CPT1C is required for synaptic plasticity and oscillatory activity that supports motor, associative and non-associative learning.

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1c (CPT1C) is a neuron-specific protein widely distributed throughout the CNS and highly expressed in discrete brain areas including the hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala and different motor regions. Its deficiency has recently been shown to disrupt dendritic spine maturation and AMPA receptor synthesis and trafficking in the hippocampus, but its contribution to synaptic plasticity and cognitive learning and memory processes remains mostly unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the molecular, synaptic, neural network and behavioural role of CPT1C in cognition-related functions by using CPT1C knockout (KO) mice. CPT1C-deficient mice showed extensive learning and memory deficits. The CPT1C KO animals exhibited impaired motor and instrumental learning that seemed to be related, in part, to locomotor deficits and muscle weakness but not to mood alterations. In addition, CPT1C KO mice showed detrimental hippocampus-dependent spatial and habituation memory, most probably attributable to inefficient dendritic spine maturation, impairments in long-term plasticity at the CA3-CA1 synapse and aberrant cortical oscillatory activity. In conclusion, our results reveal that CPT1C is not only crucial for motor function, coordination and energy homeostasis, but also has a crucial role in the maintenance of learning and memory cognitive functions. KEY POINTS: CPT1C, a neuron-specific interactor protein involved in AMPA receptor synthesis and trafficking, was found to be highly expressed in the hippocampus, amygdala and various motor regions. CPT1C-deficient animals exhibited energy deficits and impaired locomotion, but no mood changes were found. CPT1C deficiency disrupts hippocampal dendritic spine maturation and long-term synaptic plasticity and reduces cortical γ oscillations. CPT1C was found to be crucial for motor, associative and non-associative learning and memory.

Human Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Antibodies Alter Receptor Levels and Behavior in Mice.

Ophelia syndrome or encephalitis with antibodies against the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) manifests with behavioral changes, memory deficits, and anxiety. To study the antibody pathogenicity, mice received continuous cerebroventricular infusion of patients' or controls' immunoglobulin G (IgG) for 14 days, followed by a 15-day washout. The effects on hippocampal mGluR5 clusters were determined by confocal microscopy. Animals infused with patients' IgG, but not controls' IgG, showed memory impairment, increased anxiety, and decreased neuronal surface mGluR5 clusters. After antibody clearance, both behavioral and molecular changes reversed to baseline conditions. These findings support the pathogenicity of these antibodies in anti-mGluR5 encephalitis. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:81-86.

Human CASPR2 Antibodies Reversibly Alter Memory and the CASPR2 Protein Complex.

OBJECTIVE: The encephalitis associated with antibodies against contactin-associated proteinlike 2 (CASPR2) is presumably antibody-mediated, but the antibody effects and whether they cause behavioral alterations are not well known. Here, we used a mouse model of patients' immunoglobulin G (IgG) transfer and super-resolution microscopy to demonstrate the antibody pathogenicity. METHODS: IgG from patients with anti-CASPR2 encephalitis or healthy controls was infused into the cerebroventricular system of mice. The levels and colocalization of CASPR2 with transient axonal glycoprotein 1 (TAG1) were determined with stimulated emission depletion microscopy (40-70µm lateral resolution). Hippocampal clusters of Kv1.1 voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKCs) and GluA1-containing α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) were quantified with confocal microscopy. Behavioral alterations were assessed with standard behavioral paradigms. Cultured neurons were used to determine the levels of intracellular CASPR2 and TAG1 after exposure to patients' IgG. RESULTS: Infusion of patients' IgG, but not controls' IgG, caused memory impairment along with hippocampal reduction of surface CASPR2 clusters and decreased CASPR2/TAG1 colocalization. In cultured neurons, patients' IgG led to an increase of intracellular CASPR2 without affecting TAG1, suggesting selective CASPR2 internalization. Additionally, mice infused with patients' IgG showed decreased levels of Kv1.1 and GluA1 (two CASPR2-regulated proteins). All these alterations and the memory deficit reverted to normal after removing patients' IgG. INTERPRETATION: IgG from patients with anti-CASPR2 encephalitis causes reversible memory impairment, inhibits the interaction of CASPR2/TAG1, and decreases the levels of CASPR2 and related proteins (VGKC, AMPAR). These findings fulfill the postulates of antibody-mediated disease and provide a biological basis for antibody-removing treatment approaches. ANN NEUROL 2022;91:801-813.

