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Enlarged early endosomes have been visualized in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down syndrome (DS) using conventional confocal microscopy at a resolution corresponding to endosomal size (hundreds of nm). In order to overtake the diffraction limit, we used super-resolution structured illumination microscopy (SR-SIM) and transmission electron microscopies (TEM) to analyze the early endosomal compartment in DS.By immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, we confirmed that the volume of Early Endosome Antigen 1 (EEA1)-positive puncta was 13-19% larger in fibroblasts and iPSC-derived neurons from individuals with DS, and in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCN) of the Ts65Dn mice modelling DS. However, EEA1-positive structures imaged by TEM or SR-SIM after chemical fixation had a normal size but appeared clustered. In order to disentangle these discrepancies, we imaged optimally preserved High Pressure Freezing (HPF)-vitrified DS fibroblasts by TEM and found that early endosomes were 75% denser but remained normal-sized.RNA sequencing of DS and euploid fibroblasts revealed a subgroup of differentially-expressed genes related to cargo sorting at multivesicular bodies (MVBs). We thus studied the dynamics of endocytosis, recycling and MVB-dependent degradation in DS fibroblasts. We found no change in endocytosis, increased recycling and delayed degradation, suggesting a "traffic jam" in the endosomal compartment.Finally, we show that the phosphoinositide PI (3) P, involved in early endosome fusion, is decreased in DS fibroblasts, unveiling a new mechanism for endosomal dysfunctions in DS and a target for pharmacotherapy. National Research Foundation (NRF) Published version Marie-Claude Potier was supported by Fondation Vaincre Alzheimer (fellowship to AB), Fondation Jérôme Lejeune and Agence Nationale de laRecherche (ANR-10-IAIHU-06). Dean Nizetic was funded by Wellcome Trust (098330/Z/12/Z), NationalResearch Foundation Singapore (NMRC/CS-IRG/1438/2015), the WellcomeTrust Collaborative Award in Science 217199/Z/19/Z, and by the “Research Cooperability“ Programme of the Croatian Science Foundation (PZS-2019-02-4277). France-BioImaging infrastructure was supported by the French National Research Agency (ANR-10-INBS-04)..

Contains fulltext : 248864.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Macroautophagy (hereafter referred to as autophagy) is a finely tuned process of programmed degradation and recycling of proteins and cellular components, which is crucial in neuronal function and synaptic integrity. Mounting evidence implicates chromatin remodeling in fine-tuning autophagy pathways. However, this epigenetic regulation is poorly understood in neurons. Here, we investigate the role in autophagy of KANSL1, a member of the nonspecific lethal complex, which acetylates histone H4 on lysine 16 (H4K16ac) to facilitate transcriptional activation. Loss-of-function of KANSL1 is strongly associated with the neurodevelopmental disorder Koolen-de Vries Syndrome (KdVS). Starting from KANSL1-deficient human induced-pluripotent stem cells, both from KdVS patients and genome-edited lines, we identified SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1), an antioxidant enzyme, to be significantly decreased, leading to a subsequent increase in oxidative stress and autophagosome accumulation. In KANSL1-deficient neurons, autophagosome accumulation at excitatory synapses resulted in reduced synaptic density, reduced GRIA/AMPA receptor-mediated transmission and impaired neuronal network activity. Furthermore, we found that increased oxidative stress-mediated autophagosome accumulation leads to increased MTOR activation and decreased lysosome function, further preventing the clearing of autophagosomes. Finally, by pharmacologically reducing oxidative stress, we could rescue the aberrant autophagosome formation as well as synaptic and neuronal network activity in KANSL1-deficient neurons. Our findings thus point toward an important relation between oxidative stress-induced autophagy and synapse function, and demonstrate the importance of H4K16ac-mediated changes in chromatin structure to balance reactive oxygen species- and MTOR-dependent autophagy.Abbreviations: APO: apocynin; ATG: autophagy related; BAF: bafilomycin A(1); BSO: buthionine sulfoximine; CV: coefficient of variation; DIV: days in vitro; H4K16ac: histone 4 lysine 16 acetylation; iPSC: induced-pluripotent stem cell; KANSL1: KAT8 regulatory NSL complex subunit 1; KdVS: Koolen-de Vries Syndrome; LAMP1: lysosomal associated membrane protein 1; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MEA: micro-electrode array; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; NSL complex: nonspecific lethal complex; 8-oxo-dG: 8-hydroxydesoxyguanosine; RAP: rapamycin; ROS: reactive oxygen species; sEPSCs: spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents; SOD1: superoxide dismutase 1; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; SYN: synapsin; WRT: wortmannin.

Identifying and characterizing novel causes of autosomal recessive intellectual disability based on systematic clinical and genetic evaluation, followed by functional experiments. Clinical examinations, genome-wide positional mapping, and sequencing were followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot of the protein SVBP and its interaction partners. We then knocked down the gene in rat primary hippocampal neurons and evaluated the consequences on synapses. We identified a founder, homozygous stop-gain variant in SVBP (c.82C>T; p.[Gln28*]) in four affected individuals from two independent families with intellectual disability, microcephaly, ataxia, and muscular hypotonia. SVBP encodes a small chaperone protein that transports and stabilizes two angiogenesis regulators, VASH1 and VASH2. The altered protein is unstable and nonfunctional since transfected HeLa cells with mutant SVBP did not reveal evidence for immunoreactive SVBP protein fragments and cotransfection with VASH1 showed a severe reduction of VASH1 in medium and cell lysate. Knocking down Svbp in rat primary hippocampal neurons led to a significant decrease in the number of excitatory synapses. SVBP is not only involved in angiogenesis, but also has vital functions in the central nervous system. Biallelic loss-of-function variants in SVBP lead to intellectual disability.

Background Malaysia is on track towards malaria elimination. However, several cases of malaria still occur in the country. Contributing factors and communal aspects have noteworthy effects on any malaria elimination activities. Thus, assessing the community’s knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards malaria is essential. This study was performed to evaluate KAP regarding malaria among the indigenous people (i.e. Orang Asli) in Peninsular Malaysia. Methods A household-based cross-sectional study was conducted in five remote villages (clusters) of Orang Asli located in the State of Kelantan, a central region of the country. Community members aged six years and above were interviewed. Demographic, socio-economic and KAP data on malaria were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results Overall, 536 individuals from 208 households were interviewed. Household indoor residual spraying (IRS) coverage and bed net ownership were 100% and 89.2%, respectively. A majority of respondents used mosquito bed nets every night (95.1%), but only 50.2% were aware that bed nets were used to prevent malaria. Nevertheless, almost all of the respondents (97.9%) were aware that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes. Regarding practice for managing malaria, the most common practice adopted by the respondents was seeking treatment at the health facilities (70.9%), followed by self-purchase of medication from a local shop (12.7%), seeking treatment from a traditional healer (10.5%) and self-healing (5.9%). Concerning potential zoonotic malaria, about half of the respondents (47.2%) reported seeing monkeys from their houses and 20.1% reported entering nearby forests within the last 6 months. Conclusion This study found that most populations living in the villages have an acceptable level of knowledge and awareness about malaria. However, positive attitudes and practices concerning managing malaria require marked improvement.

