Development Of Cerebral Cortex Research Articles

Mapping Thyroid Hormone Action in the Human Brain.

Background: Normal brain development, mood, and cognitive functions depend on thyroid hormone (TH) action. However, little is known about how TH mediates its actions in the human brain. This is due to limited access to human brains deprived of TH during fetal and early postnatal life, as well as from adults with altered thyroid status. One way to partially bypass these limitations is by using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, two neuroimaging techniques that provide detailed, noninvasive information on human brain structure and function. Another way is using human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSCs)-derived three-dimensional in vitro systems, known as brain organoids, which allow for the study of fundamental aspects of the early stages of human brain development. Summary: This narrative review focuses on neuroimaging and brain organoid studies. Neuroimaging of human brains performed in individuals with different thyroid conditions provides information on the volume, myelination, blood flow, neural activity, and connectivity of different areas. Such studies show that suboptimal thyroid status can impact human brain development and its normal function throughout life. This is true not only for patients with sporadic congenital hypothyroidism, during pregnancy or early after birth, but also for adult patients with hypo- or hyperthyroidism, patients carrying mutations that manifest as impaired sensitivity to TH, and even for normal individuals during aging. Studies using brain organoids generated from hiPSCs of healthy individuals or patients with thyroid genetic conditions provide insights into how TH can impact the early development of the human cerebral cortex. Conclusions: The developmental alterations in children born to mothers with different degrees of gestational hypothyroidism or who developed hypothyroidism early in life are remarkable, affecting multiple brain regions and pathways, including the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, interhemispheric and corticospinal tracts, and associative nuclei. The data connecting such changes to poor neurological outcomes in adult patients with hypothyroidism represent an objective link between thyroid-specific functional brain alterations and behavior. Growing brain organoids require TH, which is critical for human neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis. These models have proven useful in screening drugs with potential therapeutic effects for patients with genetic thyroid diseases.

Effects of Developmental Lead and Phthalate Exposures on DNA Methylation in Adult Mouse Blood, Brain, and Liver: A Focus on Genomic Imprinting by Tissue and Sex.

Maternal exposure to environmental chemicals can cause adverse health effects in offspring. Mounting evidence supports that these effects are influenced, at least in part, by epigenetic modifications. It is unknown whether epigenetic changes in surrogate tissues such as the blood are reflective of similar changes in target tissues such as cortex or liver. We examined tissue- and sex-specific changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) associated with human-relevant lead (Pb) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure during perinatal development in cerebral cortex, blood, and liver. Female mice were exposed to human relevant doses of either Pb () via drinking water or DEHP () via chow for 2 weeks prior to mating through offspring weaning. Whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) was utilized to examine DNAm changes in offspring cortex, blood, and liver at 5 months of age. Metilene and methylSig were used to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Annotatr and ChIP-enrich were used for genomic annotations and gene set enrichment tests of DMRs, respectively. The cortex contained the majority of DMRs associated with Pb (66%) and DEHP (57%) exposure. The cortex also contained the greatest degree of overlap in DMR signatures between sexes ( and 8 DMRs with Pb and DEHP exposure, respectively) and exposure types ( and 39 DMRs in males and females, respectively). In all tissues, detected DMRs were preferentially found at genomic regions associated with gene expression regulation (e.g., CpG islands and shores, 5' UTRs, promoters, and exons). An analysis of GO terms associated with DMR-containing genes identified imprinted genes to be impacted by both Pb and DEHP exposure. Of these, Gnas and Grb10 contained DMRs across tissues, sexes, and exposures, with some signatures replicated between target and surrogate tissues. DMRs were enriched in the imprinting control regions (ICRs) of Gnas and Grb10, and we again observed a replication of DMR signatures between blood and target tissues. Specifically, we observed hypermethylation of the Grb10 ICR in both blood and liver of Pb-exposed male animals. These data provide preliminary evidence that imprinted genes may be viable candidates in the search for epigenetic biomarkers of toxicant exposure in target tissues. Additional research is needed on allele- and developmental stage-specific effects, as well as whether other imprinted genes provide additional examples of this relationship. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14074.

