Article
Cell Biology
Yan Wang, Sheng Zhang, Zhaohui Lan, Vui Doan, Bokyung Kim, Sihan Liu, Meina Zhu, Vanessa L. Hull, Sami Rihani, Chun-Li Zhang, John A. Gray, Fuzheng Guo
Summary: Children with SOX2 deficiency may develop ocular disorders and extra-ocular CNS anomalies. Within the central nervous system, SOX2 deficiency in astroglial cells can lead to abnormal brain development, resulting in hyperactivity in locomotion and increased neuronal excitability. This deficiency inhibits postnatal astrocyte maturation without affecting proliferation, affecting molecular, morphological, and electrophysiological aspects.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christophe Clement Rey, Vincent Robert, Guillaume Bouisset, Maithe Loisy, Sebastien Lopez, Vanessa Cattaud, Camille Lejards, Rebecca Ann Piskorowski, Claire Rampon, Vivien Chevaleyre, Laure Verret
Summary: The study found that decreased presence of PNN around PV cells in Alzheimer's disease mouse models is associated with social memory deficits. Single local injection of the growth factor NRG1 can restore both PV/PNN levels and social memory performance of these mice.
Article
Cell Biology
Maolei Gong, Ruoxi Shi, Yijun Liu, Jinpeng Ke, Xiao Liu, Hong-Zhen Du, Chang-Mei Liu
Summary: In this study, we identified ARID1A as a central regulator of microglia polarization and established a mechanistic link between chromatin remodeling, neurogenesis, and mouse behaviors, highlighting the potential development of innovative therapeutics exploiting the innate regenerative capacity of the nervous system.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kaiwen Xi, Haoxiang Xiao, Xin Huang, Ziduo Yuan, Mingyue Liu, Honghui Mao, Haiying Liu, Guaiguai Ma, Zishuo Cheng, Yuqiao Xie, Yang Liu, Dayun Feng, Wenting Wang, Baolin Guo, Shengxi Wu
Summary: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent psychiatric disease characterized by severe defensive behaviors. This study found that the overactivation of the higher-order thalamus, PoM, played a role in excessive defensiveness in a mouse model of PTSD. The dysfunction of thalamic inhibition and excessive thalamic innervation to the frontal association cortex were identified as the underlying mechanisms. These findings suggest that targeting the thalamocortical circuit may be a potential treatment for overreactivity symptoms in PTSD.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Lixue Liu, Lihong Yao, Zeyu Lu, Lili Jiang, Xiaohan Zhang, Xinpeng Liu, Wenxuan Zhang, Xinrui Luan, Shujian Zhang, Wenxia Xu, Tuo Wang, Fangping Zhang, Xuancheng Wei, Junlong Da, Jianqun Wang, Jiahui Zhang, Ying Li, Han Jin, Bin Zhang
Summary: This study identifies the important role of Fam20a in tooth root development and eruption, regulating cell polarity and the WNT/β-catenin/Cdc42 pathway. Knockout of Fam20a leads to shortened roots, incomplete epithelial root sheath development, and delayed tooth eruption.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jerome Ezan, Maite M. Moreau, Tamrat M. Mamo, Miki Shimbo, Maureen Decroo, Nathalie Sans, Mireille Montcouquiol
Summary: This study investigates the function of Scrib specifically in excitatory neurons and finds that Scrib plays an essential role in forebrain development and locomotor behavior.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Noorya Yasmin Ahmed, Rhys Knowles, Lixinyu Liu, Yiming Yan, Xiaohan Li, Ulrike Schumann, Yumeng Wang, Yovina Sontani, Nathan Reynolds, Riccardo Natoli, Jiayu Wen, Isabel Del Pino, Da Mi, Nathalie Dehorter
Summary: Interneurons play a fundamental role in maintaining the balance between excitation and inhibition in the brain. This study focused on understanding the molecular and physiological changes in developing interneurons in the striatum of Cntnap2 knockout mouse model. The findings revealed alterations in cell proliferation and cell loss, as well as specific changes in the firing properties of cholinergic interneurons during early postnatal development. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Moustafa Algamal, Alyssa N. N. Russ, Morgan R. R. Miller, Steven S. S. Hou, Megi Maci, Leon P. P. Munting, Qiuchen Zhao, Dmitry Gerashchenko, Brian J. J. Bacskai, Ksenia V. V. Kastanenka
