Cadherin-13 is a critical regulator of GABAergic modulation in human stem-cell-derived neuronal networks

Britt Mossink, Jon-Ruben Van Rhijn, Shan Wang, Katrin Linda, Maria R. Vitale, Johanna E. M. Zoller, Eline J. H. van Hugte, Jitske Bak, Anouk H. A. Verboven, Martijn Selten, Moritz Negwer, Brooke L. Latour, Ilse van der Werf, Jason M. Keller, Teun M. Klein Gunnewiek, Chantal Schoenmaker, Astrid Oudakker, Alessia Anania, Sophie Jansen, Klaus-Peter LeschMonica Frega, Hans van Bokhoven, Dirk Schubert, Nael Nadif Kasri*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Activity in the healthy brain relies on a concerted interplay of excitation (E) and inhibition (I) via balanced synaptic communication between glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons. A growing number of studies imply that disruption of this E/I balance is a commonality in many brain disorders; however, obtaining mechanistic insight into these disruptions, with translational value for the patient, has typically been hampered by methodological limitations. Cadherin-13 (CDH13) has been associated with autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. CDH13 localizes at inhibitory presynapses, specifically of parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) expressing GABAergic neurons. However, the mechanism by which CDH13 regulates the function of inhibitory synapses in human neurons remains unknown. Starting from human-induced pluripotent stem cells, we established a robust method to generate a homogenous population of SST and MEF2C (PV-precursor marker protein) expressing GABAergic neurons (iGABA) in vitro, and co-cultured these with glutamatergic neurons at defined E/I ratios on micro-electrode arrays. We identified functional network parameters that are most reliably affected by GABAergic modulation as such, and through alterations of E/I balance by reduced expression of CDH13 in iGABAs. We found that CDH13 deficiency in iGABAs decreased E/I balance by means of increased inhibition. Moreover, CDH13 interacts with Integrin-beta 1 and Integrin-beta 3, which play opposite roles in the regulation of inhibitory synaptic strength via this interaction. Taken together, this model allows for standardized investigation of the E/I balance in a human neuronal background and can be deployed to dissect the cell-type-specific contribution of disease genes to the E/I balance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-18
Number of pages18
JournalMolecular Psychiatry
Volume27
Issue number1
Early online date10 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2022

Keywords

  • GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION
  • T-CADHERIN
  • FUNCTIONAL MATURATION
  • TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR
  • INHIBITION
  • RECEPTOR
  • INTERNEURONS
  • IMBALANCE
  • ADHESION
  • AUTISM

Cite this