Project description:Rare genomic gains at 15q11-q13 are observed in 1-2% of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Because many genes are included here and breakpoints vary between cases, the potential contribution of specific genes is unclear. Cytoplasmic FMR1 interacting protein 1 (CYFIP1) is interesting in this regard given the association of smaller overlapping deletions with each of schizophrenia and intellectual disability. Towards an understanding of how increased CYFIP1 dosage might predispose to neurodevelopmental disease we investigated the consequence of overexpression in multiple systems. We show that CYFIP1 mRNA is increased in lymphoblastoid cells and human brain as a function of 15q dosage. Towards mechanisms, we determined that overexpression of CYFIP1 results in cellular abnormalities in SY5Y cells and mouse neuronal progenitors. Identical abnormalities, as well as anomalies in synaptic morphology, were seen after comparing two BAC transgenic strains to controls. Gene expression profiling at embryonic day 15 identified genes differentially expressed between transgenic and control mice and highlighted dysregulation of mTOR signaling. Finally, treatment of mouse neuronal progenitors with an mTOR inhibitor (Rapamycin) rescued morphologic abnormalities resulting from CYFIP1 overexpression. Together, these data are consistent with the notion that normalization of mTOR signaling, emerging as an important point of convergence in the ASDs, may be of clinical utility in genetically selected populations with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Project description:In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyloid β (Aβ)-triggered cleavage of TrkB-FL impairs brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, thereby compromising neuronal survival, differentiation, as well as synaptic transmission and plasticity. In addition to compromising canonical BDNF signalling pathways, TrkB-FL cleavage produces an intracellular fragment (TrkB-ICD), which was shown to accumulate in the nucleus and to display tyrosine kinase activity. To dissect the role of TrkB-ICD overexpression from the loss of endogenous signaling throught TrkB-FL, we used lentiviruses to overexpress the TrkB-ICD sequence in cultured primary cortical neurons and performed morphological, electrophysiological and transcriptomics studies. While TrkB-ICD overexpression did not affect cell survival, it caused a significant decrease in the number of dendritic spines, both compared to untransduced and GFP-transduced neurons. Furthermore, TrkB-ICD overexpressing neurons presented a hyperpolarized resting membrane potential and increased frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs). Finally, TrkB-ICD overexpression was associated with the upregulation of genes involved in (i) neuronal survival, growth and differentiation; (ii) neuronal cytoarchitecture and spine morphology; (iii) neurodegenerative processes, including AD; and (iv) synaptic transmission and plasticity. Overall, these results show that TrkB-ICD overexpression causes dendritic spine loss, alters excitatory synaptic transmission and causes transcriptome-wide changes, namely in genes coding for proteins involved in synaptic processes.
Project description:Evidence suggests that impaired synaptic and firing homeostasis represents a driving force of early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression. Here, we examine synaptic and sleep homeostasis in a Drosophila model by overexpressing human amyloid precursor protein (APP), whose duplication and mutations cause familial early-onset AD. We find that APP overexpression induces synaptic hyperexcitability. RNA-seq data indicate exaggerated expression of Ca2+ related signaling genes in APP mutants, including genes encoding Dmca1D, calcineurin (CaN) complex, and IP3R, but not in hyperexcitable mutants caused by TrpA1 or Shal/Kv4. We further demonstrate that increased CaN activity triggers transcriptional activation of Itpr (IP3R) through activating nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). Strikingly, APP overexpression causes defects in both synaptic downscaling and sleep deprivation induced sleep rebound, and both defects could be restored by inhibiting IP3R. Our findings uncover IP3R as a shared signaling molecular in synaptic downscaling and sleep homeostasis, and its dysregulation may lead to synaptic hyperexcitability and AD progression at early stage.
