Diverse axonal morphologies of individual callosal projection neurons reveal new insights into brain connectivity

In the mature brain, functionally distinct areas connect to specific targets, mediating network activity required for function. New insights are still occurring regarding how specific connectivity occurs in the developing brain. Decades of work have revealed important insights into the molecular and genetic mechanisms regulating cell type specification in the brain. This work classified long-range projection neurons of the cerebral cortex into three major classes based on their primary target (e.g. subcortical, intracortical, and interhemispheric projections). However, painstaking single-cell mapping reveals that long-range projection neurons of the corpus callosum connect to multiple and overlapping ipsilateral and contralateral targets with often highly branched axons. In addition, their scRNA transcriptomes are highly variable, making it difficult to identify meaningful subclasses. This work has prompted us to reexamine how cortical projection neurons that comprise the corpus callosum are currently classified and how this stunning array of variability might be achieved during development.

Non-uniform temporal scaling of developmental processes in the mammalian cortex

The time that it takes the brain to develop is highly variable across animals. Although staging systems equate major developmental milestones between mammalian species, it remains unclear how distinct processes of cortical development scale within these timeframes. Here, we compare the timing of cortical development in two mammals of similar size but different developmental pace: eutherian mice and marsupial fat-tailed dunnarts. Our results reveal that the temporal relationship between cell birth and laminar specification aligns to equivalent stages between these species, but that migration and axon extension do not scale uniformly according to the developmental stages, and are relatively more advanced in dunnarts. We identify a lack of basal intermediate progenitor cells in dunnarts that likely contributes in part to this timing difference. These findings demonstrate temporal limitations and differential plasticity of cortical developmental processes between similarly sized Therians and provide insight into subtle temporal changes that may have contributed to the early diversification of the mammalian brain.

Aicardi Syndrome Is a Genetically Heterogeneous Disorder

Aicardi Syndrome (AIC) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder recognized by the classical triad of agenesis of the corpus callosum, chorioretinal lacunae and infantile epileptic spasms syndrome. The diagnostic criteria of AIC were revised in 2005 to include additional phenotypes that are frequently observed in this patient group. AIC has been traditionally considered as X-linked and male lethal because it almost exclusively affects females. Despite numerous genetic and genomic investigations on AIC, a unifying X-linked cause has not been identified. Here, we performed exome and genome sequencing of 10 females with AIC or suspected AIC based on current criteria. We identified a unique de novo variant, each in different genes: KMT2B, SLF1, SMARCB1, SZT2 and WNT8B, in five of these females. Notably, genomic analyses of coding and non-coding single nucleotide variants, short tandem repeats and structural variation highlighted a distinct lack of X-linked candidate genes. We assessed the likely pathogenicity of our candidate autosomal variants using the TOPflash assay for WNT8B and morpholino knockdown in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos for other candidates. We show expression of Wnt8b and Slf1 are restricted to clinically relevant cortical tissues during mouse development. Our findings suggest that AIC is genetically heterogeneous with implicated genes converging on molecular pathways central to cortical development.

Cortical activity emerges in region-specific patterns during early brain development

The development of precise neural circuits in the brain requires spontaneous patterns of neural activity prior to functional maturation. In the rodent cerebral cortex, patchwork and wave patterns of activity develop in somatosensory and visual regions, respectively, and are present at birth. However, whether such activity patterns occur in noneutherian mammals, as well as when and how they arise during development, remain open questions relevant for understanding brain formation in health and disease. Since the onset of patterned cortical activity is challenging to study prenatally in eutherians, here we offer an approach in a minimally invasive manner using marsupial dunnarts, whose cortex forms postnatally. We discovered similar patchwork and travelling waves in the dunnart somatosensory and visual cortices at stage 27 (equivalent to newborn mice) and examined earlier stages of development to determine the onset of these patterns and how they first emerge. We observed that these patterns of activity emerge in a region-specific and sequential manner, becoming evident as early as stage 24 in somatosensory and stage 25 in visual cortices (equivalent to embryonic day 16 and 17, respectively, in mice), as cortical layers establish and thalamic axons innervate the cortex. In addition to sculpting synaptic connections of existing circuits, evolutionarily conserved patterns of neural activity could therefore help regulate other early events in cortical development.

Cortical activity emerges in region-specific patterns during early brain development

The development of precise neural circuits in the brain requires spontaneous patterns of neural activity prior to functional maturation. In the rodent cerebral cortex patchwork and wave patterns of activity develop in somatosensory and visual regions, respectively, and are present at birth. However, whether such activity patterns occur in non-eutherian mammals, as well as when and how they arise during development remain open questions relevant to understand brain formation in health and disease. Since the onset of patterned cortical activity is challenging to study prenatally in eutherians, here we offer a new approach in a minimally invasive manner using marsupial dunnarts, whose cortex forms postnatally. We discovered similar patchwork and travelling waves in the dunnart somatosensory and visual cortices at stage 27 (equivalent to newborn mice), and examined progressively earlier stages of development to determine their onset and how they first emerge. We observed that these patterns of activity emerge in a region-specific and sequential manner, becoming evident as early as stage 24 in somatosensory and stage 25 in visual cortices (equivalent to embryonic day 16 and 17, respectively, in mice), as cortical layers establish and thalamic axons innervate the cortex. In addition to sculpting synaptic connections of existing circuits, evolutionarily conserved patterns of neural activity could therefore help regulate early events in cortical development.

