Analysis of Brain, Blood, and Testis Phenotypes Lacking the Vps13a Gene in C57BL/6N Mice.

The Vps13a gene encodes a lipid transfer protein called VPS13A, or chorein, associated with mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAMs), mitochondria-endosomes, and lipid droplets. This protein plays a crucial role in inter-organelle communication and lipid transport. Mutations in the VPS13A gene are implicated in the pathogenesis of chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc), a rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by chorea, orofacial dyskinesias, hyperkinetic movements, seizures, cognitive impairment, and acanthocytosis. Previous mouse models of ChAc have shown variable disease phenotypes depending on the genetic background. In this study, we report the generation of a Vps13a flox allele in a pure C57BL/6N mouse background and the subsequent creation of Vps13a knockout (KO) mice via Cre-recombination. Our Vps13a KO mice exhibited increased reticulocytes but not acanthocytes in peripheral blood smears. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the GFAP- and Iba1-positive cells in the striatum, the basal ganglia of the central nervous system. Interestingly, we observed abnormal spermatogenesis leading to male infertility. These findings indicate that Vps13a KO mice are valuable models for studying male infertility and some hematological aspects of ChAc.

Pathogenesis, Clinical Features, and Treatment of Patients with Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) Autoantibody-Associated Disorders Focusing on Optic Neuritis with Consideration of Autoantibody-Binding Sites: A Review.

Although there is a substantial amount of data on the clinical characteristics, diagnostic criteria, and pathogenesis of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) autoantibody-associated disease (MOGAD), there is still uncertainty regarding the MOG protein function and the pathogenicity of anti-MOG autoantibodies in this disease. It is important to note that the disease characteristics, immunopathology, and treatment response of MOGAD patients differ from those of anti-aquaporin 4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) and multiple sclerosis (MS). The clinical phenotypes of MOGAD are varied and can include acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, cerebral cortical encephalitis, brainstem or cerebellar symptoms, and optic neuritis. The frequency of optic neuritis suggests that the optic nerve is the most vulnerable lesion in MOGAD. During the acute stage, the optic nerve shows significant swelling with severe visual symptoms, and an MRI of the optic nerve and brain lesion tends to show an edematous appearance. These features can be alleviated with early extensive immune therapy, which may suggest that the initial attack of anti-MOG autoantibodies could target the structures on the blood-brain barrier or vessel membrane before reaching MOG protein on myelin or oligodendrocytes. To understand the pathogenesis of MOGAD, proper animal models are crucial. However, anti-MOG autoantibodies isolated from patients with MOGAD do not recognize mouse MOG efficiently. Several studies have identified two MOG epitopes that exhibit strong affinity with human anti-MOG autoantibodies, particularly those isolated from patients with the optic neuritis phenotype. Nonetheless, the relations between epitopes on MOG protein remain unclear and need to be identified in the future.

Activity-induced secretion of semaphorin 3A mediates learning.

The semaphorin family is a well-characterized family of secreted or membrane-bound proteins that are involved in activity-independent neurodevelopmental processes, such as axon guidance, cell migration, and immune functions. Although semaphorins have recently been demonstrated to regulate activity-dependent synaptic scaling, their roles in Hebbian synaptic plasticity as well as learning and memory remain poorly understood. Here, using a rodent model, we found that an inhibitory avoidance task, a hippocampus-dependent contextual learning paradigm, increased secretion of semaphorin 3A in the hippocampus. Furthermore, the secreted semaphorin 3A in the hippocampus mediated contextual memory formation likely by driving AMPA receptors into hippocampal synapses via the neuropilin1-plexin A4-semaphorin receptor complex. This signaling process involves alteration of the phosphorylation status of collapsin response mediator protein 2, which has been characterized as a downstream molecule in semaphorin signaling. These findings implicate semaphorin family as a regulator of Hebbian synaptic plasticity and learning.

Significance of Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Encephalitis in Relation to Antigen Localization: An Outline of Frequently Reported Autoantibodies with a Non-Systematic Review.

