Chien-Ping Ko

Glial Cells Maintain Synaptic Structure and Function and Promote Development of the Neuromuscular Junction In Vivo

To investigate the in vivo role of glial cells in synaptic function, maintenance, and development, we have developed an approach to selectively ablate perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs), the glial cells at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), en masse from live frog muscles. In adults, following acute PSC ablation, synaptic structure and function were not altered. However, 1 week after PSC ablation, presynaptic function decreased by approximately half, while postsynaptic function was unchanged. Retraction of nerve terminals increased over 10-fold at PSC-ablated NMJs. Furthermore, nerve-evoked muscle twitch tension was reduced. In tadpoles, repeated in vivo observations revealed that PSC processes lead nerve terminal growth. In the absence of PSCs, growth and addition of synapses was dramatically reduced, and existing synapses underwent widespread retraction. Our findings provide in vivo evidence that glial cells maintain presynaptic structure and function at adult synapses and are vital for the growth and stability of developing synapses.

Synaptic Defects in the Spinal and Neuromuscular Circuitry in a Mouse Model of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a major genetic cause of death in childhood characterized by marked muscle weakness. To investigate mechanisms underlying motor impairment in SMA, we examined the spinal and neuromuscular circuitry governing hindlimb ambulatory behavior in SMA model mice (SMNΔ7). In the neuromuscular circuitry, we found that nearly all neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in hindlimb muscles of SMNΔ7 mice remained fully innervated at the disease end stage and were capable of eliciting muscle contraction, despite a modest reduction in quantal content. In the spinal circuitry, we observed a ∼28% loss of synapses onto spinal motoneurons in the lateral column of lumbar segments 3–5, and a significant reduction in proprioceptive sensory neurons, which may contribute to the 50% reduction in vesicular glutamate transporter 1(VGLUT1)-positive synapses onto SMNΔ7 motoneurons. In addition, there was an increase in the association of activated microglia with SMNΔ7 motoneurons. Together, our results present a novel concept that synaptic defects occur at multiple levels of the spinal and neuromuscular circuitry in SMNΔ7 mice, and that proprioceptive spinal synapses could be a potential target for SMA therapy.

Severe neuromuscular denervation of clinically relevant muscles in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a motoneuron disease caused by a deficiency of the survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein, is characterized by motoneuron loss and muscle weakness. It remains unclear whether widespread loss of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) is involved in SMA pathogenesis. We undertook a systematic examination of NMJ innervation patterns in >20 muscles in the SMNΔ7 SMA mouse model. We found that severe denervation (<50% fully innervated endplates) occurs selectively in many vulnerable axial muscles and several appendicular muscles at the disease end stage. Since these vulnerable muscles were located throughout the body and were comprised of varying muscle fiber types, it is unlikely that muscle location or fiber type determines susceptibility to denervation. Furthermore, we found a similar extent of neurofilament accumulation at NMJs in both vulnerable and resistant muscles before the onset of denervation, suggesting that neurofilament accumulation does not predict subsequent NMJ denervation. Since vulnerable muscles were initially innervated, but later denervated, loss of innervation in SMA may be attributed to defects in synapse maintenance. Finally, we found that denervation was amendable by trichostatin A (TSA) treatment, which increased innervation in clinically relevant muscles in TSA-treated SMNΔ7 mice. Our findings suggest that neuromuscular denervation in vulnerable muscles is a widespread pathology in SMA, and can serve as a preparation for elucidating the biological basis of synapse loss, and for evaluating therapeutic efficacy.

Mechanisms and Roles of Axon-Schwann Cell Interactions

Schwann cells (SCs) cover most of the surface of all axons in peripheral nerves. Axons and these glial cells are not only in intimate physical contact but also in constant and dynamic communication, each one influencing and regulating the development, function, and maintenance of the other. In

Differential Effects of Neurotrophins and Schwann Cell-Derived Signals on Neuronal Survival/Growth and Synaptogenesis