Allosteric modulation of NMDA receptors prevents the antibody effects of patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an immune-mediated disease characterized by a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome in association with an antibody-mediated decrease of NMDAR. About 85% of patients respond to immunotherapy (and removal of an associated tumour if it applies), but it often takes several months or more than 1 year for patients to recover. There are no complementary treatments, beyond immunotherapy, to accelerate this recovery. Previous studies showed that SGE-301, a synthetic analogue of 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol, which is a potent and selective positive allosteric modulator of NMDAR, reverted the memory deficit caused by phencyclidine (a non-competitive antagonist of NMDAR), and prevented the NMDAR dysfunction caused by patients' NMDAR antibodies in cultured neurons. An advantage of SGE-301 is that it is optimized for systemic delivery such that plasma and brain exposures are sufficient to modulate NMDAR activity. Here, we used SGE-301 to confirm that in cultured neurons it prevented the antibody-mediated reduction of receptors, and then we applied it to a previously reported mouse model of passive cerebroventricular transfer of patient's CSF antibodies. Four groups were established: mice receiving continuous (14-day) infusion of patients' or controls' CSF, treated with daily subcutaneous administration of SGE-301 or vehicle (no drug). The effects on memory were examined with the novel object location test at different time points, and the effects on synaptic levels of NMDAR (assessed with confocal microscopy) and plasticity (long-term potentiation) were examined in the hippocampus on Day 18, which in this model corresponds to the last day of maximal clinical and synaptic alterations. As expected, mice infused with patient's CSF antibodies, but not those infused with controls' CSF, and treated with vehicle developed severe memory deficit without locomotor alteration, accompanied by a decrease of NMDAR clusters and impairment of long-term potentiation. All antibody-mediated pathogenic effects (memory, synaptic NMDAR, long-term potentiation) were prevented in the animals treated with SGE-301, despite this compound not antagonizing antibody binding. Additional investigations on the potential mechanisms related to these SGE-301 effects showed that (i) in cultured neurons SGE-301 prolonged the decay time of NMDAR-dependent spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents suggesting a prolonged open time of the channel; and (ii) it significantly decreased, without fully preventing, the internalization of antibody-bound receptors suggesting that additional, yet unclear mechanisms, contribute in keeping unchanged the surface NMDAR density. Overall, these findings suggest that SGE-301, or similar NMDAR modulators, could potentially serve as complementary treatment for anti-NMDAR encephalitis and deserve future investigations.

LGI1 antibodies alter Kv1.1 and AMPA receptors changing synaptic excitability, plasticity and memory.

Leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) is a secreted neuronal protein that forms a trans-synaptic complex that includes the presynaptic disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 23 (ADAM23), which interacts with voltage-gated potassium channels Kv1.1, and the postsynaptic ADAM22, which interacts with AMPA receptors. Human autoantibodies against LGI1 associate with a form of autoimmune limbic encephalitis characterized by severe but treatable memory impairment and frequent faciobrachial dystonic seizures. Although there is evidence that this disease is immune-mediated, the underlying LGI1 antibody-mediated mechanisms are unknown. Here, we used patient-derived immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to determine the main epitope regions of LGI1 and whether the antibodies disrupt the interaction of LGI1 with ADAM23 and ADAM22. In addition, we assessed the effects of patient-derived antibodies on Kv1.1, AMPA receptors, and memory in a mouse model based on cerebroventricular transfer of patient-derived IgG. We found that IgG from all patients (n = 25), but not from healthy participants (n = 20), prevented the binding of LGI1 to ADAM23 and ADAM22. Using full-length LGI1, LGI3, and LGI1 constructs containing the LRR1 domain (EPTP1-deleted) or EPTP1 domain (LRR3-EPTP1), IgG from all patients reacted with epitope regions contained in the LRR1 and EPTP1 domains. Confocal analysis of hippocampal slices of mice infused with pooled IgG from eight patients, but not pooled IgG from controls, showed a decrease of total and synaptic levels of Kv1.1 and AMPA receptors. The effects on Kv1.1 preceded those involving the AMPA receptors. In acute slice preparations of hippocampus, patch-clamp analysis from dentate gyrus granule cells and CA1 pyramidal neurons showed neuronal hyperexcitability with increased glutamatergic transmission, higher presynaptic release probability, and reduced synaptic failure rate upon minimal stimulation, all likely caused by the decreased expression of Kv1.1. Analysis of synaptic plasticity by recording field potentials in the CA1 region of the hippocampus showed a severe impairment of long-term potentiation. This defect in synaptic plasticity was independent from Kv1 blockade and was possibly mediated by ineffective recruitment of postsynaptic AMPA receptors. In parallel with these findings, mice infused with patient-derived IgG showed severe memory deficits in the novel object recognition test that progressively improved after stopping the infusion of patient-derived IgG. Different from genetic models of LGI1 deficiency, we did not observe aberrant dendritic sprouting or defective synaptic pruning as potential cause of the symptoms. Overall, these findings demonstrate that patient-derived IgG disrupt presynaptic and postsynaptic LGI1 signalling, causing neuronal hyperexcitability, decreased plasticity, and reversible memory deficits.

