Transcriptomic Landscape of Microglia in Mouse Models of Social Dysfunction and Oxytocin-Mediated Recovery
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE318415 | GEO | 2026/03/02
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Despite the rapid progress in dissecting neural circuits for social behaviors, it remains unknown whether specific neural cell types are selectively vulnerable in social dysfunction cases often associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, employing a single-cell transcriptome analysis in mice, we show that an embryonic disturbance known to induce social dysfunction preferentially impairs gene expressions crucial for neural functions in parvocellular oxytocin (OT) neurons—a subtype linked to social rewards—while neighboring cell types experience a lesser impact. Chemogenetic stimulation of OT neurons at the neonatal stage ameliorated social deficits, concomitant with a cell-type-specific sustained recovery of the pivotal gene expressions. Our data illuminates the transcriptomic selective vulnerability within the hypothalamic social behavioral center, offering a potential therapeutic target through specific neonatal neurostimulation.
2023-12-05 | GSE245555 | GEO
Project description:Selective Vulnerability of Parvocellular Oxytocin Neuron in Social Dysfunction
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Project description:Parallel processing circuits are thought to dramatically expand the network capabilities of the nervous system. Magnocellular and parvocellular oxytocin neurons have been proposed to subserve two parallel streams of social information processing, which allow a single molecule to encode a diverse array of ethologically distinct behaviors, although to date direct evidence to support this hypothesis is lacking. Here we provide the first comprehensive characterization of magnocellular and parvocellular oxytocin neurons, validated across anatomical, projection target, electrophysiological, and transcriptional criteria. We next used novel multiple feature selection tools in Fmr1 KO mice to provide direct evidence that normal functioning of the parvocellular but not magnocellular oxytocin pathway is required for autism-relevant social reward behavior. Finally, we demonstrate that autism risk genes are uniquely enriched in parvocellular oxytocin neurons. Taken together these results provide the first evidence that oxytocin pathway specific pathogenic mechanisms account for social impairments across a broad range of autism etiologies.
2020-03-18 | GSE147092 | GEO
Project description:In this study, we explored molecular alterations in the hippocampus of prenatal valproic acid (VPA)-exposed rats as a model of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition, we assessed effects of chronic administration of intranasal oxytocin, a promising peptide for ASD treatment. Comparative analyses revealed that prenatal VPA exposure altered gene expression, a part of which is involved in key features including memory, developmental process, and epilepsy. Oxytocin partly improved these gene expression, which were predicted to interact with those involved in social behaviors and hippocampal-dependent memory. The present study documented molecular profiling in the hippocampus related to ASD and improvement by chronic treatment of oxytocin.
2022-02-12 | GSE196500 | GEO
Project description:Oxytocin-expressing paraventricular hypothalamic neurons (PVN^OT neurons) integrate afferent signals from the gut including cholecystokinin (CCK) to adjust whole-body energy homeostasis. However, the molecular underpinnings by which PVN^OT neurons orchestrate gut-to-brain feeding control remain unclear. Here, we show that mice undergoing selective ablation of PVNOT neurons fail to reduce food intake in response to CCK and develop hyperphagic obesity on chow diet. Notably, exposing wildtype mice to a high-fat/high-sugar (HFHS) diet recapitulates this insensitivity towards CCK, which is linked to diet-induced transcriptional and electrophysiological aberrations specifically in PVNOT neurons. Restoring OT pathways in DIO mice via chemogenetics or polypharmacology sufficiently re-establishes CCK?s anorexigenic effects. Lastly, by single-cell profiling, we identify a specialized PVN^OT neuronal subpopulation with increased ?-opioid signaling under HFHS diet, which restrains their CCK-evoked activation. In sum, we here document a novel (patho)mechanism by which PVN^OT signaling uncouples a gut-brain satiation pathway under obesogenic conditions.
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Project description:Social interactions are critical components for the survival of mammalian biology and evolution. Dysregulation of social behavior often leads to psychopathologies such as social anxiety disorder, which is characterized by an intense fear and avoidance of social situations. Using the social fear conditioning (SFC) paradigm, we analyzed expression levels of miR-132-3p and miR-124-3p within the septum, a brain region essential for social behavior and fear, after acquisition and extinction of social fear. Functional in vivo approaches using pharmacology, functional inhibition of miR-132-3p, viral miR-132 overexpression and shRNA-mediated knockdown of miR-132-3p within oxytocin receptor positive neurons confirmed septal miR-132-3p to be involved in social fear extinction and the oxytocin-mediated reversal of social fear. Moreover, Argonaute-RNA-co-immunoprecipitation-microarray analysis and further target mRNA quantification, depicted growth differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) to be involved in miR-132-3p-mediated regulation of social fear extinction. Local application of GDF-5 resulted in impaired social fear extinction, an effect which seems to be mediated by miR-132-3p. In summary, we show that septal miR-132-3p is functionally involved in social fear extinction learning and oxytocin-mediated reversal of social fear.