Purpose: To elucidate the novel molecular cause in families with a new autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder. Methods: A combination of exome sequencing and gene matching tools was used to identify pathogenic variants in 17 individuals. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and subcellular localization studies were used to characterize gene expression profile and localization. Results: Biallelic variants in the TMEM222 gene were identified in 17 individuals from nine unrelated families, presenting with intellectual disability and variable other features, such as aggressive behavior, shy character, body tremors, decreased muscle mass in the lower extremities, and mild hypotonia. We found relatively high TMEM222 expression levels in the human brain, especially in the parietal and occipital cortex. Additionally, subcellular localization analysis in human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) revealed that TMEM222 localizes to early endosomes in the synapses of mature iPSC-derived neurons. Conclusion: Our findings support a role for TMEM222 in brain development and function and adds variants in the gene TMEM222 as a novel underlying cause of an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder.

Contains fulltext : 231651.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) In vitro neuronal models are essential for studying neurological physiology, disease mechanisms and potential treatments. Most in vitro models lack controlled vasculature, despite its necessity in brain physiology and disease. Organ-on-chip models offer microfluidic culture systems with dedicated micro-compartments for neurons and vascular cells. Such multi-cell type organs-on-chips can emulate neurovascular unit (NVU) physiology, however there is a lack of systematic data on how individual cell types are affected by culturing on microfluidic systems versus conventional culture plates. This information can provide perspective on initial findings of studies using organs-on-chip models, and further optimizes these models in terms of cellular maturity and neurovascular physiology. Here, we analysed the transcriptomic profiles of co-cultures of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons and rat astrocytes, as well as one-day monocultures of human endothelial cells, cultured on microfluidic chips. For each cell type, large gene expression changes were observed when cultured on microfluidic chips compared to conventional culture plates. Endothelial cells showed decreased cell division, neurons and astrocytes exhibited increased cell adhesion, and neurons showed increased maturity when cultured on a microfluidic chip. Our results demonstrate that culturing NVU cell types on microfluidic chips changes their gene expression profiles, presumably due to distinct surface-to-volume ratios and substrate materials. These findings inform further NVU organ-on-chip model optimization and support their future application in disease studies and drug testing.

We generated induced excitatory neurons (iNeurons, iNs) from chimpanzee, bonobo, and human stem cells by expressing the transcription factor neurogenin-2 (NGN2). Single-cell RNA sequencing showed that genes involved in dendrite and synapse development are expressed earlier during iNs maturation in the chimpanzee and bonobo than the human cells. In accordance, during the first 2 weeks of differentiation, chimpanzee and bonobo iNs showed repetitive action potentials and more spontaneous excitatory activity than human iNs, and extended neurites of higher total length. However, the axons of human iNs were slightly longer at 5 weeks of differentiation. The timing of the establishment of neuronal polarity did not differ between the species. Chimpanzee, bonobo, and human neurites eventually reached the same level of structural complexity. Thus, human iNs develop slower than chimpanzee and bonobo iNs, and this difference in timing likely depends on functions downstream of NGN2., eLife, 10, ISSN:2050-084X

Summary Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is often caused by an adenine to guanine variant at m.3243 (m.3243A>G) of the MT-TL1 gene. To understand how this pathogenic variant affects the nervous system, we differentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into excitatory neurons with normal (low heteroplasmy) and impaired (high heteroplasmy) mitochondrial function from MELAS patients with the m.3243A>G pathogenic variant. We combined micro-electrode array (MEA) measurements with RNA sequencing (MEA-seq) and found reduced expression of genes involved in mitochondrial respiration and presynaptic function, as well as non-cell autonomous processes in co-cultured astrocytes. Finally, we show that the clinical phase II drug sonlicromanol can improve neuronal network activity when treatment is initiated early in development. This was intricately linked with changes in the neuronal transcriptome. Overall, we provide insight in transcriptomic changes in iPSC-derived neurons with high m.3243A>G heteroplasmy, and show the pathology is partially reversible by sonlicromanol., Highlights • High m.3243A>G heteroplasmy leads to neuronal network dysfunction • Expression of genes involved in mitochondrial and synaptic function are affected • Gene expression in co-cultured rat astrocytes is non-cell autonomously affected • Sonlicromanol partially rescues the network activity and transcriptome changes, Using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons with high levels of m.3243A>G heteroplasmy, Klein Gunnewiek et al. report on transcriptome changes underlying the functional neuronal network phenotype and show that sonlicromanol can partially improve both the neuronal network phenotype and the transcriptome changes.

Contains fulltext : 235071.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), are a large group of disorders in which early insults during brain development result in a wide and heterogeneous spectrum of clinical diagnoses. Mutations in genes coding for chromatin remodelers are overrepresented in NDD cohorts, pointing towards epigenetics as a convergent pathogenic pathway between these disorders. In this review we detail the role of NDD-associated chromatin remodelers during the developmental continuum of progenitor expansion, differentiation, cell-type specification, migration and maturation. We discuss how defects in chromatin remodelling during these early developmental time points compound over time and result in impaired brain circuit establishment. In particular, we focus on their role in the three largest cell populations: glutamatergic neurons, GABAergic neurons, and glia cells. An in-depth understanding of the spatiotemporal role of chromatin remodelers during neurodevelopment can contribute to the identification of molecular targets for treatment strategies.

Contains fulltext : 244082.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Posttranslational modification of histones and related gene regulation are shown to be affected in an increasing number of neurological disorders. SETD1A is a chromatin remodeler that influences gene expression through the modulation of mono- di- and trimethylation marks on Histone-H3-Lysine-4 (H3K4me1/2/3). H3K4 methylation is predominantly described to result in transcriptional activation, with its mono- di- and trimethylated forms differentially enriched at promoters or enhancers. Recently, dominant mostly de novo variants in SETD1A have clinically been linked to developmental delay, intellectual disability (DD/ID), and schizophrenia (SCZ). Affected individuals often display both developmental and neuropsychiatric abnormalities. The primary diagnoses are mainly dependent on the age at which the individual is assessed. Investigations in mouse models of SETD1A dysfunction have been able to recapitulate key behavioral features associated with ID and SCZ. Furthermore, functional investigations suggest disrupted synaptic and neuronal network function in these mouse models. In this review, we provide an overview of pre-clinical studies on the role of SETD1A in neuronal development. A better understanding of the pathobiology underlying these disorders may provide novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention. As such, we will discuss possible strategies to move forward in elucidating the genotype-phenotype correlation in SETD1A associated disorders.

BackgroundMonoamine neurotransmitter abundance affects motor control, emotion, and cognitive function and is regulated by monoamine oxidases. Amongst these, monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) catalyzes the degradation of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin into their inactive metabolites. Loss-of-function mutations in the X-linked MAOA gene cause Brunner syndrome, which is characterized by various forms of impulsivity, maladaptive externalizing behavior, and mild intellectual disability. Impaired MAOA activity in individuals with Brunner syndrome results in bioamine aberration, but it is currently unknown how this affects neuronal function.MethodsWe generated human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived dopaminergic (DA) neurons from three individuals with Brunner syndrome carrying different mutations, and used CRISPR/Cas9 mediated homologous recombination to rescue MAOA function. We used these lines to characterize morphological and functional properties of DA neuronal cultures at the single cell and neuronal network level in vitro.ResultsBrunner syndrome DA neurons showed reduced synaptic density but hyperactive network activity. Intrinsic functional properties and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR)-mediated synaptic transmission were not affected by MAOA dysfunction. Instead, we show that the neuronal network hyperactivity is mediated by upregulation of the GRIN2A and GRIN2B subunits of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), and rescue of MAOA results in normalization of NMDAR function as well as restoration of network activity.ConclusionsOur data suggest that MAOA dysfunction in Brunner syndrome increases activity of dopaminergic neurons through upregulation of NMDAR function, which may contribute to Brunner syndrome associated phenotypes.

SummaryMitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is often caused by an adenine to guanine mutation at m.3243 (m.3243A>G) of the MT-TL1 gene (tRNAleu(UUR)). To understand how this mutation affects the nervous system, we differentiated human induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into excitatory neurons with normal (low heteroplasmy) and impaired (high heteroplasmy) mitochondrial function from MELAS patients with the m.3243A>G mutation. We combined micro-electrode array (MEA) measurements with RNA sequencing (MEA-seq) and found that the m.3243A>G mutation affects expression of genes involved in mitochondrial respiration- and presynaptic function, as well as non-cell autonomous processes in co-cultured astrocytes. Finally, we show that the clinical II stage drug sonlicromanol (KH176) improved neuronal network activity in a patient-specific manner when treatment is initiated early in development. This was intricately linked with changes in the neural transcriptome. Overall, MEA-seq is a powerful approach to identify mechanisms underlying the m.3243A>G mutation and to study the effect of pharmacological interventions in iPSC-derived neurons.Highlights- High m.3243A>G heteroplasmy leads to lower neuronal network activity and synchronicity- High heteroplasmy affects expression of genes involved in mitochondrial ATP production and the synaptic function / the presynaptic vesicle cycle- High neuronal heteroplasmy non cell autonomously affects gene expression in healthy co-cultured astrocytes- Sonlicromanol partially rescues neuronal network activity and transcriptome changes induced by high heteroplasmyeTOC BlurbUsing human inducible pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons with high levels of m.3243A>G heteroplasmy, Klein Gunnewiek et al. show transcriptome changes underlying the functional neuronal network phenotype, and how sonlicromanol can partially improve both this neuronal network phenotype, and the transcriptome changes, in a patient-specific manner.

Autophagy is a finely tuned process of programmed degradation and recycling of proteins and cellular components, which is crucial in neuronal function and synaptic integrity. Mounting evidence implicates chromatin remodelling in fine-tuning autophagy pathways. However, this epigenetic regulation is poorly understood in neurons. Here, we investigate the role in autophagy of KANSL1, a member of the nonspecific lethal complex, which acetylates histone H4 on lysine 16 (H4K16ac) to facilitate transcriptional activation. Loss-of-function of KANSL1 is strongly associated with the neurodevelopmental disorder Koolen-de Vries Syndrome (KdVS).Starting from KANSL1-deficient human induced-pluripotent stem cells, both from KdVS patients and genome-edited lines, we identified superoxide dismutase 1, an antioxidant enzyme, to be significantly decreased, leading to a subsequent increase in oxidative stress and autophagosome accumulation. In KANSL1-deficient neurons, autophagosome accumulation at excitatory synapses resulted in reduced synaptic density, reduced AMPA receptor-mediated transmission and impaired neuronal network activity. Furthermore, we found that increased oxidative stress-mediated autophagosome accumulation leads to increased mTOR activation and decreased lysosome function, further preventing the clearing of autophagosomes. Finally, by pharmacologically reducing oxidative stress, we could rescue the aberrant autophagosome formation as well as synaptic and neuronal network activity in KANSL1-deficient neurons. Our findings thus point towards an important relation between oxidative stress-induced autophagy and synapse function, and demonstrate the importance of H4K16ac-mediated changes in chromatin structure to balance reactive oxygen species- and mTOR-dependent autophagy.

We generated induced excitatory sensory neurons (iNeurons, iNs) from chimpanzee, bonobo and human stem cells by expressing the transcription factor neurogenin-2 (NGN2). Single cell-RNA sequencing showed that genes involved in dendrite and synapse development are expressed earlier during iNs maturation in the chimpanzee than the human cells. In accordance, during the first two weeks of differentiation, chimpanzee and bonobo iNs showed repetitive action potentials and more spontaneous excitatory activity than human iNs, and extended neurites of higher total length. However, the axons of human iNs were slightly longer at 5 weeks of differentiation. The timing of the establishment of neuronal polarity did not differ between the species. Chimpanzee, bonobo and human neurites eventually reached the same level of structural complexity. Thus, human iNs develop slower than chimpanzee and bonobo iNs and this difference in timing likely depends on functions downstream of NGN2.

Summary: Epilepsy, intellectual and cortical sensory deficits, and psychiatric manifestations are the most frequent manifestations of mitochondrial diseases. How mitochondrial dysfunction affects neural structure and function remains elusive, mostly because of a lack of proper in vitro neuronal model systems with mitochondrial dysfunction. Leveraging induced pluripotent stem cell technology, we differentiated excitatory cortical neurons (iNeurons) with normal (low heteroplasmy) and impaired (high heteroplasmy) mitochondrial function on an isogenic nuclear DNA background from patients with the common pathogenic m.3243A > G variant of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). iNeurons with high heteroplasmy exhibited mitochondrial dysfunction, delayed neural maturation, reduced dendritic complexity, and fewer excitatory synapses. Micro-electrode array recordings of neuronal networks displayed reduced network activity and decreased synchronous network bursting. Impaired neuronal energy metabolism and compromised structural and functional integrity of neurons and neural networks could be the primary drivers of increased susceptibility to neuropsychiatric manifestations of mitochondrial disease. : Using human-inducible-pluripotent-stem-cell-derived neurons with high levels of m.3243A > G heteroplasmy, Klein Gunnewiek et al. show neuron-specific mitochondrial dysfunction as well as structural and functional impairments ranging from reduced dendritic complexity and fewer synapses and mitochondria to reduced neuronal activity and impaired network synchronicity. Keywords: MELAS, mitochondrial disease, mitochondria, neuron, induced pluripotent stem cells, network activity, neurodevelopment, micro-electrode array, m.3243A > G

International audience; Kleefstra syndrome is a disorder caused by a mutation in the EHMT1 gene characterized in humans by general developmental delay, mild to severe intellectual disability and autism. Here, we characterized cumulative memory in the Ehmt1 +/− mouse model using the Object Space Task. We combined conventional behavioral analysis with automated analysis by deep-learning networks, a session-based computational learning model, and a trial-based classifier. Ehmt1 +/− mice showed more anxiety-like features and generally explored objects less, but the difference decreased over time. Interestingly, when analyzing memory-specific exploration, Ehmt1 +/− show increased expression of cumulative memory, but a deficit in a more simple, control memory condition. Using our automatic classifier to differentiate between genotypes, we found that cumulative memory features are better suited for classification than general exploration differences. Thus, detailed behavioral classification with the Object Space Task produced a more detailed behavioral phenotype of the Ehmt1 +/− mouse model.

