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Ung K, Huang TW, Lozzi B, Woo J, Hanson E, Pekarek B, Tepe B, Sardar D, Cheng YT, Liu G, Deneen B, Arenkiel BR. Olfactory bulb astrocytes mediate sensory circuit processing through Sox9 in the mouse brain. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5230. [PMID: 34471129 PMCID: PMC8410770 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25444-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of transcription factors during astrocyte development and their subsequent effects on neuronal development has been well studied. Less is known about astrocytes contributions towards circuits and behavior in the adult brain. Astrocytes play important roles in synaptic development and modulation, however their contributions towards neuronal sensory function and maintenance of neuronal circuit architecture remain unclear. Here, we show that loss of the transcription factor Sox9 results in both anatomical and functional changes in adult mouse olfactory bulb (OB) astrocytes, affecting sensory processing. Indeed, astrocyte-specific deletion of Sox9 in the OB results in decreased odor detection thresholds and discrimination and it is associated with aberrant neuronal sensory response maps. At functional level, loss of astrocytic Sox9 impairs the electrophysiological properties of mitral and tufted neurons. RNA-sequencing analysis reveals widespread changes in the gene expression profiles of OB astrocytes. In particular, we observe reduced GLT-1 expression and consequential alterations in glutamate transport. Our findings reveal that astrocytes are required for physiological sensory processing and we identify astrocytic Sox9 as an essential transcriptional regulator of mature astrocyte function in the mouse OB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Ung
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Teng-Wei Huang
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brittney Lozzi
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Junsung Woo
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth Hanson
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brandon Pekarek
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Burak Tepe
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Debosmita Sardar
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yi-Ting Cheng
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gary Liu
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Benjamin Deneen
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Benjamin R Arenkiel
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
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