Early cortical GABAergic interneurons determine the projection patterns of L4 excitatory neurons.

During cerebral cortex development, excitatory pyramidal neurons (PNs) establish specific projection patterns while receiving inputs from GABAergic inhibitory interneurons (INs). Whether these inhibitory inputs can shape PNs' projection patterns is, however, unknown. While layer 4 (L4) PNs of the primary somatosensory (S1) cortex are all born as long-range callosal projection neurons (CPNs), most of them acquire local connectivity upon activity-dependent elimination of their interhemispheric axons during postnatal development. Here, we demonstrate that precise developmental regulation of inhibition is key for the retraction of S1L4 PNs' callosal projections. Ablation of somatostatin INs leads to premature inhibition from parvalbumin INs onto S1L4 PNs and prevents them from acquiring their barrel-restricted local connectivity pattern. As a result, adult S1L4 PNs retain interhemispheric projections responding to tactile stimuli, and the mice lose whisker-based texture discrimination. Overall, we show that temporally ordered IN activity during development is key to shaping local ipsilateral S1L4 PNs' projection pattern, which is required for fine somatosensory processing.

New aspects of a small GTPase RAB35 in brain development and function

Abstract In eukaryotic cells, organelles In the secretory, lysosomal, and endocytic pathways actively exchange biological materials with each other through intracellular membrane trafficking, which is the process of transporting the cargo of proteins, lipids, and other molecules to appropriate compartments via transport vesicles or intermediates. These processes are strictly regulated by various small GTPases such as the RAS-like in rat brain (RAB) protein family, which is the largest subfamily of the RAS superfamily. Dysfunction of membrane trafficking affects tissue homeostasis and leads to a wide range of diseases, including neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, it is important to understand the physiological and pathological roles of RAB proteins in brain function. RAB35, a member of the RAB family, is an evolutionarily conserved protein in metazoans. A wide range of studies using cultured mammalian cells and model organisms have revealed that RAB35 mediates various processes such as cytokinesis, endocytic recycling, actin bundling, and cell migration. RAB35 is also involved in neurite outgrowth and turnover of synaptic vesicles. We generated brain-specific Rab35 knockout mice to study the physiological roles of RAB35 in brain development and function. These mice exhibited defects in anxiety-related behaviors and spatial memory. Strikingly, RAB35 is required for the precise positioning of pyramidal neurons during hippocampal development, and thereby for normal hippocampal lamination. In contrast, layer formation in the cerebral cortex occurred superficially, even in the absence of RAB35, suggesting a predominant role for RAB35 in hippocampal development rather than in cerebral cortex development. Recent studies have suggested an association between RAB35 and neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of subcellular functions of RAB35. We also provide insights into the physiological role of RAB35 in mammalian brain development and function, and discuss the involvement of RAB35 dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases.

Generation of an induced pluripotent stem cell line (SDQLCHi067-A) from a patient with subcortical band heterotopia harboring a heterozygous mutation in DCX gene

Subcortical band heterotopia (SHB) is a rare severe brain developmental malformation caused by deficient neuronal migration during the development of cerebral cortex. Here, a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) line was established from a 4-year-1-month-old girl with SHB carrying a heterozygous mutation (c.568A > G, p.K190E) in DCX. The generated iPSC line showed the ability to differentiate into three lineages in vitro and was confirmed by pluripotency markers and the original gene mutation.

Impaired T3 uptake and action in MCT8-deficient cerebral organoids underlie Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome.

