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Hippocampal gene expression profiling in mice treated with beta-sitosterol

ABSTRACT: Anxiety and stress-related conditions represent a significant health burden in modern society. Unfortunately, most of the drugs currently used in the clinic modulate neurotransmission and are prone to side effects, limiting their long-term use. We used bioinformatics screening to find small molecules mimicking the transcriptional profile recently reported in hippocampi of importin α5 mutant anxiolytic mice, identifying the plant sterol β-sitosterol as a top candidate. Behavioral analyses confirmed anxiolytic properties of β-sitosterol. The present RNA-seq experiment characterizes the hippocampal transcriptome in mice 1 hr and 6 hrs after intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg β-sitosterol or vehicle.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE134467 | GEO | 2021/05/18

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Introduction: The mechanisms governing synaptonuclear transport, and the transcriptional pathways that are at the core of neuronal disorders are poorly understood. The importin family of nuclear import factors has pivotal roles in such pathways, due to their involvement in intracellular transport from both synapse to soma and cytoplasm to nucleus. Mammals express six different isoforms of importin α, which bind an Importin β to form transport complexes for specific cargoes. Methods: We addressed the roles of importin α isoforms in mammalian CNS by evaluation of a systematic series of importin α knockout mice. A comprehensive battery of behavioral tests was used to investigate spontaneous and novelty-induced locomotion, basal ganglia function, motor coordination, neuromuscular integration, anxiety-related behaviors and memory. Subsequent analyses using acute-brain slice electrophysiology, RNA-seq, bioinformatics, imaging and pharmacology was used in order to delineate the contribution of genes and signaling pathways involved in the identified phenotype and screen for new therapeutic approaches. Results and Discussion: During the course of comprehensive behavioral profiling of importin α mouse mutants, we identified an importin α knockout (KO) mouse with significantly reduced anxiety levels. Electrophysiological recordings in acute hippocampal slices showed a reduced short-term and presynaptic plasticity (paired-pulse facilitation deficit, lower PTP), while LTP was not affected in these mutants. We then performed transcriptional profiling (RNA-seq) from hippocampal extracts of wild type versus mutant animals after exposure to an anxiogenic drug. Computational analysis revealed differences in the expression of genes and the involvement of transcription factors. Drugs that activate LXR or the Sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor have robust anxiolytic effects, while a Sphk1 blocker reverses anxiolysis in the importin α5 knockout mouse. Thus, importin α5 influences anxiety by regulating nuclear import in neurons.

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Hippocampal gene expression profiling in mice treated with beta-sitosterol

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