Kleefstra syndrome is a disorder caused by a mutation in theEHMT1gene characterized in humans by general developmental delay, mild to severe intellectual disability and autism. Here, we characterized semantic- and episodic-like memory in theEhmt1+/-mouse model using the Object Space Task. We combined conventional behavioral analysis with automated analysis by deep-learning networks, a session-based computational learning model and a trial-based classifier.Ehmt1+/-mice showed more anxiety-like features and generally explored objects less, but the difference decreased over time. Interestingly, when analyzing memory-specific exploration,Ehmt1+/-show increased expression of semantic-like memory, but a deficit in episodic-like memory. A similar dissociation of semantic and episodic memory performance has been previously reported in humans with autism. Using our automatic classifier to differentiate between genotypes, we found that semantic-like memory features are better suited for classification than general exploration differences. Thus, detailed behavioral classification with the Object Space Task produced a more detailed behavioral phenotype of theEhmt1+/-mouse model.One Sentence SummaryEhmt1+/-mice show decreased exploration and episodic-like memory but increased semantic-like memory In the Object Space Task. (143 of 150)

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) is an enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin. Regulation of monoamine neurotransmitter abundance through MAOA activity strongly affects motor control, emotion, and cognitive function. Mutations in MAOA cause Brunner Syndrome, which is characterized by impulsive aggressive behavior and mild intellectual disability (ID). The impaired MAOA activity in Brunner Syndrome patients results in bioamine aberration, but it is currently unknown how this affects neuronal function. MAOA is highly expressed in serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons, and dysfunction of both neurotransmission systems is associated with aggressive behavior in mice and humans. Research has so far mainly focused on the serotonergic system. Here, we generated human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived induced dopaminergic neurons (iDANs) from individuals with known MAOA mutations, to investigate MAOA-dependent effects on dopamine neuronal function in the context of Brunner Syndrome. We assessed iDAN lines from three patients and combined data from morphological analysis, gene expression, single-cell electrophysiology, and network analysis using micro-electrode arrays (MEAs). We observed mutation-dependent functional effects as well as overlapping changes in iDAN morphology. The most striking effect was a clear increase in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor mRNA expression in all patient lines. A marked increase was also seen in coordinated network activity (network bursts) on the MEA in all patient lines, while single-cell intrinsic properties and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents activity appeared normal. Together, our data indicate that dysfunction of MAOA leads to increased coordinated network activity in iDANs, possibly caused by increased synaptic NMDA receptor expression.

SummaryEpilepsy, intellectual and cortical sensory deficits and psychiatric manifestations are among the most frequent manifestations of mitochondrial diseases. Yet, how mitochondrial dysfunction affects neural structure and function remains largely elusive. This is mostly due to the lack of a properin vitrotranslational neuronal model system(s) with impaired energy metabolism. Leveraging the induced pluripotent stem cell technology, from a cohort of patients with the common pathogenic m.3243A>G variant of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), we differentiated excitatory cortical neurons (iNeurons) with normal (low heteroplasmy) and impaired (high heteroplasmy) mitochondrial function on an isogenic nuclear DNA background. iNeurons with high levels of heteroplasmy exhibited mitochondrial dysfunction, delayed neural maturation, reduced dendritic complexity and fewer functional excitatory synapses. Micro-electrode array recordings of neuronal networks with high heteroplasmy displayed reduced network activity and decreased synchronous network bursting. The impaired neural energy metabolism of iNeurons compromising the structural and functional integrity of neurons and neural networks, could be the primary driver of increased susceptibility to neuropsychiatric manifestations of mitochondrial disease.

Fourriere et al. demonstrate the existence of secretion hotspots juxtaposed to focal adhesions. Post-Golgi transport carriers use a subset of microtubules to reach focal adhesions. RAB6 acts as a general regulator of post-Golgi secretion and, together with ELKS, restricts protein secretion at focal adhesions., To ensure their homeostasis and sustain differentiated functions, cells continuously transport diverse cargos to various cell compartments and in particular to the cell surface. Secreted proteins are transported along intracellular routes from the endoplasmic reticulum through the Golgi complex before reaching the plasma membrane along microtubule tracks. Using a synchronized secretion assay, we report here that exocytosis does not occur randomly at the cell surface but on localized hotspots juxtaposed to focal adhesions. Although microtubules are involved, the RAB6-dependent machinery plays an essential role. We observed that, irrespective of the transported cargos, most post-Golgi carriers are positive for RAB6 and that its inactivation leads to a broad reduction of protein secretion. RAB6 may thus be a general regulator of post-Golgi secretion.

Epigenetic regulation of gene transcription plays a critical role in neural network development and in the etiology of Intellectual Disability (ID) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, little is known about the mechanisms by which epigenetic dysregulation leads to neural network defects. Kleefstra syndrome (KS), caused by mutation in the histone methyltransferase EHMT1, is a neurodevelopmental disorder with the clinical features of both ID and ASD. To study the impact of decreased EHMT1 function in human cells, we generated excitatory cortical neurons from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from KS patients. In addition, we created an isogenic set by genetically editing healthy iPS cells. Characterization of the neurons at the single-cell and neuronal network level revealed consistent discriminative properties that distinguished EHMT1-mutant from wildtype neurons. Mutant neuronal networks exhibited network bursting with a reduced rate, longer duration, and increased temporal irregularity compared to control networks. We show that these changes were mediated by the upregulation of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) subunit 1 and correlate with reduced deposition of the repressive H3K9me2 mark, the catalytic product of EHMT1, at the GRIN1 promoter. Furthermore, we show that EHMT1 deficiency in mice leads to similar neuronal network impairments and increased NMDAR function. Finally, we could rescue the KS patient-derived neuronal network phenotypes by pharmacological inhibition of NMDARs. Together, our results demonstrate a direct link between EHMT1 deficiency in human neurons and NMDAR hyperfunction, providing the basis for a more targeted therapeutic approach to treating KS.

Neuropsychiatric disorders are a heterogeneous group of disorders that are challenging to model and treat, due to their underlying complex genetic architecture and clinical variability. Presently, increasingly more studies are making use of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons, reprogrammed from patient somatic cells, to model neuropsychiatric disorders. iPSC-derived neurons offer the possibility to recapitulate relevant disease biology in the context of the individual patient genetic background. In addition to disease modeling, iPSC-derived neurons offer unprecedented opportunities in drug screening. In this chapter, the current status of iPSC disease modeling for neuropsychiatric disorders is presented. Both 2D and 3D disease modeling approaches are discussed as well as the generation of different neuronal cell types that are relevant for studying neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, the advantages and limitations are highlighted in addition to the future perspectives of using iPSC-derived neurons in the uncovering of robust cellular phenotypes that consecutively have the potential to lead to clinical developments.

SummaryMolecular motors play important roles in force generation, migration and intracellular trafficking. Changes in specific motor activities are altered in numerous diseases. KIF20A, a motor protein of the kinesin-6 family, is overexpressed in bladder cancer, and KIF20A levels correlate negatively with the clinical outcome. We report here a new role for the KIF20A kinesin motor protein in intracellular mechanics. Using optical tweezers to probe intracellular mechanics and surface AFM to probe cortical mechanics, we first confirm that bladder cells soften with increasing cancer grade. We then show that inhibiting KIF20A makes the intracellular environment softer for both high and low grade bladder cancer cells. Upon inhibition of KIF20A cortical stiffness also decreases in lower grade cells, while it surprisingly increases in higher grade malignant cells. Changes in cortical stiffness correlate with the interaction of KIF20A with myosin IIA. Moreover, KIF20A negatively regulates bladder cancer cell motility irrespective of the underlying substrate stiffness. Our results reveal a central role for a microtubule motor in cell mechanics and migration in the context of bladder cancer.

