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Leitch B. Parvalbumin Interneuron Dysfunction in Neurological Disorders: Focus on Epilepsy and Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5549. [PMID: 38791587 PMCID: PMC11122153 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Parvalbumin expressing (PV+) GABAergic interneurons are fast spiking neurons that provide powerful but relatively short-lived inhibition to principal excitatory cells in the brain. They play a vital role in feedforward and feedback synaptic inhibition, preventing run away excitation in neural networks. Hence, their dysfunction can lead to hyperexcitability and increased susceptibility to seizures. PV+ interneurons are also key players in generating gamma oscillations, which are synchronized neural oscillations associated with various cognitive functions. PV+ interneuron are particularly vulnerable to aging and their degeneration has been associated with cognitive decline and memory impairment in dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Overall, dysfunction of PV+ interneurons disrupts the normal excitatory/inhibitory balance within specific neurocircuits in the brain and thus has been linked to a wide range of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. This review focuses on the role of dysfunctional PV+ inhibitory interneurons in the generation of epileptic seizures and cognitive impairment and their potential as targets in the design of future therapeutic strategies to treat these disorders. Recent research using cutting-edge optogenetic and chemogenetic technologies has demonstrated that they can be selectively manipulated to control seizures and restore the balance of neural activity in the brains of animal models. This suggests that PV+ interneurons could be important targets in developing future treatments for patients with epilepsy and comorbid disorders, such as AD, where seizures and cognitive decline are directly linked to specific PV+ interneuron deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beulah Leitch
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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2
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Cording KR, Tu EM, Wang H, Agopyan-Miu AHCW, Bateup HS. Cntnap2 loss drives striatal neuron hyperexcitability and behavioral inflexibility. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.09.593387. [PMID: 38766169 PMCID: PMC11100810 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.09.593387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by two major diagnostic criteria - persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, and the presence of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior (RRBs). Evidence from both human and animal model studies of ASD suggest that alteration of striatal circuits, which mediate motor learning, action selection, and habit formation, may contribute to the manifestation of RRBs. CNTNAP2 is a syndromic ASD risk gene, and loss of function of Cntnap2 in mice is associated with RRBs. How loss of Cntnap2 impacts striatal neuron function is largely unknown. In this study, we utilized Cntnap2-/- mice to test whether altered striatal neuron activity contributes to aberrant motor behaviors relevant to ASD. We find that Cntnap2-/- mice exhibit increased cortical drive of striatal projection neurons (SPNs), with the most pronounced effects in direct pathway SPNs. This enhanced drive is likely due to increased intrinsic excitability of SPNs, which make them more responsive to cortical inputs. We also find that Cntnap2-/- mice exhibit spontaneous repetitive behaviors, increased motor routine learning, and cognitive inflexibility. Increased corticostriatal drive, in particular of the direct pathway, may contribute to the acquisition of repetitive, inflexible behaviors in Cntnap2 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R. Cording
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Emilie M. Tu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Hongli Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | | | - Helen S. Bateup
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
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3
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Miller B, Crider A, Aravamuthan B, Galindo R. Human chorionic gonadotropin decreases cerebral cystic encephalomalacia and parvalbumin interneuron degeneration in a pro-inflammatory model of mouse neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.27.587006. [PMID: 38585735 PMCID: PMC10996598 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.27.587006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is an immunoregulatory and neurotrophic glycoprotein of potential clinical utility in the neonate at risk for cerebral injury. Despite its well-known role in its ability to modulate the innate immune response during pregnancy, hCG has not been demonstrated to affect the pro-degenerative actions of inflammation in neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Here we utilize a neonatal mouse model of mild HI combined with intraperitoneal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to evaluate the neuroprotective actions of hCG in the setting of endotoxin-mediated systemic inflammation. Intraperitoneal treatment of hCG shortly prior to LPS injection significantly decreased tissue loss and cystic degeneration in the hippocampal and cerebral cortex in the term-equivalent neonatal mouse exposed to mild HI. Noting that parvalbumin immunoreactive interneurons have been broadly implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, it is notable that hCG significantly improved the injury-mediated reduction of these neurons in the cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus. The above findings were associated with a decrease in the amount of Iba1 immunoreactive microglia in most of these brain regions. These observations implicate hCG as an agent capable of improving the neurological morbidity associated with peripheral inflammation in the neonate affected by HI. Future preclinical studies should aim at demonstrating added neuroprotective benefit by hCG in the context of therapeutic hypothermia and further exploring the mechanisms responsible for this effect. This research is likely to advance the therapeutic role of gonadotropins as a treatment for neonates with neonatal brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Miller
- Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric & Developmental Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA 63110
| | - Alexander Crider
- Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric & Developmental Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA 63110
| | - Bhooma Aravamuthan
- Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric & Developmental Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA 63110
| | - Rafael Galindo
- Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric & Developmental Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA 63110
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4
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García-Cerro S, Gómez-Garrido A, Garcia G, Crespo-Facorro B, Brites D. Exploratory Analysis of MicroRNA Alterations in a Neurodevelopmental Mouse Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2786. [PMID: 38474035 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression levels and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ). In this study, we examined the adult expression profiles of specific miRNAs in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of a neurodevelopmental mouse model for ASD and SCZ that mimics perinatal pathology, such as NMDA receptor hypofunction, and exhibits behavioral and neurophysiological phenotypes related to these disorders during adulthood. To model the early neuropathogenesis of the disorders, mouse pups were administered subcutaneously with ketamine (30 mg/Kg) at postnatal days 7, 9, and 11. We focused on a set of miRNAs most frequently altered in ASD (miR-451a and miR-486-3p) and in SCZ (miR-132-3p and miR-137-3p) according to human studies. Additionally, we explored miRNAs whose alterations have been identified in both disorders (miR-21-5p, miR-92a-2-5p, miR-144-3p, and miR-146a-5p). We placed particular emphasis on studying the sexual dimorphism in the dynamics of these miRNAs. Our findings revealed significant alterations in the PFC of this ASD- and SCZ-like mouse model. Specifically, we observed upregulated miR-451a and downregulated miR-137-3p. Furthermore, we identified sexual dimorphism in the expression of miR-132-3p, miR-137-3p, and miR-92a-2-5p. From a translational perspective, our results emphasize the potential involvement of miR-92a-2-5p, miR-132-3p, miR-137-3p, and miR-451a in the pathophysiology of ASD and SCZ and strengthen their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets of such disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana García-Cerro
- Translational Psychiatry Group, Ibis-Biomedicine Institute of Sevilla-CSIC, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Gómez-Garrido
- Translational Psychiatry Group, Ibis-Biomedicine Institute of Sevilla-CSIC, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonçalo Garcia
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Benedicto Crespo-Facorro
- Translational Psychiatry Group, Ibis-Biomedicine Institute of Sevilla-CSIC, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Spanish Network for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Monforte de Lemos AV, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Mental Health Unit, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Manuel Siurot AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Seville, Sánchez Pizjuán AV, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Dora Brites
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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Gemperli K, Folorunso F, Norin B, Joshua R, Hill C, Rykowski R, Galindo R, Aravamuthan BR. Mice born preterm develop gait dystonia and reduced cortical parvalbumin immunoreactivity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.01.578353. [PMID: 38352408 PMCID: PMC10862908 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.01.578353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Preterm birth leading to cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of childhood dystonia, a movement disorder that is debilitating and often treatment refractory. Dystonia has been typically associated with dysfunction of striatal cholinergic interneurons, but clinical imaging data suggests that cortical injury may best predict dystonia following preterm birth. Furthermore, abnormal sensorimotor cortex inhibition has been found in many studies of non-CP dystonias. To assess the potential for a cortical etiology of dystonia following preterm birth, we developed a new model of preterm birth in mice. Noting that term delivery in mice on a C57BL/6J background is embryonic day 19.1 (E19.1), we induced preterm birth at the limits of pup viability at embryonic day (E) 18.3, equivalent to human 22 weeks gestation. Mice born preterm demonstrate display clinically validated metrics of dystonia during gait (leg adduction amplitude and variability) and also demonstrate reduced parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the sensorimotor cortex, suggesting dysfunction of cortical parvalbumin-positive inhibitory interneurons. Notably, reduced parvalbumin immunoreactivity or changes in parvalbumin-positive neuronal number were not observed in the striatum. These data support the association between cortical dysfunction and dystonia following preterm birth. We propose that our mouse model of preterm birth can be used to study this association and potentially also study other sequelae of extreme prematurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kat Gemperli
