Corticostriatal dysfunction and social interaction deficits in mice lacking the cystine/glutamate antiporter

Eduard Bentea, Agnès Villers, Cynthia Moore, Adam J Funk, Sinead M O'Donovan, Lise Verbruggen, Olaya Lara, Pauline Janssen, Laura De Pauw, Noemi B Declerck, Erica A K DePasquale, Madeline J Churchill, Hideyo Sato, Emmanuel Hermans, Lutgarde Arckens, Charles K Meshul, Laurence Ris, Robert E McCullumsmith, Ann Massie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The astrocytic cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc- represents an important source of extracellular glutamate in the central nervous system, with potential impact on excitatory neurotransmission. Yet, its function and importance in brain physiology remain incompletely understood. Employing slice electrophysiology and mice with a genetic deletion of the specific subunit of system xc-, xCT (xCT-/- mice), we uncovered decreased neurotransmission at corticostriatal synapses. This effect was partly mitigated by replenishing extracellular glutamate levels, indicating a defect linked with decreased extracellular glutamate availability. We observed no changes in the morphology of striatal medium spiny neurons, the density of dendritic spines, or the density or ultrastructure of corticostriatal synapses, indicating that the observed functional defects are not due to morphological or structural abnormalities. By combining electron microscopy with glutamate immunogold labeling, we identified decreased intracellular glutamate density in presynaptic terminals, presynaptic mitochondria, and in dendritic spines of xCT-/- mice. A proteomic and kinomic screen of the striatum of xCT-/- mice revealed decreased expression of presynaptic proteins and abnormal kinase network signaling, that may contribute to the observed changes in postsynaptic responses. Finally, these corticostriatal deregulations resulted in a behavioral phenotype suggestive of autism spectrum disorder in the xCT-/- mice; in tests sensitive to corticostriatal functioning we recorded increased repetitive digging behavior and decreased sociability. To conclude, our findings show that system xc- plays a previously unrecognized role in regulating corticostriatal neurotransmission and influences social preference and repetitive behavior.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4754-4769
Number of pages16
JournalMolecular Psychiatry
Volume26
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sep 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Antiporters
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics
  • Cystine
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Mice
  • Proteomics
  • Social Interaction

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Corticostriatal dysfunction and social interaction deficits in mice lacking the cystine/glutamate antiporter'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this