JRvR is supported by an RUMC Junior Round grant from the Donders institute Ph.D. program, awarded to NNK and SCV. SCV is supported by a Marie Curie Career Integration Grant (PCIG12-GA-2012-333978) and by a Max Planck Research Group Award. SEF is supported by the Max Planck Society. Heterozygous mutations of the Forkhead-box protein 2 (FOXP2) gene in humans cause childhood apraxia of speech. Loss of Foxp2 in mice is known to affect striatal development and impair motor skills. However, it is unknown if striatal excitatory/inhibitory balance is affected during development and if the imbalance persists into adulthood. We investigated the effect of reduced Foxp2 expression, via a loss-of-function mutation, on striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Our data show that heterozygous loss of Foxp2 decreases excitatory (AMPA receptor-mediated) and increases inhibitory (GABA receptor-mediated) currents in D1 dopamine receptor positive MSNs of juvenile and adult mice. Furthermore, reduced Foxp2 expression increases GAD67 expression, leading to both increased presynaptic content and release of GABA. Finally, pharmacological blockade of inhibitory activity in vivo partially rescues motor skill learning deficits in heterozygous Foxp2 mice. Our results suggest a novel role for Foxp2 in the regulation of striatal direct pathway activity through managing inhibitory drive. Publisher PDF

Neuronal gene transcription through epigenetic modifications plays an important role in the etiology of intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Haploinsufficiency of the Euchromatin Histone Methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) gene causes Kleefstra syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder with the clinical features of both ID and ASD. Interestingly, patients with loss-of-function mutations in the functionally distinct epigenetic regulators MBD5, MLL3 or SMARCB1 also share the same core features, referred to as the Kleefstra syndrome spectrum (KSS). Currently, little is known about how variants in these different chromatin remodelers lead to the phenotypic convergence in KSS. To decipher the pathophysiology underlying KSS we here directly compared the effect of loss of function of four distinct KSS genes in developing rodent neuronal networks, using a combination of transcriptional analysis, immunocytochemistry, single-cell recordings and micro-electrode arrays. KSS gene-deficient neuronal networks all showed impaired neural network activity, resulting in hyperactive networks with altered network organization. At the single-cell level, we found genotype-specific changes in intrinsic excitability and in excitatory-inhibitory balance, all leading to increased excitability. These findings we could also recapitulate in a mouse model for Kleefstra syndrome. Transcriptional analysis further revealed distinct regulatory mechanisms. Nevertheless, KSS-target genes share similar functions in regulating neuronal excitability and synaptic function, several of which are associated with ID and ASD. Our results show that KSS genes mainly converge at the level of neuronal network development, providing new insights into the pathophysiology of KSS and to other phenotypically congruent disorders involving ID and autism.

Extensive evidence indicates that noradrenergic activation of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is essential for mediating emotional arousal effects on memory consolidation in different target regions. However, the mechanism by which BLA activation regulates such information storage processes remains largely elusive. Here we demonstrate, in male Sprague-Dawley rats, that noradrenergic activation of the BLA is critically involved in enabling facilitation of memory consolidation induced by histone acetylation, a form of chromatin modification, within the insular cortex (IC) on object recognition memory. The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor sodium butyrate (NaB) administered either systemically or directly into the anterior, but not posterior, IC immediately after object recognition training enhanced long-term memory for the identity of the object. Systemic NaB administration also enhanced memory for the location of the object. This NaB-induced enhancement of both object recognition and object location memory was selectively associated with an increased ability to assess the familiarity of the training stimulus, without affecting interaction with a novel stimulus. The β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol infused into the BLA concurrently abolished the NaB-induced enhancement of familiarity detection underlying both object recognition and object location memory. These findings indicate that noradrenergic activity within the BLA induced by emotional arousal interacts with chromatin modification mechanisms in its target regions to affect post-learning consolidation processes underlying long-term recognition memory and discrimination of a familiar stimulus.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a collection of heterogeneous syndromes involving disruption of early neurobiological development. While the identification of disease genes has great benefits for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, for the vast majority of these genes there is little knowledge about neurobiological mechanisms that they control at the cellular and network level. Recent studies demonstrate that NDDs are "diseases of the synapse". Synaptic malfunction can severely affect network connectivity and dynamic. Understanding the neural circuit basis of NDDs is therefore imperial for a better understanding of these disorders. Kleefstra syndrome (KS) is a NDD characterized by moderate to severe intellectual disability, childhood hypotonia, and facial dysmorphism associated with genes deficiency. Here, we studied how KS genes-deficiency affects neuronal network maturation using dissociated neuronal cultures (i.e. from rodent or KS patient induced pluripotent stem cells). Using micro-electrode arrays technology we characterized the electrophysiological activity of control and KS genes-deficient neuronal networks. We showed that KS genes-deficient neuronal networks exhibited different pattern of synchronous activity compared to control condition. In particular, KS genes-deficiency induced an inappropriate network organization and irregular pattern of activity, indicating that KS genes are required for proper network formation. The neuronal network phenotype found here, provides for relevant future directions in the elucidation of pathophysiology in KS.

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Contains fulltext : 190634.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Neuronal networks consist of different types of neurons that all play their own role in order to maintain proper network function. The two main types of neurons segregate in excitatory and inhibitory neurons, which together regulate the flow of information through the network. It has been proposed that changes in the relative strength in these two opposing forces underlie the symptoms observed in psychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. Here, we review the role of alterations to the function of the inhibitory system as a cause of psychiatric disorders. First, we explore both patient and post-mortem evidence of inhibitory deficiency. We then discuss the function of different interneuron subtypes in the network and focus on the central role of a specific class of inhibitory neurons, parvalbumin-positive interneurons. Finally, we discuss genes known to be affected in different disorders and the effects that mutations in these genes have on the inhibitory system in cortex and hippocampus. We conclude that alterations to the inhibitory system are consistently identified in animal models of psychiatric disorders and, more specifically, that mutations affecting the function of parvalbumin-positive interneurons seem to play a central role in the symptoms observed in these disorders.

Item does not contain fulltext A major challenge in clinical genetics and medicine is represented by genetically and phenotypically highly diverse neurodevelopmental disorders, like for example intellectual disability and autism. Intellectual disability is characterized by substantial limitations in cognitive function and adaptive behaviour. At the cellular level, this is reflected by deficits in synaptic structure and plasticity and therefore has been coined as a synaptic disorder or "synaptopathy". In this review, we summarize the findings from recent studies in which iPSCs have been used to model specific neurodevelopmental syndromes, including Fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, Williams-Beuren syndrome and Phelan-McDermid syndrome. We discuss what we have learned from these studies and what key issues need to be addressed to move the field forward.

Contains fulltext : 193230.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Kleefstra syndrome, a disease with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders and other developmental defects is caused in humans by haploinsufficiency of EHMT1. Although EHMT1 and its paralog EHMT2 were shown to be histone methyltransferases responsible for deposition of the di-methylated H3K9 (H3K9me2), the exact nature of epigenetic dysfunctions in Kleefstra syndrome remains unknown. Here, we found that the epigenome of Ehmt1+/- adult mouse brain displays a marked increase of H3K9me2/3 which correlates with impaired expression of protocadherins, master regulators of neuronal diversity. Increased H3K9me3 was present already at birth, indicating that aberrant methylation patterns are established during embryogenesis. Interestingly, we found that Ehmt2+/- mice do not present neither the marked increase of H3K9me2/3 nor the cognitive deficits found in Ehmt1+/- mice, indicating an evolutionary diversification of functions. Our finding of increased H3K9me3 in Ehmt1+/- mice is the first one supporting the notion that EHMT1 can quench the deposition of tri-methylation by other Histone methyltransferases, ultimately leading to impaired neurocognitive functioning. Our insights into the epigenetic pathophysiology of Kleefstra syndrome may offer guidance for future developments of therapeutic strategies for this disease.

