1
|
Martin Flores N, Podpolny M, McLeod F, Workman I, Crawford K, Ivanov D, Leonenko G, Escott-Price V, Salinas PC. Downregulation of Dickkopf-3, a Wnt antagonist elevated in Alzheimer's disease, restores synapse integrity and memory in a disease mouse model. eLife 2024; 12:RP89453. [PMID: 38285009 PMCID: PMC10945611 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89453] [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] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence supports a role for deficient Wnt signaling in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies reveal that the secreted Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-3 (DKK3) colocalizes to amyloid plaques in AD patients. Here, we investigate the contribution of DKK3 to synapse integrity in healthy and AD brains. Our findings show that DKK3 expression is upregulated in the brains of AD subjects and that DKK3 protein levels increase at early stages in the disease. In hAPP-J20 and hAPPNL-G-F/NL-G-F mouse AD models, extracellular DKK3 levels are increased and DKK3 accumulates at dystrophic neuronal processes around plaques. Functionally, DKK3 triggers the loss of excitatory synapses through blockade of the Wnt/GSK3β signaling with a concomitant increase in inhibitory synapses via activation of the Wnt/JNK pathway. In contrast, DKK3 knockdown restores synapse number and memory in hAPP-J20 mice. Collectively, our findings identify DKK3 as a novel driver of synaptic defects and memory impairment in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Martin Flores
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Marina Podpolny
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Faye McLeod
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Isaac Workman
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Karen Crawford
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff UniversityCardiffUnited Kingdom
| | - Dobril Ivanov
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff UniversityCardiffUnited Kingdom
| | - Ganna Leonenko
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff UniversityCardiffUnited Kingdom
| | - Valentina Escott-Price
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff UniversityCardiffUnited Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Cardiff UniversityCardiffUnited Kingdom
| | - Patricia C Salinas
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Teo S, Bossio A, Stamatakou E, Pascual-Vargas P, Jones ME, Schuhmacher LN, Salinas PC. S-acylation of the Wnt receptor Frizzled-5 by zDHHC5 controls its cellular localization and synaptogenic activity in the rodent hippocampus. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2063-2079.e9. [PMID: 37557176 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.07.012] [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: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Proper localization of receptors for synaptic organizing factors is crucial for synapse formation. Wnt proteins promote synapse assembly through Frizzled (Fz) receptors. In hippocampal neurons, the surface and synaptic localization of Fz5 is regulated by neuronal activity, but the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Here, we report that all Fz receptors can be post-translationally modified by S-acylation and that Fz5 is S-acylated on three C-terminal cysteines by zDHHC5. S-acylation is essential for Fz5 localization to the cell surface, axons, and presynaptic sites. Notably, S-acylation-deficient Fz5 is internalized faster, affecting its association with signalosome components at the cell surface. S-acylation-deficient Fz5 also fails to activate canonical and divergent canonical Wnt pathways. Fz5 S-acylation levels are regulated by the pattern of neuronal activity. In vivo studies demonstrate that S-acylation-deficient Fz5 expression fails to induce presynaptic assembly. Our studies show that S-acylation of Frizzled receptors is a mechanism controlling their localization and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Teo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Alessandro Bossio
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Eleanna Stamatakou
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Patricia Pascual-Vargas
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Megan E Jones
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Laura-Nadine Schuhmacher
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Patricia C Salinas
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rossano S, Toyonaga T, Berg E, Lorence I, Fowles K, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Li S, Ye Y, Felchner Z, Kukis D, Huang Y, Benveniste H, Tarantal AF, Groman S, Carson RE. Imaging the fetal nonhuman primate brain with SV2A positron emission tomography (PET). Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2022; 49:3679-3691. [PMID: 35633376 PMCID: PMC9826644 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-022-05825-6] [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: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Exploring synaptic density changes during brain growth is crucial to understanding brain development. Previous studies in nonhuman primates report a rapid increase in synapse number between the late gestational period and the early neonatal period, such that synaptic density approaches adult levels by birth. Prenatal synaptic development may have an enduring impact on postnatal brain development, but precisely how synaptic density changes in utero are unknown because current methods to quantify synaptic density are invasive and require post-mortem brain tissue. METHODS We used synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands [11C]UCB-J and [18F]Syn-VesT-1 to conduct the first assessment of synaptic density in the developing fetal brain in