-corticospinal tract [CST] neurons) as a major source of input to the spinal dorsal horn. We combined intersectional genetics and virus-mediated gene transfer to characterize CCK+ S1-CST neurons and to define their presynaptic input and postsynaptic target neurons. We found that S1-CST neurons constitute a heterogeneous population that can be subdivided into distinct molecular subgroups. Rabies-based retrograde tracing revealed monosynaptic input from layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons, from parvalbumin positive cortical interneurons, and from thalamic relay neurons in the ventral posterolateral nucleus. Wheat germ agglutinin-based anterograde tracing identified postsynaptic target neurons in dorsal horn laminae III and IV. About 60% of these neurons were inhibitory and about 60% of all spinal target neurons expressed the transcription factor c-Maf. The heterogeneous nature of both S1-CST neurons and their spinal targets suggest complex roles in the fine-tuning of sensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Frezel
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - E Platonova
- Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - F F Voigt
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, CHJ-8057 Zurich CH-8057 , Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - J M Mateos
- Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - R Kastli
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, CHJ-8057 Zurich CH-8057 , Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - U Ziegler
- Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - T Karayannis
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, CHJ-8057 Zurich CH-8057 , Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - F Helmchen
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, CHJ-8057 Zurich CH-8057 , Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - H Wildner
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - H U Zeilhofer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), CH-8090 Zürich, Switzerland
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44
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Cushnie AK, El-Nahal HG, Bohlen MO, May PJ, Basso MA, Grimaldi P, Wang MZ, de Velasco Ezequiel MF, Sommer MA, Heilbronner SR. Using rAAV2-retro in rhesus macaques: Promise and caveats for circuit manipulation. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 345:108859. [PMID: 32668316 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent genetic technologies such as opto- and chemogenetics allow for the manipulation of brain circuits with unprecedented precision. Most studies employing these techniques have been undertaken in rodents, but a more human-homologous model for studying the brain is the nonhuman primate (NHP). Optimizing viral delivery of transgenes encoding actuator proteins could revolutionize the way we study neuronal circuits in NHPs. NEW METHOD: rAAV2-retro, a popular new capsid variant, produces robust retrograde labeling in rodents. Whether rAAV2-retro's highly efficient retrograde transport would translate to NHPs was unknown. Here, we characterized the anatomical distribution of labeling following injections of rAAV2-retro encoding opsins or DREADDs in the cortico-basal ganglia and oculomotor circuits of rhesus macaques. RESULTS rAAV2-retro injections in striatum, frontal eye field, and superior colliculus produced local labeling at injection sites and robust retrograde labeling in many afferent regions. In every case, however, a few brain regions with well-established projections to the injected structure lacked retrogradely labeled cells. We also observed robust terminal field labeling in downstream structures. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) Patterns of labeling were similar to those obtained with traditional tract-tracers, except for some afferent labeling that was noticeably absent. CONCLUSIONS rAAV2-retro promises to be useful for circuit manipulation via retrograde transduction in NHPs, but caveats were revealed by our findings. Some afferently connected regions lacked retrogradely labeled cells, showed robust axon terminal labeling, or both. This highlights the importance of anatomically characterizing rAAV2-retro's expression in target circuits in NHPs before moving to manipulation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana K Cushnie
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Hala G El-Nahal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Martin O Bohlen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Paul J May
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, 39216, United States
| | - Michele A Basso
- Fuster Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Neurobiology, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, Univ. of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Piercesare Grimaldi
- Fuster Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Neurobiology, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, Univ. of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Maya Zhe Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | | | - Marc A Sommer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, United States; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Sarah R Heilbronner
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
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Nieuwenhuis B, Haenzi B, Hilton S, Carnicer-Lombarte A, Hobo B, Verhaagen J, Fawcett JW. Optimization of adeno-associated viral vector-mediated transduction of the corticospinal tract: comparison of four promoters. Gene Ther 2020; 28:56-74. [PMID: 32576975 PMCID: PMC7902269 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-020-0169-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral vectors are widely used as vehicles for gene transfer to the nervous system. The promoter and viral vector serotype are two key factors that determine the expression dynamics of the transgene. A previous comparative study has demonstrated that AAV1 displays efficient transduction of layer V corticospinal neurons, but the optimal promoter for transgene expression in corticospinal neurons has not been determined yet. In this paper, we report a side-by-side comparison between four commonly used promoters: the short CMV early enhancer/chicken β actin (sCAG), human cytomegalovirus (hCMV), mouse phosphoglycerate kinase (mPGK) and human synapsin (hSYN) promoter. Reporter constructs with each of these promoters were packaged in AAV1, and were injected in the sensorimotor cortex of rats and mice in order to transduce the corticospinal tract. Transgene expression levels and the cellular transduction profile were examined after 6 weeks. The AAV1 vectors harbouring the hCMV and sCAG promoters resulted in transgene expression in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The mPGK and hSYN promoters directed the strongest transgene expression. The mPGK promoter did drive expression in cortical neurons and oligodendrocytes, while transduction with AAV harbouring the hSYN promoter resulted in neuron-specific expression, including perineuronal net expressing interneurons and layer V corticospinal neurons. This promoter comparison study contributes to improve transgene delivery into the brain and spinal cord. The optimized transduction of the corticospinal tract will be beneficial for spinal cord injury research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Nieuwenhuis
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK. .,Laboratory for Regeneration of Sensorimotor Systems, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Barbara Haenzi
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Sam Hilton
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Alejandro Carnicer-Lombarte
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Barbara Hobo
- Laboratory for Regeneration of Sensorimotor Systems, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Laboratory for Regeneration of Sensorimotor Systems, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Centre for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - James W Fawcett
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK.,Centre of Reconstructive Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic
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46
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Corticospinal Pathways and Interactions Underpinning Dexterous Forelimb Movement of the Rodent. Neuroscience 2020; 450:184-191. [PMID: 32512136 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In 2013, Thomas Jessell published a paper with Andrew Miri and Eiman Azim that took on the task of examining corticospinal neuron function during movement (Miri et al., 2013). They took the view that a combination of approaches would be able to shed light on corticospinal function, and that this function must be considered in the context of corticospinal connectivity with spinal circuits. In this review, we will highlight recent developments in this area, along with new information regarding inputs and cross-connectivity of the corticospinal circuit with other circuits across the rodent central nervous system. The genetic and viral manipulations available in these animals have led to new insights into descending circuit interaction and function. As species differences exist in the circuitry profile that contributes to dexterous forelimb movements (Lemon, 2008; Yoshida and Isa, 2018), highlighting important advances in one model could help to compare and contrast with what is known about other models. We will focus on the circuitry underpinning dexterous forelimb movements, including some recent developments from systems besides the corticospinal tract, to build a more holistic understanding of sensorimotor circuits and their control of voluntary movement. The rodent corticospinal system is thus a central point of reference in this review, but not the only focus.
