Towards understanding sex differences in autism spectrum disorders.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social deficits, repetitive behaviours and lack of empathy. Its significant genetic heritability and potential comorbidities often lead to diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This review addresses the biological basis of ASD, focusing on the sex differences in gene expression and hormonal influences. ASD is more commonly diagnosed in males at a ratio of 4:1, indicating a potential oversight in female-specific ASD research and a risk of underdiagnosis in females. We consider how ASD manifests differently across sexes by exploring differential gene expression in female and male brains and consider how variations in steroid hormones influence ASD characteristics. Synaptic function, including excitation/inhibition ratio imbalance, is influenced by gene mutations and this is explored as a key factor in the cognitive and behavioural manifestations of ASD. We also discuss the role of micro RNAs (miRNAs) and highlight a novel mutation in miRNA-873, which affects a suite of key synaptic genes, neurexin, neuroligin, SHANK and post-synaptic density proteins, implicated in the pathology of ASD. Our review suggests that genetic predisposition, sex differences in brain gene expression, and hormonal factors significantly contribute to the presentation, identification and severity of ASD, necessitating sex-specific considerations in diagnosis and treatments. These findings advocate for personalized interventions to improve the outcomes for individuals with ASD.

Rapid electrophoretic deposition of biocompatible graphene coatings for high-performance recording neural electrodes.

The electrical and biological interfacial properties of invasive electrodes have a significant impact on the performance and longevity of neural recordings in the brain. In this study, we demonstrated rapid electrophoretic deposition and electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) on metal-based neural electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and other characterizations confirmed the existence of a uniform and effectively reduced graphene oxide coating. Electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ErGO) coated Pt/Ir neural electrodes exhibited 15.2-fold increase in charge storage capacity (CSC) and 90% decrease in impedance with only 3.8% increase in electrode diameter. Patch clamp electrophysiology and calcium imaging of primary rat hippocampus neurons cultured on ErGO demonstrated that there was no adverse impact on the functional development of neurons. Immunostaining showed a balanced growth of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, and astrocytes. Acute recordings from the auditory cortex and chronic recordings (19 days) from the somatosensory cortex found ErGO coating improved the performance of neural electrodes in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and amplitude of signals. The proposed approach not only provides an in-depth evaluation of the effect of ErGO coating on neural electrodes but also widens the coating methods of commercial neural electrodes.

Autism-associated miR-873 regulates ARID1B, SHANK3 and NRXN2 involved in neurodevelopment.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorders with significant genetic heterogeneity. Noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) are recognised as playing key roles in development of ASD albeit the function of these regulatory genes remains unclear. We previously conducted whole-exome sequencing of Australian families with ASD and identified four novel single nucleotide variations in mature miRNA sequences. A pull-down transcriptome analysis using transfected SH-SY5Y cells proposed a mechanistic model to examine changes in binding affinity associated with a unique mutation found in the conserved 'seed' region of miR-873-5p (rs777143952: T > A). Results suggested several ASD-risk genes were differentially targeted by wild-type and mutant miR-873 variants. In the current study, a dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed miR-873 variants have a 20-30% inhibition/dysregulation effect on candidate autism risk genes ARID1B, SHANK3 and NRXN2 and also confirmed the affected expression with qPCR. In vitro mouse hippocampal neurons transfected with mutant miR-873 showed less morphological complexity and enhanced sodium currents and excitatory neurotransmission compared to cells transfected with wild-type miR-873. A second in vitro study showed CRISPR/Cas9 miR-873 disrupted SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells acquired a neuronal-like morphology and increased expression of ASD important genes ARID1B, SHANK3, ADNP2, ANK2 and CHD8. These results represent the first functional evidence that miR-873 regulates key neural genes involved in development and cell differentiation.

ß3-tripeptides act as sticky ends to self-assemble into a bioscaffold.

