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Lehner A, Hoffmann L, Rampp S, Coras R, Paulsen F, Frischknecht R, Hamer H, Walther K, Brandner S, Hofer W, Pieper T, Reisch L, Bien CG, Blumcke I. Age-dependent increase of perineuronal nets in the human hippocampus and precocious aging in epilepsy. Epilepsia Open 2024; 9:1372-1381. [PMID: 38845524 PMCID: PMC11296138 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Perineuronal nets (PNN) are specialized extracellular matrix (ECM) components of the central nervous system, frequently accumulating at the surface of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons. While an altered distribution of PNN has been observed in neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and epilepsy, their anatomical distribution also changes during physiological brain maturation and aging. Such an age-dependent shift was experimentally associated also with hippocampal engram formation during brain maturation. Our aim was to histopathologically assess PNN in the hippocampus of adult and pediatric patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) compared to age-matched post-mortem control subjects and to compare PNN-related changes with memory impairment observed in our patient cohort. METHODS Sixty-six formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of the human hippocampus were retrieved from the European Epilepsy Brain Bank. Twenty-nine patients had histopathologically confirmed hippocampal sclerosis (HS), and eleven patients suffered from TLE without HS. PNN were immunohistochemically visualized using an antibody directed against aggrecan and manually counted from hippocampus subfields and the subiculum. RESULTS PNN density increased with age in both human controls and TLE patients. However, their density was significantly higher in all HS patients compared to age-matched controls. Intriguingly, TLE patients presented presurgically with better memory when their hippocampal PNN density was higher (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE Our results were compatible with age-dependent ECM specialization in the human hippocampus and its precocious aging in the epileptic condition. These observations confirm recent experimental animal models and also support the notion that PNN play a role in memory formation in the human brain. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY "Perineuronal nets" (PNN) are a specialized compartment of the extracellular matrix (ECM), especially surrounding highly active neurons of the mammalian brain. There is evidence that PNN play a role in memory formation, brain maturation, and in some pathologies like Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia or epilepsy. In this study, we investigated the role of PNN in patients suffering from drug-resistant focal epilepsy compared to controls. We found that with increasing age, more neurons are surrounded by PNN. Similarly, all epilepsy patients but especially patients with better memory performance also had more PNN. This study raises further interest in studying ECM molecules in the human brain under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Lehner
- Department of NeuropathologyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen and FAU Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
- Partner of the European Reference Network (ERN) EpiCAREBarcelonaSpain
| | - Lucas Hoffmann
- Department of NeuropathologyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen and FAU Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
- Partner of the European Reference Network (ERN) EpiCAREBarcelonaSpain
| | - Stefan Rampp
- Department of NeuroradiologyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen and FAU Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
- Department of NeurosurgeryUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen and FAU Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
| | - Roland Coras
- Department of NeuropathologyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen and FAU Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
- Partner of the European Reference Network (ERN) EpiCAREBarcelonaSpain
| | - Friedrich Paulsen
- Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy, FAU Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
| | - Renato Frischknecht
- Department of Biology, Animal PhysiologyFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
| | - Hajo Hamer
- Epilepsy Center, Department of NeurologyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen and FAU Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
| | - Katrin Walther
- Epilepsy Center, Department of NeurologyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen and FAU Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
| | - Sebastian Brandner
- Department of NeurosurgeryUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen and FAU Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
- Department of NeurosurgeryKlinikum FürthGermany
| | - Wiebke Hofer
- Department of Psychology/Neuropsychology, Center for Pediatric Neurology, Neurorehabilitation, and EpileptologySchön Klinik VogtareuthGermany
| | - Tom Pieper
- Center for Pediatric Neurology, Neurorehabilitation, and EpileptologySchön Klinik VogtareuthGermany
| | - Lea‐Marie Reisch
- Department of Epileptology (Krankenhaus Mara), Medical SchoolBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | - Christian G. Bien
- Department of Epileptology (Krankenhaus Mara), Medical SchoolBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | - Ingmar Blumcke
- Department of NeuropathologyUniversitätsklinikum Erlangen and FAU Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
- Partner of the European Reference Network (ERN) EpiCAREBarcelonaSpain
