In the developing brain excitatory synapses first form containing calcium permeable AMPA glutamate receptors (AMPARs), which are replaced by GluA2 containing calcium impermeable AMPARs as synapses stabilize and mature. The switch from calcium-permeable to calcium-impermeable AMPARs contributes to synapse maturation and limits subsequent synaptic plasticity, by limiting the entry of calcium into the postsynaptic cell. Studies have shown that the presence of astrocytes is sufficient to increase surface and synaptic levels of all 4 AMPAR subunits (GluA1-4) in neurons, and have identified glypicans 4 & 6 as astrocyte-secreted signals that specifically recruit GluA1 calcium-permeable AMPARs to synapses, with no effect on GluA2. This raised the hypothesis that astrocytes can regulate the subunit composition of AMPARs at synapses by releasing distinct signals, which has the potential to alter synapse maturation and plasticity. A screen was conducted to identify the GluA2 recruiting factor and identified the astrocyte-secreted BMP antagonist chordin like 1 (Chrdl1). Addition of Chrdl1 to neurons in vitro is sufficient to increase synaptic clustering of GluA2, and to induce functionally mature synapses to form. In vivo, Chrdl1 is specifically expressed by astrocytes in the mouse brain and absent from neurons. Expression of Chrdl1 is restricted to cortical astrocytes, and within the cortex expression is higher in astrocytes in upper cortical layers compared to deep, and peaks at the time of synapse maturation and synaptic recruitment of GluA2. Mice globally lacking Chrdl1 show evidence of delayed synapse maturation, with altered kinetics of synaptic transmission and decreased levels of GluA2 at excitatory synapses. This proposal investigates unanswered questions related to: 1) how Chrdl1 is interacting with neurons to recruit GluA2 to synapses, 2) what regulates the regional and temporal expression of Chrdl1 in astrocytes, 3) whether lack of Chrdl1 in vivo enhances synaptic plasticity.
Aim 1 investigates whether Chrdl1 is acting in its known role as a secreted antagonist of BMP signaling, either through the canonical BMP pathway or in a non-canonical mechanism.
Aim 2 asks if the in vivo expression pattern of Chrdl1 is due to specific patterns of neuronal innervation, and asks what is the signal from neurons that induces Chrdl1 in astrocytes.
In Aim 3, the question of whether the impaired synapse maturation and immature synapses observed in Chrdl1 KO mice leads to enhanced synaptic plasticity is investigated in the visual system, by looking at the role of Chrdl1 in critical period plasticity. These experiments will give important mechanistic insight into how synapse maturation is controlled in the developing brain, and the role of astrocytes in this process.

Public Health Relevance

In many neurological disorders, including autism and schizophrenia, there is aberrant neuronal communication due to dysfunctional synapses. This work identifies a novel secreted signal made by astrocytes that regulates neuronal synapse maturation and limits synaptic plasticity, and has implications for synaptic repair in disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01NS105742-02S1
Application #
9880299
Study Section
Program Officer
Leenders, Miriam
Project Start
2018-12-01
Project End
2022-11-30
Budget Start
2018-12-01
Budget End
2019-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Department
Type
DUNS #
078731668
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Blanco-Suarez, Elena; Liu, Tong-Fei; Kopelevich, Alex et al. (2018) Astrocyte-Secreted Chordin-like 1 Drives Synapse Maturation and Limits Plasticity by Increasing Synaptic GluA2 AMPA Receptors. Neuron 100:1116-1132.e13
Allen, Nicola J; Lyons, David A (2018) Glia as architects of central nervous system formation and function. Science 362:181-185