Project description:Sandhoff disease, a lysosomal storage disorder, is caused by pathogenic variants in the HEXB gene, resulting in the loss of β-hexosaminidase activity and accumulation of GM2 ganglioside and GA2 glycolipid. This accumulation occurs primarily in neurons, and leads to progressive neurodegeneration through a largely unknown process. Lysosomal storage diseases often exhibit dysfunctional mTOR signaling, a pathway crucial for proper neuronal development and function. In this study, Sandhoff disease model mice exhibited reduced mTOR signaling in the brain. To test if restoring mTOR signaling could improve the disease phenotype, we genetically reduced expression of the mTOR inhibitor Tsc2 in these mice. Sandhoff disease mice with reactivated mTOR signaling displayed increased survival rates and motor function, especially in females, increased dendritic-spine density, and reduced neurodegeneration. Tsc2 reduction also partially rescued aberrant synaptic function–related gene expression. These findings imply that enhancing mTOR signaling could be a potential therapeutic strategy for lysosomal-based neurodegenerative diseases
Project description:<p>Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; n-3 PUFAs) are essential for the functional maturation of the brain. Westernization of dietary habits in both developed and developing countries is accompanied by a progressive reduction in dietary intake of n-3 PUFAs. Low maternal intake of n-3 PUFAs has been linked to neurodevelopmental diseases in epidemiological studies, but the mechanisms by which a n-3 PUFA dietary imbalance affects CNS development are poorly understood. Active microglial engulfment of synaptic elements is an important process for normal brain development and altered synapse refinement is a hallmark of several neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we identify a molecular mechanism for detrimental effects of low maternal n-3 PUFA intake on hippocampal development. Our results show that maternal dietary n-3 PUFA deficiency increases microglial phagocytosis of synaptic elements in the developing hippocampus, partly through the activation of 12/15- lipoxygenase (LOX)/12-HETE signaling, which alters neuronal morphology and affects cognition in the postnatal offspring. While women of child bearing age are at higher risk of dietary n-3 PUFA deficiency, these findings provide new insights into the mechanisms linking maternal nutrition to neurodevelopmental disorders.</p>
Project description:The ribosomal protein S6 kinase family members play essential biological functions in disease, from cancer to intellectual disability. Little is known about RPS6KC1, aside from its lack of phosphorylation capacity and its roles in sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling and peroxiredoxin-3 transport to mitochondria. Through whole-exome sequencing, we identified biallelic RPS6KC1 variants in 13 individuals from 8 independent families. Phenotypic manifestations included neurodevelopmental delay, hypotonia, spastic paraplegia, brain white matter loss, and dysmorphic features overlapping with Coffin-Lowry syndrome (OMIM #303600) caused by RPS6KA3 mutations. Functional studies on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the different individuals indicated a diminished expression and phosphorylation of RPS6, impacting ribosomal protein synthesis, and a decrease in the known interactors PRDX3 and SPHK1, accompanied by marked repression of the mTOR/PI3K pathway. We detected a dysregulation of phosphoinositides and sphingoid bases levels on plasma samples from the different individuals. Further studies in HAP1 RPS6KC1 knockdown cells suggested that RPS6KC1 may regulate PRDX3 and SPHK1 activities by facilitating their endosome anchoring. In Drosophila melanogaster, RPS6KC1 knockdown resulted in locomotor dysfunction, defective neuromuscular junctions, reduced lifespan, and decreased mTOR activity. Overexpression of mTOR in this model improved motor function and lifespan. These findings underscore the crucial roles of RPS6KC1 in neurodevelopment by controlling ribosomal protein synthesis, lipid signaling, and the mTOR pathway.
2025-09-25 | PXD065493 | Pride
Project description:SHANK2 affects neuronal hyperexcitability through glutaminergic synaptic signaling in early Alzheimer's disease
Project description:AMPK serves as a regulator of metabolic homeostasis to conserve energy in tumor cells by inhibiting ATP-anabolic processes and promoting ATP-generating pathways. When activated, AMPK reprograms cellular metabolism and imposes growth checkpoints, particularly through inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway. Since mTOR is activated in a subset of PanNET patients, the AMPK-mTOR signaling axis is a crucial target to evaluate the risk for chemotherapy drugs resistance and overall prognosis in these patients.
We now report that elevated TYMS levels downregulates AMPK signaling and activates mTOR signaling in PanNET tumor cells. These data suggest a new role for TYMS inhibition to modulate the AMPK-mTOR signaling axis and impact the efficacy of current mTOR inhibitory agents in the management of patients with advanced PanNET.
Project description:Regulation of hepatocyte proliferation and liver morphology is of critical importance to tissue and whole-body homeostasis. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie this complex process are incompletely understood. Here we describe a novel role for the ubiquitin ligase BRAP in regulation of hepatocyte morphology and turnover via regulation of MST2, a protein kinase in the Hippo pathway. The Hippo pathway has been implicated in control of liver morphology, inflammation and fibrosis. We demonstrate here that liver-specific ablation of Brap in mice results in gross and cellular morphological alterations of the liver. Brap-deficient livers exhibit increased hepatocyte proliferation, cell death, and inflammation. We show that loss of BRAP protein alters Hippo pathway signaling, causing a reduction in phosphorylation of YAP and increased expression of YAP target genes, including those regulating cell growth and interactions with the extracellular environment. Finally, increased Hippo signaling in Brap knockout mice alters the pattern of liver lipid accumulation in dietary models of obesity. These studies identify a role for BRAP as a modulator of the hepatic Hippo pathway with relevance to human liver disease. tissue and whole-body homeostasis. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie this complex process are incompletely understood. Here we describe a novel role for the ubiquitin ligase BRAP in regulation of hepatocyte morphology and turnover via regulation of MST2, a protein kinase in the Hippo pathway. The Hippo pathway has been implicated in control of liver morphology, inflammation and fibrosis. We demonstrate here that liver-specific ablation of Brap in mice results in gross and cellular morphological alterations of the liver. Brap-deficient livers exhibit increased hepatocyte proliferation, cell death, and inflammation. We show that loss of BRAP protein alters Hippo pathway signaling, causing a reduction in phosphorylation of YAP and increased expression of YAP target genes, including those regulating cell growth and interactions with the extracellular environment. Finally, increased Hippo signaling in Brap knockout mice alters the pattern of liver lipid accumulation in dietary models of obesity. These studies identify a role for BRAP as a modulator of the hepatic Hippo pathway with relevance to human liver disease.
2022-02-28 | GSE196012 | GEO
Project description:Dysregulation of mTOR signaling is a converging mechanism in lissencephaly