Peptides comprised entirely of ß3-amino acids, commonly referred to as ß-foldamers, have been shown to self-assemble into a range of materials. Previously, ß-foldamers have been functionalised via various side chain chemistries to introduce function to these materials without perturbation of the self-assembly motif. Here, we show that insertion of both rigid and flexible molecules into the backbone structure of the ß-foldamer did not disturb the self-assembly, provided that the molecule is positioned between two ß3-tripeptides. These hybrid ß3-peptide flanked molecules self-assembled into a range of structures. α-Arginlyglycylaspartic acid (RGD), a commonly used cell attachment motif derived from fibronectin in the extracellular matrix, was incorporated into the peptide sequence in order to form a biomimetic scaffold that would support neuronal cell growth. The RGD-containing sequence formed the desired mesh-like scaffold but did not encourage neuronal growth, possibly due to over-stimulation with RGD. Mixing the RGD peptide with a ß-foldamer without the RGD sequence produced a well-defined scaffold that successfully encouraged the growth of neurons and enabled neuronal electrical functionality. These results indicate that ß3-tripeptides can form distinct self-assembly units separated by a linker and can form fibrous assemblies. The linkers within the peptide sequence can be composed of a bioactive α-peptide and tuned to provide a biocompatible scaffold.

Diminished hERG K+ channel activity facilitates strong human labour contractions but is dysregulated in obese women.

Human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channels determine cardiac action potential and contraction duration. Human uterine contractions are underpinned by an action potential that also possesses an initial spike followed by prolonged depolarization. Here we show that hERG channel proteins (α-conducting and ß-inhibitory subunits) and hERG currents exist in isolated patch-clamped human myometrial cells. We show that hERG channel activity suppresses contraction amplitude and duration before labour, thereby facilitating quiescence. During established labour, expression of ß-inhibitory protein is markedly enhanced, resulting in reduced hERG activity that is associated with an increased duration of uterine action potentials and contractions. Thus, changes in hERG channel activity contribute to electrophysiological mechanisms that produce contractions during labour. We also demonstrate that this system fails in women with elevated BMI, who have enhanced hERG activity as a result of low ß-inhibitory protein expression, which likely contributes to the weak contractions and poor labour outcomes observed in many obese women necessitating caesarean delivery.

Voltage-operated Ca(2) (+) currents and Ca(2) (+) -activated Cl(-) currents in single interstitial cells of the guinea-pig prostate.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of 'T-type' and 'L-type' voltage-operated Ca(2) (+) channels in single interstitial cells of the guinea-pig prostate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Whole-cell and perforated patch-clamp techniques were applied to prostatic interstitial cells (PICs) dispersed using collagenase. RESULTS: In contrast to prostatic myocytes, PICs under voltage clamp and filled with K(+) (130 mm) were distinguished by the absence of a voltage-operated transient outward K(+) current or spike discharge upon membrane depolarisation when under current clamp. Depolarisation of Cs(+) -filled PICs evoked an inward current at potentials positive to -60 mV, which peaked in amplitude near 0 mV. This inward current increased when Ba(2+) (5 mm) replaced the external Ca(2) (+) (1.5 mm) and displayed a variable sensitivity to the inhibitory actions of conditioning depolarisations to -40 mV applied before the test depolarisation or to 1 µm nifedipine, the 'L-type' Ca(2) (+) channel blocker. A residual inward current recorded in nifedipine was blocked by 10 µm Ni(2) (+) . Cs(+) -filled PICs also displayed a slowly inactivating outward current that was little affected by nifedipine, reduced by the Cl(-) channel blocker, niflumic acid (10 µm) and blocked by Ba(2) (+) or a conditioning depolarisation. CONCLUSION: PICs express both a small 'T-type' Ca(2) (+) channel current (ICa ) and a large 'L-type' ICa . Ca(2) (+) influx through 'T-type' ICa was an essential trigger for the activation of a Ca(2) (+) -activated Cl(-) -selective current. The dependence of PIC Ca(2) (+) signalling on 'T-type' and 'L-type' ICa is unique compared with other interstitial cells of the urogenital tract and may well be pharmaceutically exploitable.

Comparative study on the therapeutic potential of neurally differentiated stem cells in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is a promising novel approach to the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). NSCs can be derived from primary central nervous system (CNS) tissue or obtained by neural differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells, the latter having the advantage of readily providing an unlimited number of cells for therapeutic purposes. Using a mouse model of MS, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of NSCs derived from ES cells by two different neural differentiation protocols that utilized adherent culture conditions and compared their effect to primary NSCs derived from the subventricular zone (SVZ). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The proliferation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by antigen-stimulated splenocytes was reduced in the presence of SVZ-NSCs, while ES cell-derived NSCs exerted differential immunosuppressive effects. Surprisingly, intravenously injected NSCs displayed no significant therapeutic impact on clinical and pathological disease outcomes in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by recombinant myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, independent of the cell source. Studies tracking the biodistribution of transplanted ES cell-derived NSCs revealed that these cells were unable to traffic to the CNS or peripheral lymphoid tissues, consistent with the lack of cell surface homing molecules. Attenuation of peripheral immune responses could only be achieved through multiple high doses of NSCs administered intraperitoneally, which led to some neuroprotective effects within the CNS. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Systemic transplantation of these NSCs does not have a major influence on the clinical course of rMOG-induced EAE. Improving the efficiency at which NSCs home to inflammatory sites may enhance their therapeutic potential in this model of CNS autoimmunity.

