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Ghirardini E, Sagona G, Marquez-Galera A, Calugi F, Navarron CM, Cacciante F, Chen S, Di Vetta F, Dadà L, Mazziotti R, Lupori L, Putignano E, Baldi P, Lopez-Atalaya JP, Pizzorusso T, Baroncelli L. Cell-specific vulnerability to metabolic failure: the crucial role of parvalbumin expressing neurons in creatine transporter deficiency. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:34. [PMID: 36882863 PMCID: PMC9990224 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01533-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the solute carrier family 6-member 8 (Slc6a8) gene, encoding the protein responsible for cellular creatine (Cr) uptake, cause Creatine Transporter Deficiency (CTD), an X-linked neurometabolic disorder presenting with intellectual disability, autistic-like features, and epilepsy. The pathological determinants of CTD are still poorly understood, hindering the development of therapies. In this study, we generated an extensive transcriptomic profile of CTD showing that Cr deficiency causes perturbations of gene expression in excitatory neurons, inhibitory cells, and oligodendrocytes which result in remodeling of circuit excitability and synaptic wiring. We also identified specific alterations of parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons, exhibiting a reduction in cellular and synaptic density, and a hypofunctional electrophysiological phenotype. Mice lacking Slc6a8 only in PV+ interneurons recapitulated numerous CTD features, including cognitive deterioration, impaired cortical processing and hyperexcitability of brain circuits, demonstrating that Cr deficit in PV+ interneurons is sufficient to determine the neurological phenotype of CTD. Moreover, a pharmacological treatment targeted to restore the efficiency of PV+ synapses significantly improved cortical activity in Slc6a8 knock-out animals. Altogether, these data demonstrate that Slc6a8 is critical for the normal function of PV+ interneurons and that impairment of these cells is central in the disease pathogenesis, suggesting a novel therapeutic venue for CTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Ghirardini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128, Calambrone (PI), Italy. .,Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Giulia Sagona
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Angel Marquez-Galera
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avenida Santiago Ramon Y Cajal, S/N, 03550, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Francesco Calugi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Via Di San Salvi 12, 50135, Florence, Italy.,BIO@SNS Lab, Scuola Normale Superiore Di Pisa, Piazza Dei Cavalieri 7, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Carmen M Navarron
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avenida Santiago Ramon Y Cajal, S/N, 03550, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Francesco Cacciante
- BIO@SNS Lab, Scuola Normale Superiore Di Pisa, Piazza Dei Cavalieri 7, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Siwei Chen
- Department of Computer Science and Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-3435, USA
| | - Federica Di Vetta
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Dadà
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Raffaele Mazziotti
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Via Di San Salvi 12, 50135, Florence, Italy
| | - Leonardo Lupori
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128, Calambrone (PI), Italy
| | - Elena Putignano
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pierre Baldi
- Department of Computer Science and Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-3435, USA
| | - Jose P Lopez-Atalaya
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avenida Santiago Ramon Y Cajal, S/N, 03550, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Tommaso Pizzorusso
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.,BIO@SNS Lab, Scuola Normale Superiore Di Pisa, Piazza Dei Cavalieri 7, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Baroncelli
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128, Calambrone (PI), Italy.,Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
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Conti E, Scaglione A, de Vito G, Calugi F, Pasquini M, Pizzorusso T, Micera S, Allegra Mascaro AL, Pavone FS. Combining Optogenetic Stimulation and Motor Training Improves Functional Recovery and Perilesional Cortical Activity. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2021; 36:107-118. [PMID: 34761714 DOI: 10.1177/15459683211056656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background. An ischemic stroke is followed by the remapping of motor representation and extensive changes in cortical excitability involving both hemispheres. Although stimulation of the ipsilesional motor cortex, especially when paired with motor training, facilitates plasticity and functional restoration, the remapping of motor representation of the single and combined treatments is largely unexplored. Objective. We investigated if spatio-temporal features of motor-related cortical activity and the new motor representations are related to the rehabilitative treatment or if they can be specifically associated to functional recovery. Methods. We designed a novel rehabilitative treatment that combines neuro-plasticizing intervention with motor training. In detail, optogenetic stimulation of peri-infarct excitatory neurons expressing Channelrhodopsin 2 was associated with daily motor training on a robotic device. The effectiveness of the combined therapy was compared with spontaneous recovery and with the single treatments (ie optogenetic stimulation or motor training). Results. We found that the extension and localization of the new motor representations are specific to the treatment, where most treatments promote segregation of the motor representation to the peri-infarct region. Interestingly, only the combined therapy promotes both the recovery of forelimb functionality and the rescue of spatio-temporal features of motor-related activity. Functional recovery results from a new excitatory/inhibitory balance between hemispheres as revealed by the augmented motor response flanked by the increased expression of parvalbumin positive neurons in the peri-infarct area. Conclusions. Our findings highlight that functional recovery and restoration of motor-related neuronal activity are not necessarily coupled during post-stroke recovery. Indeed the reestablishment of cortical activation features of calcium transient is distinctive of the most effective therapeutic approach, the combined therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Conti
