Journal article
Astrocyte Modulation of Synaptic Plasticity Mediated by Activity-Dependent Sonic Hedgehog Signaling
The Journal of neuroscience, v 45(11), 1336242025
12 Mar 2025
PMID: 39900499
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The influence of neural activity on astrocytes and their reciprocal interactions with neurons has emerged as an important modulator of synapse function. Astrocytes exhibit activity-dependent changes in gene expression, yet the molecular mechanisms by which neural activity is coupled to gene expression are not well understood. The molecular signaling pathway, Sonic hedgehog (Shh), mediates neuron- astrocyte communication and regulates the organization of cortical synapses. Here, we demonstrate that neural activity stimulates Shh signaling in cortical astrocytes and upregulates expression of Hevin and SPARC, astrocyte-derived molecules that modify synapses. Whisker stimulation in both male and female mice promotes activity-dependent Shh signaling selectively in the somatosensory, but not in the visual cortex, whereas sensory deprivation reduces Shh activity, demonstrating bidirectional regulation of the pathway by sensory experience. Selective loss of Shh signaling in astrocytes reduces expression of Hevin and SPARC and occludes activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Taken together, these data identify Shh signaling as an activity-dependent, molecular signaling pathway that regulates astrocyte gene expression and promotes astrocyte modulation of synaptic plasticity.
Metrics
1 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Astrocyte Modulation of Synaptic Plasticity Mediated by Activity-Dependent Sonic Hedgehog Signaling
- Creators
- Anh Duc Le - Drexel UniversityMarissa Fu - Drexel UniversityAshley Carper - Drexel UniversityElizabeth Zegarowicz - Drexel UniversityRiya Kumar - Drexel UniversityGloria Zacharias - Drexel UniversityA. Denise R. Garcia - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- The Journal of neuroscience, v 45(11), 1336242025
- Publisher
- Society for Neuroscience
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- NIH R21NS116664; NIH R01NS096100 / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biology; Neurobiology and Anatomy; College of Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001464361900003
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-86000745868
- Other Identifier
- 991022197313604721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: SDGs in the Output
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Neurosciences