Recent studies have shown that the survival of mammalian motoneurons in vitro is promoted by neurotrophins (NTs) and cAMP. There is also evidence that neurotrophins enhance transmitter release. We thus investigated whether these agents also promote synaptogenesis. Cultured Xenopus spinal cord neurons were treated with a mixture of BDNF, glia-derived neurotrophic factor, NT-3, and NT-4, in addition to forskolin and IBMX or the cell-permeant form of cAMP, to elevate the cAMP level. The outgrowth and survival of neurons were dramatically increased by this trophic stimulation. However, when these neurons were cocultured with muscle cells, the trophic agents resulted in a failure of synaptogenesis. Specifically, the induction of ACh receptor (AChR) clustering in cultured muscle cells was inhibited at nerve—muscle contacts, in sharp contrast to control, untreated cocultures. Because AChR clustering induced by agrin or growth factor-coated beads in muscle cells was unaffected by trophic stimulation, its effect on synaptogenesis is presynaptic in origin. In the control, agrin was deposited along the neurite and at nerve—muscle contacts. This was significantly downregulated in cultures treated with trophic stimuli. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analyses showed that this decrease in agrin deposition was caused by an inhibition of agrin synthesis by trophic stimuli. Both agrin synthesis and induction of AChR clustering were restored under trophic stimulation when Schwann cell-conditioned medium was introduced. These results suggest that trophic stimulation maintains spinal neurons in the growth state, and Schwann cell-derived factors allow them to switch to the synaptogenic state.

Treatment with trichostatin A initiated after disease onset delays disease progression and increases survival in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Recent studies suggest that progressive motoneuron death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is non-cell autonomous and may involve the participation of non-neuronal cells such as glial cells and skeletal muscle. Therefore, a drug that targets motoneurons as well as neighboring non-neuronal cells might be a potential therapeutic strategy to delay disease progression in ALS. Trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, has shown protective effects in multiple cell types implicated in ALS by resetting gene transcription profiles through increased histone acetylation. To test whether TSA could serve as a potential therapeutic agent, we intraperitoneally injected TSA from postnatal day 90 (P90), after disease symptoms appear, until P120 or the end-stage in SOD1-G93A mice. We found that TSA ameliorated motoneuron death and axonal degeneration in SOD1-G93A mice. Reduced gliosis and upregulation of the glutamate transporter (GLT-1) were also observed in the spinal cord of TSA-treated SOD1-G93A mice. In addition, TSA ameliorated muscle atrophy and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) denervation, which are the pathological characteristics of ALS found in skeletal muscle. Improved morphology in TSA-treated SOD1-G93A mice was accompanied by enhanced motor functions as assessed by rota-rod and grip strength analyses. Furthermore, TSA treatment significantly increased the mean survival duration after the treatment by 18% and prolonged lifespan by 7%. Our findings suggest that TSA may provide a potential therapy to slow disease progression as well as to enhance motor performance to improve the quality of life for ALS patients.

A lectin, peanut agglutinin, as a probe for the extracellular matrix in living neuromuscular junctions

SummaryThe extracellular matrix plays important roles in the differentiation of synapses. To identify molecules concentrated specifically in the synaptic extracellular matrix, fluorescently-labelled lectins were applied to neuromuscular junctions. A lectin, peanut agglutinin (PNA), stains the neuromuscular region selectively and irreversibly (up to at least 3 weeksin situ), outlining the periphery of the nerve terminal arborization in the frog. Snake neuromuscular junctions also stain intensely with fluorescent PNA, while mouse diaphragm staining is faint. At the electron microscopic level, the reaction products of horseradish peroxidase-conjugated PNA are found primarily in the extracellular matrix flanking Schwann cells in the frog endplate regions. Fluorescently labelled PNA does not affect synaptic potentials and can serve as a simple stain for correlating functional studies of living neuromuscular junctions. Moreover, it can be combined with a presynaptic dye to observe nerve terminals and synaptic extracellular matrix in the same junctionsin situ. This report reveals the existence of synapse-specific carbohydrates associated with Schwann cell extracellular matrix in the frog neuromuscular junction. The specific binding and its physiological compatibility make PNA a useful probe for further investigation of synaptic differentiation, plasticity and maintenance.

A novel omega-conopeptide for the presynaptic localization of calcium channels at the mammalian neuromuscular junction.

SummaryVoltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels are essential to transmitter release at the chemical synapse. To demonstrate the localization of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels in relation to the site of transmitter release, mouse neuromuscular junctions were double-labelled with α-bungarotoxin and a novel voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel probe, SNX-260, a synthetic analog of ω-conopeptide MVIIC. Similar to ω-conopeptide MVIIC, biotinylated SNX-260 blocked nerve-stimulated transmitter release at the mouse neuromuscular junction. Fluorescently-tagged biotinylated SNX-260 labelled the nerve terminal which appeared thinner than and was outlined by acetylcholine receptor clusters as seen inen face view. This SNX-260 labelling was inhibited by preincubation with unconjugated SNX-260. Side-views of the neuromuscular junction indicated that the SNX-260 labelling was on the synaptic side facing the acetylcholine receptor rather than on the nonsynaptic side of the nerve terminal. This presynaptic binding was confirmed by the absence of SNX-260 labelling in denervated muscles following a nerve cut or disjunction after collagenase treatment. Confocal microscopy revealed spots of SNX-260 labelling that may correlate with active zones. The SNX-260 labelling pattern was not affected by preincubation with unconjugated SNX-111 (ω-conopeptide MVIIA), an N-type voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel blocker. These findings suggest that SNX-260 is a novel probe for localizing non-N type voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels and that these voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels are localized near the transmitter release sites at the mammalian motor nerve terminal membrane. The results are consistent with the suggestion that non-N, probably P/Q type voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels mediate evoked transmitter release at the mammalian neuromuscular junction.

The Role of Glial Cells in the Formation and Maintenance of the Neuromuscular Junction

The vertebrate neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a “tripartite” synapse, composed of three cellular elements: the presynaptic nerve terminal, the postsynaptic specialization, and synapse‐associated glial cells, called perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs; also called terminal Schwann cells). During development, PSCs grow beyond nerve terminals and guide nerve terminal extension. Nerve terminals retract or stop extension after PSC ablation by complement‐mediated lysis in vivo, suggesting that PSCs can promote synaptic growth and maintenance at developing NMJs. Schwann cell–conditioned medium (SC‐CM), which may be mediated by transforming growth factor‐β1, can promote synapse formation in Xenopus nerve–muscle culture. In addition, SC‐CM contains small molecules (within 500–5000 Da), which can enhance spontaneous synaptic activities acutely and potently at developing frog NMJs. In adult muscles, PSCs can detect evoked synaptic activities and are capable of modulating transmitter release. Nerve terminals retract and synaptic efficacy is reduced at 1 week, but not within the first few hours, after PSC ablation. Thus, PSCs are essential for the long‐term, but not short‐term, maintenance of synaptic structure and function at the adult NMJ. During synaptic remodeling in adult muscles, PSC sprouts lead nerve terminal sprouts. After nerve injury, adult PSCs sprout extensive processes, which guide regenerating nerve terminals. Schwann cells express agrin and neuregulins, which may help the postsynaptic differentiation and synaptic repair. Furthermore, neuregulin‐ErbB signaling pathways play an essential role in synapse–glial interactions at the NMJ. These recent findings suggest that PSCs play multiple roles and actively participate in synaptic development, modulation, maintenance, and repair of the vertebrate NMJ.

Extension of synaptic extracellular matrix during nerve terminal sprouting in living frog neuromuscular junctions

Remodeling of the synaptic extracellular matrix (ECM) and its dynamic relationship with nerve terminal plasticity have been demonstrated in normal frog neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in vivo (Chen et al., 1991). Our previous work has led to a hypothesis that extension of synaptic ECM precedes nerve terminal growth during synaptic remodeling. To test this hypothesis, the present study examined the changes of synaptic ECM in frog NMJs that were primarily undergoing nerve terminal growth and sprouting. Frog sartorius muscles were double stained with a fluorescent nerve terminal dye (4-Di-2-Asp) and rhodamine-tagged peanut agglutinin (PNA), which recognizes synaptic ECM. The double-labeled NMJs were visualized in vivo with video-enhanced fluorescence microscopy. Nerve sprouting was then induced in the muscle by grafting segments of the contralateral sciatic nerve. The identified NMJs were restrained and reexamined 2–3 months later. Extensive sprouting was observed in 46% of 167 identified NMJs. At junctional regions that showed extension or formation of new branches, synaptic ECM was commonly seen to have the same shape and distribution as the nerve terminal. However, extension of synaptic ECM beyond the corresponding nerve terminals, often by tens of microns, was observed in 29% of these newly formed junctional regions. This lack of correlation might be transient, as growth of nerve terminals following extended, PNA-stained ECM was seen. Examination with histological staining not only confirmed a lack of nerve terminal at the extended synaptic ECM region but also indicated an absence of AChE and postsynaptic junctional folds. The absence of these postsynaptic specializations at the extended, PNA- stained ECM region makes it unlikely that this region was previously occupied by nerve terminals that had retracted. Thus, the present study provides further findings consistent with the hypothesis that synaptic ECM precedes nerve terminal outgrowth and that the extension of synaptic ECM may play a role in synaptic remodeling.