Neural differentiation of patient specific iPS cells as a novel approach to study the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis.

The recent introduction of technologies capable of reprogramming human somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells offers a unique opportunity to study many aspects of neurodegenerative diseases in vitro that could ultimately lead to novel drug development and testing. Here, we report for the first time that human dermal fibroblasts from a patient with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS) were reprogrammed to pluripotency by retroviral transduction using defined factors (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC). The MSiPS cell lines resembled human embryonic stem (hES) cell-like colonies in morphology and gene expression and exhibited silencing of the retroviral transgenes after four passages. MSiPS cells formed embryoid bodies that expressed markers of all three germ layers by immunostaining and Reverse Transcriptase (RT)-PCR. The injection of undifferentiated iPS cell colonies into immunodeficient mice formed teratomas, thereby demonstrating pluripotency. The MSiPS cells were successfully differentiated into mature astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons with normal karyotypes. Although MSiPS-derived neurons displayed some differences in their electrophysiological characteristics as compared to the control cell line, they exhibit properties of functional neurons, with robust resting membrane potentials, large fast tetrodotoxin-sensitive action potentials and voltage-gated sodium currents. This study provides for the first time proof of concept that disease cell lines derived from skin cells obtained from an MS patient can be generated and successfully differentiated into mature neural lineages. This represents an important step in a novel approach for the study of MS pathophysiology and potential drug discovery.

Potassium and ANO1/ TMEM16A chloride channel profiles distinguish atypical and typical smooth muscle cells from interstitial cells in the mouse renal pelvis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although atypical smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the proximal renal pelvis are thought to generate the pacemaker signals that drive pyeloureteric peristalsis, their location and electrical properties remain obscure. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Standard patch clamp, intracellular microelectrode and immunohistochemistry techniques were used. To unequivocally identify SMCs, transgenic mice with enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) expressed in cells containing α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were sometimes used. KEY RESULTS: Atypical SMCs were distinguished from typical SMCs by the absence of both a transient 4-aminopyridine-sensitive K(+) current (I(KA) ) and spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) upon the opening of large-conductance Ca(2+) -activated K(+) (BK) channels. Many typical SMCs displayed a slowly activating, slowly decaying Cl(-) current blocked by niflumic acid (NFA). Immunostaining for K(V) 4.3 and ANO1/ TMEM16A Cl(-) channel subunits co-localized with α-SMA immunoreactive product predominately in the distal renal pelvis. Atypical SMCs fired spontaneous inward currents that were either selective for Cl(-) and blocked by NFA, or cation-selective and blocked by La(3+) . α-SMA(-) interstitial cells (ICs) were distinguished by the presence of a Xe991-sensitive K(V) 7 current, BK channel STOCs and Cl(-) selective, NFA-sensitive spontaneous transient inward currents (STICs). Intense ANO1/ TMEM16A and K(V) 7.5 immunostaining was present in Kit(-) α-SMA(-) ICs in the suburothelial and adventitial regions of the renal pelvis. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: We conclude that K(V) 4.3(+) α-SMA(+) SMCs are typical SMCs that facilitate muscle wall contraction, that ANO1/ TMEM16A and K(V) 7.5 immunoreactivity may be selective markers of Kit(-) ICs and that atypical SMCs which discharge spontaneous inward currents are the pelviureteric pacemakers.

Spontaneous electrical and Ca2+ signals in the mouse renal pelvis that drive pyeloureteric peristalsis.