Significance Statement

Region-specific patterns of neural activity are present at birth in rodents and are thought to refine synaptic connections during critical periods of cerebral cortex development. Marsupials are born much more immature than rodents, allowing the investigation of how these patterns arise in vivo. We discovered that cortical activity patterns are remarkably similar in marsupial dunnarts and rodents, and that they emerge very early, before cortical neurogenesis is complete. Moreover, they arise from the outset in different patterns specific to somatosensory and visual areas (i.e., patchworks and waves) indicating they may also play evolutionarily conserved roles in cortical regionalization during development.

A brief history of the Australasian Neuroscience Society

The collective efforts of Australasian neuroscientists over the past 50 years to forge a binational presence are reviewed in this article. The events in the 1970s leading to the formation of an informal Australian Neurosciences Society are discussed in the context of the international emergence of neuroscience as an interdisciplinary science. Thereafter, the establishment in 1980 of the Australian Neuroscience Society, subsequently renamed as the Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS), is described. The achievements of ANS-including its active role in developing national, regional, and global cooperation to promote neuroscience-are chronicled over successive decades, followed by a discussion of the future challenges facing the society and its associated neuroscience institutions.

Divergent evolution of developmental timing in the neocortex revealed by marsupial and eutherian transcriptomes

Only mammals evolved a neocortex, which integrates sensory-motor and cognitive functions. Significant diversifications in the cellular composition and connectivity of the neocortex occurred between the two main therian groups: marsupials and eutherians. However, the developmental mechanisms underlying these diversifications are largely unknown. Here, we compared the neocortical transcriptomes of Sminthopsis crassicaudata, a mouse-sized marsupial, with those of eutherian mice at two developmentally equivalent time points corresponding to deeper and upper layer neuron generation. Enrichment analyses revealed more mature gene networks in marsupials at the early stage, which reverted at the later stage, suggesting a more precocious but protracted neuronal maturation program relative to birth timing of cortical layers. We ranked genes expressed in different species and identified important differences in gene expression rankings between species. For example, genes known to be enriched in upper-layer cortical projection neuron subtypes, such as Cux1, Lhx2 and Satb2, likely relate to corpus callosum emergence in eutherians. These results show molecular heterochronies of neocortical development in Theria, and highlight changes in gene expression and cell type composition that may underlie neocortical evolution and diversification.

This article has an associated ‘The people behind the papers’ interview.

NFIA and NFIB function as tumour suppressors in high-grade glioma in mice

Nuclear factor one (NFI) transcription factors are implicated in both brain development and cancer in mice and humans and play an essential role in glial differentiation. NFI expression is reduced in human astrocytoma samples, particularly those of higher grade, whereas over-expression of NFI protein can induce the differentiation of glioblastoma cells within human tumour xenografts and in glioblastoma cell lines in vitro. These data indicate that NFI proteins may act as tumour suppressors in glioma. To test this hypothesis, we generated complex mouse genetic crosses involving six alleles to target gene deletion of known tumour suppressor genes that induce endogenous high-grade glioma in mice, and overlaid this with loss of function Nfi mutant alleles, Nfia and Nfib, a reporter transgene and an inducible Cre allele. Deletion of Nfi resulted in reduced survival time of the mice, increased tumour load and a more aggressive tumour phenotype than observed in glioma mice with normal expression of NFI. Together, these data indicate that NFI genes represent a credible target for both diagnostic analyses and therapeutic strategies to combat high-grade glioma.

DRAXIN regulates interhemispheric fissure remodelling to influence the extent of corpus callosum formation

Corpus callosum dysgenesis (CCD) is a congenital disorder that incorporates either partial or complete absence of the largest cerebral commissure. Remodelling of the interhemispheric fissure (IHF) provides a substrate for callosal axons to cross between hemispheres, and its failure is the main cause of complete CCD. However, it is unclear whether defects in this process could give rise to the heterogeneity of expressivity and phenotypes seen in human cases of CCD. We identify incomplete IHF remodelling as the key structural correlate for the range of callosal abnormalities in inbred and outcrossed BTBR mouse strains, as well as in humans with partial CCD. We identify an eight base-pair deletion in Draxin and misregulated astroglial and leptomeningeal proliferation as genetic and cellular factors for variable IHF remodelling and CCD in BTBR strains. These findings support a model where genetic events determine corpus callosum structure by influencing leptomeningeal-astroglial interactions at the IHF.

The evolution, formation and connectivity of the anterior commissure

The anterior commissure is the most ancient of the forebrain interhemispheric connections among all vertebrates. Indeed, it is the predominant pallial commissure in all non-eutherian vertebrates, universally subserving basic functions related to olfaction and survival. A key feature of the anterior commissure is its ability to convey connections from diverse brain areas, such as most of the neocortex in non-eutherian mammals, thereby mediating the bilateral integration of diverse functions. Shared developmental mechanisms between the anterior commissure and more evolutionarily recent commissures, such as the corpus callosum in eutherians, have led to the hypothesis that the former may have been a precursor for additional expansion of commissural circuits. However, differences between the formation of the anterior commissure and other telencephalic commissures suggest that independent developmental mechanisms underlie the emergence of these connections in extant species. Here, we review the developmental mechanisms and connectivity of the anterior commissure across evolutionarily distant species, and highlight its potential functional importance in humans, both in the course of normal neurodevelopment, and as a site of plastic axonal rerouting in the absence or damage of other connections.