Patients with mutations in the thyroid hormone (TH) cell transporter monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) gene develop severe neuropsychomotor retardation known as Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS). It is assumed that this is caused by a reduction in TH signaling in the developing brain during both intrauterine and postnatal developmental stages, and treatment remains understandably challenging. Given species differences in brain TH transporters and the limitations of studies in mice, we generated cerebral organoids (COs) using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from MCT8-deficient patients. MCT8-deficient COs exhibited (i) altered early neurodevelopment, resulting in smaller neural rosettes with thinner cortical units, (ii) impaired triiodothyronine (T3) transport in developing neural cells, as assessed through deiodinase-3-mediated T3 catabolism, (iii) reduced expression of genes involved in cerebral cortex development, and (iv) reduced T3 inducibility of TH-regulated genes. In contrast, the TH analogs 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid and 3,3',5-triiodothyroacetic acid triggered normal responses (induction/repression of T3-responsive genes) in MCT8-deficient COs, constituting proof of concept that lack of T3 transport underlies the pathophysiology of AHDS and demonstrating the clinical potential for TH analogs to be used in treating patients with AHDS. MCT8-deficient COs represent a species-specific relevant preclinical model that can be utilized to screen drugs with potential benefits as personalized therapeutics for patients with AHDS.

Differential expression of paralog RNA binding proteins establishes a dynamic splicing program required for normal cerebral cortex development.

Sam68 and SLM2 are paralog RNA binding proteins (RBPs) expressed in the cerebral cortex and display similar splicing activities. However, their relative functions during cortical development are unknown. We found that these RBPs exhibit an opposite expression pattern during development. Sam68 expression declines postnatally while SLM2 increases after birth, and this developmental pattern is reinforced by hierarchical control of Sam68 expression by SLM2. Analysis of Sam68:Slm2 double knockout (Sam68:Slm2dko) mice revealed hundreds of exons that respond to joint depletion of these proteins. Moreover, parallel analysis of single and double knockout cortices indicated that exons regulated mainly by SLM2 are characterized by a dynamic splicing pattern during development, whereas Sam68-dependent exons are spliced at relatively constant rates. Dynamic splicing of SLM2-sensitive exons is completely suppressed in the Sam68:Slm2dko developing cortex. Sam68:Slm2dko mice die perinatally with defects in neurogenesis and in neuronal differentiation, and develop a hydrocephalus, consistent with splicing alterations in genes related to these biological processes. Thus, our study reveals that developmental control of separate Sam68 and Slm2 paralog genes encoding homologous RBPs enables the orchestration of a dynamic splicing program needed for brain development and viability, while ensuring a robust redundant mechanism that supports proper cortical development.

The effect of HSP70 overexpression on the cerebral cortex development

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) make up a large family of molecular chaperones, recognized for their role in protein maturation, refolding, and degradation. HSP70 was shown to promote cell survival during several pathological processes in the brain, such as stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, and trauma [1]. In addition, HSPs serve to promote the proper embryonic and postnatal development of many organ systems, such as the central nervous system [2]. Heat shock proteins demonstrate specific expression patterns throughout the development of the nervous system, notably during crucial embryonic and postnatal moments [1]. During embryonic development, neural and glial progenitors must survive within a hypoxic microenvironment while performing energetically demanding actions, such as cell migration and neurite outgrowth. HSPs can activate or inhibit development pathways in the nervous system that modulate cell differentiation, neurite outgrowth, cell migration, or angiogenesis [1]. Indeed, recent studies demonstrated that HSP70 directly regulates the development of the nervous system by modulating signaling cascades involved in cell growth and migration [3]. Additionally, research demonstrated [4] that introducing HSP70 from an external source significantly augments the populations of proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts within the mouse hippocampus. Nevertheless, some researchers [1] contend that overexpression of HSPs may negatively impact cell survival. Therefore, the precise role of these chaperones remains largely unexplored. In our study, we used in utero electroporation to introduce plasmids that controlled HSP70 overexpression into neuron progenitors of mouse embryos on the 14th day of gestation. Additionally, plasmid DNA encoding GFP was used to facilitate subsequent visualization of transformed cells. Brain samples were collected on the 18th day of gestation for immunohistochemical analysis of the sections. Confocal microscopy was used to compare the characteristics of neuronal migration in both control and HSP70 overexpression conditions. Cells that received plasmids inducing HSP70 were discovered to migrate at a lower pace in comparison to the control. Additionally, it is hypothesized that the induction of HSP70 expression could lead to neuronal malformations and impact the development of neurites. In the future, the study of cytoarchitectonics in the cortex will continue, examining the identification of electroporated cells in individual neuron populations using Satb2 and Ctip2 markers. Additionally, the differentiation of these cells will be assessed by counting those that have not exited the mitotic cycle, and the hypothesis of apoptosis induction in cells electroporated with HSP70 will be tested.

