Anterior cingulate cortex parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons shape social behavior in male mice

Abstract The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is essential for social behavior, and its dysfunction is implicated in social interaction deficits in autism. Pyramidal neuron activity in the ACC is modulated by parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) interneurons, though their specific roles in social...

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Main Authors: Chuchu Qi, Wenqi Sima, Honghui Mao, Erling Hu, Junye Ge, Mao Deng, Andi Chen, Weiyi Ye, Qian Xue, Wenting Wang, Qian Chen, Shengxi Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59473-z
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author Chuchu Qi
Wenqi Sima
Honghui Mao
Erling Hu
Junye Ge
Mao Deng
Andi Chen
Weiyi Ye
Qian Xue
Wenting Wang
Qian Chen
Shengxi Wu
author_facet Chuchu Qi
Wenqi Sima
Honghui Mao
Erling Hu
Junye Ge
Mao Deng
Andi Chen
Weiyi Ye
Qian Xue
Wenting Wang
Qian Chen
Shengxi Wu
author_sort Chuchu Qi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is essential for social behavior, and its dysfunction is implicated in social interaction deficits in autism. Pyramidal neuron activity in the ACC is modulated by parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) interneurons, though their specific roles in social interactions remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that PV and SST interneurons differentially contribute to the regulation of social interactions. In a Shank3-deficient autistic model, the expression of Kcnh7, a risk gene for autism, is reduced in both PV and SST interneurons. Knocking out Kcnh7 in either interneuron subtype leads to social interaction deficits. Furthermore, projections from the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (mediorostral part, LPMR) to PV interneurons and from the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) to SST interneurons differentially modulate social interactions. These findings provide new insights into the distinct roles of PV and SST interneurons in social processes and their contributions to autism-related pathophysiology.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-fa0e214ef2e5443e8c1845dc2e7c0c262025-08-20T03:52:55ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111810.1038/s41467-025-59473-zAnterior cingulate cortex parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons shape social behavior in male miceChuchu Qi0Wenqi Sima1Honghui Mao2Erling Hu3Junye Ge4Mao Deng5Andi Chen6Weiyi Ye7Qian Xue8Wenting Wang9Qian Chen10Shengxi Wu11Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical UniversityZhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical UniversityZhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical UniversityZhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesDepartment of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical UniversityAbstract The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is essential for social behavior, and its dysfunction is implicated in social interaction deficits in autism. Pyramidal neuron activity in the ACC is modulated by parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) interneurons, though their specific roles in social interactions remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that PV and SST interneurons differentially contribute to the regulation of social interactions. In a Shank3-deficient autistic model, the expression of Kcnh7, a risk gene for autism, is reduced in both PV and SST interneurons. Knocking out Kcnh7 in either interneuron subtype leads to social interaction deficits. Furthermore, projections from the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus (mediorostral part, LPMR) to PV interneurons and from the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) to SST interneurons differentially modulate social interactions. These findings provide new insights into the distinct roles of PV and SST interneurons in social processes and their contributions to autism-related pathophysiology.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59473-z
spellingShingle Chuchu Qi
Wenqi Sima
Honghui Mao
Erling Hu
Junye Ge
Mao Deng
Andi Chen
Weiyi Ye
Qian Xue
Wenting Wang
Qian Chen
Shengxi Wu
Anterior cingulate cortex parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons shape social behavior in male mice
Nature Communications
title Anterior cingulate cortex parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons shape social behavior in male mice
title_full Anterior cingulate cortex parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons shape social behavior in male mice
title_fullStr Anterior cingulate cortex parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons shape social behavior in male mice
title_full_unstemmed Anterior cingulate cortex parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons shape social behavior in male mice
title_short Anterior cingulate cortex parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons shape social behavior in male mice
title_sort anterior cingulate cortex parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons shape social behavior in male mice
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59473-z
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