Advancing neuroscience through real-time processing of big data:Transition from open-loop to closed-loop paradigms

The brain functions as a closed-loop system that continuously generates behavior in response to the external environment and adjusts actions based on the outcomes.Traditional research methodologies in neuroscience,especially those employed in brain imaging experiments,have mainly adopted an open-loop paradigm(Grosenick et al.,2015).Functional neural circuits are analyzed offline and subsequently tested through manipulation of neuronal activities within specific regions or with genetic markers.By establishing a closed-loop research paradigm,functional ensembles can be detected and tested in real time with temporal sequences.These functional ensembles,rather than brain regions or genetically labeled neural populations,serve as fundamental units of neural networks,offering valuable insights into the dissection of neural circuits.The closed-loop research paradigm also enables the capture of high-dimensional activities of internal brain dynamics and precise elucidation of physiological processes such as learning,decision-making,and sleep.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis contributes toα-synuclein-related pathology associated with C/EBPβ/AEP signaling activation in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and gastrointestinal dysfunction.Gastrointestinal dysfunction can precede the onset of motor symptoms by several years.Gut microbiota dysbiosis is involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease,whether it plays a causal role in motor dysfunction,and the mechanism underlying this potential effect,remain unknown.CCAAT/enhancer binding proteinβ/asparagine endopeptidase(C/EBPβ/AEP)signaling,activated by bacterial endotoxin,can promoteα-synuclein transcription,thereby contributing to Parkinson’s disease pathology.In this study,we aimed to investigate the role of the gut microbiota in C/EBPβ/AEP signaling,α-synuclein-related pathology,and motor symptoms using a rotenone-induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease combined with antibiotic-induced microbiome depletion and fecal microbiota transplantation.We found that rotenone administration resulted in gut microbiota dysbiosis and perturbation of the intestinal barrier,as well as activation of the C/EBP/AEP pathway,α-synuclein aggregation,and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neuron loss in the substantia nigra in mice with motor deficits.However,treatment with rotenone did not have any of these adverse effects in mice whose gut microbiota was depleted by pretreatment with antibiotics.Importantly,we found that transplanting gut microbiota derived from mice treated with rotenone induced motor deficits,intestinal inflammation,and endotoxemia.Transplantation of fecal microbiota from healthy control mice alleviated rotenone-induced motor deficits,intestinal inflammation,endotoxemia,and intestinal barrier impairment.These results highlight the vital role that gut microbiota dysbiosis plays in inducing motor deficits,C/EBPβ/AEP signaling activation,andα-synuclein-related pathology in a rotenone-induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease.Additionally,our findings suggest that supplementing with healthy microbiota may be a safe and effective treatment that could help ameliorate the progression of motor deficits in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Melatonin improves synapse development by PI3K/Akt signaling in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders involving more than 1100 genes,including Ctnnd2 as a candidate gene.Ctnnd2knockout mice,serving as an animal model of autis m,have been demonstrated to exhibit decreased density of dendritic spines.The role of melatonin,as a neuro hormone capable of effectively alleviating social interaction deficits and regulating the development of dendritic spines,in Ctnnd2 deletion-induced nerve injury remains unclea r.In the present study,we discove red that the deletion of exon 2 of the Ctnnd2 gene was linked to social interaction deficits,spine loss,impaired inhibitory neurons,and suppressed phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) signal pathway in the prefrontal cortex.Our findings demonstrated that the long-term oral administration of melatonin for 28 days effectively alleviated the aforementioned abnormalities in Ctnnd2 gene-knockout mice.Furthermore,the administration of melatonin in the prefro ntal cortex was found to improve synaptic function and activate the PI3K/Akt signal pathway in this region.The pharmacological blockade of the PI3K/Akt signal pathway with a PI3K/Akt inhibitor,wo rtmannin,and melatonin receptor antagonists,luzindole and 4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetralin,prevented the melatonin-induced enhancement of GABAergic synaptic function.These findings suggest that melatonin treatment can ameliorate GABAe rgic synaptic function by activating the PI3K/Akt signal pathway,which may contribute to the improvement of dendritic spine abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders.