Koolen-de Vries syndrome (KdVS) is a multi-system disorder characterized by intellectual disability, friendly behavior, and congenital malformations. The syndrome is caused either by microdeletions in the 17q21.31 chromosomal region or by variants in the KANSL1 gene. The reciprocal 17q21.31 microduplication syndrome is associated with psychomotor delay, and reduced social interaction. To investigate the pathophysiology of 17q21.31 microdeletion and microduplication syndromes, we generated three mouse models: 1) the deletion (Del/+); or 2) the reciprocal duplication (Dup/+) of the 17q21.31 syntenic region; and 3) a heterozygous Kansl1 (Kans1+/-) model. We found altered weight, general activity, social behaviors, object recognition, and fear conditioning memory associated with craniofacial and brain structural changes observed in both Del/+ and Dup/+ animals. By investigating hippocampus function, we showed synaptic transmission defects in Del/+ and Dup/+ mice. Mutant mice with a heterozygous loss-of-function mutation in Kansl1 displayed similar behavioral and anatomical phenotypes compared to Del/+ mice with the exception of sociability phenotypes. Genes controlling chromatin organization, synaptic transmission and neurogenesis were upregulated in the hippocampus of Del/+ and Kansl1+/- animals. Our results demonstrate the implication of KANSL1 in the manifestation of KdVS phenotypes and extend substantially our knowledge about biological processes affected by these mutations. Clear differences in social behavior and gene expression profiles between Del/+ and Kansl1+/- mice suggested potential roles of other genes affected by the 17q21.31 deletion. Together, these novel mouse models provide new genetic tools valuable for the development of therapeutic approaches., Author summary The 17q21.31 deletion syndrome, also named Koolen-de Vries syndrome (KdVS), is a rare copy number variants associated in humans with intellectual disability, friendly behavior, congenital malformations. The syndrome is caused either by microdeletions in the 17q21.31 region or by variants in the KANSL1 gene in human. The reciprocal 17q21.31 microduplication syndrome is not so well characterized. To investigate the pathophysiology of the syndromes, we studied the deletion, the duplication of the syntenic region and a heterozygous Kansl1 mutant in the mouse. We found affected morphology and cognition, similar to human condition, with genes controlling chromatin organization, synaptic transmission and neurogenesis dysregulated in the hippocampus of KdVS models. In addition we found that synaptic transmission was altered in KdVS mice. Our results demonstrate the implication of KANSL1 in the manifestation of KdVS and extend substantially our knowledge about altered biological processes. Nevertheless, phenotypic differences between deletion and Kansl1+/- models suggested roles of other genes affected by the 17q21.31 deletion.

Heterozygous mutations or deletions of the human Euchromatin Histone Methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) gene are the main causes of Kleefstra syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by impaired memory, autistic features and mostly severe intellectual disability. Previously, Ehmt1+/− heterozygous knockout mice were found to exhibit cranial abnormalities and decreased sociability, phenotypes similar to those observed in Kleefstra syndrome patients. In addition, Ehmt1+/− knockout mice were impaired at fear extinction and novel- and spatial object recognition. In this study, Ehmt1+/− and wild-type mice were tested on several cognitive tests in a touchscreen-equipped operant chamber to further investigate the nature of learning and memory changes. Performance of Ehmt1+/− mice in the Visual Discrimination & Reversal learning, object-location Paired-Associates learning- and Extinction learning tasks was found to be unimpaired. Remarkably, Ehmt1+/− mice showed enhanced performance on the Location Discrimination test of pattern separation. In line with improved Location Discrimination ability, an increase in BrdU-labelled cells in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus was observed. In conclusion, reduced levels of EHMT1 protein in Ehmt1+/− mice does not result in general learning deficits in a touchscreen-based battery, but leads to increased adult cell proliferation in the hippocampus and enhanced pattern separation ability.

The ability to assign expression patterns to the individual cell types that constitute a tissue is a major challenge. This especially applies to brain, given its plethora of different, functionally interconnected cell types. Here, we derived cell type-specific transcriptome signatures from existing single cell RNA data and integrated these signatures with a newly generated dataset of expression (bulk RNA-Seq) of the postnatal developing mouse hippocampus. This integrated analysis allowed us to provide a comprehensive and unbiased prediction of the differentiation drivers for 11 different hippocampal cell types and describe how the different cell types interact to support crucial developmental stages. Our results provide a reliable resource of predicted differentiation drivers and insights into the multifaceted aspects of the cells in hippocampus during development.

Contains fulltext : 169125.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) MicroRNAs (miRs) are small regulatory molecules, which orchestrate neuronal development and plasticity through modulation of complex gene networks. MicroRNA-137 (miR-137) is a brain-enriched RNA with a critical role in regulating brain development and in mediating synaptic plasticity. Importantly, mutations in this miR are associated with the pathoetiology of schizophrenia (SZ), and there is a widespread assumption that disruptions in miR-137 expression lead to aberrant expression of gene regulatory networks associated with SZ. To systematically identify the mRNA targets for this miR, we performed miR-137 gain- and loss-of-function experiments in primary rat hippocampal neurons and profiled differentially expressed mRNAs through next-generation sequencing. We identified 500 genes that were bidirectionally activated or repressed in their expression by the modulation of miR-137 levels. Gene ontology analysis using two independent software resources suggested functions for these miR-137-regulated genes in neurodevelopmental processes, neuronal maturation processes and cell maintenance, all of which known to be critical for proper brain circuitry formation. Since many of the putative miR-137 targets identified here also have been previously shown to be associated with SZ, we propose that this miR acts as a critical gene network hub contributing to the pathophysiology of this neurodevelopmental disorder.

Item does not contain fulltext Intellectual disability (ID) is a prevailing neurodevelopmental condition associated with impaired cognitive and adaptive behaviors. Many chromatin-modifying enzymes and other epigenetic regulators have been genetically associated with ID disorders (IDDs). Here we review how alterations in the function of histone modifiers, chromatin remodelers, and methyl-DNA binding proteins contribute to neurodevelopmental defects and altered brain plasticity. We also discuss how progress in human genetics has led to the generation of mouse models that unveil the molecular etiology of ID, and outline the direction in which this field is moving to identify therapeutic strategies for IDDs. Importantly, because the chromatin regulators linked to IDDs often target common downstream genes and cellular processes, the impact of research in individual syndromes goes well beyond each syndrome and can also contribute to the understanding and therapy of other IDDs. Furthermore, the investigation of these disorders helps us to understand the role of chromatin regulators in brain development, plasticity, and gene expression, thereby answering fundamental questions in neurobiology.

5 Tablas.-- 3 Figuras, The ethanolic extracts from the leaves, pericarps and rhizomes of Asparagus albus L. were investigated for their phytochemical composition, antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP assays), anti-microbial against human pathogenic isolates and cytotoxic (human colon carcinoma HCT-116 cells) activities. The highest flavonoid content was obtained in the leaf extract followed by the pericarp but there were no flavonoids detected in the rhizome. However, the rhizome had a high concentration of saponins. Flavonoid and saponin profiles were similar to those previously described for the triguero Huetor Tajar asparagus landrace. It was found that the pericarp ethanolic extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity than rhizome and leaf extracts. Moreover, the rhizome possessed more evident cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 cells in comparison to leaf and pericarp. All extracts showed varying degrees of antimicrobial activity against most of the human pathogenic isolates. In addition, the leaves showed more powerful inhibitory activities against the maximum number of bacteria and all the fungai isolated and the highest activity was in the pericarp extract against multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR) and Erythromycin resistant Streptococcus agalactiae (ER) with an inhibition zone of 21 mm and 19 mm, respectively. The results show that A. albus could be a new crop with pharmaceutical interest because its richness in bioactive compounds provides considerable benefits for human health., This work was supported by the Tunisian Ministry of Scientific Research and Technology and by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain (AGL2011-29632). The authors are enormously grateful to Dr. Ilhem Boutiba Ben Boubaker (Antibiotic resistance laboratory, Faculty of Medicine of Tunisia) and Dr. Saadia Gargouri (Department of parasitology, Military Hospital of Tunis) for their assistance during the antimicrobial analysis and to Dr. Smaoui Abderrazek for botanical identification of the plants.

