scholarly journals Neurons and neuronal activity control gene expression in astrocytes to regulate their development and metabolism

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Hasel ◽  
Owen Dando ◽  
Zoeb Jiwaji ◽  
Paul Baxter ◽  
Alison C. Todd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Metabolic Cooperation ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Lactate Shuttle ◽  
Activity Dependent ◽  
Elevated Lactate

Abstract The influence that neurons exert on astrocytic function is poorly understood. To investigate this, we first developed a system combining cortical neurons and astrocytes from closely related species, followed by RNA-seq and in silico species separation. This approach uncovers a wide programme of neuron-induced astrocytic gene expression, involving Notch signalling, which drives and maintains astrocytic maturity and neurotransmitter uptake function, is conserved in human development, and is disrupted by neurodegeneration. Separately, hundreds of astrocytic genes are acutely regulated by synaptic activity via mechanisms involving cAMP/PKA-dependent CREB activation. This includes the coordinated activity-dependent upregulation of major astrocytic components of the astrocyte–neuron lactate shuttle, leading to a CREB-dependent increase in astrocytic glucose metabolism and elevated lactate export. Moreover, the groups of astrocytic genes induced by neurons or neuronal activity both show age-dependent decline in humans. Thus, neurons and neuronal activity regulate the astrocytic transcriptome with the potential to shape astrocyte–neuron metabolic cooperation.

scholarly journals Neuronal activity enhances aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated gene expression and dioxin neurotoxicity in cortical neurons

2008 ◽  
Vol 104 (5) ◽  
pp. 1415-1429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Hua Lin ◽  
Shu-Hui Juan ◽  
Chen Yu Wang ◽  
Yu-Yo Sun ◽  
Chih-Ming Chou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon

scholarly journals Yy1 regulates Senp1 contributing to AMPA receptor GluR1 expression following neuronal depolarization

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Wu ◽  
Mary E. Donohoe
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Ampa Receptor ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Luciferase Assay ◽  
Regulation Mechanism ◽  
Phosphatase Inhibitors ◽  
Ampa Receptor Subunit

Abstract Background Neuronal activity-induced changes in gene expression patterns are important mediators of neuronal plasticity. Many neuronal genes can be activated or inactivated in response to neuronal depolarization. Mechanisms that activate gene transcription are well established, but activity-dependent mechanisms that silence transcription are less understood. It is also not clear what is the significance of inhibiting these genes during neuronal activity. Methods Quantitative Real Time-PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence staining were performed to examine the expression of Senp1 and GluR1 in mouse cortical neurons. The alterations of Yy1 phosphorylation upon neuronal depolarization and the interaction of Yy1 with Brd4 were studied by protein co-immunoprecipitation. The regulators of Yy1 phosphorylation were identified by phosphatase inhibitors. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, in vitro DNA binding assay, luciferase assay and gene knockdown experiments were used to validate the roles of Yy1 and its phosphorylation as well as Brd4 in regulating Senp1 expression. Results We report that neuronal depolarization deactivates the transcription of the SUMO protease Senp1, an important component regulating synaptic transmission, scaling, and plasticity, through Yy1. In un-stimulated neurons, Senp1 transcription is activated by a Yy1-Brd4 transcription factor protein complex assembled on the Senp1 promoter. Upon membrane depolarization, however, Yy1 is dephosphorylated and the Yy1-Brd4 complex is evicted from the Senp1 promoter, reducing Senp1 transcription levels. Both Yy1 and Senp1 promote the expression of AMPA receptor subunit GluR1, a pivotal component in learning and memory. Conclusions These results reveal an axis of Yy1/Brd4-Senp1 which regulates the expression of GluR1 during neuronal depolarization. This implicates a regulation mechanism in silencing gene expression upon neuronal activity.

scholarly journals Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 Infections during Differentiation of Human Cortical Neurons

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2072
Author(s):  
Petra Bergström ◽  
Edward Trybala ◽  
Charlotta E. Eriksson ◽  
Maria Johansson ◽  
Tugce Munise Satir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Hsv 1

