Project description:Numerous genetic variants associated with MEF2C are linked to autism, intellectual disability (ID) and schizophrenia (SCZ) – a heterogeneous collection of neurodevelopmental disorders with unclear pathophysiology. MEF2C is highly expressed in developing cortical excitatory neurons, but its role in their development remains unclear. We show here that conditional embryonic deletion of Mef2c in cortical and hippocampal excitatory neurons (Emx1-lineage) produces a dramatic reduction in cortical network activity in vivo, due in part to a dramatic increase in inhibitory and a decrease in excitatory synaptic transmission. In addition, we find that MEF2C regulates E/I synapse density predominantly as a cell-autonomous, transcriptional repressor. Analysis of differential gene expression in Mef2c mutant cortex identified a significant overlap with numerous synapse- and autism-linked genes, and the Mef2c mutant mice displayed numerous behaviors reminiscent of autism, ID and SCZ, suggesting that perturbing MEF2C function in neocortex can produce autistic- and ID-like behaviors in mice.
Project description:Recent studies have revealed an essential role for embryonic cortical development in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the genetic basis and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we generate mutant human embryonic stem cell lines (Mut hESCs) carrying an NR2F1-R112K mutation that has been identified in a patient with ASD features, and investigate their neurodevelopmental alterations. Mut hESCs overproduce ventral telencephalic neuron progenitors (ventral NPCs) and inhibitory neurons, and underproduce dorsal NPCs and excitatory neurons. These alterations can be mainly attributed to the aberrantly activated Hedgehog signaling pathway. Moreover, the corresponding Nr2f1 point mutant mice display a similar excitatory/inhibitory neuron imbalance and abnormal behaviors. Antagonizing the increased inhibitory synaptic transmission partially alleviates their behavioral deficits. Together, our results suggest that the NR2F1-dependent imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory neuron differentiation caused by the activated Hedgehog pathway is one precursor of neurodevelopmental disorders and may enlighten the therapeutic approaches.
Project description:Recent studies have revealed an essential role for embryonic cortical development in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the genetic basis and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we generate mutant human embryonic stem cell lines (Mut hESCs) carrying an NR2F1-R112K mutation that has been identified in a patient with ASD features, and investigate their neurodevelopmental alterations. Mut hESCs overproduce ventral telencephalic neuron progenitors (ventral NPCs) and inhibitory neurons, and underproduce dorsal NPCs and excitatory neurons. These alterations can be mainly attributed to the aberrantly activated Hedgehog signaling pathway. Moreover, the corresponding Nr2f1 point mutant mice display a similar excitatory/inhibitory neuron imbalance and abnormal behaviors. Antagonizing the increased inhibitory synaptic transmission partially alleviates their behavioral deficits. Together, our results suggest that the NR2F1-dependent imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory neuron differentiation caused by the activated Hedgehog pathway is one precursor of neurodevelopmental disorders and may enlighten the therapeutic approaches.
Project description:Microdeletions of the MEF2C gene are linked to a syndromic form of autism termed MEF2C haploinsufficiency syndrome (MCHS). Here, we show that MCHS-associated missense mutations cluster in the conserved DNA binding domain and disrupt MEF2C DNA binding. DNA binding-deficient global Mef2c heterozygous mice (Mef2c-Het) display numerous MCHS-like behaviors, including autism-related behaviors, as well as deficits in cortical excitatory synaptic transmission. We find that hundreds of genes are dysregulated in Mef2c-Het cortex, including significant enrichments of autism risk and excitatory neuron genes. In addition, we observe an enrichment of upregulated microglial genes, but not due to neuroinflammation in the Mef2c-Het cortex. Importantly, conditional Mef2c heterozygosity in forebrain excitatory neurons reproduces a subset of the Mef2c-Het phenotypes, while conditional Mef2c heterozygosity in microglia reproduces social deficits and repetitive behavior. Together our findings suggest that MEF2C regulates typical brain development and function through multiple cell types, including excitatory neuronal and neuroimmune populations.
Project description:Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social deficits, repetitive behaviors, and various comorbidities, including epilepsy. ANK2, which encodes a neuronal scaffolding protein, is frequently mutated in ASD, but its in vivo functions and disease-related mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we report that mice with Ank2 knockout restricted to cortical and hippocampal excitatory neurons (Ank2-cKO mice) show ASD-related behavioral abnormalities and juvenile seizure-related death. Ank2-cKO cortical neurons show abnormally increased excitability and firing rate. These changes accompanied decreases in the total level and function of the Kv7.2/KCNQ2 and Kv7.3/KCNQ3 potassium channels and the density of these channels in the enlengthened axon initial segment. Importantly, the Kv7 agonist, retigabine, rescued neuronal excitability, juvenile seizure-related death, and hyperactivity in Ank2-cKO mice. These results suggest that Ank2 regulates neuronal excitability by regulating the length of and Kv7 density in the AIS and that Kv7 channelopathy is involved in Ank2-related brain dysfunctions.