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Femi Folorunso
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Benjamin Norin
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Rebecca Joshua
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Clayton Hill
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Rachel Rykowski
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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6
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Zhang M, Pan X, Jung W, Halpern AR, Eichhorn SW, Lei Z, Cohen L, Smith KA, Tasic B, Yao Z, Zeng H, Zhuang X. Molecularly defined and spatially resolved cell atlas of the whole mouse brain. Nature 2023; 624:343-354. [PMID: 38092912 PMCID: PMC10719103 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06808-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In mammalian brains, millions to billions of cells form complex interaction networks to enable a wide range of functions. The enormous diversity and intricate organization of cells have impeded our understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of brain function. Recent advances in spatially resolved single-cell transcriptomics have enabled systematic mapping of the spatial organization of molecularly defined cell types in complex tissues1-3, including several brain regions (for example, refs. 1-11). However, a comprehensive cell atlas of the whole brain is still missing. Here we imaged a panel of more than 1,100 genes in approximately 10 million cells across the entire adult mouse brains using multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization12 and performed spatially resolved, single-cell expression profiling at the whole-transcriptome scale by integrating multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization and single-cell RNA sequencing data. Using this approach, we generated a comprehensive cell atlas of more than 5,000 transcriptionally distinct cell clusters, belonging to more than 300 major cell types, in the whole mouse brain with high molecular and spatial resolution. Registration of this atlas to the mouse brain common coordinate framework allowed systematic quantifications of the cell-type composition and organization in individual brain regions. We further identified spatial modules characterized by distinct cell-type compositions and spatial gradients featuring gradual changes of cells. Finally, this high-resolution spatial map of cells, each with a transcriptome-wide expression profile, allowed us to infer cell-type-specific interactions between hundreds of cell-type pairs and predict molecular (ligand-receptor) basis and functional implications of these cell-cell interactions. These results provide rich insights into the molecular and cellular architecture of the brain and a foundation for functional investigations of neural circuits and their dysfunction in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xingjie Pan
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Won Jung
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aaron R Halpern
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stephen W Eichhorn
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Zhiyun Lei
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Limor Cohen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Zizhen Yao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Xiaowei Zhuang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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7
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Rao NS, Putra M, Meyer C, Almanza A, Thippeswamy T. The effects of Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor, saracatinib, on the markers of epileptogenesis in a mixed-sex cohort of adult rats in the kainic acid model of epilepsy. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1294514. [PMID: 38025259 PMCID: PMC10665569 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1294514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation are key processes of epileptogenesis in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). A considerable number (∼30%) of patients with epilepsy are resistant to currently available antiseizure drugs and thus there is a need to develop adjunct therapies to modify disease progression. A vast majority of interventional strategies to treat TLE have utilized males which limits the translational nature of the studies. In this study, we investigated the effects of repeated low-dose kainic acid (KA) injection on the initial status epilepticus (SE) and the effects of Src kinase inhibitor, saracatinib (SAR/AZD0530; 20 mg/kg, oral, daily for 7 days), in a mixed-sex cohort of adult Sprague Dawley rats during early epileptogenesis. There were no sex differences in response to KA-induced