Article
Cell Biology
Giorgio Rizzi, Zhuoliang Li, Norbert Hogrefe, Kelly R. Tan
Summary: This study explored the involvement of midbrain neurons in conditioned learning and how GABA and glutamate cells affect fear-conditioned learning through specific connections. Inhibiting specific sub-circuits of dmCIN neurons led to varying impairments in learning, with Vglut2-expressing cells and Vgat-positive neurons associating with different stimuli. It suggests that each component of the network carries information relevant to different subdomains of the behavioral strategy.
Article
Neurosciences
Yasco Aracava, Edson X. Albuquerque, Edna F. R. Pereira
Summary: This study provides the first demonstration that (R,S)trihexyphenidyl (THP) can suppress action potential-dependent synaptic transmission via a mechanism independent of NMDAR, mAChR, and α7 nAChR inhibition.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Clemens L. Schoepf, Cornelia Ablinger, Stefanie M. Geisler, Ruslan Stanika, Marta Campiglio, Walter A. Kaufmann, Benedikt Nimmervoll, Bettina Schlick, Johannes Brockhaus, Markus Missler, Ryuichi Shigemoto, Gerald J. Obermair
Summary: The alpha(2)delta subunits in nerve cells play a critical role in the formation and organization of glutamatergic synapses, with defects leading to synaptic dysfunction and potentially neurological diseases. Each individual alpha(2)delta isoform can rescue presynaptic calcium channel trafficking and expression of synaptic proteins, suggesting a highly redundant role as synaptic organizers. These findings suggest a shift in understanding of excitatory synapse formation, highlighting the importance of presynaptic differentiation and the potential of alpha(2)delta subunits as nucleation points for synaptic organization.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Pengju Zhang, Wei Li, Yaan Liu, Yanqin Gao, Nashat Abumaria
Summary: In brain ischemia, suppressing TRPM7 can reduce neuronal death, tissue damage and motor deficits. This study found that deleting TRPM7 in PVB neurons has stronger neuroprotective effects than doing so in CaMKII neurons.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zixuan Lu, Chiara Barberio, Ana Fernandez-Villegas, Aimee Withers, Alexandra Wheeler, Konstantinos Kallitsis, Eleonora Martinelli, Achilleas Savva, Becky M. Hess, Anna-Maria Pappa, Gabriele S. Kaminski Schierle, Roisin M. Owens
Summary: This work reports a new system that integrates neuron membranes with organic microelectrode arrays for drug studies targeting neuronal ion channels. The system overcomes the challenges of traditional methods and provides an easy-to-test, rapid, ultra-sensitive, cell-free, and high-throughput platform to monitor dose-dependent ion-channel blocking effects on native neuronal membranes.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Christopher Katnik, Javier Cuevas
Summary: The study focuses on intracellular ionic imbalance resulting from ischemic stroke, and the impact of NKCC1 antagonists on Na+ and Ca2+ overload. Loop diuretics BMN and EA inhibited ischemia-acidosis induced Ca2+ overload, but did not reduce Na+ increases.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Paz Duran, Santiago Loya-Lopez, Dongzhi Ran, Cheng Tang, Aida Calderon-Rivera, Kimberly Gomez, Harrison J. Stratton, Sun Huang, Ya-ming Xu, E. M. Kithsiri Wijeratne, Samantha Perez-Miller, Zhiming Shan, Song Cai, Anna T. Gabrielsen, Angie Dorame, Kyleigh A. Masterson, Omar Alsbiei, Cynthia L. Madura, Guoqin Luo, Aubin Moutal, John Streicher, Gerald W. Zamponi, A. A. Leslie Gunatilaka, Rajesh Khanna
Summary: This study identified argentatin C, a compound derived from the Native American medicinal plant Parthenium incanum, which can block the activity of voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels and has potential as a novel treatment for painful conditions. Experimental results demonstrated that argentatin C decreased ion currents and excitability in sensory neurons and relieved postsurgical pain in a mouse model. Therefore, argentatin C may serve as an alternative therapy for chronic pain management.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Denis P. Laryushkin, Sergei A. Maiorov, Valery P. Zinchenko, Sergei G. Gaidin, Artem M. Kosenkov
Summary: The study demonstrates that blockade of L-type VGCC can reduce the half-width and amplitude of bicuculline-induced [Ca2+](i) oscillations, decrease the number of PDSs in a cluster, and shorten the cluster duration, while insignificantly affecting the pattern of individual PDSs and the frequency of cluster occurrence.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Cassinelli, Carla Vinola-Renart, Anna Benavente-Garcia, Maria Navarro-Perez, Jesusa Capera, Antonio Felipe
Summary: Protein lipidation is a common form of posttranslational modification that regulates various aspects of a protein's physiology, including its structure, stability, and interaction with cellular membranes. Palmitoylation, the addition of long saturated fatty acid chains to proteins, is a key form of lipidation. Enzymes called acyltransferases and thioesterases control the behavior of palmitoylated proteins through a series of acylation and deacylation cycles. Palmitoylation plays a pleiotropic role in regulating the trafficking, spatial organization, and electrophysiological properties of ion channels, particularly voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs). Dysregulation of palmitoylation in VGICs and associated subunits is linked to the development of diseases such as cancer and mental disorders. Therefore, protein palmitoylation is emerging as an important factor in cellular protein regulation and human health.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jonathan G. Murphy, Jakob J. Gutzmann, Lin Lin, Jiahua Hu, Ronald S. Petralia, Ya-Xian Wang, Dax A. Hoffman
Summary: The Ca2+ channel subunit Cav2.3 regulates synaptic function in the hippocampus by modulating the current carried by the Kv4.2 subunit. Cav2.3 controls the dendritic gradient of I-A, and its loss of function enhances synaptic currents and spine Ca2+ influx.