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) can infect the central nervous system (CNS) with dire consequences; in children and adults, HSV-1 may cause focal encephalitis, while HSV-2 causes meningitis. In neonates, both viruses can cause severe, disseminated CNS infections with high mortality rates. Here, we differentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) towards cortical neurons for infection with clinical CNS strains of HSV-1 or HSV-2. Progenies from both viruses were produced at equal quantities in iPSCs, neuroprogenitors and cortical neurons. HSV-1 and HSV-2 decreased viability of neuroprogenitors by 36.0% and 57.6% (p < 0.0001), respectively, 48 h post-infection, while cortical neurons were resilient to infection by both viruses. However, in these functional neurons, both HSV-1 and HSV-2 decreased gene expression of two markers of synaptic activity, CAMK2B and ARC, and affected synaptic activity negatively in multielectrode array experiments. However, unaltered secretion levels of the neurodegeneration markers tau and NfL suggested intact axonal integrity. Viral replication of both viruses was found after six days, coinciding with 6-fold and 22-fold increase in gene expression of cellular RNA polymerase II by HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Our results suggest a resilience of human cortical neurons relative to the replication of HSV-1 and HSV-2.

scholarly journals Targeting of NF-κB to Dendritic Spines is Required for Synaptic Signaling and Spine Development

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica C. Dresselhaus ◽  
Matthew C.H. Boersma ◽  
Mollie K. Meffert
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Spatial Localization ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Spine Development ◽  
Response Expression ◽  
Activity Dependent

ABSTRACTLong-term forms of brain plasticity share a requirement for changes in gene expression induced by neuronal activity. Mechanisms that determine how the distinct and overlapping functions of multiple activity-responsive transcription factors, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), give rise to stimulus-appropriate neuronal responses remain unclear. We report that the p65/RelA subunit of NF-κB confers subcellular enrichment at neuronal dendritic spines and engineer a p65 mutant that lacks spine-enrichment (ΔSEp65) but retains inherent transcriptional activity equivalent to wild-type p65. Wild-type p65 or ΔSEp65 both rescue NF-κB-dependent gene expression in p65-deficient murine hippocampal neurons responding to diffuse (PMA/ionomycin) stimulation. In contrast, neurons lacking spine-enriched NF-κB are selectively impaired in NF-κB-dependent gene expression induced by elevated excitatory synaptic stimulation (bicuculline or glycine). We used the setting of excitatory synaptic activity during development that produces NF-κB-dependent growth of dendritic spines to test physiological function of spine-enriched NF-κB in an activity-dependent response. Expression of wild-type p65, but not ΔSEp65, is capable of rescuing spine density to normal levels in p65-deficient pyramidal neurons. Collectively, these data reveal that spatial localization in dendritic spines contributes unique capacities to the NF-κB transcription factor in synaptic activity-dependent responses.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTExtensive research has established a model in which the regulation of neuronal gene expression enables enduring forms of plasticity and learning. However, mechanisms imparting stimulus-specificity to gene regulation, insuring biologically appropriate responses, remain incompletely understood. NF-κB is a potent transcription factor with evolutionarily-conserved functions in learning and the growth of excitatory synaptic contacts. Neuronal NF-κB is localized in both synapse and somatic compartments, but whether the synaptic pool of NF-κB has discrete functions is unknown. This study reveals that NF-κB enriched in dendritic spines (the postsynaptic sites of excitatory contacts) is selectively required for NF-κB activation by synaptic stimulation and normal dendritic spine development. These results support spatial localization at synapses as a key variable mediating selective stimulus-response coupling.

scholarly journals Comparative chromatin accessibility upon BDNF-induced neuronal activity delineates neuronal regulatory elements

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio L. Ibarra ◽  
Vikram S. Ratnu ◽  
Lucia Gordillo ◽  
In-Young Hwang ◽  
Luca Mariani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Complex Traits ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Chromatin Accessibility ◽  
Regulatory Control ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Regulatory Sequences