Genetic pathways in cerebral palsy:a review of the implications for precision diagnosis and understanding disease mechanisms

Ce rebral palsy is a diagnostic term utilized to describe a group of permanent disorders affecting movement and posture.Patients with cerebral palsy are often only capable of limited activity,resulting from non-progressive disturbances in the fetal or neonatal brain.These disturbances severely impact the child’s daily life and impose a substantial economic burden on the family.Although cerebral palsy encompasses various brain injuries leading to similar clinical outcomes,the unde rstanding of its etiological pathways remains incomplete owing to its complexity and heterogeneity.This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the genetic factors influencing cerebral palsy development.It is now widely acknowledged that genetic mutations and alterations play a pivotal role in cerebral palsy development,which can be further influenced by environmental fa ctors.Des pite continuous research endeavors,the underlying fa ctors contributing to cerebral palsy remain are still elusive.However,significant progress has been made in genetic research that has markedly enhanced our comprehension of the genetic factors underlying cerebral palsy development.Moreove r,these genetic factors have been categorized based on the identified gene mutations in patients through clinical genotyping,including thrombosis,angiogenesis,mitochondrial and oxidative phosphorylation function,neuronal migration,and cellular autophagy.Furthermore,exploring targeted genotypes holds potential for precision treatment.In conclusion,advancements in genetic research have substantially improved our understanding of the genetic causes underlying cerebral palsy.These breakthroughs have the potential to pave the way for new treatments and therapies,consequently shaping the future of cerebral palsy research and its clinical management.The investigation of cerebral palsy genetics holds the potential to significantly advance treatments and management strategies.By elucidating the underlying cellular mechanisms,we can develop to rgeted interventions to optimize outcomes.A continued collaboration between researchers and clinicians is imperative to comprehensively unravel the intricate genetic etiology of cerebral palsy.

Connecting neurodevelopment to neurodegeneration:a spotlight on the role of kinesin superfamily protein 2A(KIF2A)

Microtubules play a central role in cytoskeletal changes during neuronal development and maintenance.Microtubule dynamics is essential to polarity and shape transitions underlying neural cell division,differentiation,motility,and maturation.Kinesin superfamily protein 2A is a member of human kinesin 13 gene family of proteins that depolymerize and destabilize microtubules.In dividing cells,kinesin superfamily protein 2A is involved in mitotic progression,spindle assembly,and chromosome segregation.In postmitotic neurons,it is required for axon/dendrite specification and extension,neuronal migration,connectivity,and survival.Humans with kinesin superfamily protein 2A mutations suffer from a variety of malformations of cortical development,epilepsy,autism spectrum disorder,and neurodegeneration.In this review,we discuss how kinesin superfamily protein 2A regulates neuronal development and function,and how its deregulation causes neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders.

Generation of mitochondrial replacement monkeys by female pronucleus transfer

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)are maternally inherited and have the potential to cause severe disorders.Mitochondrial replacement therapies,including spindle,polar body,and pronuclear transfers,are promising strategies for preventing the hereditary transmission of mtDNA diseases.While pronuclear transfer has been used to generate mitochondrial replacement mouse models and human embryos,its application in non-human primates has not been previously reported.In this study,we successfully generated four healthy cynomolgus monkeys(Macaca fascicularis)via female pronuclear transfer.These individuals all survived for more than two years and exhibited minimal mtDNA carryover(3.8%–6.7%),as well as relatively stable mtDNA heteroplasmy dynamics during development.The successful establishment of this nonhuman primate model highlights the considerable potential of pronuclear transfer in reducing the risk of inherited mtDNA diseases and provides a valuable preclinical research model for advancing mitochondrial replacement therapies in humans.

Exploring cerebral structural and functional abnormalities in a mouse model of post-traumatic headache induced by mild traumatic brain injury

Mild traumatic brain injury(mTBI)-induced post-traumatic headache(PTH)is a pressing public health concern and leading cause of disability worldwide.Although PTH is often accompanied by neurological disorders,the exact underlying mechanism remains largely unknown.Identifying potential biomarkers may prompt the diagnosis and development of effective treatments for mTBI-induced PTH.In this study,a mouse model of mTBI-induced PTH was established to investigate its effects on cerebral structure and function during short-term recovery.Results indicated that mice with mTBI-induced PTH exhibited balance deficits during the early post-injury stage.Metabolic kinetics revealed that variations in neurotransmitters were most prominent in the cerebellum,temporal lobe/cortex,and hippocampal regions during the early stages of PTH.Additionally,variations in brain functional activities and connectivity were further detected in the early stage of PTH,particularly in the cerebellum and temporal cortex,suggesting that these regions play central roles in the mechanism underlying PTH.Moreover,our results suggested that GABA and glutamate may serve as potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for PTH.Future studies should explore the specific neural circuits involved in the regulation of PTH by the cerebellum and temporal cortex,with these two regions potentially utilized as targets for non-invasive stimulation in future clinical treatment.