Article
Neurosciences
Elisa Mazuir, Louis Richevaux, Merie Nassar, Noemie Robil, Pierre de la Grange, Catherine Lubetzki, Desdemona Fricker, Nathalie Sol-Foulon
Summary: Research shows that oligodendroglial factors can influence the physiological activities of GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus, with the addition of oligodendrocyte conditioned medium reversing the effects of increased neuron excitability and decreased synaptic event frequency caused by the removal of glial cells. Transcriptomic and electrophysiological studies indicate that oligodendroglial factors affect gene expression levels in GABAergic neurons, playing a role in various crucial biological processes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Vandael, Yuji Okamoto, Peter Jonas
Summary: Post-tetanic potentiation (PTP) is a major form of plasticity at hippocampal mossy fiber synapses and is considered an entirely presynaptic phenomenon. The authors show that mossy fiber PTP not only lacks associativity, but rather shows anti-associative induction properties, implementing a brake on mossy fiber detonation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amit Banik, Juneyong Eum, Byung Joon Hwang, Yun Kee
Summary: This study comprehensively explores the neurotoxic implications of dithianon on humans and wildlife using zebrafish larvae as a model. The research finds that dithianon induces behavioral alterations and disrupts cellular and mitochondrial homeostasis. It also regulates the expression levels of different neuronal markers in a concentration-dependent manner.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yanrong Sun, Hanfei Wang, Wenjuan Wang, Jiali Lu, Jinglin Zhang, Xiaofeng Luo, Liju Luan, Ke Wang, Jing Jia, Junhao Yan, Lihua Qin
Summary: During menopause, the decrease in estrogen levels can lead to abnormalities in the hypothalamic preoptic area, causing hot flashes. This study discovered a decrease in glutamatergic neurons and an increase in GABAergic neurons, as well as a decrease in estrogen receptor expression. Estrogen therapy can correct these abnormalities.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Victoria Gonzalez Sabater, Mark Rigby, Juan Burrone
Summary: In this study, the initiation and propagation of action potentials (APs) along the axon were investigated using genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) in dissociated hippocampal neurons from rat embryos. It was found that APs became sharper and exhibited greater fidelity as they traveled towards distal axonal domains. Blocking voltage-gated potassium channels (K-v) resulted in an increase in AP width, especially in distal locations, suggesting that higher levels of Kv channel activity in distal axons contribute to maintaining AP fidelity.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicole Scott-Hewitt, Fabio Perrucci, Raffaella Morini, Marco Erreni, Matthew Mahoney, Agata Witkowska, Alanna Carey, Elisa Faggiani, Lisa Theresia Schuetz, Sydney Mason, Matteo Tamborini, Matteo Bizzotto, Lorena Passoni, Fabia Filipello, Reinhard Jahn, Beth Stevens, Michela Matteoli
Article
Microbiology
Elsa Ghirardini, Elena Restelli, Raffaella Morini, Ilaria Bertani, Davide Ortolan, Fabio Perrucci, Davide Pozzi, Michela Matteoli, Roberto Chiesa
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Morris Losurdo, Matteo Pedrazzoli, Claudia D'Agostino, Chiara A. Elia, Francesca Massenzio, Elena Lonati, Mario Mauri, Laura Rizzi, Laura Molteni, Elena Bresciani, Erica Dander, Giovanna D'Amico, Alessandra Bulbarelli, Antonio Torsello, Michela Matteoli, Mario Buffelli, Silvia Coco
STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Review
Psychiatry
Davide Pozzi, Marco Rasile, Irene Corradini, Michela Matteoli
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2020)
Review
Cell Biology
Giuliana Fossati, Michela Matteoli, Elisabetta Menna
Correction
Microbiology
Elsa Ghirardini, Elena Restelli, Raffaella Morini, Ilaria Bertani, Davide Ortolan, Fabio Perrucci, Davide Pozzi, Michela Matteoli, Roberto Chiesa
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Lara Pizzamiglio, Elisa Focchi, Clara Cambria, Luisa Ponzoni, Silvia Ferrara, Francesco Bifari, Genni Desiato, Nicoletta Landsberger, Luca Murru, Maria Passafaro, Mariaelvina Sala, Michela Matteoli, Elisabetta Menna, Flavia Antonucci
Summary: This study demonstrates the role of ATM in the pathogenesis of autism, showing how abnormal expression of ATM affects the development of the GABAergic system and leads to behavioral impairments. Treatment with the specific ATM kinase inhibitor KU can normalize molecular, functional, and behavioral defects in mouse models of autism, supporting the potential of ATM inhibition in the pharmacological development for autism spectrum disorders.