Her9 represses neurogenic fate downstream of Tbx1 and retinoic acid signaling in the inner ear.

Proper spatial control of neurogenesis in the inner ear ensures the precise innervation of mechanotransducing cells and the propagation of auditory and equilibrium stimuli to the brain. Members of the Hairy and enhancer of split (Hes) gene family regulate neurogenesis by inhibiting neuronal differentiation and maintaining neural stem cell pools in non-neurogenic zones. Remarkably, their role in the spatial control of neurogenesis in the ear is unknown. In this study, we identify her9, a zebrafish ortholog of Hes1, as a key gene in regulating otic neurogenesis through the definition of the posterolateral non-neurogenic field. First, her9 emerges as a novel otic patterning gene that represses proneural function and regulates the extent of the neurogenic domain. Second, we place Her9 downstream of Tbx1, linking these two families of transcription factors for the first time in the inner ear and suggesting that the reported role of Tbx1 in repressing neurogenesis is in part mediated by the bHLH transcriptional repressor Her9. Third, we have identified retinoic acid (RA) signaling as the upstream patterning signal of otic posterolateral genes such as tbx1 and her9. Finally, we show that at the level of the cranial otic field, opposing RA and Hedgehog signaling position the boundary between the neurogenic and non-neurogenic compartments. These findings permit modeling of the complex genetic cascade that underlies neural patterning of the otic vesicle.

A combination of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol modulates glutamate dynamics in the hippocampus of an animal model of Alzheimer's disease.

A combination of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) at non-psychoactive doses was previously demonstrated to reduce cognitive decline in APP/PS1 mice, an animal model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the neurobiological substrates underlying these therapeutic properties of Δ9-THC and CBD are not fully understood. Considering that dysregulation of glutamatergic activity contributes to cognitive impairment in AD, the present study evaluates the hypothesis that the combination of these two natural cannabinoids might reverse the alterations in glutamate dynamics within the hippocampus of this animal model of AD. Interestingly, our findings reveal that chronic treatment with Δ9-THC and CBD, but not with any of them alone, reduces extracellular glutamate levels and the basal excitability of the hippocampus in APP/PS1 mice. These effects are not related to significant changes in the function and structure of glutamate synapses, as no relevant changes in synaptic plasticity, glutamate signaling or in the levels of key components of these synapses were observed in cannabinoid-treated mice. Our data instead indicate that these cannabinoid effects are associated with the control of glutamate uptake and/or to the regulation of the hippocampal network. Taken together, these results support the potential therapeutic properties of combining these natural cannabinoids against the excitotoxicity that occurs in AD brains.