Truncated radial glia as a common precursor in the late corticogenesis of gyrencephalic mammals.

The diversity of neural stem cells is a hallmark of the cerebral cortex development in gyrencephalic mammals, such as Primates and Carnivora. Among them, ferrets are a good model for mechanistic studies. However, information on their neural progenitor cells (NPC), termed radial glia (RG), is limited. Here, we surveyed the temporal series of single-cell transcriptomes of progenitors regarding ferret corticogenesis and found a conserved diversity and temporal trajectory between human and ferret NPC, despite the large timescale difference. We found truncated RG (tRG) in ferret cortical development, a progenitor subtype previously described in humans. The combination of in silico and in vivo analyses identified that tRG differentiate into both ependymal and astrogenic cells. Via transcriptomic comparison, we predict that this is also the case in humans. Our findings suggest that tRG plays a role in the formation of adult ventricles, thereby providing the architectural bases for brain expansion.

Truncated radial glia as a common precursor in the late corticogenesis of gyrencephalic mammals

The diversity of neural stem cells is a hallmark of the cerebral cortex development in gyrencephalic mammals, such as Primates and Carnivora. Among them, ferrets are a good model for mechanistic studies. However, information on their neural progenitor cells (NPC), termed radial glia (RG), is limited. Here, we surveyed the temporal series of single-cell transcriptomes of progenitors regarding ferret corticogenesis and found a conserved diversity and temporal trajectory between human and ferret NPC, despite the large timescale difference. We found truncated RG (tRG) in ferret cortical development, a progenitor subtype previously described in humans. The combination of in silico and in vivo analyses identified that tRG differentiate into both ependymal and astrogenic cells. Via transcriptomic comparison, we predict that this is also the case in humans. Our findings suggest that tRG plays a role in the formation of adult ventricles, thereby providing the architectural bases for brain expansion.

Epigenetic and transcriptional landscapes during cerebral cortex development in a microcephaly mouse model

The cerebral cortex is a pivotal structure integral to advanced brain functions within the mammalian central nervous system. DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation play important roles in regulating cerebral cortex development. However, it remains unclear whether abnormal cerebral cortex development, such as microcephaly, could rescale the epigenetic landscape, potentially contributing to dysregulated gene expression during brain development. In this study, we characterize and compare the DNA methylome/hydroxymethylome and transcriptome profiles of the cerebral cortex across several developmental stages in wild-type (WT) mice and Mcph1 knockout (Mcph1-del) mice with severe microcephaly. Intriguingly, we discover a global reduction of 5′-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) level, primarily in TET1-binding regions, in Mcph1-del mice compared to WT mice during juvenile and adult stages. Notably, genes exhibiting diminished 5hmC levels and concurrently decreased expression are essential for neurodevelopment and brain functions. Additionally, genes displaying a delayed accumulation of 5hmC in Mcph1-del mice are significantly associated with the establishment and maintenance of the nervous system during the adult stage. These findings reveal that aberrant cerebral cortex development in the early stages profoundly alters the epigenetic regulation program, which provides unique insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning diseases related to cerebral cortex development.

Bi-allelic truncating variants in CASP2 underlie a neurodevelopmental disorder with lissencephaly