Autoantibodies related to central nervous system (CNS) diseases propel research on paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS). This syndrome develops autoantibodies in combination with certain neurological syndromes and cancers, such as anti-HuD antibodies in encephalomyelitis with small cell lung cancer and anti-Yo antibodies in cerebellar degeneration with gynecological cancer. These autoantibodies have roles in the diagnosis of neurological diseases and early detection of cancers that are usually occult. Most of these autoantibodies have no pathogenic roles in neuronal dysfunction directly. Instead, antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes are thought to have direct roles in neuronal damage. The recent discoveries of autoantibodies against neuronal synaptic receptors/channels produced in patients with autoimmune encephalomyelitis have highlighted insights into our understanding of the variable neurological symptoms in this disease. It has also improved our understanding of intractable epilepsy, atypical psychosis, and some demyelinating diseases that are ameliorated with immune therapies. The production and motility of these antibodies through the blood-brain barrier into the CNS remains unknown. Most of these recently identified autoantibodies bind to neuronal and glial cell surface synaptic receptors, potentially altering the synaptic signaling process. The clinical features differ among pathologies based on antibody targets. The investigation of these antibodies provides a deeper understanding of the background of neurological symptoms in addition to novel insights into their basic neuroscience.

Autophosphorylation of F-actin binding domain of CaMKIIß is required for fear learning.

CaMKII is a pivotal kinase that plays essential roles in synaptic plasticity. Apart from its signaling function, the structural function of CaMKII is becoming clear. CaMKII - F-actin interaction stabilizes actin cytoskeleton in a dendritic spine. A transient autophosphorylation at the F-actin binding region during LTP releases CaMKII from F-actin and opens a brief time-window of actin reorganization. However, the physiological relevance of this finding in learning and memory was not presented. Using a knock-in (KI) mouse carrying phosphoblock mutations in the actin-binding domain of CaMKIIß, we demonstrate that proper regulation of CaMKII - F-actin interaction is important for fear conditioning memory tasks. The KI mice show poor performance in contextual and cued versions of fear conditioning test. These results suggest the importance of CaMKII - F-actin interactions in learning and memory.

Vasopressin Expressed in Hypothalamic CRF Neurons Causes Impaired Water Diuresis in Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency.

Patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency can present with impaired free water excretion and hyponatremia, which is due to the enhanced secretion of vasopressin (AVP) despite increased total body water. AVP is produced in magnocellular neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) and supraoptic nucleus and in parvocellular corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons in the PVH. This study aimed to elucidate whether magnocellular AVP neurons or parvocellular CRF neurons coexpressing AVP are responsible for the pathogenesis of hyponatremia in secondary adrenal insufficiency. The number of CRF neurons expressing copeptin, an AVP gene product, was significantly higher in adrenalectomized AVP-floxed mice (AVPfl/fl) than in sham-operated controls. Adrenalectomized AVPfl/fl mice supplemented with aldosterone showed impaired water diuresis under ad libitum access to water or after acute water loading. They became hyponatremic after acute water loading, and it was revealed under such conditions that aquaporin-2 (AQP2) protein levels were increased in the kidney. Furthermore, translocation of AQP2 to the apical membrane was markedly enhanced in renal collecting duct epithelial cells. Remarkably, all these abnormalities observed in the mouse model for secondary adrenal insufficiency were ameliorated in CRF-AVP-/- mice that lacked AVP in CRF neurons. Our study demonstrates that CRF neurons in the PVH are responsible for the pathogenesis of impaired water excretion in secondary adrenal insufficiency.

Central dopamine D2 receptors regulate plasma glucose levels in mice through autonomic nerves.

Recent evidence suggests that the central nervous system (CNS) regulates plasma glucose levels, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The present study investigated the role of dopaminergic function in the CNS in regulation of plasma glucose levels in mice. I.c.v. injection of neither the dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393 nor the antagonist SCH 23390 influenced plasma glucose levels. In contrast, i.c.v. injection of both the dopamine D2 receptor agonist quinpirole and the antagonist l-sulpiride increased plasma glucose levels. Hyperglycemia induced by quinpirole and l-sulpiride was absent in dopamine D2 receptor knockout mice. I.c.v. injection of quinpirole and l-sulpiride each increased mRNA levels of hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, which are the key enzymes for hepatic gluconeogenesis. Systemic injection of the ß2 adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118,551 inhibited hyperglycemia induced by l-sulpiride, but not by quinpirole. In contrast, hyperglycemia induced by quinpirole, but not by l-sulpiride, was inhibited by hepatic vagotomy. These results suggest that stimulation of central dopamine D2 receptors increases plasma glucose level by increasing hepatic glucose production through parasympathetic nerves, whereas inhibition of central dopamine D2 receptors increases plasma glucose level by increasing hepatic glucose production through sympathetic nerves.