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Banovac I, Prkačin MV, Kirchbaum I, Trnski-Levak S, Bobić-Rasonja M, Sedmak G, Petanjek Z, Jovanov-Milosevic N. Morphological and Molecular Characteristics of Perineuronal Nets in the Human Prefrontal Cortex-A Possible Link to Microcircuitry Specialization. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04306-1. [PMID: 38958887 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04306-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are a type of extracellular matrix (ECM) that play a significant role in synaptic activity and plasticity of interneurons in health and disease. We researched PNNs' regional and laminar representation and molecular composition using immunohistochemistry and transcriptome analysis of Brodmann areas (BA) 9, 14r, and 24 in 25 human postmortem brains aged 13-82 years. The numbers of VCAN- and NCAN-expressing PNNs, relative to the total number of neurons, were highest in cortical layers I and VI while WFA-binding (WFA+) PNNs were most abundant in layers III-V. The ECM glycosylation pattern was the most pronounced regional difference, shown by a significantly lower proportion of WFA+ PNNs in BA24 (3.27 ± 0.69%) compared to BA9 (6.32 ± 1.73%; P = 0.0449) and BA14 (5.64 ± 0.71%; P = 0.0278). The transcriptome of late developmental and mature stages revealed a relatively stable expression of PNN-related transcripts (log2-transformed expression values: 6.5-8.5 for VCAN and 8.0-9.5 for NCAN). Finally, we propose a classification of PNNs that envelop GABAergic neurons in the human cortex. The significant differences in PNNs' morphology, distribution, and molecular composition strongly suggest an involvement of PNNs in specifying distinct microcircuits in particular cortical regions and layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Banovac
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 11, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Šalata 12, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Matija Vid Prkačin
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 11, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Šalata 12, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivona Kirchbaum
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 11, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Sara Trnski-Levak
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 11, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mihaela Bobić-Rasonja
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 11, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Biology, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 3, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Goran Sedmak
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 11, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Zdravko Petanjek
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 11, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Šalata 12, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Natasa Jovanov-Milosevic
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 11, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Šalata 12, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
- Department of Biology, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 3, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
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Yuan S, Shi J, Tang X, Deng B, Wu Z, Qiu B, Lin S, Ji C, Wang L, Cui S, Xu N, Yao L. The Role of Perineuronal Nets in the Contralateral Hemisphere in the Electroacupuncture-Mediated Rehabilitation of Poststroke Dysphagia Mice. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0234-23.2023. [PMID: 37977825 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0234-23.2023] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Acupuncture at Lianquan (CV23) acupoint has been shown to improve swallowing function in poststroke dysphagia (PSD). This improvement is supposed to be associated with the regulation of neuronal activity in the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1), while the underlying mechanism still needs to be elucidated. Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are well-known to be involved in the regulation of neuronal activity. Thus, we here aimed to detect the role of PNNs in the contralateral M1 hemisphere in the electroacupuncture (EA)-mediated effect in male mice. The results were obtained from a combination of methods, including in vitro slice electrophysiological recording, in vivo electrophysiological recording, and immunofluorescent staining in male mice. These results showed a decrease of the excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and no alteration of the inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in the GABAergic neurons and the tonic inhibition in the excitatory neurons in the contralateral M1 after stroke induction, and EA recovered the impaired sEPSCs in the GABAergic neurons. We further found that the effect of EA-induced increase of c-Fos expression, enhancement of spike firing, potentiation of sEPSCs in the excitatory neurons, and improvement of swallowing function were all blocked by the removal of PNNs in the contralateral M1. In conclusion, the PNNs in the contralateral M1 was suggested to be participated in stroke pathogenesis and might be associated with the EA-mediated swallowing function rehabilitation of PSD in male mice. Our study provides insight into how PNNs might be involved in the mechanism of EA treatment for stroke rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Yuan
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, China
- Department of Rehabilitation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, 410208, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jiahui Shi
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, China
| | - Xiaorong Tang
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, China
| | - Bing Deng
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, China
| | - Zhennan Wu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, China
| | - Bo Qiu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, China
| | - Shumin Lin
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, China
| | - Chang Ji
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510630, China
| | - Lin Wang
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, China
| | - Shuai Cui
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui Province 230012, China
| | - Nenggui Xu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, China
| | - Lulu Yao
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, China
