Cited by 1,197Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeural dynamics and brain functionMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Fast-spiking, parvalbumin + GABAergic interneurons: From cellular design to microcircuit function

Hu, Hua, Gan, Jian, Jonas, Peter·2014·Science

Abstract

Background: Neuronal networks in the brain include glutamatergic principal neurons and GABAergic interneurons (GABA, γ-aminobutyric acid). The latter may be a minority cell type, but they are vital for normal brain function because they regulate the activity of principal neurons. If interneuron function is impaired, higher brain function can be damaged and seizures may result. The fast-spiking, parvalbumin-positive interneurons (PV + interneurons) are readily characterized and, consequently, have been adopted as a research model for systematic and quantitative investigations. These cells contribute to feedback and feedforward inhibition and are critically involved in the generation of network oscillations. They can convert an excitatory input signal into an inhibitory output signal within a millisecond, but it is unclear how these signaling properties are implemented at the molecular and cellular levels, nor how PV + interneurons shape complex network functions. Advances: Recent work sheds light on the subcellular signaling properties of PV + interneurons. PV + cells show a high degree of polarity. The weakly excitable dendrites allow PV + interneurons to sample activity in the surrounding network, whereas the highly excitable axons enable analog-to-digital conversion and fast propagation of the digital signal to a large number of target cells. Additionally, tight coupling of Ca 2+ channels and release sensors at GABAergic output synapses increases the efficacy and speed of the inhibitory output. Recent results also provide a better understanding of how PV + interneurons operate in neuronal networks. Not only are PV + interneurons involved in basic microcircuit functions, such as feedforward and feedback inhibition or gamma-frequency oscillations, but they also play a role in complex network operations, including expansion of dynamic activity range, pattern separation, modulation of place and grid field shapes, phase precession, and gain modulation of sensory responses. Thus, PV + interneurons are critically involved in advanced computations in microcircuits and neuronal networks. Outlook: Parvalbumin-expressing interneurons may also play a key role in numerous brain diseases. These include epilepsy, but also complex psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia. Thus, PV + interneurons may become important therapeutic targets in the future. However, much needs to be learned about the basic function of these interneurons before clinical neuroscientists will have a chance to successfully use PV + interneurons for therapeutic purposes.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.1255263

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  • Fast-spiking CA1 interneurons have been mechanistically linked to the emergence of the LFP theta rhythm and the entrainment of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus.

    “Fast-spiking (FS) CA1 interneurons (classically referred to as “theta cells”53) have been mechanistically linked to the emergence of the LFP theta rhythm and the entrainment of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus42,54–56.”
  • Fast-spiking interneurons expressing the calcium binding protein parvalbumin (PV+) are the main modulators of critical period plasticity.

    “Fast-spiking interneurons expressing the calcium binding protein parvalbumin (PV+) are the main modulators of critical period plasticity (Figure 4).”
  • PV+ interneurons provide very strong inhibition to pyramidal cells, and their maturation rapidly restricts the influence of sensory experience in pyramidal cells and leads to the closure of critical period plasticity.

    “These cells provide very strong inhibition to pyramidal cells 38 , and so their maturation rapidly restricts the influence of sensory experience in pyramidal cells and leads to the closure of critical period plasticity.”
  • PNNs are stable structures known to lock synapses in place upon closure of the developmental window of plasticity, and several CNS pathologies present with upregulated ECM and PNN remodeling enzymes including MMPs.

    “Although PNNs are stable structures and known to lock synapses in place upon closure of the developmental window of plasticity17,38,39, several CNS pathologies40, including glioma and epilepsy, present with upregulated ECM and PNN remodeling enzymes including MMPs.”
  • PV-INs participate in feedforward and feedback inhibition, regulation of sensory responses, and learning and plasticity.

    “PV-INs have roles in both feedforward and feedback inhibition, regulation of sensory responses, and in learning and plasticity [66].”

    From Parvalbumin interneuron vulnerability and brain disorders (2021) · cites this paper as [66]

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Authors
Hu, H., Gan, J., & Jonas, P.
Affiliations
  • Institute of Science and Technology Austria (AT)
  • IST Austria (Institute of Science and Technology Austria), Am Campus 1, A-3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
Venue
Science
Published
2014-08
Volume
345
Issue
6196
Pages
1255263-1255263
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2084072056
Cited by
1,197
References
135
Citations by year
2026: 95 · 2025: 129 · 2024: 115 · 2023: 94 · 2022: 103 · 2021: 143 · 2020: 141 · 2019: 102 · 2018: 92 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 66 · 2015: 52 · 2014: 5
FWCI
6.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
parvalbumin interneurons, fast-spiking neurons, GABAergic interneurons, neuronal polarity, dendritic excitability, calcium channels, synaptic inhibition, feedforward inhibition, product inhibition, gamma oscillations, pattern separation, phase precession, grid cells, place cells, gain modulation, epilepsy, schizophrenia, therapeutic target
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Mental Disorders, Brain Diseases, Interneurons, Nerve Net, Synaptic Transmission, Parvalbumins, Mice, Synaptic Potentials, GABAergic Neurons

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