DCC regulates astroglial development essential for telencephalic morphogenesis and corpus callosum formation

The forebrain hemispheres are predominantly separated during embryogenesis by the interhemispheric fissure (IHF). Radial astroglia remodel the IHF to form a continuous substrate between the hemispheres for midline crossing of the corpus callosum (CC) and hippocampal commissure (HC). Deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) and netrin 1 (NTN1) are molecules that have an evolutionarily conserved function in commissural axon guidance. The CC and HC are absent in Dcc and Ntn1 knockout mice, while other commissures are only partially affected, suggesting an additional aetiology in forebrain commissure formation. Here, we find that these molecules play a critical role in regulating astroglial development and IHF remodelling during CC and HC formation. Human subjects with DCC mutations display disrupted IHF remodelling associated with CC and HC malformations. Thus, axon guidance molecules such as DCC and NTN1 first regulate the formation of a midline substrate for dorsal commissures prior to their role in regulating axonal growth and guidance across it.

Verbal Adynamia and Conceptualization in Partial Rhombencephalosynapsis and Corpus Callosum Dysgenesis

Verbal adynamia is characterized by markedly reduced spontaneous speech that is not attributable to a core language deficit such as impaired naming, reading, repetition, or comprehension. In some cases, verbal adynamia is severe enough to be considered dynamic aphasia. We report the case of a 40-year-old, left-handed, male native English speaker who presented with partial rhombencephalosynapsis, corpus callosum dysgenesis, and a language profile that is consistent with verbal adynamia, or subclinical dynamic aphasia, possibly underpinned by difficulties selecting and generating ideas for expression. This case is only the second investigation of dynamic aphasia in an individual with a congenital brain malformation. It is also the first detailed neuropsychological report of an adult with partial rhombencephalosynapsis and corpus callosum dysgenesis, and the only known case of superior intellectual abilities in this context.

Callosal agenesis and congenital mirror movements: outcomes associated with DCC mutations

Pathogenic variants in the gene encoding deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) are the first genetic cause of isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC). Here we present the detailed neurological, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and neuropsychological characteristics of 12 individuals from three families with pathogenic variants in DCC (aged 8-50y), who showed ACC and mirror movements (n=5), mirror movements only (n=2), ACC only (n=3), or neither ACC nor mirror movements (n=2). There was heterogeneity in the neurological and neuroimaging features on brain MRI, and performance across neuropsychological domains ranged from extremely low (impaired) to within normal limits (average). Our findings show that ACC and/or mirror movements are associated with low functioning in select neuropsychological domains and a DCC pathogenic variant alone is not sufficient to explain the disability. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Neuropsychological impairment severity is related to presence of mirror movements and/or agenesis of the corpus callosum. A DCC pathogenic variant in isolation is associated with the best prognosis.

Understanding the Uptake of Nanomedicines at Different Stages of Brain Cancer Using a Modular Nanocarrier Platform and Precision Bispecific Antibodies

Increasing accumulation and retention of nanomedicines within tumor tissue is a significant challenge, particularly in the case of brain tumors where access to the tumor through the vasculature is restricted by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This makes the application of nanomedicines in neuro-oncology often considered unfeasible, with efficacy limited to regions of significant disease progression and compromised BBB. However, little is understood about how the evolving tumor-brain physiology during disease progression affects the permeability and retention of designer nanomedicines. We report here the development of a modular nanomedicine platform that, when used in conjunction with a unique model of how tumorigenesis affects BBB integrity, allows investigation of how nanomaterial properties affect uptake and retention in brain tissue. By combining different in vivo longitudinal imaging techniques (including positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging), we have evaluated the retention of nanomedicines with predefined physicochemical properties (size and surface functionality) and established a relationship between structure and tissue accumulation as a function of a new parameter that measures BBB leakiness; this offers significant advancements in our ability to relate tumor accumulation of nanomedicines to more physiologically relevant parameters. Our data show that accumulation of nanomedicines in brain tumor tissue is better correlated with the leakiness of the BBB than actual tumor volume. This was evaluated by establishing brain tumors using a spontaneous and endogenously derived glioblastoma model providing a unique opportunity to assess these parameters individually and compare the results across multiple mice. We also quantitatively demonstrate that smaller nanomedicines (20 nm) can indeed cross the BBB and accumulate in tumors at earlier stages of the disease than larger analogues, therefore opening the possibility of developing patient-specific nanoparticle treatment interventions in earlier stages of the disease. Importantly, these results provide a more predictive approach for designing efficacious personalized nanomedicines based on a particular patient's condition.