The effects of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents:a meta-analysis

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a crucial neurotrophic factor that plays a significant role in brain health. Although the vast majority of meta-analyses have confirmed that exercise interventions can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents, the effects of specific types of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are still controversial. To address this issue, we used meta-analytic methods to quantitatively evaluate, analyze, and integrate relevant studies. Our goals were to formulate general conclusions regarding the use of exercise interventions, explore the physiological mechanisms by which exercise improves brain health and cognitive ability in children and adolescents, and provide a reliable foundation for follow-up research. We used the Pub Med, Web of Science, Science Direct, Springer, Wiley Online Library, Weipu, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases to search for randomized controlled trials examining the influences of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. The extracted data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3. According to the inclusion criteria, we assessed randomized controlled trials in which the samples were mainly children and adolescents, and the outcome indicators were measured before and after the intervention. We excluded animal experiments, studies that lacked a control group, and those that did not report quantitative results. The mean difference(MD;before versus after intervention) was used to evaluate the effect of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. Overall, 531 participants(60 children and 471 adolescents, 10.9–16.1 years) were included from 13 randomized controlled trials. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Q statistic and I^(2) test provided by Review Manager software. The meta-analysis showed that there was no heterogeneity among the studies(P = 0.67, I^(2) = 0.00%). The combined effect of the interventions was significant(MD = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.53–4.22, P < 0.0001), indicating that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels of the children and adolescents in the exercise group were significantly higher than those in the control group. In conclusion, different types of exercise interventions significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. However, because of the small sample size of this meta-analysis, more high-quality research is needed to verify our conclusions. This metaanalysis was registered at PROSPERO(registration ID: CRD42023439408).

Improving Long-Term Functional Outcomes of Ischemic Stroke in the Reperfusion Era

1.Introduction Stroke remains the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of death and disability combined worldwide,as indicated by disability-adjusted life-years(DALYs)lost[1].The highest burden of stroke disability is observed in developing countries of Asia and the stroke belt of the United States[2].Despite remarkable progress and advancements in evidence-based acute care therapies,such as intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular therapy,the burden of stroke remains significantly high[3].In 2023,a significant advancement in the treatment of ischemic stroke due to proximal intracranial arterial occlusion was marked by compelling evidence from several clinical trials that supported endovascular therapy,particularly for patients with a large ischemic core[4].Thus,endovascular therapy has entered a new era since the first clinical trial favoring endovascular therapy.However,more patients receiving endovascular therapy does not equal a better prognosis.Patients with stroke experience long-term dysfunction,and the percentage is much higher in patients with large ischemic cores.Therefore,numerous tasks must be performed to optimize acute stroke treatment strategies and improve rehabilitative care.

Enhanced autophagic clearance of amyloid-βvia histone deacetylase 6-mediated V-ATPase assembly and lysosomal acidification protects against Alzheimer's disease in vitro and in vivo

Recent studies have suggested that abnormal acidification of lysosomes induces autophagic accumulation of amyloid-βin neurons,which is a key step in senile plaque formation.Therefore,resto ring normal lysosomal function and rebalancing lysosomal acidification in neurons in the brain may be a new treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease.Microtubule acetylation/deacetylation plays a central role in lysosomal acidification.Here,we show that inhibiting the classic microtubule deacetylase histone deacetylase 6 with an histone deacetylase 6 shRNA or thehistone deacetylase 6 inhibitor valproic acid promoted lysosomal reacidification by modulating V-ATPase assembly in Alzheimer's disease.Fu rthermore,we found that treatment with valproic acid markedly enhanced autophagy.promoted clearance of amyloid-βaggregates,and ameliorated cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.Our findings demonstrate a previously unknown neuroprotective mechanism in Alzheimer's disease,in which histone deacetylase 6 inhibition by valproic acid increases V-ATPase assembly and lysosomal acidification.

