scholarly journals Mosaic and non-mosaic pcdh19 mutation leads to neuronal hyperexcitability in zebrafish

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara K Robens ◽  
Xinzhu Yang ◽  
Christopher M McGraw ◽  
Laura H Turner ◽  
Carsten Robens ◽  
...  

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. The X-linked gene PCDH19 is associated with sporadic and familial epilepsy in humans, typically with early-onset clustering seizures and intellectual disability in females but not in so-called carrier males, suggesting that mosaic PCDH19 expression is required to produce epilepsy. To characterize the role of loss of PCDH19 function in epilepsy, we generated zebrafish with truncating pcdh19 variants. We observed hyperexcitability phenotypes in both mosaic and non-mosaic pcdh19+/- and -/- mutant larvae, indicating that Pcdh19 cellular mosaicism is not required for network hyperexcitability in zebrafish. Further, zebrafish with non-mosaic pcdh19 mutation display reduced numbers of inhibitory interneurons and transcriptional down-regulation of key inhibitory synapse components, suggesting a potential cellular basis for the observed hyperexcitability. Our findings in both mosaic and non-mosaic pcdh19 mutant zebrafish challenge the prevailing theory that mosaicism governs all PCDH19-related phenotypes and point to interneuron-mediated mechanisms underlying these phenotypes.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 3666-3682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongsheng Chen ◽  
Chunlian Wang ◽  
Meiyi Li ◽  
Xinyu She ◽  
Yonggui Yuan ◽  
...  

Abstract FOXG1 syndrome is a severe encephalopathy that exhibit intellectual disability, emotional disorder, and limited social communication. To elucidate the contribution of somatostatin-expressing interneurons (SST-INs) to the cellular basis underlying FOXG1 syndrome, here, by crossing SST-cre with a Foxg1fl/fl line, we selectively ablated Foxg1. Loss of Foxg1 resulted in an obvious reduction in the number of SST-INs, accompanied by an altered ratio of subtypes. Foxg1-deficient SST-INs exhibited decreased membrane excitability and a changed ratio of electrophysiological firing patterns, which subsequently led to an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance. Moreover, cognitive defects, limited social interactions, and depression-like behaviors were detected in Foxg1 cKO mice. Treatment with low-dose of clonazepam effectively alleviated the defects. These results identify a link of SST-IN development to the aberrant emotion, cognition, and social capacities in patients. Our findings identify a novel role of Foxg1 in SST-IN development and put new insights into the cellular basis of FOXG1 syndrome.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 955-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoung Sang Cho ◽  
Jang Ho Lee ◽  
Jeiwon Cho ◽  
Guang-Ho Cha ◽  
Gyun Jee Song

Background: Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the development and progression of various neurological disorders. Therefore, various studies have focused on the development of neuroinflammation inhibitors as potential therapeutic tools. Recently, the involvement of autophagy in the regulation of neuroinflammation has drawn substantial scientific interest, and a growing number of studies support the role of impaired autophagy in the pathogenesis of common neurodegenerative disorders. Objective: The purpose of this article is to review recent research on the role of autophagy in controlling neuroinflammation. We focus on studies employing both mammalian cells and animal models to evaluate the ability of different autophagic modulators to regulate neuroinflammation. Methods: We have mostly reviewed recent studies reporting anti-neuroinflammatory properties of autophagy. We also briefly discussed a few studies showing that autophagy modulators activate neuroinflammation in certain conditions. Results: Recent studies report neuroprotective as well as anti-neuroinflammatory effects of autophagic modulators. We discuss the possible underlying mechanisms of action of these drugs and their potential limitations as therapeutic agents against neurological disorders. Conclusion: Autophagy activators are promising compounds for the treatment of neurological disorders involving neuroinflammation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 1164-1173
Author(s):  
Siju Ellickal Narayanan ◽  
Nikhila Sekhar ◽  
Rajalakshmi Ganesan Rajamma ◽  
Akash Marathakam ◽  
Abdullah Al Mamun ◽  
...  

: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive brain disorder and one of the most common causes of dementia and death. AD can be of two types; early-onset and late-onset, where late-onset AD occurs sporadically while early-onset AD results from a mutation in any of the three genes that include amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PSEN 1) and presenilin 2 (PSEN 2). Biologically, AD is defined by the presence of the distinct neuropathological profile that consists of the extracellular β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the form of diffuse neuritic plaques, intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and neuropil threads; in dystrophic neuritis, consisting of aggregated hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Elevated levels of (Aβ), total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (ptau) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have become an important biomarker for the identification of this neurodegenerative disease. The aggregation of Aβ peptide derived from amyloid precursor protein initiates a series of events that involve inflammation, tau hyperphosphorylation and its deposition, in addition to synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration, ultimately resulting in dementia. The current review focuses on the role of proteomes in the pathogenesis of AD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 509-526
Author(s):  
Qin Huang ◽  
Fang Yu ◽  
Di Liao ◽  
Jian Xia

: Recent studies implicate microbiota-brain communication as an essential factor for physiology and pathophysiology in brain function and neurodevelopment. One of the pivotal mechanisms about gut to brain communication is through the regulation and interaction of gut microbiota on the host immune system. In this review, we will discuss the role of microbiota-immune systeminteractions in human neurological disorders. The characteristic features in the development of neurological diseases include gut dysbiosis, the disturbed intestinal/Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability, the activated inflammatory response, and the changed microbial metabolites. Neurological disorders contribute to gut dysbiosis and some relevant metabolites in a top-down way. In turn, the activated immune system induced by the change of gut microbiota may deteriorate the development of neurological diseases through the disturbed gut/BBB barrier in a down-top way. Understanding the characterization and identification of microbiome-immune- brain signaling pathways will help us to yield novel therapeutic strategies by targeting the gut microbiome in neurological disease.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
José César Rosa ◽  
Marcelo de Cerqueira César

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice Berti ◽  
Giovanna Longo ◽  
Francesco Mari ◽  
Stefano Doccini ◽  
Ilaria Piccolo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) type 4B3 (CMT4B3) is a rare form of genetic neuropathy associated with variants in the MTMR5/SBF1 gene. MTMR5/SBF1 is a pseudophosphatase predicted to regulate endo-lysosomal trafficking in tandem with other MTMRs. Although almost ubiquitously expressed, pathogenic variants primarily impact on the peripheral nervous system, corroborating the involvement of MTMR5/SBF1 and its molecular partners in Schwann cells-mediated myelinization. Case presentation We report a case of severe CMT4B3 characterized by early-onset motor and axonal polyneuropathy in an Italian child in absence of any evidence of brain and spine MRI abnormalities or intellectual disability and with a biochemical profile suggestive of mitochondrial disease. Using an integrated approach combining both NGS gene panels and WES analysis, we identified two novel compound heterozygous missense variants in MTMR5/SBF1 gene, p.R763H (c.2291G > A) and p.G1064E (c.3194G > A). Studies in muscle identified partial defects of oxidative metabolism. Conclusion We describe the first case of an early onset severe polyneuropathy with motor and axonal involvement, due to recessive variants in the MTMR5/SBF1 gene, with no evidence of brain and spine MRI abnormalities, intellectual disability, no clinical and neurophysiological evidences of distal sensory impairment, and rapid neuromuscular deterioration. This report suggests that MTMR5/SBF1 should be considered in cases of infantile-onset CMT with secondary mitochondrial dysfunction.


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