Differential timing of a conserved transcriptional network underlies divergent cortical projection routes across mammalian brain evolution

A unique combination of transcription factor expression and projection neuron identity demarcates each layer of the cerebral cortex. During mouse and human cortical development, the transcription factor CTIP2 specifies neurons that project subcerebrally, while SATB2 specifies neuronal projections via the corpus callosum, a large axon tract connecting the two neocortical hemispheres that emerged exclusively in eutherian mammals. Marsupials comprise the sister taxon of eutherians but do not have a corpus callosum; their intercortical commissural neurons instead project via the anterior commissure, similar to egg-laying monotreme mammals. It remains unknown whether divergent transcriptional networks underlie these cortical wiring differences. Here, we combine birth-dating analysis, retrograde tracing, gene overexpression and knockdown, and axonal quantification to compare the functions of CTIP2 and SATB2 in neocortical development, between the eutherian mouse and the marsupial fat-tailed dunnart. We demonstrate a striking degree of structural and functional homology, whereby CTIP2 or SATB2 of either species is sufficient to promote a subcerebral or commissural fate, respectively. Remarkably, we reveal a substantial delay in the onset of developmental SATB2 expression in mice as compared to the equivalent stage in dunnarts, with premature SATB2 overexpression in mice to match that of dunnarts resulting in a marsupial-like projection fate via the anterior commissure. Our results suggest that small alterations in the timing of regulatory gene expression may underlie interspecies differences in neuronal projection fate specification.

Pathogenic DDX3X Mutations Impair RNA Metabolism and Neurogenesis during Fetal Cortical Development

De novo germline mutations in the RNA helicase DDX3X account for 1%-3% of unexplained intellectual disability (ID) cases in females and are associated with autism, brain malformations, and epilepsy. Yet, the developmental and molecular mechanisms by which DDX3X mutations impair brain function are unknown. Here, we use human and mouse genetics and cell biological and biochemical approaches to elucidate mechanisms by which pathogenic DDX3X variants disrupt brain development. We report the largest clinical cohort to date with DDX3X mutations (n = 107), demonstrating a striking correlation between recurrent dominant missense mutations, polymicrogyria, and the most severe clinical outcomes. We show that Ddx3x controls cortical development by regulating neuron generation. Severe DDX3X missense mutations profoundly disrupt RNA helicase activity, induce ectopic RNA-protein granules in neural progenitors and neurons, and impair translation. Together, these results uncover key mechanisms underlying DDX3X syndrome and highlight aberrant RNA metabolism in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disease.

Transcription factors NFIA and NFIB induce cellular differentiation in high-grade astrocytoma

INTRODUCTION

Malignant astrocytomas are composed of heterogeneous cell populations. Compared to grade IV glioblastoma, low-grade astrocytomas have more differentiated cells and are associated with a better prognosis. Therefore, inducing cellular differentiation to alter the behaviour of high-grade astrocytomas may serve as a therapeutic strategy. The nuclear factor one (NFI) transcription factors are essential for normal astrocytic differentiation. Here, we investigate whether family members NFIA and NFIB act as effectors of cellular differentiation in glioblastoma.

METHODS

We analysed expression of NFIA and NFIB in mRNA expression data of high-grade astrocytoma and with immunofluorescence co-staining. Furthermore, we induced NFI expression in patient-derived subcutaneous glioblastoma xenografts via in vivo electroporation.

RESULTS

The expression of NFIA and NFIB is reduced in glioblastoma as compared to lower grade astrocytomas. At a cellular level, their expression is associated with differentiated and mature astrocyte-like tumour cells. In vivo analyses consistently demonstrate that expression of either NFIA or NFIB is sufficient to promote tumour cell differentiation in glioblastoma xenografts.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that both NFIA and NFIB may have an endogenous pro-differentiative function in astrocytomas, similar to their role in normal astrocyte differentiation. Overall, our study establishes a basis for further investigation of targeting NFI-mediated differentiation as a potential differentiation therapy.

YAP1 subgroup supratentorial ependymoma requires TEAD and nuclear factor I-mediated transcriptional programmes for tumorigenesis

YAP1 fusion-positive supratentorial ependymomas predominantly occur in infants, but the molecular mechanisms of oncogenesis are unknown. Here we show YAP1-MAMLD1 fusions are sufficient to drive malignant transformation in mice, and the resulting tumors share histo-molecular characteristics of human ependymomas. Nuclear localization of YAP1-MAMLD1 protein is mediated by MAMLD1 and independent of YAP1-Ser127 phosphorylation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing analyses of human YAP1-MAMLD1-positive ependymoma reveal enrichment of NFI and TEAD transcription factor binding site motifs in YAP1-bound regulatory elements, suggesting a role for these transcription factors in YAP1-MAMLD1-driven tumorigenesis. Mutation of the TEAD binding site in the YAP1 fusion or repression of NFI targets prevents tumor induction in mice. Together, these results demonstrate that the YAP1-MAMLD1 fusion functions as an oncogenic driver of ependymoma through recruitment of TEADs and NFIs, indicating a rationale for preclinical studies to block the interaction between YAP1 fusions and NFI and TEAD transcription factors.

The molecular mechanisms driving proliferation in the pediatric brain cancer epdendymoma are poorly understood. Here the authors show that a YAP1- MAMLD1 fusion drives tumor formation in mice and show that the fusion protein can collaborate with the TEAD and NFI transcription factors.