The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) and intracellular Ca2+ signaling are critically involved in regulating different steps of autophagy, a lysosomal degradation pathway. The ryanodine receptors (RyR), intracellular Ca2+-release channels mainly expressed in excitable cell types including muscle and neurons, have however not yet been extensively studied in relation to autophagy. Yet, aberrant expression and excessive activity of RyRs in these tissues has been implicated in the onset of several diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, where impaired autophagy regulation contributes to the pathology. In this study, we determined whether pharmacological RyR inhibition could modulate autophagic flux in ectopic RyR-expressing models, like HEK293 cells and in cell types that endogenously express RyRs, like C2C12 myoblasts and primary hippocampal neurons. Importantly, RyR3 overexpression in HEK293 cells impaired the autophagic flux. Conversely, in all cell models tested, pharmacological inhibition of endogenous or ectopically expressed RyRs, using dantrolene or ryanodine, augmented autophagic flux by increasing lysosomal turn-over (number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes measured as mCherry-LC3 punctae/cell increased from 70.37 ± 7.81 in control HEK RyR3 cells to 111.18 ± 7.72 and 98.14 ± 7.31 after dantrolene and ryanodine treatments, respectively). Moreover, in differentiated C2C12 cells, transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that dantrolene treatment decreased the number of early autophagic vacuoles from 5.9 ± 2.97 to 1.8 ± 1.03 per cellular cross section. The modulation of the autophagic flux could be linked to the functional inhibition of RyR channels as both RyR inhibitors efficiently diminished the number of cells showing spontaneous RyR3 activity in the HEK293 cell model (from 41.14% ± 2.12 in control cells to 18.70% ± 2.25 and 9.74% ± 2.67 after dantrolene and ryanodine treatments, respectively). In conclusion, basal RyR-mediated Ca2+-release events suppress autophagic flux at the level of the lysosomes.

Contains fulltext : 168191.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) The Koolen-de Vries syndrome (KdVS; OMIM #610443), also known as the 17q21.31 microdeletion syndrome, is a clinically heterogeneous disorder characterised by (neonatal) hypotonia, developmental delay, moderate intellectual disability, and characteristic facial dysmorphism. Expressive language development is particularly impaired compared with receptive language or motor skills. Other frequently reported features include social and friendly behaviour, epilepsy, musculoskeletal anomalies, congenital heart defects, urogenital malformations, and ectodermal anomalies. The syndrome is caused by a truncating variant in the KAT8 regulatory NSL complex unit 1 (KANSL1) gene or by a 17q21.31 microdeletion encompassing KANSL1. Herein we describe a novel cohort of 45 individuals with KdVS of whom 33 have a 17q21.31 microdeletion and 12 a single-nucleotide variant (SNV) in KANSL1 (19 males, 26 females; age range 7 months to 50 years). We provide guidance about the potential pitfalls in the laboratory testing and emphasise the challenges of KANSL1 variant calling and DNA copy number analysis in the complex 17q21.31 region. Moreover, we present detailed phenotypic information, including neuropsychological features, that contribute to the broad phenotypic spectrum of the syndrome. Comparison of the phenotype of both the microdeletion and SNV patients does not show differences of clinical importance, stressing that haploinsufficiency of KANSL1 is sufficient to cause the full KdVS phenotype.

Item does not contain fulltext Recently, we marked TRIO for the first time as a candidate gene for intellectual disability (ID). Across diverse vertebrate species, TRIO is a well-conserved Rho GTPase regulator that is highly expressed in the developing brain. However, little is known about the specific events regulated by TRIO during brain development and its clinical impact in humans when mutated. Routine clinical diagnostic testing identified an intragenic de novo deletion of TRIO in a boy with ID. Targeted sequencing of this gene in over 2300 individuals with ID, identified three additional truncating mutations. All index cases had mild to borderline ID combined with behavioral problems consisting of autistic, hyperactive and/or aggressive behavior. Studies in dissociated rat hippocampal neurons demonstrated the enhancement of dendritic formation by suppressing endogenous TRIO, and similarly decreasing endogenous TRIO in organotypic hippocampal brain slices significantly increased synaptic strength by increasing functional synapses. Together, our findings provide new mechanistic insight into how genetic deficits in TRIO can lead to early neuronal network formation by directly affecting both neurite outgrowth and synapse development.

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder that affects cognitive function and has been linked, both in patients and animal models, to dysfunction of the GABAergic system. However, the pathophysiological consequences of this dysfunction are not well understood. Here, we examined the GABAergic system in an animal model displaying schizophrenia-relevant features, the apomorphine-susceptible (APO-SUS) rat and its phenotypic counterpart, the apomorphine-unsusceptible (APO-UNSUS) rat at postnatal day 20–22. We found changes in the expression of the GABA-synthesizing enzyme GAD67 specifically in the prelimbic- but not the infralimbic region of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), indicative of reduced inhibitory function in this region in APO-SUS rats. While we did not observe changes in basal synaptic transmission onto LII/III pyramidal cells in the mPFC of APO-SUS compared to APO-UNSUS rats, we report reduced paired-pulse ratios at longer inter-stimulus intervals. The GABAB receptor antagonist CGP 55845 abolished this reduction, indicating that the decreased paired-pulse ratio was caused by increased GABAB signaling. Consistently, we find an increased expression of the GABAB1 receptor subunit in APO-SUS rats. Our data provide physiological evidence for increased presynaptic GABAB signaling in the mPFC of APO-SUS rats, further supporting an important role for the GABAergic system in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Heterozygous mutations or deletions in the human Euchromatin histone methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) gene cause Kleefstra syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by autistic-like features and severe intellectual disability (ID). Neurodevelopmental disorders including ID and autism may be related to deficits in activity-dependent wiring of brain circuits during development. Although Kleefstra syndrome has been associated with dendritic and synaptic defects in mice and Drosophila, little is known about the role of EHMT1 in the development of cortical neuronal networks. Here we used micro-electrode arrays and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings to investigate the impact of EHMT1 deficiency at the network and single cell level. We show that EHMT1 deficiency impaired neural network activity during the transition from uncorrelated background action potential firing to synchronized network bursting. Spontaneous bursting and excitatory synaptic currents were transiently reduced, whereas miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents were not affected. Finally, we show that loss of function of EHMT1 ultimately resulted in less regular network bursting patterns later in development. These data suggest that the developmental impairments observed in EHMT1-deficient networks may result in a temporal misalignment between activity-dependent developmental processes thereby contributing to the pathophysiology of Kleefstra syndrome.

