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Reising JP, Gonzalez-Sanchez AC, Samara A, Herlenius E. Astrocytic Calcium Signaling Toolkit (astroCaST): efficient analysis of dynamic astrocytic calcium events. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1408607. [PMID: 38915875 PMCID: PMC11195029 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1408607] [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: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The Astrocytic Calcium Signaling Toolkit (astroCaST) is a novel solution to a longstanding challenge in neuroscience research: the specialized analysis of astrocytic calcium events within fluorescence time-series imaging. Distinct from existing neuron-centric tools, astroCaST is adept at detecting and clustering astrocytic calcium events based on their unique spatiotemporal characteristics, thus filling a gap in astrocytic research methodologies. This toolkit not only facilitates the detection of such events but also extends its utility to provide comprehensive end-to-end analysis. This feature is absent in most tools targeting astrocytic activity. AstroCaST's development was motivated by the critical need for dedicated software that supports researchers in transitioning from raw video data to insightful experimental conclusions, efficiently managing large-scale datasets without compromising computational speed. It offers a user-friendly interface that caters to both novice and expert users, incorporating both a graphical user interface (GUI) for detailed explorations and a command-line interface (CLI) for extensive analyses. Expected outcomes from utilizing astroCaST include the ability to process and analyze a significantly larger volume of data. This enables a more profound and comprehensive analysis than previously possible, addressing the demands of large-scale astrocytic studies. In summary, astroCaST aims to advance astrocytic calcium imaging analysis, offering a tailored, efficient, and comprehensive toolset that enhances our understanding of astrocytic functions and their implications in neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Philipp Reising
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinksa Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ana Cristina Gonzalez-Sanchez
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinksa Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Athina Samara
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinksa Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biomaterials, FUTURE, Center for Functional Tissue Reconstruction, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eric Herlenius
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinksa Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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2
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Brazhe A, Verisokin A, Verveyko D, Postnov D. Astrocytes: new evidence, new models, new roles. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:1303-1333. [PMID: 37975000 PMCID: PMC10643736 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01145-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes have been in the limelight of active research for about 3 decades now. Over this period, ideas about their function and role in the nervous system have evolved from simple assistance in energy supply and homeostasis maintenance to a complex informational and metabolic hub that integrates data on local neuronal activity, sensory and arousal context, and orchestrates many crucial processes in the brain. Rapid progress in experimental techniques and data analysis produces a growing body of data, which can be used as a foundation for formulation of new hypotheses, building new refined mathematical models, and ultimately should lead to a new level of understanding of the contribution of astrocytes to the cognitive tasks performed by the brain. Here, we highlight recent progress in astrocyte research, which we believe expands our understanding of how low-level signaling at a cellular level builds up to processes at the level of the whole brain and animal behavior. We start our review with revisiting data on the role of noradrenaline-mediated astrocytic signaling in locomotion, arousal, sensory integration, memory, and sleep. We then briefly review astrocyte contribution to the regulation of cerebral blood flow regulation, which is followed by a discussion of biophysical mechanisms underlying astrocyte effects on different brain processes. The experimental section is closed by an overview of recent experimental techniques available for modulation and visualization of astrocyte dynamics. We then evaluate how the new data can be potentially incorporated into the new mathematical models or where and how it already has been done. Finally, we discuss an interesting prospect that astrocytes may be key players in important processes such as the switching between sleep and wakefulness and the removal of toxic metabolites from the brain milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Brazhe
- Department of Biophysics, Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1/24, Moscow, 119234 Russia
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, GSP-7, Miklukho-Maklay Str., 16/10, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - Andrey Verisokin
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Kursk State University, Radishcheva st., 33, Kursk, 305000 Russia
| | - Darya Verveyko
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Kursk State University, Radishcheva st., 33, Kursk, 305000 Russia
| | - Dmitry Postnov
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya st., 83, Saratov, 410012 Russia
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3
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The influence of astrocytic leaflet motility on ionic signalling and homeostasis at active synapses. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3050. [PMID: 36810879 PMCID: PMC9944253 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30189-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes display a highly complex, spongiform morphology, with their fine terminal processes (leaflets) exercising dynamic degrees of synaptic coverage, from touching and surrounding the synapse to being retracted from the synaptic region. In this paper, a computational model is used to reveal the effect of the astrocyte-synapse spatial relationship on ionic homeostasis. Specifically, our model predicts that varying degrees of astrocyte leaflet coverage influences concentrations of K+, Na+ and Ca2+, and results show that leaflet motility strongly influences Ca2+ uptake, as well as glutamate and K+ to a lesser extent. Furthermore, this paper highlights that an astrocytic leaflet that is in proximity to the synaptic cleft loses the ability to form a Ca2+ microdomain, whereas when the leaflet is remote from the synaptic cleft, a Ca2+ microdomain can form. This may have implications for Ca2+-dependent leaflet motility.