Lissencephaly (LIS) is a malformation of cortical development due to deficient neuronal migration and abnormal formation of cerebral convolutions or gyri. Thirty-one LIS-associated genes have been previously described. Recently, biallelic pathogenic variants in CRADD and PIDD1, have associated with LIS impacting the previously established role of the PIDDosome in activating caspase-2. In this report, we describe biallelic truncating variants in CASP2, another subunit of PIDDosome complex. Seven patients from five independent families presenting with a neurodevelopmental phenotype were identified through GeneMatcher-facilitated international collaborations. Exome sequencing analysis was carried out and revealed two distinct novel homozygous (NM_032982.4:c.1156delT (p.Tyr386ThrfsTer25), and c.1174 C > T (p.Gln392Ter)) and compound heterozygous variants (c.[130 C > T];[876 + 1 G > T] p.[Arg44Ter];[?]) in CASP2 segregating within the families in a manner compatible with an autosomal recessive pattern. RNA studies of the c.876 + 1 G > T variant indicated usage of two cryptic splice donor sites, each introducing a premature stop codon. All patients from whom brain MRIs were available had a typical fronto-temporal LIS and pachygyria, remarkably resembling the CRADD and PIDD1-related neuroimaging findings. Other findings included developmental delay, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hypotonia, seizure, poor social skills, and autistic traits. In summary, we present patients with CASP2-related ID, anterior-predominant LIS, and pachygyria similar to previously reported patients with CRADD and PIDD1-related disorders, expanding the genetic spectrum of LIS and lending support that each component of the PIDDosome complex is critical for normal development of the human cerebral cortex and brain function.

ADP ribosylation factor 4 (Arf4) regulates radial migration through N-cadherin trafficking during cerebral cortical development.

During the development of the cerebral cortex, N-cadherin plays a crucial role in facilitating radial migration by enabling cell-to-cell adhesion between migrating neurons and radial glial fibers or Cajar-Reztius cells. ADP ribosylation factor 4 (Arf4) and Arf5, which belong to the class II Arf small GTPase subfamily, control membrane trafficking in the endocytic and secretory pathways. However, their specific contribution to cerebral cortex development remains unclear. In this study, we sought to investigate the functional involvement of class II Arfs in radial migration during the layer formation of the cerebral cortex using mouse embryos and pups. Our findings indicate that knockdown of Arf4, but not Arf5, resulted in the stalling of transfected neurons with disorientation of the Golgi in the upper intermediate zone (IZ) and reduction in the migration speed in both the IZ and cortical plate. Migrating neurons with Arf4 knockdown exhibited cytoplasmic accumulation of N-cadherin, along with disturbed organelle morphology and distribution. Furthermore, supplementation of exogenous N-cadherin partially rescued the migration defect caused by Arf4 knockdown. In conclusion, our results suggest that Arf4 plays a crucial role in regulating radial migration via N-cadherin trafficking during cerebral cortical development.Significance StatementIn the cortical layer formation, the distribution of N-cadherin on cell surface in migrating neurons is tightly regulated by endosomal trafficking system. However, its molecular detail remained fully understood. Here, we demonstrated that Arf4 small GTPase, a critical regulator of membrane trafficking in the trans-Golgi network (TGN), plays distinct roles from Arf5 in radial migration. We further demonstrated that Arf4 regulates N-cadherin trafficking in and out of the TGN and the contact of migrating neurons with radial fibers. Our results suggest that Arf4 regulates radial migration through N-cadherin trafficking in the TGN.

Calnexin controls TrkB cell surface transport and ER-phagy in mouse cerebral cortex development.

Transactivation of Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) by EGF leads to cell surface transport of TrkB, promoting its signaling responsiveness to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a critical process for proper cortical plate development. However, the mechanisms that regulate the transport of TrkB to the cell surface are not fully understood. Here, we identified Calnexin as a regulator for targeting TrkB either to the cell surface or toward autophagosomal processing. Calnexin-deficient mouse embryos show impaired cortical plate formation and elevated levels of transactivated TrkB. In Calnexin-depleted mouse neuronal precursor cells, we detected an impaired cell surface transport of TrkB in response to EGF and an impaired delivery to autophagosomes. Mechanistically, we show that Calnexin facilitates the interaction of TrkB with the ER-phagy receptor Fam134b, thereby targeting TrkB to ER-phagy. This mechanism appears as a critical process for fine-tuning the sensitivity of neurons to BDNF.

Repurposing of the multiciliation gene regulatory network in fate specification of Cajal-Retzius neurons.

