Vitale, C.* ; Natali, G.* ; Cerullo, M.S.* ; Floss, T. ; Michetti, C.* ; Grasselli, G.* ; Benfenati, F.*
The homeostatic effects of the RE-1 silencing transcription factor on cortical networks are altered under ictogenic conditions in the mouse.
Acta Physiol. 240:e14146 (2024)
AIM: The Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription Factor (REST) is an epigenetic master regulator playing a crucial role in the nervous system. In early developmental stages, REST downregulation promotes neuronal differentiation and the acquisition of the neuronal phenotype. In addition, postnatal fluctuations in REST expression contribute to shaping neuronal networks and maintaining network homeostasis. Here we investigate the role of the early postnatal deletion of neuronal REST in the assembly and strength of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic connections. METHODS: We investigated excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission by patch-clamp recordings in acute neocortical slices in a conditional knockout mouse model (RestGTi) in which Rest was deleted by delivering PHP.eB adeno-associated viruses encoding CRE recombinase under the control of the human synapsin I promoter in the lateral ventricles of P0-P1 pups. RESULTS: We show that, under physiological conditions, Rest deletion increased the intrinsic excitability of principal cortical neurons in the primary visual cortex and the density and strength of excitatory synaptic connections impinging on them, without affecting inhibitory transmission. Conversely, in the presence of a pathological excitation/inhibition imbalance induced by pentylenetetrazol, Rest deletion prevented the increase in synaptic excitation and decreased seizure severity. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that REST exerts distinct effects on the excitability of cortical circuits depending on whether it acts under physiological conditions or in the presence of pathologic network hyperexcitability. In the former case, REST preserves a correct excitatory/inhibitory balance in cortical circuits, while in the latter REST loses its homeostatic activity and may become pro-epileptogenic.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
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Keywords
Rest Conditional Knockout ; Rest/nrsf ; Epilepsy ; Seizure Propensity ; Synaptic Transmission; Developmental Switch; Plasticity; Chromatin; Promotes; Disease; Rest; Nrsf
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Language
english
Publication Year
2024
Prepublished in Year
0
HGF-reported in Year
2024
ISSN (print) / ISBN
1748-1708
e-ISSN
1748-1716
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Volume: 240,
Issue: 6,
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Article Number: e14146
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Wiley
Publishing Place
Hoboken
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Peer reviewed
POF-Topic(s)
30204 - Cell Programming and Repair
Research field(s)
Genetics and Epidemiology
PSP Element(s)
G-500500-001
Grants
Ministero della Salute
Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca
Compagnia di San Paolo
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino
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Erfassungsdatum
2024-06-04