SE, and neither did the stage of estrus influence SE severity. KA-induced SE caused significant astrogliosis and microgliosis across the hippocampus, piriform cortex, and amygdala. SAR treatment resulted in a significant reduction of microgliosis across brain regions. Microglial morphometrics such as branch length and the endpoints strongly correlated with CD68 expression in the vehicle-treated group but not in the SAR-treated group, indicating mitigation by SAR. KA-induced SE caused significant neuronal loss, including parvalbumin-positive inhibitory neurons, in both vehicle (VEH) and SAR-treated groups. SAR treatment significantly mitigated FJB-positive neuronal counts as compared to the VEH group. There was an increase in C3-positive reactive astrocytes in the VEH-treated group, and SAR treatment significantly reduced the increase in the piriform cortex. C3-positive astrogliosis significantly correlated with CD68 expression in the amygdala (AMY) of VEH-treated rats, and SAR treatment mitigated this relationship. There was a significant increase of pSrc(Y419)-positive microglia in both KA-treated groups with a statistically insignificant reduction by SAR. KA-induced SE caused the development of classical glial scars in the piriform cortex (PIR) in both KA-treated groups, while SAR treatment led to a 42.17% reduction in the size of glial scars. We did not observe sex differences in any of the parameters in this study. SAR, at the dose tested in the rat kainate model for a week in this study mitigated some of the markers of epileptogenesis in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Thimmasettappa Thippeswamy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
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8
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Rudy MJ, Salois G, Cubello J, Newell R, Mayer-Proschel M. Gestational iron deficiency affects the ratio between interneuron subtypes in the postnatal cerebral cortex in mice. Development 2023; 150:dev201068. [PMID: 36805633 PMCID: PMC10110419 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201068] [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: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Gestational iron deficiency (gID) is highly prevalent and associated with an increased risk of intellectual and developmental disabilities in affected individuals that are often defined by a disrupted balance of excitation and inhibition (E/I) in the brain. Using a nutritional mouse model of gID, we previously demonstrated a shift in the E/I balance towards increased inhibition in the brains of gID offspring that was refractory to postnatal iron supplementation. We thus tested whether gID affects embryonic progenitor cells that are fated towards inhibitory interneurons. We quantified relevant cell populations during embryonic inhibitory neuron specification and found an increase in the proliferation of Nkx2.1+ interneuron progenitors in the embryonic medial ganglionic eminence at E14 that was associated with increased Shh signaling in gID animals at E12. When we quantified the number of mature inhibitory interneurons that are known to originate from the MGE, we found a persistent disruption of differentiated interneuron subtypes in early adulthood. Our data identify a cellular target that links gID with a disruption of cortical interneurons which play a major role in the establishment of the E/I balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Rudy
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver – Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 East 17th Place, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Garrick Salois
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Janine Cubello
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Robert Newell
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Margot Mayer-Proschel
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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9
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Toudji I, Toumi A, Chamberland É, Rossignol E. Interneuron odyssey: molecular mechanisms of tangential migration. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1256455. [PMID: 37779671 PMCID: PMC10538647 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1256455] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical GABAergic interneurons are critical components of neural networks. They provide local and long-range inhibition and help coordinate network activities involved in various brain functions, including signal processing, learning, memory and adaptative responses. Disruption of cortical GABAergic interneuron migration thus induces profound deficits in neural network organization and function, and results in a variety of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders including epilepsy, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. It is thus of paramount importance to elucidate the specific mechanisms that govern the migration of interneurons to clarify some of the underlying disease mechanisms. GABAergic interneurons destined to populate the cortex arise from multipotent ventral progenitor cells located in the ganglionic eminences and pre-optic area. Post-mitotic interneurons exit their place of origin in the ventral forebrain and migrate dorsally using defined migratory streams to reach the cortical plate, which they enter through radial migration before dispersing to settle in their final laminar allocation. While migrating, cortical interneurons constantly change their morphology through the dynamic remodeling of actomyosin and microtubule cytoskeleton as they detect and integrate extracellular guidance cues generated by neuronal and non-neuronal sources distributed along their migratory routes. These processes ensure proper distribution of GABAergic interneurons across cortical areas and lamina, supporting the development of adequate network connectivity and brain function. This short review summarizes current knowledge on the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling cortical GABAergic interneuron migration, with a focus on tangential migration, and addresses potential avenues for cell-based interneuron progenitor transplants in the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders and epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikram Toudji