Cajal-Retzius cells (CRs) are key players in cerebral cortex development, and they display a unique transcriptomic identity. Here, we use scRNA-seq to reconstruct the differentiation trajectory of mouse hem-derived CRs, and we unravel the transient expression of a complete gene module previously known to control multiciliogenesis. However, CRs do not undergo centriole amplification or multiciliation. Upon deletion of Gmnc, the master regulator of multiciliogenesis, CRs are initially produced but fail to reach their normal identity resulting in their massive apoptosis. We further dissect the contribution of multiciliation effector genes and identify Trp73 as a key determinant. Finally, we use in utero electroporation to demonstrate that the intrinsic competence of hem progenitors as well as the heterochronic expression of Gmnc prevent centriole amplification in the CR lineage. Our work exemplifies how the co-option of a complete gene module, repurposed to control a distinct process, may contribute to the emergence of novel cell identities.

Genetically Defined Subtypes of Somatostatin-Containing Cortical Interneurons.

Inhibitory interneurons play a crucial role in proper development and function of the mammalian cerebral cortex. Of the different inhibitory subclasses, dendritic-targeting, somatostatin-containing (SOM) interneurons may be the most diverse. Earlier studies used GFP-expressing and recombinase-expressing mouse lines to characterize genetically defined subtypes of SOM interneurons by morphologic, electrophysiological, and neurochemical properties. More recently, large-scale studies classified SOM interneurons into 13 morpho-electric transcriptomic (MET) types. It remains unclear, however, how these various classification schemes relate to each other, and experimental access to MET types has been limited by the scarcity of specific mouse driver lines. To address these issues, we crossed Flp and Cre driver lines with a dual-color intersectional reporter, allowing experimental access to several combinatorially defined SOM subsets. Brains from adult mice of both sexes were retrogradely dye labeled from the pial surface to identify layer 1-projecting neurons and immunostained against several marker proteins, revealing correlations between genetic label, axonal target, and marker protein expression in the same neurons. Lastly, using whole-cell recordings ex vivo, we analyzed and compared electrophysiological properties between different intersectional subsets. We identified two layer 1-targeting subtypes with nonoverlapping marker protein expression and electrophysiological properties, which, together with a previously characterized layer 4-targeting subtype, account for >50% of all layer 5 SOM cells and >40% of all SOM cells, and appear to map onto 5 of the 13 MET types. Genetic access to these subtypes will allow researchers to determine their synaptic inputs and outputs and uncover their roles in cortical computations and animal behavior.

Mapping Genetic Topography of Cortical Thickness and Surface Area in Neonatal Brains.

Adult twin neuroimaging studies have revealed that cortical thickness (CT) and surface area (SA) are differentially influenced by genetic information, leading to their spatially distinct genetic patterning and topography. However, the postnatal origins of the genetic topography of CT and SA remain unclear, given the dramatic cortical development from neonates to adults. To fill this critical gap, this study unprecedentedly explored how genetic information differentially regulates the spatial topography of CT and SA in the neonatal brain by leveraging brain magnetic resonance (MR) images from 202 twin neonates with minimal influence by the complicated postnatal environmental factors. We capitalized on infant-dedicated computational tools and a data-driven spectral clustering method to parcellate the cerebral cortex into a set of distinct regions purely according to the genetic correlation of cortical vertices in terms of CT and SA, respectively, and accordingly created the first genetically informed cortical parcellation maps of neonatal brains. Both genetic parcellation maps exhibit bilaterally symmetric and hierarchical patterns, but distinct spatial layouts. For CT, regions with closer genetic relationships demonstrate an anterior-posterior (A-P) division, while for SA, regions with greater genetic proximity are typically within the same lobe. Certain genetically informed regions exhibit strong similarities between neonates and adults, with the most striking similarities in the medial surface in terms of SA, despite their overall substantial differences in genetic parcellation maps. These results greatly advance our understanding of the development of genetic influences on the spatial patterning of cortical morphology.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Genetic influences on cortical thickness (CT) and surface area (SA) are complex and could evolve throughout the lifespan. However, studies revealing distinct genetic topography of CT and SA have been limited to adults. Using brain structural magnetic resonance (MR) images of twins, we unprecedentedly discovered the distinct genetically-informed parcellation maps of CT and SA in neonatal brains, respectively. Each genetic parcellation map comprises a distinct spatial layout of cortical regions, where vertices within the same region share high genetic correlation. These genetic parcellation maps of CT and SA of neonates largely differ from those of adults, despite their highly remarkable similarities in the medial cortex of SA. These discoveries provide important insights into the genetic organization of the early cerebral cortex development.