Project description:Synapse formation is a dynamic process essential for neuronal circuit development and maturation. At the synaptic cleft, trans-synaptic protein-protein interactions constitute major biological determinants of proper synapse efficacy. The balance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission (E-I balance) stabilizes synaptic activity and its dysregulation has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying E-I balance remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigate Neuroligin (Nlgn) genes which encode a family of postsynaptic adhesion molecules that shape excitatory and inhibitory synaptic function. We identified that NLGN3 protein differentially regulates inhibitory synaptic transmission in a splice isoform-dependent manner in hippocampal CA1 synapses. Distinct subcellular localization patterns of NLGN3 isoforms contribute to the functional differences observed among splice variants. Finally, our single-cell sequencing analysis reveals that Nlgn1 and Nlgn3 are the major Nlgn genes and that Nlgn splice isoforms are highly diverse in CA1 pyramidal neurons.
Project description:we used DNA microarray analysis to identify genes that are induced by neuronal activity in excitatory neurons at the time when inhibitory synapses are forming and maturing on them. Experiment Overall Design: We cultured cortical neurons for 7 DIV until the process of inhibitory synapse development was underway, and then depolarized the neurons with 50 mM of KCl to activate L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels (L-VSCCs) for 0, 1 or 6 hours, the cells were lysed, mRNA isolated and hybridized to Affymetrix arrays. Data were collected from 3 independent experiments.
Project description:Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social deficits, repetitive behaviors, and various comorbidities, including epilepsy. ANK2, which encodes a neuronal scaffolding protein, is frequently mutated in ASD, but its in vivo functions and disease-related mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we report that mice with Ank2 knockout restricted to cortical and hippocampal excitatory neurons (Ank2-cKO mice) show ASD-related behavioral abnormalities and juvenile seizure-related death. Ank2-cKO cortical neurons show abnormally increased excitability and firing rate. These changes accompanied decreases in the total level and function of the Kv7.2/KCNQ2 and Kv7.3/KCNQ3 potassium channels and the density of these channels in the enlengthened axon initial segment. Importantly, the Kv7 agonist, retigabine, rescued neuronal excitability, juvenile seizure-related death, and hyperactivity in Ank2-cKO mice. These results suggest that Ank2 regulates neuronal excitability by regulating the length of and Kv7 density in the AIS and that Kv7 channelopathy is involved in Ank2-related brain dysfunctions.
Project description:Copy number variations at 7q11.23 cause neurodevelopmental disorders with shared and opposite manifestations. Deletion leads to Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS), while duplication causes 7q11.23 microduplication syndrome (7Dup). Converging evidence indicates GTF2I, from the 7q11.23 locus, is a key mediator of the cognitive-behavioral phenotypes associated with WBS and 7Dup. Here we integrate molecular profiling of patient-derived cortical organoids (COs) and transgenic mouse models to dissect 7q11.23 disease mechanisms. Proteomic and transcriptomic profiling of COs revealed opposite dynamics of neural progenitor proliferation and transcriptional imbalances, leading to precocious excitatory neuron production in 7Dup. The accelerated excitatory neuron production in 7Dup COs could be rescued by GTF2I knockdown. Transgenic mice with Gtf2i duplication recapitulated early neuronal differentiation defects and ASD-like behaviors. Remarkably, inhibition of LSD1, a downstream effector of GTF2I, was sufficient to rescue ASD-like phenotypes. We propose that the GTF2I-LSD1 axis constitutes a molecular pathway amenable to therapeutic intervention.
Project description:Maternal antibodies specific for antigens in the developing brain are implicated as risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders, but how these antibodies interfere with neurodevelopment remain speculative. It has been postulated that immunoglobulin G-immune complexes (IgG-IC) activate Fc gamma receptors (FcγR) on non-immune cells in the brain, thereby modulating intracellular signaling and/or internalizing function-blocking antibodies specific for intracellular antigens. However, testing this hypothesis has been hindered by the paucity of data regarding FcγR in the developing brain. Thus, we first investigated FcγR expression in the brain of neonatal male and female rats using quantitative PCR analyses. FcgrIa, FcgrIIa, FcgrIIb, FcgrIIIa and Fcgrt transcripts were detectable in the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum at postnatal days 1 and 7. These transcripts were also present in primary hippocampal and cortical cell cultures, where their expression was upregulated by IFNγ. In order to confirm protein abundance of FcγRIa, FcγRIIb and FcγRIIIa in cultured hippocampal and cortical neurons and astrocytes on the single cell and tissue level we used immunocytochemistry, western blotting, proteotype analysis, and flow cytometry. The data shows that a subpopulation of these cells co-express the excitatory FcγRIa and the inhibitory FcγRIIb. Functional analysis shows that exposure of hippocampal and cortical cell cultures to IgG-IC increased intracellular calcium and Erk phosphorylation, and triggered FcγR-mediated internalization of IgG. Collectively, these data demonstrate that developing neurons and astrocytes express signaling competent FcγR. which could establish a molecular mode of action of maternal antibodies could influence vulnerability to neurodevelopmental disorders via direct interactions with FcγR on non-immune cells in the developing brain. These findings support the hypothesis that maternal antibodies influence vulnerability to neurodevelopmental disorders via direct interactions with FcγR on non-immune cells in the developing brain.