Editorial Material
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Gianluigi Condorelli, Michela Matteoli
Summary: The recent study suggests a potential link between heart failure-induced cognitive decline and epigenetic changes affecting gene expression in hippocampal neurons.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Michela Matteoli, Davide Pozzi
Summary: The article discusses how the immune system affects brain activity by activating microglia, ultimately leading to the induction of negative affective states.
Review
Immunology
Raffaella Morini, Matteo Bizzotto, Fabio Perrucci, Fabia Filipello, Michela Matteoli
Summary: The role of microglia in controlling synapse homeostasis is increasingly recognized by the scientific community, with potential therapeutic implications in conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's Disease. Methodological approaches to investigate microglial synaptic engulfment include various in vitro assays and co-cultures of microglia and neurons, requiring further validation in mice brain for representative in vivo results. This review aims to analyze the technical approaches to studying microglia-mediated phagocytosis of neuronal and synaptic substrates in critical developmental time windows.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Rasile, Eliana Lauranzano, Filippo Mirabella, Michela Matteoli
Summary: Infections during pregnancy and the perinatal period can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, with potential mechanisms including defects in neuronal migration, impaired spine and synaptic development, as well as dysfunction of the neurovascular unit. Research in these areas may help identify promising research directions and provide valuable insights for current and future COVID-19 longitudinal studies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
V Zerbi, M. Pagani, M. Markicevic, M. Matteoli, D. Pozzi, M. Fagiolini, Y. Bozzi, A. Galbusera, Ml Scattoni, G. Provenzano, A. Banerjee, F. Helmchen, M. A. Basson, J. Ellegood, J. P. Lerch, M. Rudin, A. Gozzi, N. Wenderoth
Summary: The study reveals that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by diverse and highly heterogeneous abnormalities in brain connectivity, with different etiologies causing a broad spectrum of connectional abnormalities that can be classified into four subtypes with discrete signatures of network dysfunction.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Elisabetta Stanzani, Leire Pedrosa, Guillaume Bourmeau, Oceane Anezo, Aleix Noguera-Castells, Anna Esteve-Codina, Lorena Passoni, Michela Matteoli, Nuria de la Iglesia, Giorgio Seano, Fina Martinez-Soler, Avelina Tortosa
Summary: The study reveals the crucial role of integrin a6 in controlling stemness and radiotherapy resistance in different molecular subtypes of glioblastoma stem-like cells. Inhibition of integrin a6 can potentially limit malignant characteristics and tumor relapse in both GSCs subtypes, highlighting its importance in improving patient outcomes.
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
V. Zerbi, M. Pagani, M. Markicevic, M. Matteoli, D. Pozzi, M. Fagiolini, Y. Bozzi, A. Galbusera, M. L. Scattoni, G. Provenzano, A. Banerjee, F. Helmchen, M. A. Basson, J. Ellegood, J. P. Lerch, M. Rudin, A. Gozzi, N. Wenderoth
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michela Matteoli, Davide Pozzi, Matteo Fossati, Elisabetta Menna
Summary: In the last two decades, the concept of synaptopathy has been widely used to emphasize that impairments of synaptic structure and function are the main determinant of brain disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders. The understanding of the genetic architecture of these disorders has highlighted the convergence of genetic risk factors on synapse-related molecular pathways. However, the involvement of environmental factors and inflammation has also been recognized, with immune molecules contributing to synaptic dysfunction. This review discusses the concept of immune-synaptopathy and recent evidence suggesting a bidirectional link between genetic architecture and maternal immune system activation in modulating brain development.