Neuronal activity induced by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) triggers gene expression, which is crucial for neuronal survival, differentiation, synaptic plasticity, memory formation, and neurocognitive health. However, its role in chromatin regulation is unclear. Here, using temporal profiling of chromatin accessibility and transcription in mouse primary cortical neurons upon either BDNF stimulation or depolarization (KCl), we identify features that define BDNF-specific chromatin-to-gene expression programs. Enhancer activation is an early event in the regulatory control of BDNF-treated neurons, where the bZIP motif-binding Fos protein pioneered chromatin opening and cooperated with co-regulatory transcription factors (Homeobox, EGRs, and CTCF) to induce transcription. Deleting cis-regulatory sequences decreased BDNF-mediated Arc expression, a regulator of synaptic plasticity. BDNF-induced accessible regions are linked to preferential exon usage by neurodevelopmental disorder-related genes and heritability of neuronal complex traits, which were validated in human iPSC-derived neurons. Thus, we provide a comprehensive view of BDNF-mediated genome regulatory features using comparative genomic approaches to dissect mammalian neuronal activity.

scholarly journals Activity-dependent aberrations in gene expression and alternative splicing in a mouse model of Rett syndrome

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (23) ◽  
pp. E5363-E5372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sivan Osenberg ◽  
Ariel Karten ◽  
Jialin Sun ◽  
Jin Li ◽  
Shaun Charkowick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Alternative Splicing ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Rett Syndrome ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Intron Retention ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Global Pattern ◽  
Activity Dependent

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that affects about 1 in 10,000 female live births. The underlying cause of RTT is mutations in the X-linked gene, methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2); however, the molecular mechanism by which these mutations mediate the RTT neuropathology remains enigmatic. Specifically, although MeCP2 is known to act as a transcriptional repressor, analyses of the RTT brain at steady-state conditions detected numerous differentially expressed genes, while the changes in transcript levels were mostly subtle. Here we reveal an aberrant global pattern of gene expression, characterized predominantly by higher levels of expression of activity-dependent genes, and anomalous alternative splicing events, specifically in response to neuronal activity in a mouse model for RTT. Notably, the specific splicing modalities of intron retention and exon skipping displayed a significant bias toward increased retained introns and skipped exons, respectively, in the RTT brain compared with the WT brain. Furthermore, these aberrations occur in conjunction with higher seizure susceptibility in response to neuronal activity in RTT mice. Our findings advance the concept that normal MeCP2 functioning is required for fine-tuning the robust and immediate changes in gene transcription and for proper regulation of alternative splicing induced in response to neuronal stimulation.

Identification of synaptic activity-dependent genes by exposure of cultured cortical neurons to tetrodotoxin followed by its withdrawal

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (11) ◽  
pp. 2385-2399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chikara Kitamura ◽  
Masaki Takahashi ◽  
Yasumitsu Kondoh ◽  
Hideo Tashiro ◽  
Tomoko Tashiro
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Cultured Cortical Neurons ◽  
Activity Dependent

scholarly journals BrainPhys neuronal medium optimized for imaging and optogenetics in vitro

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Zabolocki ◽  
Kasandra McCormack ◽  
Mark van den Hurk ◽  
Bridget Milky ◽  
Andrew Shoubridge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Cellular Reprogramming ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Neuronal Cultures ◽  
Light Spectrum ◽  
Human Neurons ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractThe capabilities of imaging technologies, fluorescent sensors, and optogenetics tools for cell biology have improved exponentially in the last ten years. At the same time, advances in cellular reprogramming and organoid engineering have quickly expanded the use of human neuronal models in vitro. Altogether this creates an increasing need for tissue culture conditions better adapted to live-cell imaging. Here, we identified multiple caveats of traditional media when used for live imaging and functional assays on neuronal cultures (e.g., phototoxicity, suboptimal fluorescence signals, and unphysiological neuronal activity). To overcome these issues, we developed a new neuromedium, “BrainPhys™ Imaging”, in which we adjusted fluorescent and phototoxic compounds. The new medium is based on the formulation of the original BrainPhys medium, which we designed to better support the neuronal activity of human neurons in vitro1. We tested the new imaging-optimized formulation on human neurons cultured in monolayers or organoids, and rat primary neurons. BrainPhys Imaging enhanced fluorescence signals and reduced phototoxicity throughout the entire light spectrum. Importantly, consistent with standard BrainPhys, we showed that the new imaging medium optimally supports the electrical and synaptic activity of midbrain and human cortical neurons in culture. We also benchmarked the capacity of the new medium for functional calcium imaging and optogenetic control of human neurons. Altogether, our study shows that the new BrainPhys Imaging improves the quality of a wide range of fluorescence imaging applications with live neurons in vitro while supporting cell viability and neuronal functions.

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