Transplantation of human placental chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells for repair of neurological damage in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is often associated with permanent cerebral palsy,neurosensory impairments,and cognitive deficits,and there is no effective treatment for complications related to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.The therapeutic potential of human placental chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells for various diseases has been explored.However,the potential use of human placental chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy has not yet been investigated.In this study,we injected human placental chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells into the lateral ventricle of a neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy rat model and observed significant improvements in both cognitive and motor function.Protein chip analysis showed that interleukin-3 expression was significantly elevated in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy model rats.Following transplantation of human placental chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells,interleukin-3 expression was downregulated.To further investigate the role of interleukin-3 in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,we established an in vitro SH-SY5Y cell model of hypoxic-ischemic injury through oxygen-glucose deprivation and silenced interleukin-3 expression using small interfering RNA.We found that the activity and proliferation of SH-SY5Y cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation were further suppressed by interleukin-3 knockdown.Furthermore,interleukin-3 knockout exacerbated neuronal damage and cognitive and motor function impairment in rat models of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.The findings suggest that transplantation of hpcMSCs ameliorated behavioral impairments in a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,and this effect was mediated by interleukin-3-dependent neurological function.

AAV mediated carboxyl terminus of Hsp70 interacting protein overexpression mitigates the cognitive and pathological phenotypes of APP/PS1 mice

The E3 ubiquitin ligase,carboxyl terminus of heat shock protein 70(Hsp70)interacting protein(CHIP),also functions as a co-chaperone and plays a crucial role in the protein quality control system.In this study,we aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of overexpressed CHIP on Alzheimer’s disease.We used an adeno-associated virus vector that can cross the blood-brain barrier to mediate CHIP overexpression in APP/PS1 mouse brain.CHIP overexpression significantly ameliorated the performance of APP/PS1 mice in the Morris water maze and nest building tests,reduced amyloid-βplaques,and decreased the expression of both amyloid-βand phosphorylated tau.CHIP also alleviated the concentration of microglia and astrocytes around plaques.In APP/PS1 mice of a younger age,CHIP overexpression promoted an increase in ADAM10 expression and inhibitedβ-site APP cleaving enzyme 1,insulin degrading enzyme,and neprilysin expression.Levels of HSP70 and HSP40,which have functional relevance to CHIP,were also increased.Single nuclei transcriptome sequencing in the hippocampus of CHIP overexpressed mice showed that the lysosomal pathway and oligodendrocyte-related biological processes were up-regulated,which may also reflect a potential mechanism for the neuroprotective effect of CHIP.Our research shows that CHIP effectively reduces the behavior and pathological manifestations of APP/PS1 mice.Indeed,overexpression of CHIP could be a beneficial approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Intracranial magnetic resonance venography in healthy individuals:normal anatomy and variations of the cerebral venous system

Objective:To evaluate the basic appearance and variation of the venous sinuses and veins in healthy individuals.Methods:Prospectively-recruited healthy volunteers completed a questionnaire and underwent magnetic resonance imaging plus contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography(CE-MRV)to measure their sinus diameters.Anatomical variations of cerebral venous sinuses were evaluated.Results:Fifty-eight individuals were included.The mean diameter of the left transverse sinus(LTS)(5.37±1.35 mm)was significantly smaller than that of the right transverse sinus(RTS)(6.65±1.57 mm)(P<0.001),and the average discrepancy was 19.2%.RTS dominance was noted in 55.1%of cases.Four superior sagittal sinus(SSS)anatomical variations were found.Type A was the most common and was present in 43 participants(74.1%).The SSS preferentially drained into the RTS in 32 patients(55.2%),and arachnoid granulation was observed in the transverse sinus(TS)and SSS in patients.According to our reclassification combined with Osborn’s previous research,we found that the SSS commonly drained into the RTS and that the straight sinus(StS)branched into both TSs.Conclusions:A 19%difference between the LTS and RTS provides a threshold for TS lateral dominance instead of a TS abnormality.Clinicians and radiologists should not ignore the influence of acquired pathology when the SSS drains in a non-RTS-dominant manner.Anatomical variations of the torcular herophili are frequent;the most commonly observed was the StS branching into both TSs,with the SSS draining into the RTS.

