Project description:Injury of descending motor tracts remodels cortical circuitry and leads to enhanced neuronal excitability, thus influencing recovery following injury. The neuron-specific contributions remain unclear due to the complex cellular composition and connectivity of the CNS. We developed a microfluidics-based in vitro model system to examine intrinsic synaptic remodeling following axon damage. We found that distal axotomy of cultured rat pyramidal neurons caused dendritic spine loss at synapses onto the injured neurons followed by a persistent retrograde enhancement in presynaptic excitability over days. These in vitro results mirrored hyper-activity of directly injured corticospinal neurons in hindlimb motor cortex layer Vb following spinal cord contusion. In vitro axotomy-induced hyper-excitability coincided with elimination of inhibitory presynaptic terminals, including those formed onto dendritic spines. We identified netrin-1 as downregulated following axotomy and exogenous netrin-1 applied 2 days after injury normalized spine density, presynaptic excitability, and the fraction of inhibitory inputs onto injured neurons. These findings demonstrate a novel model system for studying the response of pyramidal circuitry to axotomy and provide new insights of neuron-specific mechanisms that contribute to synaptic remodeling.
Project description:Proteomic analysis of injured human peripheral nerves, particularly focusing on events occurring in the proximal and distal nerve ends, remains relatively underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the molecular patterns underlying a digital nerve injury, concentrating on differences in protein expression between the proximal and distal nerve ends. A total of 26 human injured digital nerve samples (24 men; 2 women; median age 47 [30-66] years), harvested during primary nerve repair within 48 hours post-injury from proximal and distal nerve ends, were analyzed using mass spectrometry. A total of 3914 proteins were identified, with 127 proteins showing significant differences in abundance between the proximal and the distal nerve ends. The downregulation of proteins in the distal nerve end was associated with synaptic transmission, autophagy, neurotransmitter regulation, cell adhesion and migration. Conversely, proteins upregulated in the distal nerve end were implicated in cellular stress response, neuromuscular junction stability and muscle contraction, neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release, synaptic vesicle recycling and axon guidance and angiogenesis. Investigation of proteins, with functional annotations analysis, in proximal and the distal ends of human injured digital nerves, revealed dynamic cellular responses aimed at promoting tissue degeneration and restoration, while suppressing non-essential processes.
Project description:Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs in pregnant women. Given that SSRIs can cross the placental and blood-brain barriers, these drugs potentially affect serotonergic neurotransmission and neurodevelopment in the fetus. Although no gross SSRI-related teratogenic effect has been reported, infants born following prenatal exposure to SSRIs have a higher risk for various behavioral abnormalities. Therefore, we examined the effects of prenatal fluoxetine, the most commonly prescribed SSRI, on social and cognitive behavior in mice. Intriguingly, chronic in utero fluoxetine treatment impaired working memory and social novelty recognition in adult males with augmented spontaneous inhibitory synaptic transmission onto the layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Moreover, fast-spiking interneurons in the layer 5 mPFC exhibited enhanced basal intrinsic excitability, augmented serotonin-induced neuronal excitability, and increased inhibitory synaptic transmission onto the layer 5 pyramidal neurons due to augmented 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) signaling. More importantly, the observed behavioral deficits of in utero fluoxetine-treated mice could be reversed by acute systemic application of 5-HT2AR antagonist. Taken together, our findings support the notion that alterations in serotonin-mediated inhibitory neuronal modulation result in reduced cortical network activities and cognitive impairment following prenatal exposure to SSRIs.
Project description:Presynaptic efficacy can be modulated by retrograde control mechanisms, but the nature of these complex signaling systems remain obscure. Some studies have suggested that retrograde synaptic communication requires new protein synthesis in the postsynaptic compartment, yet the putative translational targets that mediate this signaling are enigmatic. To gain insight into the retrograde mechanisms that stabilize synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction, we have developed and optimized a tissue-specific ribosome profiling approach in Drosophila. We first demonstrate the ability of this technology to define genome-wide translational regulations that could not be inferred from transcription, and validate the superior sensitivity of ribosome profiling over conventional translational profiling. We then leverage this technology to test the relative contributions of transcriptional, translational, and post-translational mechanisms in the postsynaptic muscle that orchestrate the retrograde control of presynaptic function. Surprisingly, we find no changes in transcription or translation are necessary to enable retrograde homeostatic signaling. Rather, post-translational mechanisms appear to ultimately gate instructive retrograde communication. Finally, we find that a global increase in translation induces adaptive responses in both transcription and translation of protein chaperones and degradation factors to promote cellular proteostasis. Together, this demonstrates the power of ribosome profiling to define transcriptional, translational, and post-translational mechanisms driving retrograde signaling during adaptive plasticity.