gravid rhesus monkeys. Eight pregnant monkeys were scanned twice during the third trimester at two imaging sites. Fetal post-mortem samples were collected near term in a subset of subjects to quantify SV2A density by Western blot. RESULTS Image-derived fetal brain SV2A measures increased during the third trimester. SV2A concentrations were greater in subcortical regions than in cortical regions at both gestational ages. Near term, SV2A density was higher in primary motor and visual areas than respective associative regions. Post-mortem quantification of SV2A density was significantly correlated with regional SV2A PET measures. CONCLUSION While further study is needed to determine the exact relationship of SV2A and synaptic density, the imaging paradigm developed in the current study allows for the effective in vivo study of SV2A development in the fetal brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Rossano
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Takuya Toyonaga
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Eric Berg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Isabella Lorence
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Krista Fowles
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nabeel Nabulsi
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jim Ropchan
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Songye Li
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yunpeng Ye
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Zachary Felchner
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - David Kukis
- Center for Molecular and Genomic Imaging, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Yiyun Huang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Helene Benveniste
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alice F Tarantal
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie Groman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Richard E Carson
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale PET Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Serrano ME, Kim E, Petrinovic MM, Turkheimer F, Cash D. Imaging Synaptic Density: The Next Holy Grail of Neuroscience? Front Neurosci 2022; 16:796129. [PMID: 35401097 PMCID: PMC8990757 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.796129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain is the central and most complex organ in the nervous system, comprising billions of neurons that constantly communicate through trillions of connections called synapses. Despite being formed mainly during prenatal and early postnatal development, synapses are continually refined and eliminated throughout life via complicated and hitherto incompletely understood mechanisms. Failure to correctly regulate the numbers and distribution of synapses has been associated with many neurological and psychiatric disorders, including autism, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia. Therefore, measurements of brain synaptic density, as well as early detection of synaptic dysfunction, are essential for understanding normal and abnormal brain development. To date, multiple synaptic density markers have been proposed and investigated in experimental models of brain disorders. The majority of the gold standard methodologies (e.g., electron microscopy or immunohistochemistry) visualize synapses or measure changes in pre- and postsynaptic proteins ex vivo. However, the invasive nature of these classic methodologies precludes their use in living organisms. The recent development of positron emission tomography (PET) tracers [such as (18F)UCB-H or (11C)UCB-J] that bind to a putative synaptic density marker, the synaptic vesicle 2A (SV2A) protein, is heralding a likely paradigm shift in detecting synaptic alterations in patients. Despite their limited specificity, novel, non-invasive magnetic resonance (MR)-based methods also show promise in inferring synaptic information by linking to glutamate neurotransmission. Although promising, all these methods entail various advantages and limitations that must be addressed before becoming part of routine clinical practice. In this review, we summarize and discuss current ex vivo and in vivo methods of quantifying synaptic density, including an evaluation of their reliability and experimental utility. We conclude with a critical assessment of challenges that need to be overcome before successfully employing synaptic density biomarkers as diagnostic and/or prognostic tools in the study of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elisa Serrano
- Department of Neuroimaging, The BRAIN Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eugene Kim
- Department of Neuroimaging, The BRAIN Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marija M Petrinovic
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Federico Turkheimer
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Diana Cash
- Department of Neuroimaging, The BRAIN Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang GH, Chuang AY, Lai YC, Chen HI, Hsueh SW, Yang YC. Pre- and post-synaptic A-type K + channels regulate glutamatergic transmission and switch of the network into epileptiform oscillations. Br J Pharmacol 2022; 179:3754-3777. [PMID: 35170022 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Anticonvulsants targeting K+ channels have not been clinically available, although neuronal hyperexcitability in seizures could be suppressed by activation of K+ channels. Voltage-gated A-type K+ channel (A-channel) inhibitors may be prescribed for diseases of neuromuscular junction but could cause seizures. Consistently, genetic loss of function of A-channels may also cause seizures. It is unclear why inhibition of A-channels, if compared with the other types of K+ channels, is particularly prone to seizure induction. This hinders the development of relevant therapeutic interventions. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The epileptogenic mechanisms of A-channel inhibition and antiepileptic actions of A-channel activation were investigated in electrophysiological and behavioral seizures with pharmacological and optogenetic maneuvers. KEY RESULTS Presynaptic Kv1.4 and postsynaptic Kv4.3 A-channels act synergistically to gate glutamatergic transmission and control rhythmogenesis in the amygdala. The interconnected neurons set into the oscillatory mode by A-channel inhibition would reverberate with regular paces and the same top frequency, demonstrating a spatiotemporally well-orchestrated system with built-in oscillatory rhythms normally curbed by A-channels. Accordingly, selective over-excitation of glutamatergic neurons or inhibition of A-channels suffices to induce behavioral seizures, which are effectively ameliorated by A-channel activators such as NS-5806 or AMPA receptor antagonists such as perampanel. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Transsynaptic voltage-dependent A-channels serve as a biophysical-biochemical transducer responsible for a novel form of synaptic plasticity. Such a network-level switch into and out of the oscillatory mode may underlie a wide-scope of telencephalic information processing, or to its extreme, epileptic seizures. A-channels thus constitute a potential target of antiepileptic therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Hsun Wang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Ai-Yu Chuang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Lai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-I Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Wei Hsueh
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Chin Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.,Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Neuron–Microglia Contact-Dependent Mechanisms Attenuate Methamphetamine-Induced Microglia Reactivity and Enhance Neuronal Plasticity. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030355. [PMID: 35159165 PMCID: PMC8834016 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to methamphetamine (Meth) has been classically associated with damage to neuronal terminals. However, it is now becoming clear that addiction may also result from the interplay between glial cells and neurons. Recently, we demonstrated that binge Meth administration promotes microgliosis and microglia pro-inflammation via astrocytic glutamate release in a TNF/IP3R2-Ca2+-dependent manner. Here, we investigated the contribution of neuronal cells to this process. As the crosstalk between microglia and neurons may occur by contact-dependent and/or contact-independent mechanisms, we developed co-cultures of primary neurons and microglia in microfluidic devices to investigate how their interaction affects Meth-induced microglia activation. Our results show that neurons exposed to Meth do not activate microglia in a cell-autonomous way but require astrocyte mediation. Importantly, we found that neurons can partially prevent Meth-induced microglia activation via astrocytes, which seems to be achieved by increasing arginase 1 expression and strengthening the CD200/CD200r pathway. We also observed an increase in synaptic individual area, as determined by co-localization of pre- and post-synaptic markers. The present study provides evidence that contact-dependent mechanisms between neurons and microglia can attenuate pro-inflammatory events such as Meth-induced microglia activation.
Collapse
|
7
|
Synapse development is regulated by microglial THIK-1 K + channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2106294118. [PMID: 34642249 PMCID: PMC8545484 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106294118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the brain’s resident immune cells, surveying the brain with motile processes, which can remove pathogens but also prune unnecessary junctions between the neurons (synapses). A potassium channel, THIK-1, in the microglial membrane allows efflux of potassium from these cells and thereby regulates their membrane voltage as well as their process motility and release of inflammatory mediators. Here, using THIK-1–blocking drugs and THIK-1–deficient mice, we demonstrate that THIK-1 controls removal of synaptic material by microglia, which reduces the number of functional synapses in the developing brain.
Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system. They constantly survey the brain parenchyma for redundant synapses, debris, or dying cells, which they remove through phagocytosis. Microglial ramification, motility, and cytokine release are regulated by tonically active THIK-1 K+ channels on the microglial plasma membrane. Here, we examined whether these channels also play a role in phagocytosis. Using pharmacological blockers and THIK-1 knockout (KO) mice, we found that a lack of THIK-1 activity approximately halved both microglial phagocytosis and marker levels for the lysosomes that degrade phagocytically removed material. These changes may reflect a decrease of intracellular [Ca2+]i activity, which was observed when THIK-1 activity was reduced, since buffering [Ca2+]i reduced phagocytosis. Less phagocytosis is expected to result in impaired pruning of synapses. In the hippocampus, mice lacking THIK-1 expression had an increased number of anatomically and electrophysiologically defined glutamatergic synapses during development. This resulted from an increased number of presynaptic terminals, caused by impaired removal by THIK-1 KO microglia. The dependence of synapse number on THIK-1 K+ channels, which control microglial surveillance and phagocytic ability, implies that changes in the THIK-1 expression level in disease states may contribute to altering neural circuit function.