The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health,

1Early history In1963the Howard Florey Laboratories were first established as a component of the Department of Physiology at the University of Melbourne.The laboratories quickly expanded under the founding directorship of Dr.Derek Denton and the funds were obtained with the philanthropic assistance of Sir Ian Potter and Mr.Ken Myer to create a new building on the south-west corner University site.This enabled the building to be opened in August1963.The Nobel laureate,Sir Howard Florey,well-known discoverer of the technique to mass-produce penicillin was pleased to lend his name to the new initiative,and was present at its opening with the Prime Minister,Sir Robert Menzies,and other dignitaries.

Rapamycin reverses ferroptosis by increasing autophagy in MPTP/MPP+-induced models of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder,and fe rroptosis plays a significant role in the pathological mechanism underlying Parkinson’s disease.Rapamycin,an autophagy inducer,has been shown to have neuroprotective effects in Parkinson’s disease.However,the link between rapamycin and ferroptosis in Parkinson’s disease is not entirely clear.In this study,rapamycin was administe red to a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinson’s disease mouse model and a 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced Parkinson’s disease PC12 cell model.The results showed that rapamycin improved the behavioral symptoms of Parkinson’s disease model mice,reduced the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta,and reduced the expression of ferroptosis-related indicators(glutathione peroxidase 4,recombinant solute carrier family 7,member 11,glutathione,malondialdehyde,and reactive oxygen species).In the Parkinson’s disease cell model,rapamycin improved cell viability and reduced ferro ptosis.The neuroprotective effect of rapamycin was attenuated by a ferroptosis inducer(methyl(1S,3R)-2-(2-chloroacetyl)-1-(4-methoxycarbonylphenyl)-1,3,4,9-tetrahyyridoindole-3-carboxylate)and an autophagy inhibitor(3-methyladenine).Inhibiting ferro ptosis by activating autophagy may be an important mechanism by which rapamycin exerts its neuroprotective effects.Therefo re,the regulation of ferroptosis and autophagy may provide a therapeutic target for drug treatments in Parkinson’s disease.

Do tau-synaptic long-term depression interactions in the hippocampus play a pivotal role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease?

Cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease correlates with the extent of tau pathology,in particular tau hyperphosphorylation that initially appears in the transentorhinal and related regions of the brain including the hippocampus.Recent evidence indicates that tau hyperphosphorylation caused by either amyloid-βor long-term depression,a form of synaptic weakening involved in learning and memory,share similar mechanisms.Studies from our group and others demonstrate that long-term depression-inducing low-frequency stimulation triggers tau phosphorylation at different residues in the hippocampus under different experimental conditions including aging.Conversely,certain forms of long-term depression at hippocampal glutamatergic synapses require endogenous tau,in particular,phosphorylation at residue Ser396.Elucidating the exact mechanisms of interaction between tau and long-term depression may help our understanding of the physiological and pathological functions of tau/tau(hyper)phosphorylation.We first summarize experimental evidence regarding tau-long-term depression interactions,followed by a discussion of possible mechanisms by which this interplay may influence the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.Finally,we conclude with some thoughts and perspectives on future research about these interactions.

Novel insights into the mechanism of reactive oxygen species-mediated neurodegeneration

Neurite degeneration,a major component of many neurodegenerative diseases,such as Parkinson’s disease,Alzheimer’s disease,and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,is not part of the typical apoptosis signaling mechanism,but rather it appears that a self-destructive process is in action.Oxidative stress is a well-known inducer of neurodegenerative pathways:neuronal cell death and neurite degeneration.Although oxidative stress exerts cytotoxic effects leading to neuronal loss,the pathogenic mechanisms and precise signaling pathways by which oxidative stress causes neurite degeneration have remained entirely unknown.We previously reported that reactive oxygen species generated by NADPH oxidases induce activation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase ZNRF1 in neurons,which promotes neurite degeneration.In this process,the phosphorylation of an NADPH oxidase subunit p47-phox at the 345serine residue serves as an important checkpoint to initiate the ZNRF1-dependent neurite degeneration.Evidence provides new insights into the mechanism of reactive oxygen species-mediated neurodegeneration.In this review,we focus specifically on reactive oxygen species-induced neurite degeneration by highlighting a phosphorylation-dependent regulation of the molecular interaction between ZNRF1 and the NADPH oxidase complex.