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Woo AM, Sontheimer H. Interactions between astrocytes and extracellular matrix structures contribute to neuroinflammation-associated epilepsy pathology. FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE 2023; 3:1198021. [PMID: 39086689 PMCID: PMC11285605 DOI: 10.3389/fmmed.2023.1198021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Often considered the "housekeeping" cells of the brain, astrocytes have of late been rising to the forefront of neurodegenerative disorder research. Identified as crucial components of a healthy brain, it is undeniable that when astrocytes are dysfunctional, the entire brain is thrown into disarray. We offer epilepsy as a well-studied neurological disorder in which there is clear evidence of astrocyte contribution to diseases as evidenced across several different disease models, including mouse models of hippocampal sclerosis, trauma associated epilepsy, glioma-associated epilepsy, and beta-1 integrin knockout astrogliosis. In this review we suggest that astrocyte-driven neuroinflammation, which plays a large role in the pathology of epilepsy, is at least partially modulated by interactions with perineuronal nets (PNNs), highly structured formations of the extracellular matrix (ECM). These matrix structures affect synaptic placement, but also intrinsic neuronal properties such as membrane capacitance, as well as ion buffering in their immediate milieu all of which alters neuronal excitability. We propose that the interactions between PNNs and astrocytes contribute to the disease progression of epilepsy vis a vis neuroinflammation. Further investigation and alteration of these interactions to reduce the resultant neuroinflammation may serve as a potential therapeutic target that provides an alternative to the standard anti-seizure medications from which patients are so frequently unable to benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- AnnaLin M. Woo
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Neuroscience Department, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Harald Sontheimer
- Neuroscience Department, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Soles A, Selimovic A, Sbrocco K, Ghannoum F, Hamel K, Moncada EL, Gilliat S, Cvetanovic M. Extracellular Matrix Regulation in Physiology and in Brain Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:7049. [PMID: 37108212 PMCID: PMC10138624 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounds cells in the brain, providing structural and functional support. Emerging studies demonstrate that the ECM plays important roles during development, in the healthy adult brain, and in brain diseases. The aim of this review is to briefly discuss the physiological roles of the ECM and its contribution to the pathogenesis of brain disease, highlighting the gene expression changes, transcriptional factors involved, and a role for microglia in ECM regulation. Much of the research conducted thus far on disease states has focused on "omic" approaches that reveal differences in gene expression related to the ECM. Here, we review recent findings on alterations in the expression of ECM-associated genes in seizure, neuropathic pain, cerebellar ataxia, and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Next, we discuss evidence implicating the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in regulating the expression of ECM genes. HIF-1 is induced in response to hypoxia, and also targets genes involved in ECM remodeling, suggesting that hypoxia could contribute to ECM remodeling in disease conditions. We conclude by discussing the role microglia play in the regulation of the perineuronal nets (PNNs), a specialized form of ECM in the central nervous system. We show evidence that microglia can modulate PNNs in healthy and diseased brain states. Altogether, these findings suggest that ECM regulation is altered in brain disease, and highlight the role of HIF-1 and microglia in ECM remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Soles
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Adem Selimovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kaelin Sbrocco
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ferris Ghannoum
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Katherine Hamel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Emmanuel Labrada Moncada
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Stephen Gilliat
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Ábrahám H, Kojima H, Götzer K, Molnár A, Tornóczky T, Seress L. Development of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the postnatal human hippocampal formation. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1058370. [PMID: 36816519 PMCID: PMC9932602 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1058370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Parvalbumin (PV) is a calcium-binding protein present in fast-spiking GABAergic neurons, such as basket and axo-axonic cells. Previous studies in non-human primates reported prenatal expression of PV in the temporal archicortex including entorhinal cortex and hippocampal formation. In contrast, PV-immunoreactivity was observed only postnatally in the human entorhinal cortex. Regarding PV expression in the human hippocampal formation, no information is available. Methods: In this study, the neurochemical maturation of PV-immunoreactive interneurons was studied in the postnatal developing human hippocampal formation. Results: Before birth, no PV-immunoreactive neurons could be detected in the human hippocampus. At birth, only a few PV-immunoreactive neurons were visible in Ammon's horn. The first PV-immunoreactive cells in the hilus of the dentate gyrus appeared at the age of 1 month. Even at the age of 5 months, only a few PV-immunopositive cells were present in the dentate hilus. The number of cells and their dendritic and axonal arborization in Ammon's horn and in the dentate gyrus gradually increased with age. Even at the age of 2 years, dendritic tree and axons of PV-immunoreactive neurons were less complex than can be seen in 8 and 11 years old children. Discussion: Our results showed that long-lasting maturation of PV-immunoreactive interneurons follows the developmental sequence of the subfields of the human hippocampal formation and provides further morphological evidence for the long-lasting functional maturation of the human cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajnalka Ábrahám
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscopic Laboratory, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary,Institute for the Psychology of Special Needs, Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary,*Correspondence: Hajnalka Ábrahám
| | - Hisae Kojima
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscopic Laboratory, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Katalin Götzer
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscopic Laboratory, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Abigél Molnár
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscopic Laboratory, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Tornóczky
- Department of Pathology, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary
| | - László Seress
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscopic Laboratory, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary,Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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