Project description:The mouse visual system serves as an accessible model to understand mammalian circuit wiring. Despite rich knowledge in retinal circuits, the long-range connectivity map from distinct retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types to diverse brain neuron types remains unknown. Here we developed an integrated approach, named Trans-Seq, to map RGC to superior collicular (SC) circuits. Trans-Seq combines a fluorescent anterograde transsynaptic tracer, consisting of codon-optimized wheat germ agglutinin fused to mCherry, with single-cell RNA Sequencing. We used Trans-Seq to classify SC neuron types innervated by genetically-defined RGC types and predicted a neuronal pair from αRGCs to Nephronectin-positive wide-field neurons (NPWFs). We validated this connection using genetic labeling, electrophysiology, and retrograde tracing. We then utilized transcriptomic data from Trans-Seq to identify Nephronectin as a determinant for selective synaptic choice from αRGC to NPWFs via binding to Integrin-α8β1. The Trans-Seq approach can be broadly applied for postsynaptic circuit discovery from genetically-defined presynaptic neurons.
Project description:Synapses are fundamental organizers of precise signal propagation between neurons. Maintaining synapse assemblies require interactions between pre- and post- synaptic proteins, notably cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). It has been proposed that the function of Neuroligins (Nlgn1 - 4), postsynaptic CAMs, relies on the formation of trans-synaptic complexes with Neurexins (Nrxs), presynaptic CAMs. Nlgn3 is a unique Nlgn isoform that localizes at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. However, Nlgn3 function mediated through Nrx interaction is mostly unknown. Here, we find for the first time that Nlgn3 localizes at postsynaptic sites apposing vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGT3)-expressing inhibitory terminals. Overexpression and knockdown approaches indicate that Nlgn3 regulates VGT3-positive inhibitory interneuron-mediated synaptic transmission. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and single-cell RNA sequencing studies revealed that αNrxn1 and βNrxn3 are VGT3 interneuron-specific Nrxn isoforms and the expression levels of Nrxn splice isoforms are highly diverse in VGT3 interneurons, respectively. Most importantly, postsynaptic Nlgn3 requires presynaptic αNrx1+AS4 expressed in VGT3-positive interneurons to regulate inhibitory synaptic transmission. Our results strongly suggest that specific Nlgn-Nrx interaction generate distinct functional properties at synapses.
Project description:Calyx of Held giant presynaptic terminals in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body of the auditory brainstem form axosomatic synapses that have advanced to one of the best-studied synaptic system of the mammalian brain. As the auditory system matures and adjusts to high fidelity synaptic transmission, the calyx undergoes extensive structural and functional changes: it is formed around postnatal day 3 (P3), achieves immature function until hearing onset around P10 and can be considered mature from P21 onwards. This setting provides the unique opportunity to examine the repertoire of genes driving synaptic structure and function. We performed cell type-specific gene expression profiling of globular bushy cells (GBCs), the neurons giving rise to the calyx of Held, at different maturational stages (P3, P8 and P21). We identified GBCs by stereotaxic injection of fluorescently labelled retrograde tracer Cholera toxin B into the contralateral MNTB of anesthetized rats. Animals were sacrificed 24h after injection, the brain was taken out and flash frozen. 12um thick brainstem cryosections were prepared and 200 fluorescently labelled GBCs per animal were excised from the VCN using laser microdissection. Cells were collected from 6 animals at P3 (synapse formation), 9 animals at P8 (juvenile synapse) and 5 animals at P21 (mature synapse). RNA was isolated from the collected cells and linearly amplified in order to perform cell-type specific expression profiling.