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Asmaa Toumi
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Émile Chamberland
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Elsa Rossignol
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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10
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Vivien J, El Azraoui A, Lheraux C, Lanore F, Aouizerate B, Herry C, Humeau Y, Bienvenu TCM. Axo-axonic cells in neuropsychiatric disorders: a systematic review. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1212202. [PMID: 37435048 PMCID: PMC10330806 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1212202] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Imbalance between excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex is one of the main theories in neuropsychiatric disorder pathophysiology. Cortical inhibition is finely regulated by a variety of highly specialized GABAergic interneuron types, which are thought to organize neural network activities. Among interneurons, axo-axonic cells are unique in making synapses with the axon initial segment of pyramidal neurons. Alterations of axo-axonic cells have been proposed to be implicated in disorders including epilepsy, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. However, evidence for the alteration of axo-axonic cells in disease has only been examined in narrative reviews. By performing a systematic review of studies investigating axo-axonic cells and axo-axonic communication in epilepsy, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, we outline convergent findings and discrepancies in the literature. Overall, the implication of axo-axonic cells in neuropsychiatric disorders might have been overstated. Additional work is needed to assess initial, mostly indirect findings, and to unravel how defects in axo-axonic cells translates to cortical dysregulation and, in turn, to pathological states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Vivien
- Université de Bordeaux, Inserm Neurocentre Magendie U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Anass El Azraoui
- Université de Bordeaux, Inserm Neurocentre Magendie U1215, Bordeaux, France
- Univ Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
| | - Cloé Lheraux
- Université de Bordeaux, Inserm Neurocentre Magendie U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Frederic Lanore
- Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, Inserm Neurocentre Magendie U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Bruno Aouizerate
- Université de Bordeaux, Inserm Neurocentre Magendie U1215, Bordeaux, France
- Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, Inserm Neurocentre Magendie U1215, Bordeaux, France
- INRAE, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, Bordeaux, France
| | - Cyril Herry
- Université de Bordeaux, Inserm Neurocentre Magendie U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Yann Humeau
- Univ Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas C. M. Bienvenu
- Université de Bordeaux, Inserm Neurocentre Magendie U1215, Bordeaux, France
- Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, Inserm Neurocentre Magendie U1215, Bordeaux, France
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11
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Zhang M, Pan X, Jung W, Halpern A, Eichhorn SW, Lei Z, Cohen L, Smith KA, Tasic B, Yao Z, Zeng H, Zhuang X. A molecularly defined and spatially resolved cell atlas of the whole mouse brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.06.531348. [PMID: 36945367 PMCID: PMC10028822 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.06.531348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
In mammalian brains, tens of millions to billions of cells form complex interaction networks to enable a wide range of functions. The enormous diversity and intricate organization of cells in the brain have so far hindered our understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of its functions. Recent advances in spatially resolved single-cell transcriptomics have allowed systematic mapping of the spatial organization of molecularly defined cell types in complex tissues1-3. However, these approaches have only been applied to a few brain regions1-11 and a comprehensive cell atlas of the whole brain is still missing. Here, we imaged a panel of >1,100 genes in ~8 million cells across the entire adult mouse brain using multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH)12 and performed spatially resolved, single-cell expression profiling at the whole-transcriptome scale by integrating MERFISH and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. Using this approach, we generated a comprehensive cell atlas of >5,000 transcriptionally distinct cell