Haploinsufficiency of intraflagellar transport protein 172 causes autism-like behavioral phenotypes in mice through BDNF

Introduction: Primary cilia are hair-like solitary organelles growing on most mammalian cells that play fundamental roles in embryonic patterning and organogenesis. Defective cilia often cause a suite of inherited diseases called ciliopathies with multifaceted manifestations. Intraflagellar transpor...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nanxi Zheng, Shilin Luo, Xin Zhang, Ling Hu, Muzhi Huang, Mingyu Li, Colin McCaig, Yu-Qiang Ding, Bing Lang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Advanced Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123224003825
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849686089505177600
author Nanxi Zheng
Shilin Luo
Xin Zhang
Ling Hu
Muzhi Huang
Mingyu Li
Colin McCaig
Yu-Qiang Ding
Bing Lang
author_facet Nanxi Zheng
Shilin Luo
Xin Zhang
Ling Hu
Muzhi Huang
Mingyu Li
Colin McCaig
Yu-Qiang Ding
Bing Lang
author_sort Nanxi Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Primary cilia are hair-like solitary organelles growing on most mammalian cells that play fundamental roles in embryonic patterning and organogenesis. Defective cilia often cause a suite of inherited diseases called ciliopathies with multifaceted manifestations. Intraflagellar transport (IFT), a bidirectional protein trafficking along the cilium, actively facilitates the formation and absorption of primary cilia. IFT172 is the largest component of the IFT-B complex, and its roles in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) have been appreciated with unclear mechanisms. Objectives: We performed a battery of behavioral tests with Ift172 haploinsufficiency (Ift172+/-) and WT littermates. We use RNA sequencing to identify the genes and signaling pathways that are differentially expressed and enriched in the hippocampus of Ift172+/- mice. Using AAV-mediated sparse labeling, electron microscopic examination, patch clamp and local field potential recording, western blot, luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and neuropharmacological approach, we investigated the underlying mechanisms for the aberrant phenotypes presented by Ift172+/- mice. Results: Ift172+/- mice displayed excessive self-grooming, elevated anxiety, and impaired cognition. RNA sequencing revealed enrichment of differentially expressed genes in pathways relevant to axonogenesis and synaptic plasticity, which were further confirmed by less spine density and synaptic number. Ift172+/- mice demonstrated fewer parvalbumin-expressing neurons, decreased inhibitory synaptic transmission, augmented theta oscillation, and sharp-wave ripples in the CA1 region. Moreover, Ift172 haploinsufficiency caused less BDNF production and less activated BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway through transcription factor Gli3. Application of 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone, a potent small molecular TrkB agonist, fully restored BDNF-TrkB signaling activity and abnormal behavioral phenotypes presented by Ift172+/- mice. With luciferase and chip assays, we provided further evidence that Gli3 may physically interact with BDNF promoter I and regulate BDNF expression. Conclusions: Our data suggest that Ift172 per se drives neurotrophic effects and, when defective, could cause neurodevelopmental disorders reminiscent of autism-like disorders.
format Article
id doaj-art-73c663e3168d4b41a16e89cd7e5df3da
institution DOAJ
issn 2090-1232
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Advanced Research
spelling doaj-art-73c663e3168d4b41a16e89cd7e5df3da2025-08-20T03:22:50ZengElsevierJournal of Advanced Research2090-12322025-07-017368169510.1016/j.jare.2024.08.041Haploinsufficiency of intraflagellar transport protein 172 causes autism-like behavioral phenotypes in mice through BDNFNanxi Zheng0Shilin Luo1Xin Zhang2Ling Hu3Muzhi Huang4Mingyu Li5Colin McCaig6Yu-Qiang Ding7Bing Lang8Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China; Department of Psychiatry, Fujian Medical University Affiliated Fuzhou Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Fuzhou 350005, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorder, Central South University, Changsha, China; Engineering Research Center of Human Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Changsha 410008, ChinaCollege of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 200433 Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, AB25 2ZD Aberdeen, Scotland, UKState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 200433 Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China; Corresponding author.Introduction: Primary cilia are hair-like solitary organelles growing on most mammalian cells that play fundamental roles in embryonic patterning and organogenesis. Defective