GluD1 knockout mice with a pure C57BL/6N background show impaired fear memory, social interaction, and enhanced depressive-like behavior.

The GluD1 gene is associated with susceptibility for schizophrenia, autism, depression, and bipolar disorder. However, the function of GluD1 and how it is involved in these conditions remain elusive. In this study, we generated a Grid1 gene-knockout (GluD1-KO) mouse line with a pure C57BL/6N genetic background and performed several behavioral analyses. Compared to a control group, GluD1-KO mice showed no significant anxiety-related behavioral differences, evaluated using behavior in an open field, elevated plus maze, a light-dark transition test, the resident-intruder test of aggression and sensorimotor gating evaluated by the prepulse inhibition test. However, GluD1-KO mice showed (1) higher locomotor activity in the open field, (2) decreased sociability and social novelty preference in the three-chambered social interaction test, (3) impaired memory in contextual, but not cued fear conditioning tests, and (4) enhanced depressive-like behavior in a forced swim test. Pharmacological studies revealed that enhanced depressive-like behavior in GluD1-KO mice was restored by the serotonin reuptake inhibitors imipramine and fluoxetine, but not the norepinephrine transporter inhibitor desipramine. In addition, biochemical analysis revealed no significant difference in protein expression levels, such as other glutamate receptors in the synaptosome and postsynaptic densities prepared from the frontal cortex and the hippocampus. These results suggest that GluD1 plays critical roles in fear memory, sociability, and depressive-like behavior.

Expression mapping, quantification, and complex formation of GluD1 and GluD2 glutamate receptors in adult mouse brain.

In the cerebellum, GluD2 is exclusively expressed in Purkinje cells, where it regulates synapse formation and regeneration, synaptic plasticity, and motor learning. Delayed cognitive development in humans with GluD2 gene mutations suggests extracerebellar functions of GluD2. However, extracerebellar expression of GluD2 and its relationship with that of GluD1 are poorly understood. GluD2 mRNA and protein were widely detected, with relatively high levels observed in the olfactory glomerular layer, medial prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, retrosplenial granular cortex, olfactory tubercle, subiculum, striatum, lateral septum, anterodorsal thalamic nucleus, and arcuate hypothalamic nucleus. These regions were also enriched for GluD1, and many individual neurons coexpressed the two GluDs. In the retrosplenial granular cortex, GluD1 and GluD2 were selectively expressed at PSD-95-expressing glutamatergic synapses, and their coexpression on the same synapses was shown by SDS-digested freeze-fracture replica labeling. Biochemically, GluD1 and GluD2 formed coimmunoprecipitable complex formation in HEK293T cells and in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. We further estimated the relative protein amount by quantitative immunoblotting using GluA2/GluD2 and GluA2/GluD1 chimeric proteins as standards for titration of GluD1 and GluD2 antibodies. Intriguingly, the relative amount of GluD2 was almost comparable to that of GluD1 in the postsynaptic density fraction prepared from the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In contrast, GluD2 was overwhelmingly predominant in the cerebellum. Thus, we have determined the relative extracerebellar expression of GluD1 and GluD2 at regional, neuronal, and synaptic levels. These data provide a molecular-anatomical basis for possible competitive and cooperative interactions of GluD family members at synapses in various brain regions.

Dissociating orexin-dependent and -independent functions of orexin neurons using novel Orexin-Flp knock-in mice.

