Cited by 74Genetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersGenetic Syndromes and ImprintingNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Adult Ube3a Gene Reinstatement Restores the Electrophysiological Deficits of Prefrontal Cortex Layer 5 Neurons in a Mouse Model of Angelman Syndrome

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Rotaru, Diana C., van Woerden, Geeske M., Wallaard, Ilse, Elgersma, Ype·2018·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

E3 ubiquitin ligase (UBE3A) levels in the brain need to be tightly regulated, as loss of functional UBE3A protein is responsible for the severe neurodevelopmental disorder Angelman syndrome (AS), whereas increased activity of UBE3A is associated with nonsyndromic autism. Given the role of mPFC in neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, we aimed to identify the functional changes resulting from loss of UBE3A in infralimbic and prelimbic mPFC areas in a mouse model of AS. Whole-cell recordings from layer 5 mPFC pyramidal neurons obtained in brain slices from adult mice of both sexes revealed that loss of UBE3A results in a strong decrease of spontaneous inhibitory transmission and increase of spontaneous excitatory transmission potentially leading to a marked excitation/inhibition imbalance. Additionally, we found that loss of UBE3A led to decreased excitability and increased threshold for action potential of layer 5 fast spiking interneurons without significantly affecting the excitability of pyramidal neurons. Because we previously showed that AS mouse behavioral phenotypes are reversible upon Ube3a gene reactivation during a restricted period of early postnatal development, we investigated whether Ube3a gene reactivation in a fully mature brain could reverse any of the identified physiological deficits. In contrast to our previously reported behavioral findings, restoring UBE3A levels in adult animals fully rescued all the identified physiological deficits of mPFC neurons. Moreover, the kinetics of reversing these synaptic deficits closely followed the reinstatement of UBE3A protein level. Together, these findings show a striking dissociation between the rescue of behavioral and physiological deficits. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Here we describe significant physiological deficits in the mPFC of an Angelman syndrome mouse model. We found a marked change in excitatory/inhibitory balance, as well as decreased excitability of fast spiking interneurons. A promising treatment strategy for Angelman syndrome is aimed at restoring UBE3A expression by activating the paternal UBE3A gene. Here we find that the physiological changes in the mPFC are fully reversible upon gene reactivation, even when the brain is fully mature. This indicates that there is no critical developmental window for reversing the identified physiological deficits in mPFC.

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  • For some of these monogenic syndromes it has recently been shown that deficits in the structural development of the PFC underlie these problems.

    “For some of these syndromes it has recently been shown that deficits in the structural development of the PFC underlie these problems [281–287].”

    From Development of prefrontal cortex (2022) · cites this paper as [286]

    The Introduction reports altered orbitofrontal gray-matter volume in people with Angelman syndrome and suggests that some behavioral problems may depend on PFC function. But the discussion describes impaired development of PFC projections as a possibility not tested in this study; it does not establish that structural PFC deficits underlie the behavioral problems. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Rotaru, D. C., van Woerden, G. M., Wallaard, I., & Elgersma, Y.
Affiliations
Erasmus MC (NL)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2018-08-06
Volume
38
Issue
37
Pages
8011-8030
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2886887055
Cited by
74
References
107
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 1
FWCI
6.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
Angelman syndrome, UBE3A, prefrontal cortex, layer 5 pyramidal neurons, fast-spiking interneurons, excitation-inhibition balance, neuronal excitability, action potential threshold, infralimbic cortex, prelimbic cortex, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum disorder, mouse model
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Neurons, Angelman Syndrome, Prefrontal Cortex, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases, Mice

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