What happens to the brain when mental illnesses such as autism, anxiety, depression, etc.
More and more scientific evidence shows that the above-mentioned diseases are not just psychological diseases, but also "problems" in neurons in the brain.
But how do these neurons generate and develop, and how do they operate regularly? Behind the so-called "mental disease", what "pathological changes" have occurred in the brain neurons? This is a problem that neuroscientists always want to solve
On November 4, the team of Professor Tao Sun from the Precision Medicine Research Center of Huaqiao University published the latest research results in the journal Nature Neuroscience, which systematically explained the development of human embryonic brain interneurons, indicating the cell fate of adult brain interneurons It has been determined as early as the embryonic stage, providing a new idea for people to further explore the pathogenesis of mental diseases
" Liaison " interneuron
" Liaison " interneuron "The brain may be the most complex organ in the human body
Brain neurons have established a "friend circle" that crosses each other and is extensively related.
In the field of neuroscience, scientists have always wanted to answer a puzzle: how is the "friend circle" of neurons established? Sun Tao said that solving this confusion will be of great help to the treatment of mental illnesses
"The possibility of genetic factors is becoming greater and greater
"The possibility of genetic factors is becoming greater and greater
Abnormal interneuron development is closely related to human psychiatric diseases, such as autism and schizophrenia
"Mother fetus" is the key
"Mother fetus" is the key Interneurons are like the "liaisons" of the "friend circle" of neurons.
In the past, studies on mammalian models have found that interneurons are generated in the sub-cortex area and accurately "settled" to the cerebral cortex through radial migration
Tao Sun’s team has always been committed to revealing the "mystery" of brain neurons.
Thanks to single-cell RNA sequencing and in-situ sequencing technologies, researchers "break up" embryonic tissues, capture individual neuronal cells, and perform gene sequencing one by one, obtaining three important discoveries
The first important finding is that the interneurons in the human brain share the same neural progenitor cell population, that is, although the interneuron precursor cells distributed in different locations in the subcortical area of the human embryonic brain express their own specific genes, they are quasi-chronological.
Sun Tao explained that, in other words, different types of interneurons in the human brain originate from a "lineage" and have a common "ancestor
.
"
Secondly, the researchers found that the subcortical area is divided into different anatomical locations.
They studied the gene expression of interneurons generated in four different stages of the embryonic period
.
The results found that the specific gene expression combination in the interneuron precursor cells, which is dominated by transcription factors, not only determines the precise anatomical location of the interneurons in the subcortical region of the human embryo, but also determines the development of the interneurons.
Chronological order
.
This shows that the fate characteristics of interneurons in time and space are simultaneously regulated by accurate gene expression combinations
.
"Transcription factors are the most important in early development, because it directly determines more genes downstream of the brain
.
" Tao Sun said
.
Finally, the researchers discovered an interesting phenomenon, that is, by comparing the data related to the adult brain neurons, they found that their characteristics and gene expression are the same as those in the embryo, but these genes later migrated to the corresponding positions
.
This means that although the types of interneurons in the adult human cerebral cortex are diverse, the gene expression characteristics of these interneurons have been determined and maintained in the early embryonic development
.
"A mother is particularly cheerful and happy during pregnancy, and the children often give birth to better character, learning ability and other aspects.
On the contrary, during pregnancy, mothers have been more frightened and disturbed by negative emotions, and the child may have a higher proportion of mental illnesses.
High, poor performance in learning ability, interpersonal communication, etc.
" Sun Tao said, this is an important inspiration brought by this research
.
This also illustrates the importance of "prenatal education"!
Joint clinical service patients
Joint clinical service patients The reviewer of the paper stated that this is the first systematic study of human embryonic brains, especially the early embryonic brains, the developmental regularity and gene expression of interneurons
.
Since anxiety, depression, autism and schizophrenia are closely related to the abnormal development of interneurons, this research provides new ideas for people to further explore the pathogenesis of mental diseases
.
Sun Tao told reporters that there are two consensuses in the clinical or academic circles for mental-related diseases: one is that genetic mutations or cell type changes did occur at an early stage, but they only occurred after the day.
There are various psychological conditions in this situation.
Or drug treatment methods are difficult to control
.
The other is that certain stimuli caused by acquired cytopathies can be cured by effective treatment, and neurons can be repaired
.
"We hope to find genes that control the occurrence of diseases and understand their mechanisms.
This will be an important help for the treatment of mental diseases
.
" Sun Tao said that as the technology develops to maturity, the genes that cause disease will be "edited".
The cure of the disease may no longer be difficult
.
In the next step, Sun Tao's team will continue to conduct in-depth research on the important genes that induce autism, anxiety, depression and other psychiatric diseases, provide scientific basis for future treatment targets, and at the same time cooperate with clinicians to make scientific research results truly benefit mankind
.
(Source: China Science News Han Yangmei)
Related paper information: https://doi.
org/10.
1038/s41593-021-00940-3
https://doi.
org/10.
1038/s41593-021-00940-3
Screenshot of the paper
Use single-cell sequencing technology to isolate neurons in the lower cortex of the embryonic brain and obtain a gene expression map of each cell (photo courtesy of interviewees)
Use single-cell sequencing technology to isolate neurons in the lower cortex of the embryonic brain and obtain a gene expression map of each cell (photo courtesy of interviewees)
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