Uninterrupted arousal is important for survival during threatening situations. Activation of orexin/hypocretin neurons is implicated in sustained arousal. However, orexin neurons produce and release orexin as well as several co-transmitters including dynorphin and glutamate. To disambiguate orexin-dependent and -independent physiological functions of orexin neurons, we generated a novel Orexin-flippase (Flp) knock-in mouse line. Crossing with Flp-reporter or Cre-expressing mice showed gene expression exclusively in orexin neurons. Histological studies confirmed that orexin was knock-out in homozygous mice. Orexin neurons without orexin showed altered electrophysiological properties, as well as received decreased glutamatergic inputs. Selective chemogenetic activation revealed that both orexin and co-transmitters functioned to increase wakefulness, however, orexin was indispensable to promote sustained arousal. Surprisingly, such activation increased the total time spent in cataplexy. Taken together, orexin is essential to maintain basic membrane properties and input-output computation of orexin neurons, as well as to exert awake-sustaining aptitude of orexin neurons.

Higher visual responses in the temporal cortex of mice.

The visual cortex of mice is a useful model for investigating the mammalian visual system. In primates, higher visual areas are classified into two parts, the dorsal stream ("where" pathway) and ventral stream ("what" pathway). The ventral stream is known to include a part of the temporal cortex. In mice, however, some cortical areas adjacent to the primary visual area (V1) in the occipital cortex are thought to be comparable to the ventral stream in primates, although the whole picture of the mouse ventral stream has never been elucidated. We performed wide-field Ca2+ imaging in awake mice to investigate visual responses in the mouse temporal cortex, and found that the postrhinal cortex (POR), posterior to the auditory cortex (AC), and the ectorhinal and temporal association cortices (ECT), ventral to the AC, showed clear visual responses to moving visual objects. The retinotopic maps in the POR and ECT were not clearly observed, and the amplitudes of the visual responses in the POR and ECT were less sensitive to the size of the objects, compared to visual responses in the V1. In the ECT, objects of different sizes activated different subareas. These findings strongly suggest that the mouse ventral stream extends to the ECT ventral to the AC, and that it has characteristic response properties that are markedly different from the response properties in the V1.

Retrograde BDNF to TrkB signaling promotes synapse elimination in the developing cerebellum.

Elimination of early-formed redundant synapses during postnatal development is essential for functional neural circuit formation. Purkinje cells (PCs) in the neonatal cerebellum are innervated by multiple climbing fibers (CFs). A single CF is strengthened whereas the other CFs are eliminated in each PC dependent on postsynaptic activity in PC, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we report that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) from PC facilitates CF synapse elimination. By PC-specific deletion of BDNF combined with knockdown of BDNF receptors in CF, we show that BDNF acts retrogradely on TrkB in CFs, and facilitates elimination of CF synapses from PC somata during the third postnatal week. We also show that BDNF shares signaling pathway with metabotropic glutamate receptor 1, a key molecule that triggers a canonical pathway for CF synapse elimination. These results indicate that unlike other synapses, BDNF mediates punishment signal for synapse elimination in the developing cerebellum.During development, synapses are selectively strengthened or eliminated by activity-dependent competition. Here, the authors show that BDNF-TrkB retrograde signaling is a "punishment" signal that leads to elimination of climbing fiber-onto-Purkinje cell synapses in the developing cerebellum.

Prefrontal abnormality of schizophrenia revealed by DNA microarray: impact on glial and neurotrophic gene expression.

DNA microarrays with isotope labeling from gene-specific primers enable sensitive detection of rare mRNAs, including neurotrophin and cytokine mRNAs in the brain. Using high-quality RNA from postmortem brains, gene-expression profiles covering 1373 genes were assessed in the dorsoprefrontal cortex of schizophrenic patients and compared with those of nonpsychiatric subjects. Statistical analysis of the DNA microarray data confirmed the findings of a previous GeneChip study by Hakak et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 98, pp. 4746-4751, 2001). The highest frequency of mRNA expression alterations occurred in oligodendrocyte- and astrocyte-related genes in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic patients, followed by the category for the genes for growth factors/neurotrophic factors and their receptors. Whether each mRNA signal represents the expression of the individual genes or homologous genes in the category remains to be determined, however. To control for potential medication effects on patients, RNA from cynomolgus monkeys that were treated with haloperidol for 3 months was also subjected to DNA microarray analysis. A few genes overlapped between the gene-expression profiles of the monkeys and patients. The present profiling study suggests a potential biological link between abnormal neurotrophic signals and impaired glial functions in schizophrenic pathology.

