法国 PSL 研究型大学Nathalie Rouach课题组发现星形胶质细胞关闭小鼠视觉可塑性的关键期。相关论文于2021年7月2日发表在《科学》杂志上。

他们展示在小鼠视觉皮层中，星形胶质细胞控制着关键期的关闭。他们揭示了潜在的途径，它涉及细胞外基质的星形胶质细胞调节，允许中间神经元成熟。非经典星形胶质细胞连接蛋白信号通过 RhoA 鸟苷三磷酸酶的激活阻碍细胞外基质的表达——降解酶基质金属蛋白酶 9 (MMP9)。因此，星形胶质细胞不仅影响单个突触的活动，而且还是依赖于经验的大脑回路布线的关键要素。

据介绍，大脑出生后发育的特征是神经元回路依赖于经验重塑的关键时期。未能结束这一时期会导致神经发育障碍。定义关键时期时间的细胞过程仍不清楚。

附：英文原文

Title: Astrocytes close the mouse critical period for visual plasticity

Author: Jérme Ribot, Rachel Breton, Charles-Félix Calvo, Julien Moulard, Pascal Ezan, Jonathan Zapata, Kevin Samama, Matthieu Moreau, Alexis-Pierre Bemelmans, Valentin Sabatet, Florent Dingli, Damarys Loew, Chantal Milleret, Pierre Billuart, Glenn Dallérac, Nathalie Rouach

Issue&Volume: 2021/07/02

Abstract: Brain postnatal development is characterized by critical periods of experience-dependent remodeling of neuronal circuits. Failure to end these periods results in neurodevelopmental disorders. The cellular processes defining critical-period timing remain unclear. Here, we show that in the mouse visual cortex, astrocytes control critical-period closure. We uncover the underlying pathway, which involves astrocytic regulation of the extracellular matrix, allowing interneuron maturation. Unconventional astrocyte connexin signaling hinders expression of extracellular matrix–degrading enzyme matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) through RhoA–guanosine triphosphatase activation. Thus, astrocytes not only influence the activity of single synapses but also are key elements in the experience-dependent wiring of brain circuits.

DOI: 10.1126/science.abf5273

Source: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/373/6550/77