Allosteric Modulation of NMDARs Reverses Patients' Autoantibody Effects in Mice.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that an analog (SGE-301) of a brain-derived cholesterol metabolite, 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol, which is a selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of NMDA receptors (NMDARs), is able to reverse the memory and synaptic alterations caused by CSF from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in an animal model of passive transfer of antibodies. METHODS: Four groups of mice received (days 1-14) patients' or controls' CSF via osmotic pumps connected to the cerebroventricular system and from day 11 were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of SGE-301 or vehicle (no drug). Visuospatial memory, locomotor activity (LA), synaptic NMDAR cluster density, hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), and paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) were assessed on days 10, 13, 18, and 26 using reported techniques. RESULTS: On day 10, mice infused with patients' CSF, but not controls' CSF, presented a significant visuospatial memory deficit, reduction of NMDAR clusters, and impairment of LTP, whereas LA and PPF were unaffected. These alterations persisted until day 18, the time of maximal deficits in this model. In contrast, mice that received patients' CSF but from day 11 were treated with SGE-301 showed memory recovery (day 13), and on day 18, all paradigms (memory, NMDAR clusters, and LTP) had reversed to values similar to those of controls. On day 26, no differences were observed among experimental groups. DISCUSSION: An oxysterol biology-based PAM of NMDARs is able to reverse the synaptic and memory deficits caused by CSF from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. These findings suggest a novel adjuvant treatment approach that deserves future clinical evaluation.

Hypothalamic pregnenolone mediates recognition memory in the context of metabolic disorders.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with cognitive dysfunction. Because the hypothalamus is implicated in energy balance control and memory disorders, we hypothesized that specific neurons in this brain region are at the interface of metabolism and cognition. Acute obesogenic diet administration in mice impaired recognition memory due to defective production of the neurosteroid precursor pregnenolone in the hypothalamus. Genetic interference with pregnenolone synthesis by Star deletion in hypothalamic POMC, but not AgRP neurons, deteriorated recognition memory independently of metabolic disturbances. Our data suggest that pregnenolone's effects on cognitive function were mediated via an autocrine mechanism on POMC neurons, influencing hippocampal long-term potentiation. The relevance of central pregnenolone on cognition was also confirmed in metabolically unhealthy patients with obesity. Our data reveal an unsuspected role for POMC neuron-derived neurosteroids in cognition. These results provide the basis for a framework to investigate new facets of POMC neuron biology with implications for cognitive disorders.

Blocking Placental Class G Immunoglobulin Transfer Prevents NMDA Receptor Antibody Effects in Newborn Mice.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine in a mouse model whether neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blockade prevents the placental transfer of class G immunoglobulin (IgG) derived from patients with anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis and their pathogenic effects on the fetuses and offspring. METHODS: Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were administered via tail vein FcRn antibody (FcRn-ab) or saline solution 6 hours before administration of patients' or controls' IgG on days 14, 15, and 16 of gestation. Three experimental groups were established: mice receiving controls' IgG, patients' IgG, or patients' IgG along with pretreatment with FcRn-ab. Immunohistochemical staining, confocal microscopy, hippocampal long-term potentiation, and standardized developmental and behavioral tasks were used to assess the efficacy of treatment with FcRn-ab. RESULTS: In pregnant mice that received patients' IgG, treatment with FcRn-ab prevented the IgG from reaching the fetal brain, abrogating the decrease of NMDAR clusters and the reduction of cortical plate thickness that were observed in fetuses from untreated pregnant mice. Moreover, among the offspring of mothers that received patients' IgG, those whose mothers were treated with FcRn-ab did not develop the alterations that occurred in offspring of untreated mothers, including impairment in hippocampal plasticity, delay in innate reflexes, and visuospatial memory deficits. DISCUSSION: FcRn blockade prevents placental transfer of IgG from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and abrogates the synaptic and neurodevelopmental alterations caused by patients' antibodies. This model has potential therapeutic implications for other antibody-mediated diseases of the CNS during pregnancy.