cilia often cause a suite of inherited diseases called ciliopathies with multifaceted manifestations. Intraflagellar transport (IFT), a bidirectional protein trafficking along the cilium, actively facilitates the formation and absorption of primary cilia. IFT172 is the largest component of the IFT-B complex, and its roles in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) have been appreciated with unclear mechanisms. Objectives: We performed a battery of behavioral tests with Ift172 haploinsufficiency (Ift172+/-) and WT littermates. We use RNA sequencing to identify the genes and signaling pathways that are differentially expressed and enriched in the hippocampus of Ift172+/- mice. Using AAV-mediated sparse labeling, electron microscopic examination, patch clamp and local field potential recording, western blot, luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and neuropharmacological approach, we investigated the underlying mechanisms for the aberrant phenotypes presented by Ift172+/- mice. Results: Ift172+/- mice displayed excessive self-grooming, elevated anxiety, and impaired cognition. RNA sequencing revealed enrichment of differentially expressed genes in pathways relevant to axonogenesis and synaptic plasticity, which were further confirmed by less spine density and synaptic number. Ift172+/- mice demonstrated fewer parvalbumin-expressing neurons, decreased inhibitory synaptic transmission, augmented theta oscillation, and sharp-wave ripples in the CA1 region. Moreover, Ift172 haploinsufficiency caused less BDNF production and less activated BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway through transcription factor Gli3. Application of 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone, a potent small molecular TrkB agonist, fully restored BDNF-TrkB signaling activity and abnormal behavioral phenotypes presented by Ift172+/- mice. With luciferase and chip assays, we provided further evidence that Gli3 may physically interact with BDNF promoter I and regulate BDNF expression. Conclusions: Our data suggest that Ift172 per se drives neurotrophic effects and, when defective, could cause neurodevelopmental disorders reminiscent of autism-like disorders.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123224003825Intraflagellar transport protein 172Primary ciliaAutism spectrum disordersSonic HedgehogBDNFBardet Biedl Syndrome
spellingShingle Nanxi Zheng
Shilin Luo
Xin Zhang
Ling Hu
Muzhi Huang
Mingyu Li
Colin McCaig
Yu-Qiang Ding
Bing Lang
Haploinsufficiency of intraflagellar transport protein 172 causes autism-like behavioral phenotypes in mice through BDNF
Journal of Advanced Research
Intraflagellar transport protein 172
Primary cilia
Autism spectrum disorders
Sonic Hedgehog
BDNF
Bardet Biedl Syndrome
title Haploinsufficiency of intraflagellar transport protein 172 causes autism-like behavioral phenotypes in mice through BDNF
title_full Haploinsufficiency of intraflagellar transport protein 172 causes autism-like behavioral phenotypes in mice through BDNF
title_fullStr Haploinsufficiency of intraflagellar transport protein 172 causes autism-like behavioral phenotypes in mice through BDNF
title_full_unstemmed Haploinsufficiency of intraflagellar transport protein 172 causes autism-like behavioral phenotypes in mice through BDNF
title_short Haploinsufficiency of intraflagellar transport protein 172 causes autism-like behavioral phenotypes in mice through BDNF
title_sort haploinsufficiency of intraflagellar transport protein 172 causes autism like behavioral phenotypes in mice through bdnf
topic Intraflagellar transport protein 172
Primary cilia
Autism spectrum disorders
Sonic Hedgehog
BDNF
Bardet Biedl Syndrome
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123224003825
work_keys_str_mv AT nanxizheng haploinsufficiencyofintraflagellartransportprotein172causesautismlikebehavioralphenotypesinmicethroughbdnf
AT shilinluo haploinsufficiencyofintraflagellartransportprotein172causesautismlikebehavioralphenotypesinmicethroughbdnf
AT xinzhang haploinsufficiencyofintraflagellartransportprotein172causesautismlikebehavioralphenotypesinmicethroughbdnf
AT linghu haploinsufficiencyofintraflagellartransportprotein172causesautismlikebehavioralphenotypesinmicethroughbdnf
AT muzhihuang haploinsufficiencyofintraflagellartransportprotein172causesautismlikebehavioralphenotypesinmicethroughbdnf
AT mingyuli haploinsufficiencyofintraflagellartransportprotein172causesautismlikebehavioralphenotypesinmicethroughbdnf
AT colinmccaig haploinsufficiencyofintraflagellartransportprotein172causesautismlikebehavioralphenotypesinmicethroughbdnf
AT yuqiangding haploinsufficiencyofintraflagellartransportprotein172causesautismlikebehavioralphenotypesinmicethroughbdnf
AT binglang haploinsufficiencyofintraflagellartransportprotein172causesautismlikebehavioralphenotypesinmicethroughbdnf