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Published on: November 17, 2017
SYNGAP1 deficiency disrupts synaptic neoteny in xenotransplanted human cortical neurons in vivo
Ben Vermaercke1, Ryohei Iwata1, Keimpe Wierda2
1VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences & Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
Human brain ontogeny is characterized by a considerably prolonged neotenic development of cortical neurons and circuits. Neoteny is thought to be essential for the acquisition of advanced cognitive functions, which are typically altered in intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Human neuronal neoteny could be disrupted in some forms of ID and/or ASDs, but this has never been tested. Here, we use xenotransplantation of human cortical neurons into the mouse brain to model SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency, one of the most prevalent genetic causes of ID/ASDs. We find that SYNGAP1-deficient human neurons display strong acceleration of morphological and functional synaptic formation and maturation alongside disrupted synaptic plasticity. At the circuit level, SYNGAP1-haploinsufficient neurons display precocious acquisition of responsiveness to visual stimulation months ahead of time. Our findings indicate that SYNGAP1 is required cell autonomously for human neuronal neoteny, providing novel links between human-specific developmental mechanisms and ID/ASDs.
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