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Bell MK, Holst MV, Lee CT, Rangamani P. Dendritic spine morphology regulates calcium-dependent synaptic weight change. J Gen Physiol 2022; 154:e202112980. [PMID: 35819365 PMCID: PMC9280073 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202112980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendritic spines act as biochemical computational units and must adapt their responses according to their activation history. Calcium influx acts as the first signaling step during postsynaptic activation and is a determinant of synaptic weight change. Dendritic spines also come in a variety of sizes and shapes. To probe the relationship between calcium dynamics and spine morphology, we used a stochastic reaction-diffusion model of calcium dynamics in idealized and realistic geometries. We show that despite the stochastic nature of the various calcium channels, receptors, and pumps, spine size and shape can modulate calcium dynamics and subsequently synaptic weight updates in a deterministic manner. Through a series of exhaustive simulations and analyses, we found that the calcium dynamics and synaptic weight change depend on the volume-to-surface area of the spine. The relationships between calcium dynamics and spine morphology identified in idealized geometries also hold in realistic geometries, suggesting that there are geometrically determined deterministic relationships that may modulate synaptic weight change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam K. Bell
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Maven V. Holst
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Christopher T. Lee
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Padmini Rangamani
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
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5
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Kovács Z, Skatchkov SN, Szabó Z, Qahtan S, Méndez-González MP, Malpica-Nieves CJ, Eaton MJ, Kardos J, Héja L. Putrescine Intensifies Glu/GABA Exchange Mechanism and Promotes Early Termination of Seizures. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158191. [PMID: 35897767 PMCID: PMC9331600 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Endogenous anticonvulsant mechanisms represent a reliable and currently underdeveloped strategy against recurrent seizures and may recall novel original therapeutics. Here, we investigated whether the intensification of the astroglial Glu-GABA exchange mechanism by application of the GABA precursor putrescine (PUT) may be effective against convulsive and non-convulsive seizures. We explored the potential of PUT to inhibit spontaneous spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) in WAG/Rij rats, a genetic model of absence epilepsy. Significant shortening of SWDs in response to intraperitoneally applied PUT has been observed, which could be antagonized by blocking GAT-2/3-mediated astrocytic GABA release with the specific inhibitor SNAP-5114. Direct application of exogenous GABA also reduced SWD duration, suggesting that PUT-triggered astroglial GABA release through GAT-2/3 may be a critical step in limiting seizure duration. PUT application also dose-dependently shortened seizure-like events (SLEs) in the low-[Mg2+] in vitro model of temporal lobe epilepsy. SNAP-5114 reversed the antiepileptic effect of PUT in the in vitro model as well, further confirming that PUT reduces seizure duration by triggering glial GABA release. In accordance, we observed that PUT specifically reduces the frequency of excitatory synaptic potentials, suggesting that it specifically acts at excitatory synapses. We also identified that PUT specifically eliminated the tonic depolarization-induced desynchronization of SLEs. Since PUT is an important source of glial GABA and we previously showed significant GABA release, it is suggested that the astroglial Glu-GABA exchange mechanism plays a key role in limiting ictal discharges, potentially opening up novel pathways to control seizure propagation and generalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Kovács
- Department of Biology, Savaria University Centre, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Károlyi Gáspár tér 4, 9700 Szombathely, Hungary;
| | - Serguei N. Skatchkov
- Department of Physiology, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR 00960, USA; (S.N.S.); (C.J.M.-N.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR 00960, USA; (M.P.M.-G.); (M.J.E.)
| | - Zsolt Szabó
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.S.); (S.Q.); (J.K.)
| | - Saif Qahtan
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.S.); (S.Q.); (J.K.)
- Hevesy György PhD School of Chemistry, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
- College of Science, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah 58001, Iraq
| | - Miguel P. Méndez-González
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR 00960, USA; (M.P.M.-G.); (M.J.E.)
- Natural Sciences Department, University of Puerto Rico in Aguadilla, Aguadilla, PR 00604, USA
- Department of Science and Technology, Antilles Adventist University, Mayagüez, PR 00681, USA
| | - Christian J. Malpica-Nieves
- Department of Physiology, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR 00960, USA; (S.N.S.); (C.J.M.-N.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR 00960, USA; (M.P.M.-G.); (M.J.E.)
| | - Misty J. Eaton
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR 00960, USA; (M.P.M.-G.); (M.J.E.)
| | - Julianna Kardos
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.S.); (S.Q.); (J.K.)
| | - László Héja
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.S.); (S.Q.); (J.K.)