BMP7 expression in mammalian cortical radial glial cells increases the length of the neurogenic period.

The seat of human intelligence is the human cerebral cortex, which is responsible for our exceptional cognitive abilities. Identifying principles that lead to the development of the large-sized human cerebral cortex will shed light on what makes the human brain and species so special. The remarkable increase in the number of human cortical pyramidal neurons and the size of the human cerebral cortex is mainly because human cortical radial glial cells, primary neural stem cells in the cortex, generate cortical pyramidal neurons for more than 130 days, whereas the same process takes only about 7 days in mice. The molecular mechanisms underlying this difference are largely unknown. Here, we found that bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7) is expressed by increasing the number of cortical radial glial cells during mammalian evolution (mouse, ferret, monkey, and human). BMP7 expression in cortical radial glial cells promotes neurogenesis, inhibits gliogenesis, and thereby increases the length of the neurogenic period, whereas Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling promotes cortical gliogenesis. We demonstrate that BMP7 signaling and SHH signaling mutually inhibit each other through regulation of GLI3 repressor formation. We propose that BMP7 drives the evolutionary expansion of the mammalian cortex by increasing the length of the neurogenic period.

Overexpression of EphB6 and EphrinB2 controls soma spacing of cortical neurons in a mutual inhibitory way

To establish functional circuitry, neurons settle down in a particular spatial domain by spacing their cell bodies, which requires proper positioning of the soma and establishing of a zone with unique connections. Deficits in this process are implicated in neurodevelopmental diseases. In this study, we examined the function of EphB6 in the development of cerebral cortex. Overexpression of EphB6 via in utero electroporation results in clumping of cortical neurons, while reducing its expression has no effect. In addition, overexpression of EphrinB2, a ligand of EphB6, also induces soma clumping in the cortex. Unexpectedly, the soma clumping phenotypes disappear when both of them are overexpressed in cortical neurons. The mutual inhibitory effect of EphB6/ EphrinB2 on preventing soma clumping is likely to be achieved via interaction of their specific domains. Thus, our results reveal a combinational role of EphrinB2/EphB6 overexpression in controlling soma spacing in cortical development.

Gene Set Based Integrated Methylome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Potential Molecular Mechanisms Linking Cigarette Smoking and Related Diseases.

Advanced integrative analysis of DNA methylation and transcriptomics data may provide deeper insights into smoke-induced epigenetic alterations, their effects on gene expression and related biological processes, linking cigarette smoking and related diseases. We hypothesize that accumulation of DNA methylation changes in CpG sites across genomic locations of different genes might have biological significance. We tested the hypothesis by performing gene set based integrative analysis of blood DNA methylation and transcriptomics data to identify potential transcriptomic consequences of smoking via changes in DNA methylation in the Young Finns Study (YFS) participants (n = 1114, aged 34-49 years, women: 54%, men: 46%). First, we performed epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of smoking. We then defined sets of genes based on DNA methylation status within their genomic regions, for example, sets of genes containing hyper- or hypomethylated CpG sites in their body or promoter regions. Gene set analysis was performed using transcriptomics data from the same participants. Two sets of genes, one containing 49 genes with hypomethylated CpG sites in their body region and the other containing 33 genes with hypomethylated CpG sites in their promoter region, were differentially expressed among the smokers. Genes in the two gene sets are involved in bone formation, metal ion transport, cell death, peptidyl-serine phosphorylation, and cerebral cortex development process, revealing epigenetic-transcriptomic pathways to smoking-related diseases such as osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, and cognitive impairment. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of smoking-related diseases and may provide potential therapeutic targets.