Helios expression coordinates the development of a subset of striatopallidal medium spiny neurons [RESEARCH ARTICLE]

Raquel Martin-Ibanez, Monica Pardo, Albert Giralt, Andres Miguez, Ines Guardia, Lucile Marion-Poll, Cristina Herranz, Miriam Esgleas, Gerardo Garcia-Diaz Barriga, Michael J. Edel, Carlos Vicario-Abejon, Jordi Alberch, Jean-Antoine Girault, Susan Chan, Philippe Kastner, and Josep M. Canals

Here we unravel the mechanism of action of Helios (He) during the development of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs). He regulates the second wave of striatal neurogenesis involved in the generation of striatopallidal neurons that express dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) and enkephalin (ENK). To exert this effect He is expressed in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) retaining them into the G₁/G₀ phase of the cell cycle. Thus, the lack of He produces an increase of S-phase entry and S-phase length of NPCs which in turn impairs striatal neurogenesis and produces an accumulation of the number of cycling NPCs in the germinal zone (GZ) that end up dying at postnatal stages. Therefore, He^–/- mice show a reduction in the number of Dorso-Medial Striatal MSNs in the adulthood that produces deficits in motor skills acquisition. In addition, overexpression of He in NPCs induce DARPP32 phenotype when transplanted in mouse striatum.

Present findings demonstrate that He is involved in the correct development of a subset of striatopallidal MSNs and reveal new cellular mechanisms for neuronal development.

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