Biology subjects

Ehrlich, A. T.

Publications and source records attributed to Ehrlich, A. T..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Epilepsy-associated potassium channel KCNT1 is required for multiciliated cell development in Xenopus

Pathogenic variants in the gene KCNT1, which encodes a sodium-activated potassium channel, cause a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with intractable epilepsy. In addition to seizures, affected individuals commonly present with severe respiratory issues and structural heart defects not commonly observed in other genetic pediatric epilepsies, suggesting additional developmental functions for KCNT1 in organs beyond the brain. Here, we characterized the spectrum of clinical diagnoses present in a cohort of 46 individuals with pathogenic variants in KCNT1, ranging from 0 to 19 years of age, by medical record review. We documented the prevalence of diagnoses across organ systems, including dependence on assisted breathing, congenital structural heart defects, urinary dysfunction, and spine deformities, among others. Next, we explored the embryonic expression and function of KCNT1 in diploid frogs (Xenopus tropicalis) and observed expression in developing ciliated tissues such as the brain, heart, kidney, and epidermis. Embryonic perturbation of KCNT1 disrupted developmental signaling pathways and caused ciliogenesis defects in the mucociliary epidermis, a common model for the human airway. Loss of KCNT1 disrupted development of multiciliated cells, reminiscent of recent work on the ion channel Piezo1. Consistently, pharmacological inhibition of Piezo signaling enhanced the ciliogenesis phenotype observed following KCNT1 inhibition, while activation of Piezo1 activity partially rescued ciliogenesis in the context of KCNT1 inhibition. Together, this work establishes that KCNT1 has embryonic functions in Xenopus beyond regulating neuronal activity, specifically in multiciliated cell development, and identifies an interaction with pharmacologically-tractable Piezo channels that may be productive for therapeutic efforts.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Mu opioid receptor mRNA and protein localization across the rat and mouse habenula

The habenula (Hb) has high intensity mu opioid binding and receptor (MOR) expression. It contains medial and lateral subdivisions (MHb and LHb, respectively), yet the details of MOR localization across these regions remains debated. MHb and LHb participate in largely non-overlapping neural circuits, therefore accurately resolving MOR expression across them is critical for understanding how MOR ligands impact behaviors. Here we utilized in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunocytochemistry (ICC) to systematically map Oprm1 mRNA and MOR protein throughout the habenular complex. We studied rat and mouse tissue to evaluate expression across two common research species. We also performed parallel mapping in Oprm1-Venus/Venus mice. Importantly, we found mRNA and protein in both MHb and LHb in both species. In rat, 39 {+/-} 3% and 21 {+/-} 4% of cells expressed Oprm1 in MHb and LHb, respectively. These proportions were greater in mouse: 57 {+/-} 1% (MHb) and 32 {+/-} 4% (LHb). Oprm1 puncta per positive cell were greater in MHb compared to LHb for both rat and mouse (p < 0.0001). The highest intensity labeling was localized along the lateral edge of the MHb for all methods. ICC showed MOR localized to fibers and somata in both regions. In LHb, MOR labeling was most dense in intermediate sections along the anterior-posterior (AP) axis. In rats we also observed greater labeling in dorsal LHb at intermediate AP levels and medial LHb more posteriorly. These results indicate that both MHb and LHb can contribute to MOR mediated actions through their respective circuits. Key PointsO_LIMu opioid receptor mRNA and protein are expressed in both the medial and lateral habenulae in rat and mouse. C_LIO_LIIn the medial habenula, most mu opioid receptor mRNA and protein was detected along its lateral border. C_LIO_LIAcross samples, Oprm1+ cells in the MHb contained more mRNA puncta per cell compared to lateral habenula cells. C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

GPR88 localization to primary cilia in neurons is cell-type specific.

GPR88 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor that regulates dopamine neurotransmission and is a target for neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition to the somatic membrane, GPR88 can localize to the primary cilium, a membrane microdomain known for dynamically enriching receptors and signaling molecules. However, the distribution of GPR88 in neuronal primary cilia remains uncharacterized. Here we characterize GPR88 distribution at primary cilia in two brain areas. We show that in the striatum, GPR88 localizes both to somatodendritic and primary cilia compartments on inhibitory GABAergic medium spiny neurons. In contrast, in the somatosensory cortex, GPR88 localizes to somatodendritic and nuclear compartments of excitatory spiny stellate neurons which possess primary cilia that exclude GPR88. Additionally, we found that cilia formation and length were similar between GPR88 knockout and wild-type animals. Together, we provide key evidence for neuronal cell-type specific regulation of GPR88 localization to primary cilia, suggesting neuron subtype specific regulatory mechanisms govern receptor ciliary targeting in the brain.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Molecular and spatial analysis of ganglion cells on retinal flatmounts: diversity, topography, and perivascularity

