Cited by 772Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchDevelopmental Biology and Gene Regulation

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 193 of the 197 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 238 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Development and Functional Diversification of Cortical Interneurons

Open access
Lim, Lynette, Mi, Da, Llorca, Alfredo, Marín, Oscar·2018·Neuron

Abstract

In the cerebral cortex, GABAergic interneurons have evolved as a highly heterogeneous collection of cell types that are characterized by their unique spatial and temporal capabilities to influence neuronal circuits. Current estimates suggest that up to 50 different types of GABAergic neurons may populate the cerebral cortex, all derived from progenitor cells in the subpallium, the ventral aspect of the embryonic telencephalon. In this review, we provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying the generation of the distinct types of interneuron and their integration in cortical circuits. Interneuron diversity seems to emerge through the implementation of cell-intrinsic genetic programs in progenitor cells, which unfold over a protracted period of time until interneurons acquire mature characteristics. The developmental trajectory of interneurons is also modulated by activity-dependent, non-cell autonomous mechanisms that influence their ability to integrate in nascent circuits and sculpt their final distribution in the adult cerebral cortex.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review synthesizes how cortical GABAergic interneurons arise from subpallial progenitors and diversify into many cell types through early transcriptional programs plus later activity-dependent refinement. It argues that class and some type identities are established embryonically, while postnatal circuit interactions shape distribution, connectivity, survival, and dynamic adult features.

Key findings

  • Interneuron diversity is extensive: transcriptomic estimates distinguish up to about 50 inhibitory signatures in cortex, while more than 20 inhibitory neuron types have been described in neocortex and hippocampus at multidimensional resolution. Major classes include PV+, SST+, and 5HT3aR+ groups such as VIP+, CCK+, neurogliaform, and others.
  • Subpallial origins are regionally biased: MGE/POA produce SST+ and PV+ classes, CGE produces VIP+ and CCK+ interneurons plus other less abundant types, and the preoptic region contributes neurogliaform and NPY+ multipolar cells. Spatial progenitor domains and temporal competence sequences expand fate diversity.
  • Postnatal activity shapes final organization: more than 30% of embryonically generated interneurons are eliminated by programmed cell death between the first and second postnatal weeks, with activity levels, pyramidal-cell inputs, and PTEN/AKT signaling influencing survival. Transient interneuron circuits in barrel cortex help refine sensory maps before canonical PV+ feedforward inhibition matures.
  • Adult interneuron features are dynamically tuned: activity-dependent transcription, such as Npas4 in SST+ cells and Etv1/Kv1.1 in PV+ basket cells, and the perineuronal net protein Brevican modulate synapses and excitability.

Methods

  • Narrative review using the mouse as the primary model, synthesizing developmental, genetic fate-mapping, migration, transcriptomic, electrophysiological, and activity-manipulation literature.
  • No new experimental data are presented; the focus is mainly isocortex/neocortex, with the note that similar principles may apply to allocortical and mesocortical regions.
  • Evidence discussed includes single-cell RNA sequencing, lineage tracing, transplantation, DREADDs, calcium imaging, and circuit-level manipulations.

Limitations

  • The authors state that many mechanisms remain unclear, including how the same progenitors generate distinct SST+ versus PV+ types, how diversity arises within the CGE, and whether all defining features are specified embryonically.
  • They note conflicting scRNA-seq evidence about early specification, limited genetic tools for labeling interneuron types, and that most knowledge comes from mice despite important human–mouse differences in morphology, gene expression, laminar distribution, and cell-type proportions.
  • Evident from the text: as a review, it provides no primary data or systematic meta-analysis, so conclusions depend on the cited literature and model-organism findings.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.10.009

Cites

193 of 193 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Verification

Claims the paper makes

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Show all 122 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 77
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 10
85 of 85
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    MGE ventricular zone progenitor cells undergo progressive intrinsic changes in their competence to produce interneuron cell fates following a defined sequence.

    “progenitor cells in the MGE would undergo progressive intrinsic changes in their competence to produce interneuron cell fates following a defined sequence”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    MGE ventricular zone progenitor cells divide to generate intermediate progenitor cells that are committed to specific cell fates, with globus pallidus projection neurons generated before interneurons and SST+ fates before PV+ fates.

    “VZ progenitor cells in the MGE would divide to generate intermediate progenitor cells which would be committed to specific cell fates, with globus pallidus projection neurons generated before interneurons and, within the latter group, SST+ cell fates generated earlier than PV+ cell fates”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The molecular specification of the ventricular zone endows progenitor cells with a probability of generating more or fewer neurons during each sequential competence state, thereby biasing their output toward pallidal neurons, PV+ interneurons, and SST+ interneurons.

    “The molecular specification of the VZ would endow progenitor cells with a certain probability to generate more or less neurons during each of the sequential competence states, therefore biasing their output toward the generation of pallidal neurons, PV+ and SST+ interneurons.”
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Metadata

Authors
Lim, L., Mi, D., Llorca, A., & Marín, O.
Affiliations
King's College London (GB)
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-10
Volume
100
Issue
2
Pages
294-313
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2898560358
Cited by
714
References
197
Citations by year
2026: 80 · 2025: 90 · 2024: 103 · 2023: 87 · 2022: 105 · 2021: 115 · 2020: 87 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 1
FWCI
7.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • European Research Council (ERC-2017-AdG 787355)
  • Wellcome Trust (103714MA)
  • EMBO
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
Keywords
cortical interneurons, GABAergic neurons, interneuron diversity, telencephalon, interneuron development, cerebral cortex
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Differentiation, Cerebral Cortex, Humans, Interneurons, Cell Lineage, Neurogenesis, Neural Stem Cells, GABAergic Neurons

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