1. Peristalsis in the smooth muscle cell (SMC) wall of the pyeloureteric system is unique in physiology in that the primary pacemaker resides in a population of atypical SMCs situated near the border of the renal papilla. 2. Atypical SMCs display high-frequency Ca(2+) transients upon the spontaneous release of Ca(2+) from inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3))-dependent stores that trigger cation-selective spontaneous transient depolarizations (STDs). In the presence of nifedipine, these Ca(2+) transients and STDs seldom propagate > 100 mum. Synchronization of STDs in neighbouring atypical SMCs into an electrical signal that can trigger action potential discharge and contraction in the typical SMC layer involves a coupled oscillator mechanism dependent on Ca(2+) entry through L-type voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels. 3. A population of spindle- or stellate-shaped cells, immunopositive for the tyrosine receptor kinase kit, is sparsely distributed throughout the pyeloureteric system. In addition, Ca(2+) transients and action potentials of long duration occurring at low frequencies have been recorded in a population of fusiform cells, which we have termed interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC)-like cells. 4. The electrical and Ca(2+) signals in ICC-like cells are abolished upon blockade of Ca(2+) release from either IP(3)- or ryanodine-dependent Ca(2+) stores. However, the spontaneous Ca(2+) signals in atypical SMCs or ICC-like cells are little affected in W/W(-v) transgenic mice, which have extensive lesions of their intestinal ICC networks. 5. In summary, we have developed a model of pyeloureteric pacemaking in which atypical SMCs are indeed the primary pacemakers, but the function of ICC-like cells has yet to be determined.

Spontaneous electrical and Ca2+ signals in typical and atypical smooth muscle cells and interstitial cell of Cajal-like cells of mouse renal pelvis.

Electrical rhythmicity in the renal pelvis provides the fundamental drive for the peristaltic contractions that propel urine from the kidney to bladder for storage until micturition. Although atypical smooth muscles (ASMCs) within the most proximal regions of the renal pelvis have long been implicated as the pacemaker cells, the presence of a sparsely distributed population of rhythmically active Kit-positive interstitial cells of Cajal-like cells (ICC-LCs) have confounded our understanding of pelviureteric peristalsis. We have recorded the electrical activity and separately visualized changes in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in typical smooth muscle cells (TSMCs), ASMCs and ICC-LCs using intracellular microelectrodes and a fluorescent Ca(2+) indicator, fluo-4. Nifedipine (1-10 microm)-sensitive driven action potentials and Ca(2+) waves (frequency 6-15 min(-1)) propagated through the TSMC layer at a velocity of 1-2 mm s(-1). High frequency (10-40 min(-1)) Ca(2+) transients and spontaneous transient depolarizations (STDs) were recorded in ASMCs in the absence or presence of 1 microm nifedipine. ICC-LCs displayed low frequency (1-3 min(-1)) Ca(2+) transients which we speculated arose from cells that displayed action potentials with long plateaus (2-5 s). Neither electrical activity propagated over distances > 50 microm. In 1 microm nifedipine, ASMCs or ICC-LCs separated by < 30 microm displayed some synchronicity in their Ca(2+) transient discharge suggesting that they may well be acting as 'point sources' of excitation to the TSMC layer. We speculate that ASMCs act as the primary pacemaker in the renal pelvis while ICC-LCs play a supportive role, but can take over pacemaking in the absence of the proximal pacemaker drive.

Pyeloureteric peristalsis: role of atypical smooth muscle cells and interstitial cells of Cajal-like cells as pacemakers.

Pyeloureteric peristalsis has long been considered to be triggered by pacemaker atypical smooth muscle cells (SMC) located in the proximal regions of the renal pelvis. However, interstitial cells with many of the morphological features and c-Kit immuno-reactivity of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), the established pacemaker cells in the intestine, have been demonstrated to be present in small numbers within the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) of many mammals. Freshly isolated ICC-like cells (ICC-LC) of the mouse UPJ also display autorhyhmicity. This review discusses the notion that ureteric peristalsis depends on the presence of both atypical SMC and ICC-LC which form separate but interconnected networks that drive electrically quiescent typical SMC. In contrast to the intestine or prostate, all regenerative potential discharge in the mouse UPJ is abolished by the L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker nifedipine revealing a fundamental pacemaker signal. Whether these pacemaker transients arise from atypical SMC or ICC-LC or both has yet to be established. We speculate that the presence of spontaneously active ICC-LC in the distal regions of the UPJ maintains rudimentary peristaltic waves and movement of urine towards the bladder after pyeloureteral obstruction or pyeloplasty and disconnection from the proximal pacemaker drive.