clusters, belonging to ~300 major cell types, in the whole mouse brain with high molecular and spatial resolution. Registration of the MERFISH images to the common coordinate framework (CCF) of the mouse brain further allowed systematic quantifications of the cell composition and organization in individual brain regions defined in the CCF. We further identified spatial modules characterized by distinct cell-type compositions and spatial gradients featuring gradual changes in the gene-expression profiles of cells. Finally, this high-resolution spatial map of cells, with a transcriptome-wide expression profile associated with each cell, allowed us to infer cell-type-specific interactions between several hundred pairs of molecularly defined cell types and predict potential molecular (ligand-receptor) basis and functional implications of these cell-cell interactions. These results provide rich insights into the molecular and cellular architecture of the brain and a valuable resource for future functional investigations of neural circuits and their dysfunction in diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Xingjie Pan
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Won Jung
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Aaron Halpern
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Stephen W. Eichhorn
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Zhiyun Lei
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Limor Cohen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Bosiljka Tasic
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Zizhen Yao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Xiaowei Zhuang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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12
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Liaci C, Camera M, Zamboni V, Sarò G, Ammoni A, Parmigiani E, Ponzoni L, Hidisoglu E, Chiantia G, Marcantoni A, Giustetto M, Tomagra G, Carabelli V, Torelli F, Sala M, Yanagawa Y, Obata K, Hirsch E, Merlo GR. Loss of ARHGAP15 affects the directional control of migrating interneurons in the embryonic cortex and increases susceptibility to epilepsy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:875468. [PMID: 36568982 PMCID: PMC9774038 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.875468] [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: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
GTPases of the Rho family are components of signaling pathways linking extracellular signals to the control of cytoskeleton dynamics. Among these, RAC1 plays key roles during brain development, ranging from neuronal migration to neuritogenesis, synaptogenesis, and plasticity. RAC1 activity is positively and negatively controlled by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), guanosine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs), and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), but the specific role of each regulator in vivo is poorly known. ARHGAP15 is a RAC1-specific GAP expressed during development in a fraction of migrating cortical interneurons (CINs) and in the majority of adult CINs. During development, loss of ARHGAP15 causes altered directionality of the leading process of tangentially migrating CINs, along with altered morphology in vitro. Likewise, time-lapse imaging of embryonic CINs revealed a poorly coordinated directional control during radial migration, possibly due to a hyper-exploratory behavior. In the adult cortex, the observed defects lead to subtle alteration in the distribution of CALB2-, SST-, and VIP-positive interneurons. Adult Arhgap15-knock-out mice also show reduced CINs intrinsic excitability, spontaneous subclinical seizures, and increased susceptibility to the pro-epileptic drug pilocarpine. These results indicate that ARHGAP15 imposes a fine negative regulation on RAC1 that is required for morphological maturation and directional control during CIN migration, with consequences on their laminar distribution and inhibitory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Liaci
- Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Mattia Camera
- Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Valentina Zamboni
- Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gabriella Sarò
- Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandra Ammoni
- Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Luisa Ponzoni
- Neuroscience Institute, Consiglio Nazionale Ricerche, Milan, Italy
| | - Enis Hidisoglu
- Department of Drug Science, NIS Center, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Chiantia
- Department of Neuroscience and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Marcantoni
- Department of Drug Science, NIS Center, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Maurizio Giustetto
- Department of Neuroscience and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giulia Tomagra
- Department of Drug Science, NIS Center, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Federico Torelli
- Institute for Physiology I, Medical Faculty, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany,Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Mariaelvina Sala
- Neuroscience Institute, Consiglio Nazionale Ricerche, Milan, Italy
| | - Yuchio Yanagawa
- Department of Genetic Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | | | - Emilio Hirsch
- Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giorgio R. Merlo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy,*Correspondence: Giorgio R. Merlo,
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