1. CXCL12-induced rescue of cortical dendritic spines and cognitive flexibility
- Author
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Lindsay K Festa, Elena Irollo, Brian J Platt, Yuzen Tian, Stan Floresco, and Olimpia Meucci
- Subjects
chemokine ,prefrontal cortex ,cognitive decline ,neuroHIV ,Medicine ,Science ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Synaptodendritic pruning is a common cause of cognitive decline in neurological disorders, including HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). HAND persists in treated patients as a result of chronic inflammation and low-level expression of viral proteins, though the mechanisms involved in synaptic damage are unclear. Here, we report that the chemokine CXCL12 recoups both cognitive performance and synaptodendritic health in a rodent model of HAND, which recapitulates the neuroinflammatory state of virally controlled individuals and the associated structural/functional deficiencies. CXCL12 preferentially regulates plastic thin spines on layer II/III pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex via CXCR4-dependent stimulation of the Rac1/PAK actin polymerization pathway, leading to increased spine density and improved flexible behavior. Our studies unveil a critical role of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in spine dynamics and cognitive flexibility, suggesting that HAND - or other diseases driven by spine loss - may be reversible and upturned by targeting Rac1-dependent processes in cortical neurons.
- Published
- 2020
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