Summary: This study used in vivo calcium imaging with multiphoton microscopy to compare the activity of excitatory and inhibitory interneurons in APP/PS1 and control mice. The results showed that inhibitory interneurons were hyperactive in APP/PS1 mice, while excitatory neuron activity was decreased. These findings highlight the complexity of neuron-specific deficits in Alzheimer's disease.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Robin Scharrenberg, Melanie Richter, Ole Johanns, Durga Praveen Meka, Tabitha Ruecker, Nadeem Murtaza, Zsuzsa Lindenmaier, Jacob Ellegood, Anne Naumann, Bing Zhao, Birgit Schwanke, Jan Sedlacik, Jens Fiehler, Ileana L. Hanganu-Opatz, Jason P. Lerch, Karun K. Singh, Froylan Calderon de Anda
Summary: This study demonstrates the essential role of the Taok2 gene in neuronal migration, particularly the impact of de novo mutations associated with ASD on migration, and highlights the critical role of Taok2 in cortical development.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Raul Ayala Davila, Cassy Spiller, Danyon Harkins, Tracey Harvey, Philip W. Jordan, Richard M. Gronostajski, Michael Piper, Josephine Bowles
Summary: Members of the NFI family play essential roles in stem cell biology during development, and their expression patterns in the seminiferous tubules show distinct patterns. NFIX is found to be critical for meiotic progression during spermatogenesis. Its deletion leads to defective synaptonemal complex and unrepaired DNA double-strand breaks in spermatocytes.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yeeun Choi, Min-Ji Song, Woong-Jae Jung, Haengdueng Jeong, Seokjae Park, Bobae Yang, Eun-Chong Lee, Jung-Sik Joo, Dahee Choi, Seung-Hoi Koo, Eun-Kyoung Kim, Ki Taek Nam, Hyoung-Pyo Kim
Summary: This study demonstrated that liver-specific deletion of CTCF leads to hepatic steatosis and inflammation in mice, which is associated with increased nuclear accumulation of PPAR gamma and upregulation of downstream target genes such as CD36. Repression of PPAR gamma through pharmacologic blockade or adenovirus-mediated knockdown could ameliorate hepatic steatosis in CTCF-deficient mice.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Karim S. Ibrahim, Salah El Mestikawy, Khaled S. Abd-Elrahman, Stephen S. G. Ferguson
Summary: Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and cognitive impairments. The role of vesicular glutamate transporter-3 (VGLUT3) in HD pathophysiology is unclear. This study found that VGLUT3 deletion rescued motor and cognitive deficits in HD mouse models, likely through the activation of Akt and ERK1/2 pathways. These findings suggest that VGLUT3 could be a potential target for HD therapeutics.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Timothy P. Rutkowski, Ryan H. Purcell, Rebecca M. Pollak, Stephanie M. Grewenow, Georgette M. Gafford, Tamika Malone, Uswa A. Khan, Jason P. Schroeder, Michael P. Epstein, Gary J. Bassell, Stephen T. Warren, David Weinshenker, Tamara Caspary, Jennifer Gladys Mulle
Summary: The 3q29 deletion increases the risk for various neuropsychiatric phenotypes, and the experimental deletion in mice revealed behavioral impairments in multiple domains, with potential sex-dependent effects. The study also found that mouse-specific behavioral phenotypes associated with the 3q29 deletion are not solely due to haploinsufficiency of Dlg1.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sabrina Villar-Pazos, Laurel Thomas, Yunhan Yang, Kun Chen, Jenea B. Lyles, Bradley J. Deitch, Joseph Ochaba, Karen Ling, Berit Powers, Sebastien Gingras, Holly B. Kordasiewicz, Melanie J. Grubisha, Yanhua H. Huang, Gary Thomas
Summary: The mechanism underlying PACS1 syndrome remains unknown, but our study reveals that PACS1 is an effector of HDAC6 and the R203W mutation enhances the interaction between PACS1 and HDAC6, leading to increased deacetylase activity. This disrupts the structure and function of neural cells, and targeting PACS1(R203W)/HDAC6 may provide a potential therapeutic approach.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simone Chiola, Kandy L. Napan, Yueqi Wang, Roman M. Lazarenko, Celeste J. Armstrong, Jun Cui, Aleksandr Shcheglovitov
