Wing Yin Vanessa Kan

All Publications

• Cortical hyperexcitability in mouse models and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is linked to noradrenaline deficiency. Science translational medicine Scekic-Zahirovic, J., Benetton, C., Brunet, A., Ye, X., Logunov, E., Douchamps, V., Megat, S., Andry, V., Kan, V. W., Stuart-Lopez, G., Gilet, J., Guillot, S. J., Dirrig-Grosch, S., Gorin, C., Trombini, M., Dieterle, S., Sinniger, J., Fischer, M., René, F., Gunes, Z., Kessler, P., Dupuis, L., Pradat, P. F., Goumon, Y., Goutagny, R., Marchand-Pauvert, V., Liebscher, S., Rouaux, C. 2024; 16 (738): eadg3665

  Abstract

  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease, characterized by the death of upper (UMN) and lower motor neurons (LMN) in the motor cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. Despite decades of research, ALS remains incurable, challenging to diagnose, and of extremely rapid progression. A unifying feature of sporadic and familial forms of ALS is cortical hyperexcitability, which precedes symptom onset, negatively correlates with survival, and is sufficient to trigger neurodegeneration in rodents. Using electrocorticography in the Sod1G86R and FusΔNLS/+ ALS mouse models and standard electroencephalography recordings in patients with sporadic ALS, we demonstrate a deficit in theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) in ALS. In mice, PAC deficits started before symptom onset, and in patients, PAC deficits correlated with the rate of disease progression. Using mass spectrometry analyses of CNS neuropeptides, we identified a presymptomatic reduction of noradrenaline (NA) in the motor cortex of ALS mouse models, further validated by in vivo two-photon imaging in behaving SOD1G93A and FusΔNLS/+ mice, that revealed pronounced reduction of locomotion-associated NA release. NA deficits were also detected in postmortem tissues from patients with ALS, along with transcriptomic alterations of noradrenergic signaling pathways. Pharmacological ablation of noradrenergic neurons with DSP-4 reduced theta-gamma PAC in wild-type mice and administration of a synthetic precursor of NA augmented theta-gamma PAC in ALS mice. Our findings suggest theta-gamma PAC as means to assess and monitor cortical dysfunction in ALS and warrant further investigation of the NA system as a potential therapeutic target.

  View details for DOI 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg3665

  View details for PubMedID 38478631

• Distinct molecular profiles of skull bone marrow in health and neurological disorders. Cell Kolabas, Z. I., Kuemmerle, L. B., Perneczky, R., Förstera, B., Ulukaya, S., Ali, M., Kapoor, S., Bartos, L. M., Büttner, M., Caliskan, O. S., Rong, Z., Mai, H., Höher, L., Jeridi, D., Molbay, M., Khalin, I., Deligiannis, I. K., Negwer, M., Roberts, K., Simats, A., Carofiglio, O., Todorov, M. I., Horvath, I., Ozturk, F., Hummel, S., Biechele, G., Zatcepin, A., Unterrainer, M., Gnörich, J., Roodselaar, J., Shrouder, J., Khosravani, P., Tast, B., Richter, L., Díaz-Marugán, L., Kaltenecker, D., Lux, L., Chen, Y., Zhao, S., Rauchmann, B. S., Sterr, M., Kunze, I., Stanic, K., Kan, V. W., Besson-Girard, S., Katzdobler, S., Palleis, C., Schädler, J., Paetzold, J. C., Liebscher, S., Hauser, A. E., Gokce, O., Lickert, H., Steinke, H., Benakis, C., Braun, C., Martinez-Jimenez, C. P., Buerger, K., Albert, N. L., Höglinger, G., Levin, J., Haass, C., Kopczak, A., Dichgans, M., Havla, J., Kümpfel, T., Kerschensteiner, M., Schifferer, M., Simons, M., Liesz, A., Krahmer, N., Bayraktar, O. A., Franzmeier, N., Plesnila, N., Erener, S., Puelles, V. G., Delbridge, C., Bhatia, H. S., Hellal, F., Elsner, M., Bechmann, I., Ondruschka, B., Brendel, M., Theis, F. J., Erturk, A. 2023; 186 (17): 3706-3725.e29

  Abstract

  The bone marrow in the skull is important for shaping immune responses in the brain and meninges, but its molecular makeup among bones and relevance in human diseases remain unclear. Here, we show that the mouse skull has the most distinct transcriptomic profile compared with other bones in states of health and injury, characterized by a late-stage neutrophil phenotype. In humans, proteome analysis reveals that the skull marrow is the most distinct, with differentially expressed neutrophil-related pathways and a unique synaptic protein signature. 3D imaging demonstrates the structural and cellular details of human skull-meninges connections (SMCs) compared with veins. Last, using translocator protein positron emission tomography (TSPO-PET) imaging, we show that the skull bone marrow reflects inflammatory brain responses with a disease-specific spatial distribution in patients with various neurological disorders. The unique molecular profile and anatomical and functional connections of the skull show its potential as a site for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating brain diseases.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.009

  View details for PubMedID 37562402

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10443631

• Selective plasticity of callosal neurons in the adult contralesional cortex following murine traumatic brain injury. Nature communications Empl, L., Chovsepian, A., Chahin, M., Kan, W. Y., Fourneau, J., Van Steenbergen, V., Weidinger, S., Marcantoni, M., Ghanem, A., Bradley, P., Conzelmann, K. K., Cai, R., Ghasemigharagoz, A., Ertürk, A., Wagner, I., Kreutzfeldt, M., Merkler, D., Liebscher, S., Bareyre, F. M. 2022; 13 (1): 2659

