Cited by 60Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchTryptophan and brain disorders

Neuroinflammation induces synaptic scaling through IL-1β-mediated activation of the transcriptional repressor REST/NRSF

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Buffolo, Federica, Petrosino, Valentina, Albini, Martina, Moschetta, Matteo, Carlini, Federico, Floss, Thomas, Kerlero de Rosbo, Nicole, Cesca, Fabrizia +3 more·2021·Cell Death & Disease

Abstract

Neuroinflammation is associated with synapse dysfunction and cognitive decline in patients and animal models. One candidate for translating the inflammatory stress into structural and functional changes in neural networks is the transcriptional repressor RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) that regulates the expression of a wide cluster of neuron-specific genes during neurogenesis and in mature neurons. To study the cellular and molecular pathways activated under inflammatory conditions mimicking the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) environment, we analyzed REST activity in neuroblastoma cells and mouse cortical neurons treated with activated T cell or microglia supernatant and distinct pro-inflammatory cytokines. We found that REST is activated by a variety of neuroinflammatory stimuli in both neuroblastoma cells and primary neurons, indicating that a vast transcriptional change is triggered during neuroinflammation. While a dual activation of REST and its dominant-negative splicing isoform REST4 was observed in N2a neuroblastoma cells, primary neurons responded with a pure full-length REST upregulation in the absence of changes in REST4 expression. In both cases, REST upregulation was associated with activation of Wnt signaling and increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin, a well-known intracellular transduction pathway in neuroinflammation. Among single cytokines, IL-1β caused a potent and prompt increase in REST transcription and translation in neurons, which promoted a delayed and strong synaptic downscaling specific for excitatory synapses, with decreased frequency and amplitude of spontaneous synaptic currents, decreased density of excitatory synaptic connections, and decreased frequency of action potential-evoked Ca 2+ transients. Most important, the IL-1β effects on excitatory transmission were strictly REST dependent, as conditional deletion of REST completely occluded the effects of IL-1β activation on synaptic transmission and network excitability. Our results demonstrate that REST upregulation represents a new pathogenic mechanism for the synaptic dysfunctions observed under neuroinflammatory conditions and identify the REST pathway as therapeutic target for EAE and, potentially, for multiple sclerosis.

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Authors
Buffolo, F., Petrosino, V., Albini, M., Moschetta, M., Carlini, F., Floss, T., Kerlero de Rosbo, N., Cesca, F., Rocchi, A., Uccelli, A., & Benfenati, F.
Affiliations
  • Italian Institute of Technology (IT)
  • Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (IT)
  • Helmholtz Munich (DE)
  • University of Trieste (IT)
Corresponding author
  • Rocchi, Anna
  • Uccelli, Antonio
  • Benfenati, Fabio
Venue
Cell Death & Disease
Published
2021-02-15
Volume
12
Issue
2
Pages
180-180
ISSN
2041-4889 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3130774036
Cited by
60
References
76
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 4
FWCI
3.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Death and Disease (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ArTS Archivio della ricerca di Trieste (University of Trieste https://www.units.it/) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • PuSH - Publication Server of Helmholtz Zentrum München (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutial Research Information System (University of Genoa) (submittedVersion)
  • Site cant be reached (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla (1946)
  • Compagnia di San Paolo (34760)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
neuroinflammation, synaptic scaling, rest, NRSF, IL-1β, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis, excitatory synapses, synaptic transmission, Wnt signaling, β-catenin, microglia, T cell activation, neuroblastoma cells, cortical neurons, synaptic dysfunction
MeSH terms
RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor, Animals, Cerebral Cortex, Inflammation, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Synaptic Transmission, Neurons, Repressor Proteins, T-Lymphocytes, Up-Regulation, Culture Media, Conditioned, Microglia, Coculture Techniques, Mice, Interleukin-1beta

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