- Correspondence:
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Ichimura T, Kakizuka T, Horikawa K, Seiriki K, Kasai A, Hashimoto H, Fujita K, Watanabe TM, Nagai T. Exploring rare cellular activity in more than one million cells by a transscale scope. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16539. [PMID: 34400683 PMCID: PMC8368064 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95930-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In many phenomena of biological systems, not a majority, but a minority of cells act on the entire multicellular system causing drastic changes in the system properties. To understand the mechanisms underlying such phenomena, it is essential to observe the spatiotemporal dynamics of a huge population of cells at sub-cellular resolution, which is difficult with conventional tools such as microscopy and flow cytometry. Here, we describe an imaging system named AMATERAS that enables optical imaging with an over-one-centimeter field-of-view and a-few-micrometer spatial resolution. This trans-scale-scope has a simple configuration, composed of a low-power lens for machine vision and a hundred-megapixel image sensor. We demonstrated its high cell-throughput, capable of simultaneously observing more than one million cells. We applied it to dynamic imaging of calcium ions in HeLa cells and cyclic-adenosine-monophosphate in Dictyostelium discoideum, and successfully detected less than 0.01% of rare cells and observed multicellular events induced by these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ichimura
- Transdimensional Life Imaging Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
| | - T Kakizuka
- Transdimensional Life Imaging Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - K Horikawa
- Department of Optical Imaging, Advanced Research Promotion Center, Tokushima University, Kuramoto-cho 3-18-15, Tokushima, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - K Seiriki
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 1-6, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - A Kasai
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 1-6, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - H Hashimoto
- Transdimensional Life Imaging Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 1-6, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Institute for Transdisciplinary Graduate Degree Programs, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 1-1, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - K Fujita
- Transdimensional Life Imaging Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - T M Watanabe
- Laboratory for Comprehensive Bioimaging, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Minatomachi-minami 2-2-3, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8553, Japan
| | - T Nagai
- Transdimensional Life Imaging Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
- SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University, Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0047, Japan.
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7
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Szabó Z, Péter M, Héja L, Kardos J. Dual Role for Astroglial Copper-Assisted Polyamine Metabolism during Intense Network Activity. Biomolecules 2021; 11:604. [PMID: 33921742 PMCID: PMC8073386 DOI: 10.3390/biom11040604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes serve essential roles in human brain function and diseases. Growing evidence indicates that astrocytes are central players of the feedback modulation of excitatory Glu signalling during epileptiform activity via Glu-GABA exchange. The underlying mechanism results in the increase of tonic inhibition by reverse operation of the astroglial GABA transporter, induced by Glu-Na+ symport. GABA, released from astrocytes, is synthesized from the polyamine (PA) putrescine and this process involves copper amino oxidase. Through this pathway, putrescine can be considered as an important source of inhibitory signaling that counterbalances epileptic discharges. Putrescine, however, is also a precursor for spermine that is known to enhance gap junction channel communication and, consequently, supports long-range Ca2+ signaling and contributes to spreading of excitatory activity through the astrocytic syncytium. Recently, we presented the possibility of neuron-glia redox coupling through copper (Cu+/Cu2+) signaling and oxidative putrescine catabolism. In the current work, we explore whether the Cu+/Cu2+ homeostasis is involved in astrocytic control on neuronal excitability by regulating PA catabolism. We provide supporting experimental data underlying this hypothesis. We show that the blockade of copper transporter (CTR1) by AgNO3 (3.6 µM) prevents GABA transporter-mediated tonic inhibitory currents, indicating causal relationship between copper (Cu+/Cu2+) uptake and the catabolism of putrescine to GABA in astrocytes. In addition, we show that MnCl2 (20 μM), an inhibitor of the divalent metal transporter DMT1, also prevents the astrocytic Glu-GABA exchange. Furthermore, we observed that facilitation of copper uptake by added CuCl2 (2 µM) boosts tonic inhibitory currents. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that modulation of neuron-glia coupling by copper uptake drives putrescine → GABA transformation, which leads to subsequent Glu-GABA exchange and tonic inhibition. Findings may in turn highlight the potential role of copper signaling in fine-tuning the activity of the tripartite synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Szabó
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.S.); (M.P.); (J.K.)
| | - Márton Péter
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.S.); (M.P.); (J.K.)
- Hevesy György Ph.D. School of Chemistry, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Héja
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.S.); (M.P.); (J.K.)
| | - Julianna Kardos
- Functional Pharmacology Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.S.); (M.P.); (J.K.)
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