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47
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Aizawa S, Okada T, Keino-Masu K, Doan TH, Koganezawa T, Akiyama M, Tamaoka A, Masu M. Abnormal Pyramidal Decussation and Bilateral Projection of the Corticospinal Tract Axons in Mice Lacking the Heparan Sulfate Endosulfatases, Sulf1 and Sulf2. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 12:333. [PMID: 32038163 PMCID: PMC6985096 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The corticospinal tract (CST) plays an important role in controlling voluntary movement. Because the CST has a long trajectory throughout the brain toward the spinal cord, many axon guidance molecules are required to navigate the axons correctly during development. Previously, we found that double-knockout (DKO) mouse embryos lacking the heparan sulfate endosulfatases, Sulf1 and Sulf2, showed axon guidance defects of the CST owing to the abnormal accumulation of Slit2 protein on the brain surface. However, postnatal development of the CST, especially the pyramidal decussation and spinal cord projection, could not be assessed because DKO mice on a C57BL/6 background died soon after birth. We recently found that Sulf1/2 DKO mice on a mixed C57BL/6 and CD-1/ICR background can survive into adulthood and therefore investigated the anatomy and function of the CST in the adult DKO mice. In Sulf1/2 DKO mice, abnormal dorsal deviation of the CST fibers on the midbrain surface persisted after maturation of the CST. At the pyramidal decussation, some CST fibers located near the midline crossed the midline, whereas others located more laterally extended ipsilaterally. In the spinal cord, the crossed CST fibers descended in the dorsal funiculus on the contralateral side and entered the contralateral gray matter normally, whereas the uncrossed fibers descended in the lateral funiculus on the ipsilateral side and entered the ipsilateral gray matter. As a result, the CST fibers that originated from 1 side of the brain projected bilaterally in the DKO spinal cord. Consistently, microstimulation of 1 side of the motor cortex evoked electromyogram responses only in the contralateral forelimb muscles of the wild-type mice, whereas the same stimulation evoked bilateral responses in the DKO mice. The functional consequences of the CST defects in the Sulf1/2 DKO mice were examined using the grid-walking, staircase, and single pellet-reaching tests, which have been used to evaluate motor function in mice. Compared with the wild-type mice, the Sulf1/2 DKO mice showed impaired performance in these tests, indicating deficits in motor function. These findings suggest that disruption of Sulf1/2 genes leads to both anatomical and functional defects of the CST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Aizawa
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Takuya Okada
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kazuko Keino-Masu
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tri Huu Doan
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tadachika Koganezawa
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Transborder Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Masahiro Akiyama
- Environmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Akira Tamaoka
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Masayuki Masu
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.,Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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48
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CRISPR, Prime Editing, Optogenetics, and DREADDs: New Therapeutic Approaches Provided by Emerging Technologies in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:2085-2100. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01861-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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49
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Chen Z, Fan G, Li A, Yuan J, Xu T. rAAV2-Retro Enables Extensive and High-Efficient Transduction of Lower Motor Neurons following Intramuscular Injection. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2019; 17:21-33. [PMID: 31890738 PMCID: PMC6926343 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The motor system controls muscle movement through lower motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. Lower motor neurons are efferent neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by axonal projections that reach specific targets in the periphery. Lower motor neuron lesions result in the denervation and dysfunction of peripheral skeletal muscle. Great progress has been made to develop therapeutic strategies to transduce lower motor neurons with genes. However, the widespread distribution of lower motor neurons makes their specific, extensive, and efficient transduction a challenge. In this study, we demonstrated that, compared to the other tested recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) serotypes, rAAV2-retro mediated the most efficient retrograde transduction of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord following intramuscular injection in neonatal mice. A single injection of rAAV2-retro in a single muscle enabled the efficient and extensive transduction of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem rather than transducing only the lower motor neurons connected to the injected muscle. rAAV2-retro achieved the extensive transduction of lower motor neurons by the cerebrospinal fluid pathway. Our work suggests that gene delivery via the intramuscular injection of rAAV2-retro represents a promising tool in the development of gene therapy strategies for motor neuron diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilong Chen
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guoqing Fan
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Anan Li
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tonghui Xu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Institute of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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50
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Hilton BJ, Blanquie O, Tedeschi A, Bradke F. High-resolution 3D imaging and analysis of axon regeneration in unsectioned spinal cord with or without tissue clearing. Nat Protoc 2019; 14:1235-1260. [DOI: 10.1038/s41596-019-0140-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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