Collapse
|
8
|
Kapur M, Ganguly A, Nagy G, Adamson SI, Chuang JH, Frankel WN, Ackerman SL. Expression of the Neuronal tRNA n-Tr20 Regulates Synaptic Transmission and Seizure Susceptibility. Neuron 2020; 108:193-208.e9. [PMID: 32853550 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian genome has hundreds of nuclear-encoded tRNAs, but the contribution of individual tRNA genes to cellular and organismal function remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that mutations in a neuronally enriched arginine tRNA, n-Tr20, increased seizure threshold and altered synaptic transmission. n-Tr20 expression also modulated seizures caused by an epilepsy-linked mutation in Gabrg2, a gene encoding a GABAA receptor subunit. Loss of n-Tr20 altered translation initiation by activating the integrated stress response and suppressing mTOR signaling, the latter of which may contribute to altered neurotransmission in mutant mice. Deletion of a highly expressed isoleucine tRNA similarly altered these signaling pathways in the brain, suggesting that regulation of translation initiation is a conserved response to tRNA loss. Our data indicate that loss of a single member of a tRNA family results in multiple cellular phenotypes, highlighting the disease-causing potential of tRNA mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mridu Kapur
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Section of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Archan Ganguly
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Section of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Gabor Nagy
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Scott I Adamson
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA; Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Institute for Systems Genomics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Chuang
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Wayne N Frankel
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Susan L Ackerman
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Section of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gomes JR, Lobo A, Nogueira R, Terceiro AF, Costelha S, Lopes IM, Magalhães A, Summavielle T, Saraiva MJ. Neuronal megalin mediates synaptic plasticity-a novel mechanism underlying intellectual disabilities in megalin gene pathologies. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa135. [PMID: 33225275 PMCID: PMC7667529 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Donnai-Barrow syndrome, a genetic disorder associated to LRP2 (low-density lipoprotein receptor 2/megalin) mutations, is characterized by unexplained neurological symptoms and intellectual deficits. Megalin is a multifunctional endocytic clearance cell-surface receptor, mostly described in epithelial cells. This receptor is also expressed in the CNS, mainly in neurons, being involved in neurite outgrowth and neuroprotective mechanisms. Yet, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of megalin in the CNS are poorly understood. Using transthyretin knockout mice, a megalin ligand, we found that transthyretin positively regulates neuronal megalin levels in different CNS areas, particularly in the hippocampus. Transthyretin is even able to rescue megalin downregulation in transthyretin knockout hippocampal neuronal cultures, in a positive feedback mechanism via megalin. Importantly, transthyretin activates a regulated intracellular proteolysis mechanism of neuronal megalin, producing an intracellular domain, which is translocated to the nucleus, unveiling megalin C-terminal as a potential transcription factor, able to regulate gene expression. We unveil that neuronal megalin reduction affects physiological neuronal activity, leading to decreased neurite number, length and branching, and increasing neuronal susceptibility to a toxic insult. Finally, we unravel a new unexpected role of megalin in synaptic plasticity, by promoting the formation and maturation of dendritic spines, and contributing for the establishment of active synapses, both in in vitro and in vivo hippocampal neurons. Moreover, these structural and synaptic roles of megalin impact on learning and memory mechanisms, since megalin heterozygous mice show hippocampal-related memory and learning deficits in several behaviour tests. Altogether, we unveil a complete novel role of megalin in the physiological neuronal activity, mainly in synaptic plasticity with impact in learning and memory. Importantly, we contribute to disclose the molecular mechanisms underlying the cognitive and intellectual disabilities related to megalin gene pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- João R Gomes
- Molecular Neurobiology Unit, IBMC- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,I3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Andrea Lobo
- I3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,Addiction Biology Group, IBMC- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Renata Nogueira
- Molecular Neurobiology Unit, IBMC- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,I3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana F Terceiro
- I3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,Addiction Biology Group, IBMC- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Susete Costelha
- Molecular Neurobiology Unit, IBMC- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,I3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Igor M Lopes
- I3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,Addiction Biology Group, IBMC- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Magalhães
- I3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,Addiction Biology Group, IBMC- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Teresa Summavielle
- I3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,Addiction Biology Group, IBMC- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria J Saraiva
- Molecular Neurobiology Unit, IBMC- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.,I3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yu Z, Wang J, Wang H, Wang J, Cui J, Junzhang P. Effects of Sevoflurane Exposure During Late Pregnancy on Brain Development and Beneficial Effects of Enriched Environment on Offspring Cognition. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 40:1339-1352. [DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00821-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
11
|
Analysis of Differential Expression of Synaptic Vesicle Protein 2A in the Adult Rat Brain. Neuroscience 2019; 419:108-120. [PMID: 31520710 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A), which plays an important role in the pathophysiology of epilepsy, is a unique vesicular protein recognized as a pharmacological target of anticonvulsant drugs. Furthermore, SV2A is a potential synaptic density marker, as it is ubiquitously expressed throughout the brain in all nerve terminals independently of their neurotransmitter content. Due to the growing interest in this protein, we thoroughly analyzed SV2A levels, expression patterns and colocalization in both excitatory and inhibitory synapses among different brain structures in healthy rats. In addition, we discuss the main semiquantitative methodologies used to study SV2A because these techniques might represent powerful tools for evaluating synaptic changes associated with brain disorders. Our results showed that the SV2A expression levels differed among the analyzed structures, and a positive correlation between the SV2A mRNA copy number and protein level was observed by Western blot. In addition, immunohistochemistry demonstrated slight but consistent asymmetrical SV2A levels in different laminated structures, and SV2A expression was increased by up to 40% in some specific layers compared to that in others. Finally, triple immunofluorescence revealed strong SV2A colocalization with GABAergic terminals, mainly around the principal cells, suggesting that SV2A primarily participates in this inhibitory system in different rat brain structures. Although the SV2A protein is considered a good candidate marker of synaptic density, our data show that changes in its expression in pathological processes must be viewed as not only increased or decreased synapse numbers but also in light of the type of neurotransmission being affected.
Collapse
|