1. Epigenetic reprogramming of cortical neurons through alteration of dopaminergic circuits.
- Author
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Brami-Cherrier K, Anzalone A, Ramos M, Forne I, Macciardi F, Imhof A, and Borrelli E
- Subjects
- Animals, Autoreceptors genetics, Corpus Striatum drug effects, Dopamine metabolism, Dopamine Agonists pharmacology, Dopaminergic Neurons drug effects, Down-Regulation, Gene Expression, Histones metabolism, Mice, Transgenic, Prefrontal Cortex drug effects, Psychotic Disorders drug therapy, Psychotic Disorders physiopathology, Quinpirole pharmacology, Receptors, Dopamine D2 agonists, Receptors, Dopamine D2 genetics, Autoreceptors metabolism, Corpus Striatum physiopathology, Dopaminergic Neurons physiology, Epigenesis, Genetic, Prefrontal Cortex physiopathology, Receptors, Dopamine D2 metabolism
- Abstract
Alterations of the dopaminergic system are associated with the cognitive and functional dysfunctions that characterize complex neuropsychiatric disorders. We modeled a dysfunctional dopaminergic system using mice with targeted ablation of dopamine (DA) D2 autoreceptors in mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. Loss of D2 autoreceptors abolishes D2-mediated control of DA synthesis and release. Here, we show that this mutation leads to a profound alteration of the genomic landscape of neurons receiving dopaminergic afferents at distal sites, specifically in the prefrontal cortex. Indeed, we observed a remarkable downregulation of gene expression in this area of ~2000 genes, which involves a widespread increase in the histone repressive mark H3K9me2/3. This reprogramming process is coupled to psychotic-like behaviors in the mutant mice. Importantly, chronic treatment with a DA agonist can revert the genomic phenotype. Thus, cortical neurons undergo a profound epigenetic reprogramming in response to dysfunctional D2 autoreceptor signaling leading to altered DA levels, a process that may underlie a number of neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Published
- 2014
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