Increased cognitive complexity reveals abnormal brain network activity in individuals with corpus callosum dysgenesis

Cognitive reasoning is thought to require functional interactions between whole-brain networks. Such networks rely on both cerebral hemispheres, with the corpus callosum providing cross-hemispheric communication. Here we used high-field functional magnetic resonance imaging (7 T fMRI), a well validated cognitive task, and brain network analyses to investigate the functional networks underlying cognitive reasoning in individuals with corpus callosum dysgenesis (CCD), an anatomical abnormality that affects the corpus callosum. Participants with CCD were asked to solve cognitive reasoning problems while their brain activity was measured using fMRI. The complexity of these problems was parametrically varied by changing the complexity of relations that needed to be established between shapes within each problem matrix. Behaviorally, participants showed a typical reduction in task performance as problem complexity increased. Task-evoked neural activity was observed in brain regions known to constitute two key cognitive control systems: the fronto-parietal and cingulo-opercular networks. Under low complexity demands, network topology and the patterns of local neural activity in the CCD group closely resembled those observed in neurotypical controls. By contrast, when asked to solve more complex problems, participants with CCD showed a reduction in neural activity and connectivity within the fronto-parietal network. These complexity-induced, as opposed to resting-state, differences in functional network activity help resolve the apparent paradox between preserved network architecture found at rest in CCD individuals, and the heterogeneous deficits they display in response to cognitive task demands [preprint: https://doi.org/10.1101/312629].

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Individuals with corpus callosum dysgenesis fail to develop a normal corpus callosum.

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Resting-state functional brain networks in callosal dysgenesis appear relatively normal.

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Cognitive complexity revealed a deficit in fronto-parietal network activity.

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Differences in brain activity might only be revealed when under cognitive load.

NFIB Haploinsufficiency Is Associated with Intellectual Disability and Macrocephaly

The nuclear factor I (NFI) family of transcription factors play an important role in normal development of multiple organs. Three NFI family members are highly expressed in the brain, and deletions or sequence variants in two of these, NFIA and NFIX, have been associated with intellectual disability (ID) and brain malformations. NFIB, however, has not previously been implicated in human disease. Here, we present a cohort of 18 individuals with mild ID and behavioral issues who are haploinsufficient for NFIB. Ten individuals harbored overlapping microdeletions of the chromosomal 9p23-p22.2 region, ranging in size from 225 kb to 4.3 Mb. Five additional subjects had point sequence variations creating a premature termination codon, and three subjects harbored single-nucleotide variations resulting in an inactive protein as determined using an in vitro reporter assay. All individuals presented with additional variable neurodevelopmental phenotypes, including muscular hypotonia, motor and speech delay, attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and behavioral abnormalities. While structural brain anomalies, including dysgenesis of corpus callosum, were variable, individuals most frequently presented with macrocephaly. To determine whether macrocephaly could be a functional consequence of NFIB disruption, we analyzed a cortex-specific Nfib conditional knockout mouse model, which is postnatally viable. Utilizing magnetic resonance imaging and histology, we demonstrate that Nfib conditional knockout mice have enlargement of the cerebral cortex but preservation of overall brain structure and interhemispheric connectivity. Based on our findings, we propose that haploinsufficiency of NFIB causes ID with macrocephaly.

A pan-mammalian map of interhemispheric brain connections predates the evolution of the corpus callosum

The brain of mammals differs from that of all other vertebrates, in having a six-layered neocortex that is extensively interconnected within and between hemispheres. Interhemispheric connections are conveyed through the anterior commissure in egg-laying monotremes and marsupials, whereas eutherians evolved a separate commissural tract, the corpus callosum. Although the pattern of interhemispheric connectivity via the corpus callosum is broadly shared across eutherian species, it is not known whether this pattern arose as a consequence of callosal evolution or instead corresponds to a more ancient feature of mammalian brain organization. Here we show that, despite cortical axons using an ancestral commissural route, monotremes and marsupials share features of interhemispheric connectivity with eutherians that likely predate the origin of the corpus callosum. Based on ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging and tractography, we found that connections through the anterior commissure in both fat-tailed dunnarts (Marsupialia) and duck-billed platypus (Monotremata) are spatially segregated according to cortical area topography. Moreover, cell-resolution retrograde and anterograde interhemispheric circuit mapping in dunnarts revealed several features shared with callosal circuits of eutherians. These include the layered organization of commissural neurons and terminals, a broad map of connections between similar (homotopic) regions of each hemisphere, and regions connected to different areas (heterotopic), including hyperconnected hubs along the medial and lateral borders of the cortex, such as the cingulate/motor cortex and claustrum/insula. We therefore propose that an interhemispheric connectome originated in early mammalian ancestors, predating the evolution of the corpus callosum. Because these features have been conserved throughout mammalian evolution, they likely represent key aspects of neocortical organization.

Pharmacogenetic stimulation of neuronal activity increases myelination in an axon-specific manner

Mounting evidence suggests that neuronal activity influences myelination, potentially allowing for experience-driven modulation of neural circuitry. The degree to which neuronal activity is capable of regulating myelination at the individual axon level is unclear. Here we demonstrate that stimulation of somatosensory axons in the mouse brain increases proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) within the underlying white matter. Stimulated axons display an increased probability of being myelinated compared to neighboring non-stimulated axons, in addition to being ensheathed with thicker myelin. Conversely, attenuating neuronal firing reduces axonal myelination in a selective activity-dependent manner. Our findings reveal that the process of selecting axons for myelination is strongly influenced by the relative activity of individual axons within a population. These observed cellular changes are consistent with the emerging concept that adaptive myelination is a key mechanism for the fine-tuning of neuronal circuitry in the mammalian CNS.