Summary: The study utilized CRISPR/Cas9-engineered human pluripotent stem cells with SHANK3 deletion to investigate synaptic and morphological properties in the mouse prefrontal cortex. Findings showed that SHANK3-deficient human neurons have reduced synaptic transmission and impaired dendritic arbors and spines, providing a new platform for studying connectivity deficits in genetic neurodevelopmental disorders associated with autism.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Correction
Neurosciences
Tomoya Takemoto, Masayuki Baba, Kazumasa Yokoyama, Kohei Kitagawa, Kazuki Nagayasu, Yukio Ago, Kaoru Seiriki, Atsuko Hayata-Takano, Atsushi Kasai, Daisuke Mori, Norio Ozaki, Kazuhiro Takuma, Ryota Hashimoto, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Takanobu Nakazawa
Article
Neurosciences
Tomoya Takemoto, Masayuki Baba, Kazumasa Yokoyama, Kohei Kitagawa, Kazuki Nagayasu, Yukio Ago, Kaoru Seiriki, Atsuko Hayata-Takano, Atsushi Kasai, Daisuke Mori, Norio Ozaki, Kazuhiro Takuma, Ryota Hashimoto, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Takanobu Nakazawa
Summary: This study investigates the molecular mechanisms behind impaired social behavior in 3q29 microdeletion mice and demonstrates the significant role of oxytocin in restoring social behavior.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nao Shibuya, Takahide Itokazu, Tsubasa Ueda, Toshihide Yamashita
Summary: In this study, the behavior of recruited neutrophils in the peri-infarct area after stroke was investigated using intravital imaging. Colchicine and an anti-P-selectin antibody were found to be effective in inhibiting neutrophil attachment and infiltration, with colchicine showing potential as a therapeutic strategy for acute ischemic stroke.
TRANSLATIONAL STROKE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yusuke Shintani, Atsuko Hayata-Takano, Yui Yamano, Mankato Ikuta, Rei Takeuchi, Kazuhiro Takuma, Takuya Okada, Naoki Toyooka, Ichiro Takasaki, Atsuro Miyata, Takashi Kurihara, Hitoshi Hashimoto
Summary: The study found that PAC1 antagonists PA-9 and PA-915 can alleviate anxiety-like behaviors induced by acute restraint stress in mice, and they have fast-acting anxiolytic properties, suggesting their potential as a novel treatment for anxiety.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Yuki Kambe, Thanh Trung Nguyen, Toshiharu Yasaka, Thu Thi Nguyen, Yoshimune Sameshima, Kohei Hashiguchi, Norihito Shintani, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Takashi Kurihara, Atsuro Miyata
Summary: This study found that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is involved in the regulation of feeding by modulating the expression of galanin in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH). Fasting increased galanin expression in the hypothalamus, but this increase was abolished in PACAP-knockout (KO) mice. Overexpression of PACAP in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) increased galanin expression, while knockdown of PACAP in the VMH decreased galanin expression. Neural projections from PACAP-expressing cells in the VMH to the DMH were observed, and galanin expression in the DMH was weaker in PACAP-KO mice. Knockdown of galanin in the DMH resulted in reduced food intake during the dark cycle and after fasting, and increased food intake during the light cycle, similar to PACAP-KO mice.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Yukio Ago, Rei Yokoyama, Satoshi Asano, Hitoshi Hashimoto
Summary: The antidepressant effects of ketamine may be related to both the dopaminergic system and the serotonergic system, while the effects of (R)-ketamine may be independent of the monoaminergic system. Ketamine metabolites differ in their ability to regulate monoamine neurotransmitters, and some metabolites may share common serotonergic signaling mechanisms with ketamine.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kentaro Mochizuki, Yasuaki Kumamoto, Shunsuke Maeda, Masato Tanuma, Atsushi Kasai, Masashi Takemura, Yoshinori Harada, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Hideo Tanaka, Nicholas Isaac Smith, Katsumasa Fujita
Summary: Researchers developed a multiline-illumination Raman microscope to achieve ultrafast Raman spectral imaging. By irradiating a sample with 21 simultaneous illumination lines, high-throughput Raman hyperspectral imaging of mouse brain tissue was achieved, expanding the possible applications of Raman microscopy in biological and medical fields.
BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Yuma Nagai, Yuri Kisaka, Kento Nomura, Naoya Nishitani, Chihiro Andoh, Masashi Koda, Hiroyuki Kawai, Kaoru Seiriki, Kazuki Nagayasu, Atsushi Kasai, Hisashi Shirakawa, Takanobu Nakazawa, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Shuji Kaneko
Summary: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental illness, and serotonergic neurons play a crucial role in its pathophysiology and treatment. Recalling positive memories repeatedly is effective for MDD. This study found that activating 5-HT neurons can activate specific neuronal ensembles associated with positive memories, providing insights into the antidepressive effects of serotonin.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Masakazu Agetsuma, Issei Sato, Yasuhiro R. Tanaka, Luis Carrillo-Reid, Atsushi Kasai, Atsushi Noritake, Yoshiyuki Arai, Miki Yoshitomo, Takashi Inagaki, Hiroshi Yukawa, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Junichi Nabekura, Takeharu Nagai
Summary: The authors observe changes in neuronal ensembles during fear conditioning in the mouse prefrontal cortex using longitudinal imaging and computational approaches.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Masahiro Sawada, Kimika Yoshino-Saito, Taihei Ninomiya, Takao Oishi, Toshihide Yamashita, Hirotaka Onoe, Masahiko Takada, Yukio Nishimura, Tadashi Isa
Summary: This study investigates the morphologic changes in the corticospinal tract (CST) after injury, and reveals that multiple reorganizations of the corticospinal projections to spinal segments contribute to the recovery of hand function after spinal cord injury.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tamas Gaszner, Jozsef Farkas, Daniel Kun, Balazs Ujvari, Nora Furedi, Laszlo Akos Kovacs, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Dora Reglodi, Viktoria Kormos, Balazs Gaszner
Summary: Depression poses challenges to patients, the healthcare system, and the economy. This study used a mouse model to explore the "three-hit concept" of depression. The findings suggest that early life adversities and later life stress interact with the effect of fluoxetine therapy by modulating FOSB and H3K9ac in specific regions, supporting the reliability of the model.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shotaro Kawano, Masayuki Baba, Hotaka Fukushima, Daiki Miura, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Takanobu Nakazawa
Summary: This study analyzed the role of ANK2 in the developing mouse cerebral cortex and found that ANK2 regulates neural stem cell differentiation and neuronal migration. ANK2 haploinsufficiency may impair neural development and increase the risk of ASD in patients.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Misaki Niu, Atsushi Kasai, Masato Tanuma, Kaoru Seiriki, Hisato Igarashi, Takahiro Kuwaki, Kazuki Nagayasu, Keita Miyaji, Hiroki Ueno, Wataru Tanabe, Kei Seo, Rei Yokoyama, Jin Ohkubo, Yukio Ago, Misuzu Hayashida, Ken-Ichi Inoue, Masahiko Takada, Shun Yamaguchi, Takanobu Nakazawa, Shuji Kaneko, Hiroyuki Okuno, Akihiro Yamanaka, Hitoshi Hashimoto
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of the claustrum in the regulation of stress-induced anxiety-related behaviors. Claustrum activation serves as a reliable marker of acute stress exposure, and its neuronal ensemble activation elicits anxiety-related behaviors while silencing attenuates such behaviors. The claustrum receives strong input from the basolateral amygdala, and selective optogenetic stimulation of the claustrum temporarily induces anxiety-related behaviors. Silencing of the claustrum ensemble increases resistance to chronic stress. The bidirectional control of stress-induced emotional responses by the claustrum suggests its potential as a target for prevention and treatment of stress-related disorders.