- Neuroscience Institute, 9327National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.,226476European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, 9300University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Scaglione
- 226476European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, 9300University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppe de Vito
- 226476European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, 9300University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Calugi
- Neuroscience Institute, 9327National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, 9300University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pasquini
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, 19005Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.,Center for Neuroprosthetics and Institute of Bioengineering, 454629Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational NeuroEngineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tommaso Pizzorusso
- Neuroscience Institute, 9327National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, 9300University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvestro Micera
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, 19005Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.,Center for Neuroprosthetics and Institute of Bioengineering, 454629Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational NeuroEngineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anna Letizia Allegra Mascaro
- Neuroscience Institute, 9327National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.,226476European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Saverio Pavone
- 226476European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, 9300University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,National Institute of Optics, 9327National Research Council, Florence, Italy
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Ghirardini E, Calugi F, Sagona G, Di Vetta F, Palma M, Battini R, Cioni G, Pizzorusso T, Baroncelli L. The Role of Preclinical Models in Creatine Transporter Deficiency: Neurobiological Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Development. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12081123. [PMID: 34440297 PMCID: PMC8392480 DOI: 10.3390/genes12081123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Creatine (Cr) Transporter Deficiency (CTD) is an X-linked metabolic disorder, mostly caused by missense mutations in the SLC6A8 gene and presenting with intellectual disability, autistic behavior, and epilepsy. There is no effective treatment for CTD and patients need lifelong assistance. Thus, the research of novel intervention strategies is a major scientific challenge. Animal models are an excellent tool to dissect the disease pathogenetic mechanisms and drive the preclinical development of therapeutics. This review illustrates the current knowledge about Cr metabolism and CTD clinical aspects, with a focus on mainstay diagnostic and therapeutic options. Then, we discuss the rodent models of CTD characterized in the last decade, comparing the phenotypes expressed within clinically relevant domains and the timeline of symptom development. This analysis highlights that animals with the ubiquitous deletion/mutation of SLC6A8 genes well recapitulate the early onset and the complex pathological phenotype of the human condition. Thus, they should represent the preferred model for preclinical efficacy studies. On the other hand, brain- and cell-specific conditional mutants are ideal for understanding the basis of CTD at a cellular and molecular level. Finally, we explain how CTD models might provide novel insight about the pathogenesis of other disorders, including cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Biomarkers/metabolism
- Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn/metabolism
- Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn/pathology
- Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn/therapy
- Central Nervous System/pathology
- Creatine/deficiency
- Creatine/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Humans
- Mental Retardation, X-Linked/metabolism
- Mental Retardation, X-Linked/pathology
- Mental Retardation, X-Linked/therapy
- Mice
- Plasma Membrane Neurotransmitter Transport Proteins/deficiency
- Plasma Membrane Neurotransmitter Transport Proteins/metabolism
- Rats
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Ghirardini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, I-56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.G.); (G.S.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), I-56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.V.); (M.P.); (T.P.)
| | - Francesco Calugi
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), I-56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.V.); (M.P.); (T.P.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, I-50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Sagona
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, I-56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.G.); (G.S.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, I-50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Federica Di Vetta
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), I-56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.V.); (M.P.); (T.P.)
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Palma
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), I-56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.V.); (M.P.); (T.P.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, I-50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Battini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, I-56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.G.); (G.S.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, I-56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.G.); (G.S.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Tommaso Pizzorusso
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), I-56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.V.); (M.P.); (T.P.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, I-50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Baroncelli
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, I-56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.G.); (G.S.); (R.B.); (G.C.)
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), I-56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.V.); (M.P.); (T.P.)
- Correspondence:
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