Nuclear factor one B (NFIB) encodes a subtype-specific tumour suppressor in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an essentially incurable and rapidly fatal cancer, with few markers predicting a favourable prognosis. Here we report that the transcription factor NFIB is associated with significantly improved survival in GBM. NFIB expression correlates inversely with astrocytoma grade and is lowest in mesenchymal GBM. Ectopic expression of NFIB in low-passage, patient-derived classical and mesenchymal subtype GBM cells inhibits tumourigenesis. Ectopic NFIB expression activated phospho-STAT3 signalling only in classical and mesenchymal GBM cells, suggesting a mechanism through which NFIB may exert its context-dependent tumour suppressor activity. Finally, NFIB expression can be induced in GBM cells by drug treatment with beneficial effects.

Combined allelic dosage of Nfia and Nfib regulates cortical development

Background:

Nuclear factor I family members nuclear factor I A and nuclear factor I B play important roles during cerebral cortical development. Nuclear factor I A and nuclear factor I B regulate similar biological processes, as their expression patterns, regulation of target genes and individual knockout phenotypes overlap. We hypothesised that the combined allelic loss of Nfia and Nfib would culminate in more severe defects in the cerebral cortex than loss of a single member.

Methods:

We combined immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation, gene expression analysis and immunohistochemistry on knockout mouse models to investigate whether nuclear factor I A and nuclear factor I B function similarly and whether increasing allelic loss of Nfia and Nfib caused a more severe phenotype.

Results:

We determined that the biological functions of nuclear factor I A and nuclear factor I B overlap during early cortical development. These proteins are co-expressed and can form heterodimers in vivo. Differentially regulated genes that are shared between Nfia and Nfib knockout mice are highly enriched for nuclear factor I binding sites in their promoters and are associated with neurodevelopment. We found that compound heterozygous deletion of both genes resulted in a cortical phenotype similar to that of single homozygous Nfia or Nfib knockout embryos. This was characterised by retention of the interhemispheric fissure, dysgenesis of the corpus callosum and a malformed dentate gyrus. Double homozygous knockout of Nfia and Nfib resulted in a more severe phenotype, with increased ventricular enlargement and decreased numbers of differentiated glia and neurons.

Conclusion:

In the developing cerebral cortex, nuclear factor I A and nuclear factor I B share similar biological functions and function additively, as the combined allelic loss of these genes directly correlates with the severity of the developmental brain phenotype.

Astroglial-Mediated Remodeling of the Interhemispheric Midline Is Required for the Formation of the Corpus Callosum

The corpus callosum is the major axon tract that connects and integrates neural activity between the two cerebral hemispheres. Although ∼1:4,000 children are born with developmental absence of the corpus callosum, the primary etiology of this condition remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that midline crossing of callosal axons is dependent upon the prior remodeling and degradation of the intervening interhemispheric fissure. This remodeling event is initiated by astroglia on either side of the interhemispheric fissure, which intercalate with one another and degrade the intervening leptomeninges. Callosal axons then preferentially extend over these specialized astroglial cells to cross the midline. A key regulatory step in interhemispheric remodeling is the differentiation of these astroglia from radial glia, which is initiated by Fgf8 signaling to downstream Nfi transcription factors. Crucially, our findings from human neuroimaging studies reveal that developmental defects in interhemispheric remodeling are likely to be a primary etiology underlying human callosal agenesis.

DCC mutation update: Congenital mirror movements, isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum, and developmental split brain syndrome

The deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) gene encodes the netrin-1 (NTN1) receptor DCC, a transmembrane protein required for the guidance of commissural axons. Germline DCC mutations disrupt the development of predominantly commissural tracts in the central nervous system (CNS) and cause a spectrum of neurological disorders. Monoallelic, missense, and predicted loss-of-function DCC mutations cause congenital mirror movements, isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC), or both. Biallelic, predicted loss-of-function DCC mutations cause developmental split brain syndrome (DSBS). Although the underlying molecular mechanisms leading to disease remain poorly understood, they are thought to stem from reduced or perturbed NTN1 signaling. Here, we review the 26 reported DCC mutations associated with abnormal CNS development in humans, including 14 missense and 12 predicted loss-of-function mutations, and discuss their associated clinical characteristics and diagnostic features. We provide an update on the observed genotype-phenotype relationships of congenital mirror movements, isolated ACC and DSBS, and correlate this to our current understanding of the biological function of DCC in the development of the CNS. All mutations and their associated phenotypes were deposited into a locus-specific LOVD (https://databases.lovd.nl/shared/genes/DCC).

Transcriptional regulation of intermediate progenitor cell generation during hippocampal development

During forebrain development, radial glia generate neurons through the production of intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs). The production of IPCs is a central tenet underlying the generation of the appropriate number of cortical neurons, but the transcriptional logic underpinning this process remains poorly defined. Here, we examined IPC production using mice lacking the transcription factor nuclear factor I/X (Nfix). We show that Nfix deficiency delays IPC production and prolongs the neurogenic window, resulting in an increased number of neurons in the postnatal forebrain. Loss of additional Nfi alleles (Nfib) resulted in a severe delay in IPC generation while, conversely, overexpression of NFIX led to precocious IPC generation. Mechanistically, analyses of microarray and ChIP-seq datasets, coupled with the investigation of spindle orientation during radial glial cell division, revealed that NFIX promotes the generation of IPCs via the transcriptional upregulation of inscuteable (Insc). These data thereby provide novel insights into the mechanisms controlling the timely transition of radial glia into IPCs during forebrain development.