Time to forge ahead:The Internet of Things for healthcare

Situated at the intersection of technology and medicine,the Internet of Things(IoT)holds the promise of addressing some of healthcare's most pressing challenges,from medical error,to chronic drug shortages,to overburdened hospital systems,to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.However,despite considerable recent technological advances,the pace of successful implementation of promising IoT healthcare initiatives has been slow.To inspire more productive collaboration,we present here a simple—but surprisingly underrated—problemoriented approach to developing healthcare technologies.To further assist in this effort,we reviewed the various commercial,regulatory,social/cultural,and technological factors in the development of the IoT.We propose that fog computing—a technological paradigm wherein the burden of computing is shifted from a centralized cloud server closer to the data source—offers the greatest promise for building a robust and scalable healthcare IoT ecosystem.To this end,we explore the key enabling technologies that underpin the fog architecture,from the sensing layer all the way up to the cloud.It is our hope that ongoing advances in sensing,communications,cryptography,storage,machine learning,and artificial intelligence will be leveraged in meaningful ways to generate unprecedented medical intelligence and thus drive improvements in the health of many people.

Population genetics of marmosets in Asian primate research centers and loci associated with epileptic risk revealed by whole-genome sequencing

The common marmoset(Callithrix jacchus)has emerged as a valuable nonhuman primate model in biomedical research with the recent release of high-quality reference genome assemblies.Epileptic marmosets have been independently reported in two Asian primate research centers.Nevertheless,the population genetics within these primate centers and the specific genetic variants associated with epilepsy in marmosets have not yet been elucidated.Here,we characterized the genetic relationships and risk variants for epilepsy in 41 samples from two epileptic marmoset pedigrees using whole-genome sequencing.We identified 14558184 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from the 41 samples and found higher chimerism levels in blood samples than in fingernail samples.Genetic analysis showed fourth-degree of relatedness among marmosets at the primate centers.In addition,SNP and copy number variation(CNV)analyses suggested that the WW domain-containing oxidoreductase(WWOX)and Tyrosine-protein phosphatase nonreceptor type 21(PTPN21)genes may be associated with epilepsy in marmosets.Notably,KCTD18-like gene deletion was more common in epileptic marmosets than control marmosets.This study provides valuable population genomic resources for marmosets in two Asian primate centers.Genetic analyses identified a reasonable breeding strategy for genetic diversity maintenance in the two centers,while the case-control study revealed potential risk genes/variants associated with epilepsy in marmosets.

Overexpression of Sirt6 ameliorates sleep deprivation induced-cognitive impairment by modulating glutamatergic neuron function

Sleep benefits the restoration of energy metabolism and thereby suppo rts neuronal plasticity and cognitive behaviors.Sirt6 is a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase that has been recognized as an essential regulator of energy metabolism because it modulates various transcriptional regulators and metabolic enzymes.The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of Sirt6 on cerebral function after chronic sleep deprivation(CSD).We assigned C57BL/6J mice to control or two CSD groups and subjected them to AAV2/9-CMV-EGFP or AAV2/9-CMV-Sirt6-EGFP infection in the prelimbic cortex(PrL).We then assessed cerebral functional connectivity(FC) using resting-state functional MRI,neuron/astrocyte metabolism using a metabolic kinetics analysis;dendritic spine densities using sparse-labeling;and miniature excitato ry postsynaptic currents(mEPSCs) and action potential(AP) firing rates using whole-cell patchclamp recordings.In addition,we evaluated cognition via a comprehensive set of behavioral tests.Compared with controls,Sirt6 was significantly decreased(P<0.05) in the PrL after CSD,accompanied by cognitive deficits and decreased FC between the PrL and accumbens nucleus,piriform cortex,motor co rtex,somatosensory co rtex,olfactory tubercle,insular cortex,and cerebellum.Sirt6 ove rexpression reve rsed CSD-induced cognitive impairment and reduced FC.Our analysis of metabolic kinetics using [1-13C] glucose and [2-13C] acetate showed that CSD reduced neuronal Glu4and GABA2synthesis,which could be fully restored via forced Sirt6 expression.Furthermore,Sirt6 ove rexpression reversed CSD-induced decreases in AP firing rates as well as the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs in PrL pyramidal neurons.These data indicate that Sirt6 can improve cognitive impairment after CSD by regulating the PrL-associated FC network,neuronal glucose metabolism,and glutamatergic neurotransmission.Thus,Sirt6 activation may have potential as a novel strategy for treating sleep disorder-related diseases.