Placental transfer of NMDAR antibodies causes reversible alterations in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether maternofetal transfer of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antibodies has pathogenic effects on the fetus and offspring, we developed a model of placental transfer of antibodies. METHODS: Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were administered via tail vein patients' or controls' immunoglobulin G (IgG) on days 14-16 of gestation, when the placenta is able to transport IgG and the immature fetal blood-brain barrier is less restrictive to IgG crossing. Immunohistochemical and DiOlistic (gene gun delivery of fluorescent dye) staining, confocal microscopy, standardized developmental and behavioral tasks, and hippocampal long-term potentiation were used to determine the antibody effects. RESULTS: In brains of fetuses, patients' IgG, but not controls' IgG, bound to NMDAR, causing a decrease in NMDAR clusters and cortical plate thickness. No increase in neonatal mortality was observed, but offspring exposed in utero to patients' IgG had reduced levels of cell-surface and synaptic NMDAR, increased dendritic arborization, decreased density of mature (mushroom-shaped) spines, microglial activation, and thinning of brain cortical layers II-IV with cellular compaction. These animals also had a delay in innate reflexes and eye opening and during follow-up showed depressive-like behavior, deficits in nest building, poor motor coordination, and impaired social-spatial memory and hippocampal plasticity. Remarkably, all these paradigms progressively improved (becoming similar to those of controls) during follow-up until adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: In this model, placental transfer of patients' NMDAR antibodies caused severe but reversible synaptic and neurodevelopmental alterations. Reversible antibody effects may contribute to the infrequent and limited number of complications described in children of patients who develop anti-NMDAR encephalitis during pregnancy.

Decoupling of timescales reveals sparse convergent CPG network in the adult spinal cord.

During the generation of rhythmic movements, most spinal neurons receive an oscillatory synaptic drive. The neuronal architecture underlying this drive is unknown, and the corresponding network size and sparseness have not yet been addressed. If the input originates from a small central pattern generator (CPG) with dense divergent connectivity, it will induce correlated input to all receiving neurons, while sparse convergent wiring will induce a weak correlation, if any. Here, we use pairwise recordings of spinal neurons to measure synaptic correlations and thus infer the wiring architecture qualitatively. A strong correlation on a slow timescale implies functional relatedness and a common source, which will also cause correlation on fast timescale due to shared synaptic connections. However, we consistently find marginal coupling between slow and fast correlations regardless of neuronal identity. This suggests either sparse convergent connectivity or a CPG network with recurrent inhibition that actively decorrelates common input.

An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models.

The identification of anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis about 12 years ago made it possible to recognise that some patients with rapidly progressive psychiatric symptoms or cognitive impairment, seizures, abnormal movements, or coma of unknown cause, had an autoimmune disease. In this disease, autoantibodies serve as a diagnostic marker and alter NMDAR-related synaptic transmission. At symptom onset, distinguishing the disease from a primary psychiatric disorder is challenging. The severity of symptoms often requires intensive care. Other than clinical assessment, no specific prognostic biomarkers exist. The disease is more prevalent in women (with a female to male ratio of around 8:2) and about 37% of patients are younger than 18 years at presentation of the disease. Tumours, usually ovarian teratoma, and herpes simplex encephalitis are known triggers of NMDAR autoimmunity. About 80% of patients improve with immunotherapy and, if needed, tumour removal, but the recovery is slow. Animal models have started to reveal the complexity of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms and will lead to novel treatments beyond immunotherapy. Future studies should aim at identifying prognostic biomarkers and treatments that accelerate recovery.

The role of her4 in inner ear development and its relationship with proneural genes and Notch signalling.

The generation of sensory neurons and hair cells of the inner ear is under tight control. Different members of the Hairy and Enhancer of Split genes (HES) are expressed in the inner ear, their full array of functions still not being disclosed. We have previously shown that zebrafish her9 acts as a patterning gene to restrict otic neurogenesis to an anterior domain. Here, we disclose the role of another her gene, her4, a zebrafish ortholog of Hes5 that is expressed in the neurogenic and sensory domains of the inner ear. The expression of her4 is highly dynamic and spatiotemporally regulated. We demonstrate by loss of function experiments that in the neurogenic domain her4 expression is under the regulation of neurogenin1 (neurog1) and the Notch pathway. Moreover, her4 participates in lateral inhibition during otic neurogenesis since her4 knockdown results in overproduction of the number of neurog1 and deltaB-positive otic neurons. In contrast, during sensorigenesis her4 is initially Notch-independent and induced by atoh1b in a broad prosensory domain. At later stages her4 expression becomes Notch-dependent in the future sensory domains but loss of her4 does not result in hair cell overproduction, suggesting that there other her genes can compensate its function.