Development of body, head and brain features in the Australian fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata; Marsupialia: Dasyuridae); A postnatal model of forebrain formation

Most of our understanding of forebrain development comes from research of eutherian mammals, such as rodents, primates, and carnivores. However, as the cerebral cortex forms largely prenatally, observation and manipulation of its development has required invasive and/or ex vivo procedures. Marsupials, on the other hand, are born at comparatively earlier stages of development and most events of forebrain formation occur once attached to the teat, thereby permitting continuous and non-invasive experimental access. Here, we take advantage of this aspect of marsupial biology to establish and characterise a resourceful laboratory model of forebrain development: the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata), a mouse-sized carnivorous Australian marsupial. We present an anatomical description of the postnatal development of the body, head and brain in dunnarts, and provide a staging system compatible with human and mouse developmental stages. As compared to eutherians, the orofacial region develops earlier in dunnarts, while forebrain development is largely protracted, extending for more than 40 days versus ca. 15 days in mice. We discuss the benefits of fat-tailed dunnarts as laboratory animals in studies of developmental biology, with an emphasis on how their accessibility in the pouch can help address new experimental questions, especially regarding mechanisms of brain development and evolution.

Abstract 3536: The role of Nuclear factor I transcription factors in glioma

Gliomas are the most common brain tumors in adults. Among the malignant gliomas, grade IV glioma, or glioblastoma (GBM), is the most aggressive form. Despite harsh treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the median survival of GBM patients remains at just 12-15 months. GBM tumors could originate from cells of the glial lineage that have escaped the normal glial differentiation mechanisms. Therefore, by applying knowledge about normal glial development, we might understand how pathways that normally drive differentiation are affected in these tumors. If reactivating these pathways induces the differentiation of proliferative tumor cells, we could use this as a novel target for therapy.

Our research is focused on the Nuclear factor I (NFI) transcription factors, one of the key factors to induce glial differentiation during normal development and is implicated in glioma. In insertional mutagenesis glioma mouse models, Nfi genes are consistently disrupted, suggesting a role for NFI in glioma initiation. Furthermore, loss of NFIB is common in human astrocytoma, while loss of NFIA is associated with oligodendroglioma. To determine whether loss of Nfi alters glioma initiation, progression or tumor histology, we have crossed inducible glioma mice with conditional Nfi deletion mice to follow tumor initiation and progression using fluorescence imaging and immunohistochemistry.

Based on analyses of glioma mRNA expression data sets, NFIB expression correlates inversely with tumor grade and survival. Using immunofluorescence, we determined that both NFIA and NFIB are mainly expressed within the non-proliferative cells in GBM tissue, suggesting that NFI may play a direct role in tumor cell differentiation. To establish whether NFI expression can indeed inhibit tumor proliferation and induce differentiation, U251 GBM cells were transfected with NFI. While overexpression of NFIA and NFIB reduced cell proliferation, an NFI dominant-negative protein enhanced proliferation. We are currently validating these finding in vivo by electroporating NFI expression constructs into patient-derived GBM xenografts in mice. Our preliminary data show NFIB electroporated cells are indeed differentiated and non-proliferative.

Our data suggests that NFI-mediated glial differentiation can be induced in glioma to inhibit tumor growth and may prevent recurrence. Hence, activation of NFI could be a potential target for a glial differentiation-based approach to treat glioma.

Citation Format: Kok Siong Chen, Linda J. Richards, Jens Bunt. The role of Nuclear factor I transcription factors in glioma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3536. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3536

Astroglial-mediated remodeling of the interhemispheric midline during telencephalic development is exclusive to eutherian mammals

The corpus callosum forms the major interhemispheric connection in the human brain and is unique to eutherian (or placental) mammals. The developmental events associated with the evolutionary emergence of this structure, however, remain poorly understood. A key step in callosal formation is the prior remodeling of the interhemispheric fissure by embryonic astroglial cells, which then subsequently act as a permissive substrate for callosal axons, enabling them to cross the interhemispheric midline. However, whether astroglial-mediated interhemispheric remodeling is unique to eutherian mammals, and thus possibly associated with the phylogenetic origin of the corpus callosum, or instead is a general feature of mammalian brain development, is not yet known. To investigate this, we performed a comparative analysis of interhemispheric remodeling in eutherian and non-eutherian mammals, whose lineages branched off before the evolution of the corpus callosum. Whole brain MRI analyses revealed that the interhemispheric fissure is retained into adulthood in marsupials and monotremes, in contrast to eutherians (mice), in which the fissure is significantly remodeled throughout development. Histological analyses further demonstrated that, while midline astroglia are present in developing marsupials, these cells do not intercalate with one another through the intervening interhemispheric fissure, as they do in developing mice. Thus, developing marsupials do not undergo astroglial-mediated interhemispheric remodeling. As remodeling of the interhemispheric fissure is essential for the subsequent formation of the corpus callosum in eutherians, our data highlight the role of astroglial-mediated interhemispheric remodeling in the evolutionary origin of the corpus callosum.