Hand foot and mouth disease is a febrile sickness complex characterized by cutaneous eruption (exanthem) on the palms and soles with simultaneous occurrence of muco-cutanous vesiculo-ulcerative lesions (enanthem) affecting the mouth. The illness is caused by a number of enteroviruses with coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus 71 as the main causative agents. Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) belongs to the species Human enterovirus A under the genus Enterovirus within the family Picornaviridae. EV71 has been associated with an array of clinical diseases including hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD), aseptic meningitis, encephalitis and poliomyelitis-like acute flaccid paralysis. A large outbreak of HFMD due to highly neurovirulent EV71 emerged in Malaysia in 1997, and caused 41 deaths amongst young children. In late 2000, a recurrence of an outbreak of HFMD occurred in Malaysia with 8 fatalities in peninsular Malaysia. Outbreak of HFMD due to EV71 recurred in 2003 with an unknown number of cases and mortalities. A similar outbreak of HFMD with 2 recorded deaths in young children occurred in peninsular Malaysia in late 2005 and this was followed by a larger outbreak in Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo) with 6 reported fatalities in the early part of 2006. The current on-going outbreak of HFMD started in peninsular Malaysia in epidemiological week 12 of 2010. As with other HFMD outbreaks in Malaysia, both EV71 and CA16 were the main aetiological viruses isolated. In similarity with the HFMD outbreak in 2005, the isolation of CA16 preceded the appearance of EV71. Based on the VP1 gene nucleotide sequences, 4 sub-genogroups of EV71 (C1, C2, B3 and B4) co-circulated and caused the outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease in peninsular Malaysia in 1997. Two sub-genogroups (C1 and B4) were noted to cause the outbreak in 2000 in both peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. EV71 of sub-genogroup B5 with smaller contribution from sub-genogroup C1 caused the outbreak in 2003. In the 2005 outbreak, besides the EV71 strains of sub-genogroup C1, EV71 strains belonging to sub-genogroup B5 were isolated but formed a cluster which was distinct from the EV71 strains from the sub-genogroup B5 isolated in 2003. The four EV71 strains isolated from clinical specimens of patients with hand, foot and mouth disease in the Sarawak outbreak in early 2006 also belonged to sub-genogroup B5. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 gene suggests that the EV71 strains causing the outbreak in Sarawak could have originated from peninsular Malaysia. Epidemiological and molecular data since 1997 show the recurrence of HFMD due to EV71 in Malaysia every 2 to 4 years. In each of the past outbreaks, more than one sub-genogroup of the virus co-circulate.

Factors associated with graft reepithelialization after penetrating keratoplasty. M. Cheour, H. Nasri, H. Kamoun, H. Lamloum, A. Kasri, S. Hamdi, A. Kraiem Introduction To study graft reepithelialization time after penetrating keratoplasty and the factors influencing this reepithelialization. Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, 48 patients underwent penetrating keratoplasty (52 eyes) by the same surgeon between 1998 and 2006. Recipient pre- and postoperative variables, donor characteristics, and surgical variables were analyzed. Postoperative slit-lamp examination after fluorescein staining and graft reepithelialization time were recorded. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 11.5 ( p Results The average graft reepithelialization time was 8.02 ± 6.87 days. Complete corneal epithelial healing was obtained in 2.2%, 38.3%, and 63% of patients in 1, 3, and 7 days, respectively. There was a statistical correlation between graft reepithelialization time and trephination size, death-to-storage time, and storage time ( p Discussion Postoperative epithelial defects are common after penetrating keratoplasty. Many factors influence this graft reepithelialization such as abnormal lid and surface dysfunction, recipient corneal epithelium, and surgical technique. A better understanding of these factors will prevent postoperative epithelial defects and complications.

Cadherin-13 (CDH13), a unique glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored member of the cadherin family of cell adhesion molecules, has been identified as a risk gene for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and various comorbid neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions, including depression, substance abuse, autism spectrum disorder and violent behavior, while the mechanism whereby CDH13 dysfunction influences pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders remains elusive. Here we explored the potential role of CDH13 in the inhibitory modulation of brain activity by investigating synaptic function of GABAergic interneurons. Cellular and subcellular distribution of CDH13 was analyzed in the murine hippocampus and a mouse model with a targeted inactivation of Cdh13 was generated to evaluate how CDH13 modulates synaptic activity of hippocampal interneurons and behavioral domains related to psychopathologic (endo)phenotypes. We show that CDH13 expression in the cornu ammonis (CA) region of the hippocampus is confined to distinct classes of interneurons. Specifically, CDH13 is expressed by numerous parvalbumin and somatostatin-expressing interneurons located in the stratum oriens, where it localizes to both the soma and the presynaptic compartment. Cdh13−/− mice show an increase in basal inhibitory, but not excitatory, synaptic transmission in CA1 pyramidal neurons. Associated with these alterations in hippocampal function, Cdh13−/− mice display deficits in learning and memory. Taken together, our results indicate that CDH13 is a negative regulator of inhibitory synapses in the hippocampus, and provide insights into how CDH13 dysfunction may contribute to the excitatory/inhibitory imbalance observed in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD and autism.

State dependent changes in sensorimotor control are critical for interactions with the environment and are modulated by three principal monoaminergic neuromodulators: serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). The neuromodulatory neurotransmitter release starts during embryonic development and transiently exerts neurotrophic actions that cease after the first 2–3 postnatal weeks in rodents. Particularly during these early postnatal weeks neuronal projections along sensorimotor circuits are most sensitive to experience-dependent development. This implies that early changes in neuromodulatory action will have long-lasting consequences, contributing to the normal range of individual differences in sensorimotor integration up to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorders. To delineate these neurodevelopmental processes we review herein (1) the basics of the three principal neuromodulators, (2) the organization of neuromodulatory innervation of sensorimotor circuits, (3) how targeted manipulation of neuromodulation during development affect the anatomical and functional organization of sensorimotor circuits and their behavioral correlates, and (4) how alterations in the anatomical and functional organization of these circuits contribute to sensorimotor deficits in adulthood, for example in brain disorders. Finally (5) we discuss the evidence for a developmental switch for neuromodulator neurotransmitter action in sensorimotor integration, and propose that neuromodulatory influences during early postnatal development is critical for sensorimotor function in adulthood.

BACKGROUND: Regulation of synaptic connectivity, including long-term depression (LTD), allows proper tuning of cellular signalling processes within brain circuitry. In the cerebellum, a key centre for motor coordination, a positive feedback loop that includes mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) is required for proper temporal control of LTD at cerebellar Purkinje cell synapses. Here we report that the tyrosine-specific MAPK-phosphatase PTPRR plays a role in coordinating the activity of this regulatory loop., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Contains fulltext : 154373.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) The protein NOS1AP/CAPON mediates signaling from a protein complex of NMDA receptor, PSD95 and nNOS. The only stroke trial for neuroprotectants that showed benefit to patients targeted this ternary complex. NOS1AP/nNOS interaction regulates small GTPases, iron transport, p38MAPK-linked excitotoxicity, and anxiety. Moreover, the nos1ap gene is linked to disorders from schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and autism to cardiovascular disorders and breast cancer. Understanding protein interactions required for NOS1AP function, therefore, has broad implications for numerous diseases. Here we show that the interaction of NOS1AP with nNOS differs radically from the classical PDZ docking assumed to be responsible. The NOS1AP PDZ motif does not bind nNOS as measured by multiple methods. In contrast, full-length NOS1AP forms an unusually stable interaction with nNOS. We mapped the discrepancy between full-length and C-terminal PDZ motif to a novel internal region we call the ExF motif. The C-terminal PDZ motif, although neither sufficient nor necessary for binding, nevertheless promotes the stability of the complex. It therefore potentially affects signal transduction and suggests that functional interaction of nNOS with NOS1AP might be targetable at two distinct sites. We demonstrate that excitotoxic pathways can be regulated, in cortical neuron and organotypic hippocampal slice cultures from rat, either by the previously described PDZ ligand TAT-GESV or by the ExF motif-bearing region of NOS1AP, even when lacking the critical PDZ residues as long as the ExF motif is intact and not mutated. This previously unrecognized heterodivalent interaction of nNOS with NOS1AP may therefore provide distinct opportunities for pharmacological intervention in NOS1AP-dependent signaling and excitotoxicity.