Association of 14-3-3 epsilon gene haplotype with completed suicide in Japanese.

Genetic factors have been suggested to be involved in suicide. Although some genetic factors, such as serotonergic transduction, have been associated with suicide, the results are inconsistent. There is a possibility that various signaling anomalies are involved in the biological vulnerability to suicide. We carried out a genome-wide gene-expression study in the brains of suicide victims using DNA microarrays;14-3-3 epsilon, which is related to neurogenesis, was one of the genes upregulated in the brains of suicide victims in the microarray analysis. This was confirmed by Western blot analysis. To examine the possibility of the involvement of 14-3-3 epsilon in the pathogenesis of suicide, we investigated the association of the 14-3-3 epsilon gene and completed suicide. We used three high-frequency SNPs (rs1532976, rs3752826, and rs9393) and found a significant association of two alleles (rs1532976 and rs3752826) with completed suicide (p < 0.05). Moreover, the distribution of haplotype revealed a more significant difference between completed suicide and controls (p=0.0005). This finding suggests that 14-3-3 epsilon is a potential suicide susceptibility gene and implies that dysregulation of neurogenesis may be involved in suicide.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor regulates surface expression of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid receptors by enhancing the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor/GluR2 interaction in developing neocortical neurons.

In hippocampal neurons, the exocytotic process of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors is known to depend on activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate channels and its resultant Ca(2+) influx from extracellular spaces. Here we found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) induced a rapid surface translocation of AMPA receptors in an activity-independent manner in developing neocortical neurons. The receptor translocation became evident within hours as monitored by [(3)H]AMPA binding and was resistant against ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists as evidenced with surface biotinylation assay. This process required intracellular Ca(2+) and was inhibited by the blockers of conventional exocytosis, brefeldin A, botulinum toxin B, and N-ethylmaleimide. To explore the translocation mechanism of individual AMPA receptor subunits, we utilized the human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells carrying the BDNF receptor TrkB. After the single transfection of GluR2 cDNA or GluR1 cDNA into HEK/TrkB cells, BDNF triggered the translocation of GluR2 but not that of GluR1. Subsequent mutation analysis of GluR2 carboxyl-terminal region indicated that the translocation of GluR2 subunit in HEK293 cells involved its N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-binding domain but not its PDZ-interacting site. Following co-transfection of GluR1 and GluR2 cDNAs, solid phase cell sorting revealed that GluR1 subunits were also able to translocate to the cell surface in response to BDNF. An immunoprecipitation assay confirmed that BDNF stimulation can enhance the interaction of GluR2 with N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor. These results reveal a novel role of BDNF in regulating the surface expression of AMPA receptors through a GluR2-NSF interaction.

A palmitoylated RING finger ubiquitin ligase and its homologue in the brain membranes.

Ubiquitin (Ub) ligation is implicated in active protein metabolism and subcellular trafficking and its impairment is involved in various neurologic diseases. In rat brain, we identified two novel Ub ligases, Momo and Sakura, carrying double zinc finger motif and RING finger domain. Momo expression is enriched in the brain gray matter and testis, and Sakura expression is more widely detected in the brain white matter as well as in many peripheral organs. Both proteins associate with the cell membranes of neuronal and/or glial cells. We examined their Ub ligase activity in vivo and in vitro using viral expression vectors carrying myc-tagged Momo and Sakura. Overexpression of either Momo or Sakura in mixed cortical cultures increased total polyubiquitination levels. In vitro ubiquitination assay revealed that the combination of Momo and UbcH4 and H5c, or of Sakura and UbcH4, H5c and H6 is required for the reaction. Deletion mutagenesis suggested that the E3 Ub ligase activity of Momo and Sakura depended on their C-terminal domains containing RING finger structure, while their N-terminal domains influenced their membrane association. In agreement, Sakura associating with the membrane was specifically palmitoylated. Although the molecular targets of their Ub ligation remain to be identified, these findings imply a novel function of the palmitoylated E3 Ub ligase(s).