Diverse retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) transmit distinct visual features from the eye to the brain. Recent studies have categorized RGCs into 45 types in mice based on transcriptomic profiles, showing strong alignment with morphological and electrophysiological properties. However, little is known about how these types are spatially arranged on the two-dimensional retinal surface--an organization that influences visual encoding--and how their local microenvironments impact development and neurodegenerative responses. To address this gap, we optimized a workflow combining imaging-based spatial transcriptomics (MERFISH) and immunohistochemical co-staining on thin flatmount retinal sections. We used computational methods to register en face somata distributions of all molecularly defined RGC types. More than 75% (34/45) of types exhibited non-uniform distributions, likely reflecting adaptations of the retinas anatomy to the animals visual environment. By analyzing the local neighborhoods of each cell, we identified perivascular RGCs located near blood vessels. Seven RGC types are enriched in the perivascular niche, including members of intrinsically photosensitive RGC (ipRGC) and direction-selective RGC (DSGC) subclasses. Orthologous human RGC counterparts of perivascular types - Melanopsin-enriched ipRGCs and ON DSGCs - were also proximal to blood vessels, suggesting their perivascularity may be evolutionarily conserved. Following optic nerve crush in mice, the perivascular M1-ipRGCs and ON DSGCs showed preferential survival, suggesting that proximity to blood vessels may render cell-extrinsic neuroprotection to RGCs through an mTOR-independent mechanism. Overall, our work offers a resource characterizing the spatial profiles of RGC types, enabling future studies of retinal development, physiology, and neurodegeneration at individual neuron type resolution across the two-dimensional space.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Convergence of autism proteins at the cilium

Hundreds of high-confidence autism genes have been identified, yet the relevant etiological mechanisms remain unclear. Gene ontology analyses have repeatedly identified enrichment of proteins with annotated functions in gene expression regulation and neuronal communication. However, proteins are often pleiotropic and these annotations are inherently incomplete. Our recent autism functional genetics work has suggested that these genes may share a common mechanism at the cilium, a membrane-bound organelle critical for neurogenesis, brain patterning, and neuronal activity-all processes strongly implicated in autism. Moreover, autism commonly co-occurs with conditions that are known to involve ciliary-related pathologies, including congenital heart disease, hydrocephalus, and blindness. However, the role of autism genes at the cilium has not been systematically investigated. Here we demonstrate that autism proteins spanning disparate functional annotations converge in expression, localization, and function at cilia, and that patients with pathogenic variants in these genes have cilia-related co-occurring conditions and biomarkers of disrupted ciliary function. This degree of convergence among genes spanning diverse functional annotations strongly suggests that cilia are relevant to autism, as well as to commonly co-occurring conditions, and that this organelle should be explored further for therapeutic potential. One-Sentence SummaryAutism genes of diverse functional annotations converge at cilia, deepening our understanding of underlying autism biology and co-occurring conditions.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Sex specific effects of environmental toxin-derived alpha synuclein on enteric neuronal-epithelial interactions

BackgroundParkinsons Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with prodromal gastrointestinal (GI) issues often emerging decades before motor symptoms. Pathologically, PD can be driven by accumulation of misfolded alpha synuclein (aSyn) protein in the brain and periphery, including the GI tract. Disease epidemiology differs by sex, with men twice as likely to develop PD. Women, however, experience faster disease progression, higher mortality, and more severe GI symptoms. Gut calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) is a key regulator of intestinal contractions and visceral pain. The current study tests the hypothesis that sex differences in GI symptomology in PD are the result of aSyn aggregation altering enteric CGRP signaling pathways. MethodsTo facilitate peripheral aSyn aggregation, the pesticide rotenone was administered intraperitoneally once daily for two weeks to male and female mice. Mice were sacrificed two weeks after the last rotenone injection and immunohistochemistry was performed on sections of proximal colon. Key ResultsLevels of aSyn were heightened in myenteric plexus neurons and a subset of neurons immunoreactive to CGRP in rotenone treated mice. Female mice exhibited 153% more myenteric aSyn, 26% more apical CGRP immunoreactivity, and 66.7% more aSyn in apical CGRP+ fibers after rotenone when compared to males. Goblet cell numbers were diminished but the individual cells were larger in the apical regions of crypts in the colons of rotenone treated mice. ConclusionsThis study used a mouse model of PD to uncover sex specific alterations in enteric neuronal and epithelial populations, underscoring the importance of considering sex as a biological variable while investigating prodromal GI symptoms. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=143 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/625701v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (57K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19a6dforg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1a9324org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@b253d4org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19d89cf_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG KEY POINTSO_LIMouse model of Parkinsons Disease (PD) was used to investigate sex specific impact of enteric alpha synuclein (aSyn) on colonic goblet cells and CGRP+ neurons and fibers. C_LIO_LISex specific alterations in intestinal neuronal and epithelial signaling pathways in response to aSyn provides insight into sex differences in PD etiology and prodromal gastrointestinal symptoms. C_LI

physiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Microfluidic organotypic device to test intestinal mucosal barrier permeability ex vivo

To protect the body from external pathogens, the intestines have sophisticated epithelial and mucosal barriers. Disruptions to barrier integrity are associated with a variety of disorders such as irritable bowel disease, Crohns Disease, and celiac disease. One critical component of all barriers are collagens in the extracellular matrix. While the importance of the intestinal barrier is established, current models lack the ability to represent the complex biology that occurs at these barriers. For the current study a microfluidic device model was modified to determine the effectiveness of collagen breakdown to cause barrier disruption. Bacterial collagenase was added for 48 h to the luminal channel of a dual flow microfluidic device to examine changes in intestinal barrier integrity. Tissues exhibited dose-dependent alterations in immunoreactive collagen-1 and claudin-1, and coincident disruption of the epithelial monolayer barrier as indicated by goblet cell morphologies. This ex vivo model system offers promise for further studies exploring factors that affect gut barrier integrity and potential downstream consequences that cannot be studied in current models.

bioengineering↗