  Abstract

  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in deficits that are often followed by recovery. The contralesional cortex can contribute to this process but how distinct contralesional neurons and circuits respond to injury remains to be determined. To unravel adaptations in the contralesional cortex, we used chronic in vivo two-photon imaging. We observed a general decrease in spine density with concomitant changes in spine dynamics over time. With retrograde co-labeling techniques, we showed that callosal neurons are uniquely affected by and responsive to TBI. To elucidate circuit connectivity, we used monosynaptic rabies tracing, clearing techniques and histology. We demonstrate that contralesional callosal neurons adapt their input circuitry by strengthening ipsilateral connections from pre-connected areas. Finally, functional in vivo two-photon imaging demonstrates that the restoration of pre-synaptic circuitry parallels the restoration of callosal activity patterns. Taken together our study thus delineates how callosal neurons structurally and functionally adapt following a contralateral murine TBI.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-29992-0

  View details for PubMedID 35551446

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9098892

• Cortical Hyperexcitability in the Driver's Seat in ALS CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE Gunes, Z. I., Kan, V. Y., Jiang, S., Logunov, E., Ye, X., Liebscher, S. 2022; 6 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.3390/ctn6010005

  View details for Web of Science ID 001178379900001

• Stable but not rigid: Chronic in vivo STED nanoscopy reveals extensive remodeling of spines, indicating multiple drivers of plasticity. Science advances Steffens, H., Mott, A. C., Li, S., Wegner, W., Švehla, P., Kan, V. W., Wolf, F., Liebscher, S., Willig, K. I. 2021; 7 (24)

  Abstract

  Excitatory synapses on dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons are considered a central memory locus. To foster both continuous adaption and the storage of long-term information, spines need to be plastic and stable at the same time. Here, we advanced in vivo STED nanoscopy to superresolve distinct features of spines (head size and neck length/width) in mouse neocortex for up to 1 month. While LTP-dependent changes predict highly correlated modifications of spine geometry, we find both, uncorrelated and correlated dynamics, indicating multiple independent drivers of spine remodeling. The magnitude of this remodeling suggests substantial fluctuations in synaptic strength. Despite this high degree of volatility, all spine features exhibit persistent components that are maintained over long periods of time. Furthermore, chronic nanoscopy uncovers structural alterations in the cortex of a mouse model of neurodegeneration. Thus, at the nanoscale, stable dendritic spines exhibit a delicate balance of stability and volatility.

  View details for DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abf2806

  View details for PubMedID 34108204

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8189587

• Cytoplasmic FUS triggers early behavioral alterations linked to cortical neuronal hyperactivity and inhibitory synaptic defects. Nature communications Scekic-Zahirovic, J., Sanjuan-Ruiz, I., Kan, V., Megat, S., De Rossi, P., Dieterlé, S., Cassel, R., Jamet, M., Kessler, P., Wiesner, D., Tzeplaeff, L., Demais, V., Sahadevan, S., Hembach, K. M., Muller, H. P., Picchiarelli, G., Mishra, N., Antonucci, S., Dirrig-Grosch, S., Kassubek, J., Rasche, V., Ludolph, A., Boutillier, A. L., Roselli, F., Polymenidou, M., Lagier-Tourenne, C., Liebscher, S., Dupuis, L. 2021; 12 (1): 3028

  Abstract

  Gene mutations causing cytoplasmic mislocalization of the RNA-binding protein FUS lead to severe forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Cytoplasmic accumulation of FUS is also observed in other diseases, with unknown consequences. Here, we show that cytoplasmic mislocalization of FUS drives behavioral abnormalities in knock-in mice, including locomotor hyperactivity and alterations in social interactions, in the absence of widespread neuronal loss. Mechanistically, we identified a progressive increase in neuronal activity in the frontal cortex of Fus knock-in mice in vivo, associated with altered synaptic gene expression. Synaptic ultrastructural and morphological defects were more pronounced in inhibitory than excitatory synapses and associated with increased synaptosomal levels of FUS and its RNA targets. Thus, cytoplasmic FUS triggers synaptic deficits, which is leading to increased neuronal activity in frontal cortex and causing related behavioral phenotypes. These results indicate that FUS mislocalization may trigger deleterious phenotypes beyond motor neuron impairment in ALS, likely relevant also for other neurodegenerative diseases characterized by FUS mislocalization.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-23187-9

  View details for PubMedID 34021132

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8140148

• Exciting Complexity: The Role of Motor Circuit Elements in ALS Pathophysiology. Frontiers in neuroscience Gunes, Z. I., Kan, V. W., Ye, X., Liebscher, S. 2020; 14: 573

  Abstract

  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease, characterized by the degeneration of both upper and lower motor neurons. Despite decades of research, we still to date lack a cure or disease modifying treatment, emphasizing the need for a much-improved insight into disease mechanisms and cell type vulnerability. Altered neuronal excitability is a common phenomenon reported in ALS patients, as well as in animal models of the disease, but the cellular and circuit processes involved, as well as the causal relevance of those observations to molecular alterations and final cell death, remain poorly understood. Here, we review evidence from clinical studies, cell type-specific electrophysiology, genetic manipulations and molecular characterizations in animal models and culture experiments, which argue for a causal involvement of complex alterations of structure, function and connectivity of different neuronal subtypes within the cortical and spinal cord motor circuitries. We also summarize the current knowledge regarding the detrimental role of astrocytes and reassess the frequently proposed hypothesis of glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity with respect to changes in neuronal excitability. Together, these findings suggest multifaceted cell type-, brain area- and disease stage- specific disturbances of the excitation/inhibition balance as a cardinal aspect of ALS pathophysiology.

  View details for DOI 10.3389/fnins.2020.00573

  View details for PubMedID 32625051

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7311855