Project description:Newborn neurons enter an extended maturation stage, during which they acquire excitability characteristics crucial for development of presynaptic and postsynaptic connectivity. In contrast to earlier specification programs, little is known aboutthe regulatory mechanisms that control neuronal maturation. The Pet-1 ETS (E26 transformation-specific) factor is continuously expressed in serotonin (5-HT) neurons and initially acts in postmitotic precursors to control acquisition of 5-HT transmitter identity. Using a combination of RNA sequencing, electrophysiology, and conditional targeting approaches, we determined gene expression patterns in maturing flow-sorted 5-HT neurons and the temporal requirements for Pet-1 in shaping these patterns for functional maturation of mouse 5-HT neurons. We report a profound disruption of postmitotic expression trajectories in Pet-1 / neurons, which prevented postnatal maturation of 5-HT neuron passive and active intrinsic membrane properties, G-protein signaling, and synaptic responses to glutamatergic, lysophosphatidic, and adrenergic agonists. Unexpectedly, conditional targeting revealed a postnatal stage-specific switch in Pet-1 targets from 5-HT synthesis genes to transmitter receptor genes required for afferent modulation of 5-HT neuron excitability. 5-HT1a autoreceptor expression depended transiently on Pet-1, thus revealing an early postnatal sensitive period for control of 5-HT excitability genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing revealed that Pet-1 regulates 5-HT neuron maturation through direct gene activation and repression. Moreover, Pet-1 directly regulates the 5-HT neuron maturation factor Engrailed 1, which suggests Pet-1 orchestrates maturationthrough secondary postmitotic regulatoryfactors. The early postnatal switch in Pet-1targets uncovers a distinct neonatal stage-specific function for Pet-1, during which it promotes maturation of 5-HT neuron excitability. 5-HT neuron mRNA profiles of E11.5, E15.5, and postnatal (P1-P3) wild type (WT) and Pet-1-/- mice were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicate, using Illumina HiSeq 2500. Myc-tagged Pet-1 ChIP-seq was performed on E12.5 to E14.5 hindbrains and sequencing using NextSeq 500.
Project description:Background Local translation at synapses is important for rapidly remodeling the synaptic proteome to sustain long-term plasticity and memory. While the regulatory mechanisms underlying memory-associated local translation have been widely elucidated in the postsynaptic/dendritic region, there is no direct evidence for which RNA-binding protein (RBP) in axons controls target-specific mRNA translation to promote long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory. We previously reported that translation controlled by cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 2 (CPEB2) is important for postsynaptic plasticity and memory. Here, we investigated whether CPEB2 regulates axonal translation to support presynaptic plasticity. Methods Behavioral and electrophysiological assessments were conducted in mice with pan neuron/glia- or AQ2glutamatergic neuron-specific knockout of CPEB2. Hippocampal Schaffer collateral (SC)-CA1 and temporoammonic (TA)-CA1 pathways were electro-recorded to monitor synaptic transmission and LTP evoked by 4 trains of high-frequency stimulation. RNA immunoprecipitation, coupled with bioinformatics analysis, were used to unveil CPEB2-binding axonal RNA candidates associated with learning, which were further validated by Western blotting and luciferase reporter assays. Adeno-associated viruses expressing Cre recombinase were stereotaxically delivered to the pre- or post-synaptic region of the TA circuit to ablate Cpeb2 for further electrophysiological investigation. Biochemically isolated synaptosomes and axotomized neurons cultured on a microfluidic platform were applied to measure axonal protein synthesis and FM4-64FX-loaded synaptic vesicles. Results Electrophysiological analysis of hippocampal CA1 neurons detected abnormal excitability and vesicle release probability in CPEB2-depleted SC and TA afferents, so we cross-compared the CPEB2-immunoprecipitated transcriptome with a learning-induced axonal translatome in the adult cortex to identify axonal targets possibly regulated by CPEB2. We validated that Slc17a6, encoding vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2), is translationally upregulated by CPEB2. Conditional knockout of CPEB2 in VGLUT2-expressing glutamatergic neurons impaired consolidation of hippocampus-dependent memory in mice. Presynaptic-specific ablation of Cpeb2 in VGLUT2-dominated TA afferents was sufficient to attenuate protein synthesis-dependent LTP. Moreover, blocking activity-induced axonal Slc17a6 translation by CPEB2 deficiency or cycloheximide diminished the releasable pool of VGLUT2-containing synaptic vesicles. Conclusions We identified 272 CPEB2-binding transcripts with altered axonal translation post-learning and established a causal link between CPEB2-driven axonal synthesis of VGLUT2 and presynaptic translation-dependent LTP. These findings extend our understanding of memory-related translational control mechanisms in the presynaptic compartment.
Project description:Changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression in the mouse L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglion following unilateral sciatic nerve transection. The timepoint of 7 days post-axotomy was chosen to capture miRNA expression profiles at a time when the injured neurons were beginning to regenerate.