Differential neuronal and glial expression of nuclear factor I proteins in the cerebral cortex of adult mice

The nuclear factor I (NFI) family of transcription factors plays an important role in the development of the cerebral cortex in humans and mice. Disruption of nuclear factor IA (NFIA), nuclear factor IB (NFIB), or nuclear factor IX (NFIX) results in abnormal development of the corpus callosum, lateral ventricles, and hippocampus. However, the expression or function of these genes has not been examined in detail in the adult brain, and the cell type-specific expression of NFIA, NFIB, and NFIX is currently unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the expression of each NFI protein shows a distinct laminar pattern in the adult mouse neocortex and that their cell type-specific expression differs depending on the family member. NFIA expression was more frequently observed in astrocytes and oligodendroglia, whereas NFIB expression was predominantly localized to astrocytes and neurons. NFIX expression was most commonly observed in neurons. The NFI proteins were equally distributed within microglia, and the ependymal cells lining the ventricles of the brain expressed all three proteins. In the hippocampus, the NFI proteins were expressed during all stages of neural stem cell differentiation in the dentate gyrus, with higher expression intensity in neuroblast cells as compared to quiescent stem cells and mature granule neurons. These findings suggest that the NFI proteins may play distinct roles in cell lineage specification or maintenance, and establish the basis for further investigation of their function in the adult brain and their emerging role in disease.

The anatomy, organisation and development of contralateral callosal projections of the mouse somatosensory cortex

Background:

Alterations in the development of neuronal connectivity can result in dramatic outcomes for brain function. In the cerebral cortex, most sensorimotor and higher-order functions require coordination between precise regions of both hemispheres through the axons that form the corpus callosum. However, little is known about how callosal axons locate and innervate their contralateral targets.

Methods:

Here, we use a combination of in utero electroporation, retrograde tracing, sensory deprivation and high-resolution axonal quantification to investigate the development, organisation and activity dependence of callosal axons arising from the primary somatosensory cortex of mice.

Results:

We show that distinct contralateral projections arise from different neuronal populations and form homotopic and heterotopic circuits. Callosal axons innervate the contralateral hemisphere following a dorsomedial to ventrolateral and region-specific order. Furthermore, we identify two periods of region- and layer-specific developmental exuberance that correspond to initial callosal axon innervation and subsequent arborisation. Early sensory deprivation affects only the latter of these events.

Conclusion:

Taken together, these results reveal the main developmental events of contralateral callosal targeting and may aid future understanding of the formation and pathologies of brain connectivity.

Mutations in DCC cause isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum with incomplete penetrance

Brain malformations involving the corpus callosum are common in children with developmental disabilities. We identified DCC mutations in four families and five sporadic individuals with isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) without intellectual disability. DCC mutations result in variable dominant phenotypes with decreased penetrance, including mirror movements and ACC associated with a favorable developmental prognosis. Possible phenotypic modifiers include the type and location of mutation and the sex of the individual.

EMX1 regulates NRP1-mediated wiring of the mouse anterior cingulate cortex

Transcription factors act during cortical development as master regulatory genes that specify cortical arealization and cellular identities. Although numerous transcription factors have been identified as being crucial for cortical development, little is known about their downstream targets and how they mediate the emergence of specific neuronal connections via selective axon guidance. The EMX transcription factors are essential for early patterning of the cerebral cortex, but whether EMX1 mediates interhemispheric connectivity by controlling corpus callosum formation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that in mice on the C57Bl/6 background EMX1 plays an essential role in the midline crossing of an axonal subpopulation of the corpus callosum derived from the anterior cingulate cortex. In the absence of EMX1, cingulate axons display reduced expression of the axon guidance receptor NRP1 and form aberrant axonal bundles within the rostral corpus callosum. EMX1 also functions as a transcriptional activator of Nrp1 expression in vitro, and overexpression of this protein in Emx1 knockout mice rescues the midline-crossing phenotype. These findings reveal a novel role for the EMX1 transcription factor in establishing cortical connectivity by regulating the interhemispheric wiring of a subpopulation of neurons within the mouse anterior cingulate cortex.

MicroRNA-153 Regulates the Acquisition of Gliogenic Competence by Neural Stem Cells

Mammalian neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) sequentially generate neurons and glia during CNS development. Here we identified miRNA-153 (miR-153) as a modulator of the temporal regulation of NSPC differentiation. Overexpression (OE) of miR-153 delayed the onset of astrogliogenesis and maintained NSPCs in an undifferentiated state in vitro and in the developing cortex. The transcription factors nuclear factor I (NFI) A and B, essential regulators of the initiation of gliogenesis, were found to be targets of miR-153. Inhibition of miR-153 in early neurogenic NSPCs induced precocious gliogenesis, whereas NFIA/B overexpression rescued the anti-gliogenic phenotypes induced by miR-153 OE. Our results indicate that miR-mediated fine control of NFIA/B expression is important in the molecular networks that regulate the acquisition of gliogenic competence by NSPCs in the developing CNS.

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We identify miR-153 as a regulator for the acquisition of gliogenic competence

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NFIA and NFIB are physiological targets of miR-153

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Inhibition of miR-153 confers gliogenic competence on early neurogenic NSPCs

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Fine-tuning of NFIA/B expressions by miR-153 is involved in the timing of gliogenesis