Journal
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
Volume 21, Issue 13, Pages 2923-2935Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds118
Keywords
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Funding
- Novartis
- Roche
- Seaside Therapeutics and Forest
- National Institutes of Health [RC1 AG036022, UL1 DE019583, RL1 AG032119, RL1 AG032115, R01 ES011269, R21 NS072094]
- Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs [W81XWH-09-1-0746]
- J.B. Johnson Foundation
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Premutation CGG repeat expansions (55200 CGG repeats; preCGG) within the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene cause fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Defects in neuronal morphology and migration have been described in a preCGG mouse model. Mouse preCGG hippocampal neurons (170 CGG repeats) grown in vitro develop abnormal networks of clustered burst (CB) firing, as assessed by multielectrode array recordings and clustered patterns of spontaneous Ca-2 oscillations, neither typical of wild-type (WT) neurons. PreCGG neurons have reduced expression of vesicular GABA and glutamate (Glu) transporters (VGAT and VGLUT1, respectively), and preCGG hippocampal astrocytes display a rightward shift on Glu uptake kinetics, compared with WT. These alterations in preCGG astrocytes and neurons are associated with 4- to 8-fold elevated Fmr1 mRNA and occur despite consistent expression of fragile X mental retardation protein levels at approximate to 50 of WT levels. Abnormal patterns of activity observed in preCGG neurons are pharmacologically mimicked in WT neurons by addition of Glu or the mGluR1/5 agonist, dihydroxyphenylglycine, to the medium, or by inhibition of astrocytic Glu uptake with dl-threo--benzyloxyaspartic acid, but not by the ionotropic Glu receptor agonists, -2-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-oxo-1,2-oxazol-4-yl) propanoic acid or N-methyl-d-aspartic acid. The mGluR1 (7-(hydroxyimino)cyclopropa [b]chromen-1a-carboxylate ethyl ester) or mGluR5 (2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine hydrochloride) antagonists reversed CB firing. Importantly, the acute addition of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone mitigated functional impairments observed in preCGG neurons in a reversible manner. These results demonstrate abnormal mGluR1/5 signaling in preCGG neurons, which is ameliorated by mGluR1/5 antagonists or augmentation of GABA(A) receptor signaling, and identify allopregnanolone as a candidate therapeutic lead.
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