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Single-nucleus transcriptional profiling of Gad2-positive neurons from the mouse lateral habenula with distinct expression of neurotransmitter-related genes

ABSTRACT: Glutamatergic projection neurons of the lateral habenula (LHb) effect behavioral statemodulation by regulating the activity of midbrain monoaminergic neurons. Identifying circuit mechanisms that control LHb output is of interest for understanding motivated behaviors. A small population of neurons within the medial subnucleus of the mouse LHb express the GABAergic synthesizing enzyme GAD2 and are capable of inhibiting nearby LHb projection neurons. However, these neurons lack most markers of classic inhibitory interneurons, and they co-express the vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT2. To determine the molecular phenotype of these neurons, we genetically tagged the nuclei of GAD2-positive cells and used fluorescence-activated nuclear sorting followed by single nuclear RNA sequencing (FANS-snRNAseq) to determine the full transcriptional profile of GAD2+ neurons isolated from LHb. Our data demonstrate that LHb GAD2+ neurons co-express markers of both glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission and that they are transcriptionally distinct from GABAergic interneurons or habenular glutamatergic neurons. We show sex-specific differences in gene expression in this neuronal population and find that these gene sets are enriched for genes involved in depression. Finally, we identify the Ntng2 gene encoding the cell adhesion protein Netrin-G2 as a selective marker of LHb GAD2+ neurons that may contribute to their target projections. These data show the value of using genetic enrichment of rare cell types for transcriptome studies, and they advance understanding of the molecular composition of a functionally important class of neurons in the LHb.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE179198 | GEO | 2022/11/08

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:GABAergic interneurons are lost in conditions including epilepsy and CNS injury, but there are few culture models available to study their function. Towards the goal of obtaining renewable sources of GABAergic neurons, we used the molecular profile of a functionally-incomplete GABAergic precursor clone to screen 17 new clones isolated from GFP+ rat E14.5 cortex and ganglionic eminence (GE) that were generated by viral introduction of v-myc. The clones grow as neurospheres in medium with FGF2, and after withdrawal of FGF2 they exhibit varying patterns of differentiation. Transcriptional profiling and qPCR indicated that one clone (GE6) expresses high levels of mRNAs encoding Dlx1, 2, 5 and 6, glutamate decarboxylases, and presynaptic proteins including neuropeptide Y and somatostatin. Protein expression confirmed that GE6 is a progenitor with restricted differentiation giving rise mostly to neurons with GABAergic markers. In co-cultures with hippocampal neurons, GE6 neurons became electrically excitable and received both inhibitory and excitatory synapses. After withdrawal of FGF2 in cultures of GE6 alone, neurons matured to express BetaIII-tubulin, and staining for synaptophysin and vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) were robust after 1-2 weeks of differentiation. GE6 neurons also became electrically excitable and displayed synaptic activity, but synaptic currents were carried by chloride and were blocked by bicuculline. The results suggest that the GE6 clone, which is ventrally derived from the GE, resembles GABAergic interneuron progenitors that migrate into the developing forebrain. This is the first report of a relatively stable fetal clone that can be differentiated into GABAergic interneurons with functional synapses. The purpose was to compare differentiation patterns of several different immortalized rat neural progenitor clones to identify early stages in differentiation. The cell clones studies were: GE6 (GABAergic neuronal precursor), GE2 (non-neuronal precursor, CTX8 (multipotential precursor), L2.2 (interneuronal precursor), and L2.3 (multipotential precursor). Five rat neural precursor cell clones were compared at three different time points following FGF2 withdrawal, which triggers differentiation. Three sister culture replicates were performed for each cell clone and time point, yielding 45 samples. One microarray failed so we have 44 microarray results in the dataset.

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Single-nucleus transcriptional profiling of Gad2-positive neurons from the mouse lateral habenula with distinct expression of neurotransmitter-related genes

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