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Project description:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder where patients have impaired social behavior, communication, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interest. Valproic acid (VPA) has been widely used to treat patients with epilepsy and bipolar disorder patients. However, VPA treatment during pregnancy has produced offspring with neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD. To better understand the molecular function of ASD, we have used valproic acid, chemically induced ASD mice. We have performed LC-MS/MS analysis of VPA-induced offspring mice to the control to see the difference in their proteome difference. Our analysis showed that many neuronal network pathways were highly expressed in our differentially expressed proteins, and among them, Wnt/ β-catenin pathways showed clear enrichment. The RNF146 (E3 Ubiquitin-protein ligase) increase in VPA-exposed mice showed a highly significant effect on canonical Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathways by disrupting the β-catenin destruction complex. The proteins like CREBBP, TCF4, and GSK3B also showed significant changes that indicate dysfunction of β-catenin destruction complex and activation of transcription factors.
2023-07-24 | PXD036413 | Pride
Project description:Rates of oxytocin use to induce or augment labor are increasing in the United States with little understanding of the impact on offspring development. Using a prairie vole animal model, we have shown that oxytocin administered to mothers can reach offspring brains with long lasting impacts on the development of social behaviors. Here, we examine the epigenetic and transcriptomic consequences of oxytocin exposure during birth in juvenile male offspring. First, we show that male offspring exposed to oxytocin at birth have increased epigenetic age compared to the saline exposed group. We also find 900 differentially methylated CpG sites (annotated to 589 genes), with 2 CpG sites (2 genes) remaining significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Differentially methylated CpG sites are involved in regulation of gene expression and neurodevelopment. Using RNA-sequencing we find 217 nominally differentially expressed genes (p<0.05) in nucleus accumbens, a brain region involved in reward circuitry and social behavior, including 6 genes that remain significantly differentially expressed after corrections for multiple comparisons. Finally, we show that maternal oxytocin administration leads to widespread alternative splicing in the nucleus accumbens. These results indicate that oxytocin exposure during birth has long lasting epigenetic consequences in the brain and warrant further investigation of how oxytocin administration impacts development and behavior throughout the lifespan.
2024-04-03 | GSE240833 | GEO
Project description:Rates of oxytocin use to induce or augment labor are increasing in the United States with little understanding of the impact on offspring development. Using a prairie vole animal model, we have shown that oxytocin administered to mothers can reach offspring brains with long lasting impacts on the development of social behaviors. Here, we examine the epigenetic and transcriptomic consequences of oxytocin exposure during birth in juvenile male offspring. First, we show that male offspring exposed to oxytocin at birth have increased epigenetic age compared to the saline exposed group. We also find 900 differentially methylated CpG sites (annotated to 589 genes), with 2 CpG sites (2 genes) remaining significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Differentially methylated CpG sites are involved in regulation of gene expression and neurodevelopment. Using RNA-sequencing we find 217 nominally differentially expressed genes (p<0.05) in nucleus accumbens, a brain region involved in reward circuitry and social behavior, including 6 genes that remain significantly differentially expressed after corrections for multiple comparisons. Finally, we show that maternal oxytocin administration leads to widespread alternative splicing in the nucleus accumbens. These results indicate that oxytocin exposure during birth has long lasting epigenetic consequences in the brain and warrant further investigation of how oxytocin administration impacts development and behavior throughout the lifespan.
2024-04-03 | GSE240832 | GEO
Project description:One of the most fundamental challenges in developing treatments for autism-spectrum disorders is the heterogeneity of the condition. More than one hundred genetic mutations confer high risk for autism, with each individual mutation accounting for only a small fraction of autism cases. Subsets of risk genes can be grouped into functionally-related pathways, most prominently synaptic proteins, translational regulation, and chromatin modifications. To possibly circumvent this genetic complexity, recent therapeutic strategies have focused on the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin which regulate aspects of social behavior in mammals. However, whether genetic risk factors might predispose to autism due to modification of oxytocinergic signaling remains largely unknown. Here, we report that an autism-associated mutation in the synaptic adhesion molecule neuroligin-3 (Nlgn3) results in impaired oxytocin signaling in dopaminergic neurons and in altered social novelty responses in mice. Surprisingly, loss of Nlgn3 is accompanied by a disruption of translation homeostasis in the ventral tegmental area. Treatment of Nlgn3KO mice with a novel, highly specific, brain-penetrant inhibitor of MAP-kinase interacting kinases resets mRNA translation and restores oxytocin and social novelty responses. Thus, this work identifies an unexpected convergence between the genetic autism risk factor Nlgn3, translational regulation, and oxytocinergic signaling. Focus on such common core plasticity elements might provide a pragmatic approach to reduce the heterogeneity of autism phenotypes. Ultimately, this would allow for mechanism-based stratification of patient populations to increase the success of therapeutic interventions.
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