Maternal Immune Activation Causes Behavioral Impairments and Altered Cerebellar Cytokine and Synaptic Protein Expression.

Emerging epidemiology studies indicate that maternal immune activation (MIA) resulting from inflammatory stimuli such as viral or bacterial infections during pregnancy serves as a risk factor for multiple neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Although alterations in the cortex and hippocampus of MIA offspring have been described, less evidence exists on the impact on the cerebellum. Here, we report altered expression of cytokines and chemokines in the cerebellum of MIA offspring, including increase in the neuroinflammatory cytokine TNFα and its receptor TNFR1. We also report reduced expression of the synaptic organizing proteins cerebellin-1 and GluRδ2. These synaptic protein alterations are associated with a deficit in the ability of cerebellar neurons to form synapses and an increased number of dendritic spines that are not in contact with a presynaptic terminal. These impairments are likely contributing to the behavioral deficits in the MIA exposed offspring.

INTRODUCTION

Epidemiology studies indicate that maternal immune activation (MIA) resulting from inflammatory stimuli, viral or bacterial infections of pregnant mothers is a risk factor for multiple neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and schizophrenia (SZ) as well as other neuropsychiatric disorders (Knuesel ). Since the genetic contribution to both ASD and SZ is well documented it is likely that a convergence of genetic alterations and environmental insult during early development lead to the development of these disorders (Atladottir ; Patterson, 2011).

Evidence points to immunological dysfunction in ASD that may result in inflammatory-like state with MIA. Specifically, altered expression of cytokines and markers of oxidative stress as well as presence of activated astrocytes and microglia has been reported in brains and cerebrospinal fluid obtained from young and old individuals with ASD (Ashwood ; Chez ; Morgan ; Patterson, 2009, 2011; Sajdel-Sulkowska ; Vargas ; Wei ). The chronic neuroinflammation is thought to contribute to the symptoms and pathology of ASD, such as altered neuronal connectivity and function (Coiro ; Hutsler and Zhang, 2010; Patrich ; Penzes ).

Animal models, including both rodents and non-human primates with MIA during gestation demonstrate that offspring have altered behavioral phenotypes relevant to ASD and SZ including impaired ultrasonic vocalizations, social interactions and repetitive behaviors (Choi ; Malkova ; Patterson, 2009; Schwartzer ). In addition to the behavioral impairments, MIA offspring also exhibit changes in peripheral immune cells (Onore ) as well as changes in the central nervous system. Specifically, alterations in cytokine and chemokine levels during and beyond the period of synaptogenesis have been reported in the cortex and the hippocampus of MIA offspring in some studies (Bauman ; Borrell ; Ehninger ; Fatemi ; Malkova ; McAlonan ; Shi ). Moreover, impairments in cortical and hippocampal synaptic development and function have been observed on neurons from young and adult MIA offspring (Coiro ; Elmer ; Ito ; Patrich ).

The cerebellum is one of the brain regions most consistently seen to be affected in ASD (Courchesne ) with functional cerebellar impairments observed in both ASD and SZ (Allen and Courchesne, 2003; Brown ; Pierce and Courchesne, 2001). Although the number of Purkinje neurons observed in MIA offspring has been shown to be reduced (Shi ), it is not known if cytokines are altered in the cerebellum of MIA offspring and whether cerebellar synapses are impaired. Here we used one of the most characterized mouse models of MIA; by eliciting a maternal anti-viral inflammatory response using a viral mimic, the synthetic dsRNA, poly(I:C) which activates the toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 (Patterson, 2009, 2011). In the current study, we demonstrate alterations in the expression of chemokines and cytokines in the cerebellum of MIA offspring during the course of synaptogenesis. We further demonstrate that the MIA offspring display synaptic and behavioral deficits. Altogether, these data indicate that MIA leads to chronic changes in the cerebellum and that altered cerebellar synaptic development might contribute to impaired behavior.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethics

Mice were cared for in accordance with NIH guidelines for laboratory animal welfare. All experiments were approved by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Animals

Transgenic FVB/N Tg(Pcp2-EGFP)BT153Gsat/Mmmh mice were obtained from GENSAT. All animals were housed in standard polycarbonate cages in a room under controlled 12 : 12 h light/dark cycle, temperature and had ad libitum food and water access.

Breeding

The breeding cage comprised of two females and a male. Successful mating was confirmed next day with the presence of vaginal plug, and that day was referred to E0. Once a pregnant female was identified, it was removed from the breeding cage and housed individually in a standard cage.

Induction of MIA

MIA was induced using the viral mimic poly(I:C) as described in an earlier study (Garay ). Briefly, pregnant mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) on E12.5 with saline or poly(I:C) potassium salt (Sigma Aldrich; St Louis, MO). E12.5 was chosen since this stage of gestation correlates with the late first trimester in humans (Clancy ) the time that infections are most closely linked to increased incidence of SZ and ASD (Atladottir ). Poly(I:C) was freshly dissolved in saline and administered i.p. at 20 mg/kg based on the weight of the poly(I:C) itself, not including the total weight of the potassium salts. Control mice were injected with saline alone. This concentration of poly(I:C) is higher than that used for intravenous injections (Meyer ) and was selected because it is the optimal i.p. dose that causes MIA, while preserving viability of offspring (Ito ). Pups remained with the mother until weaning on postnatal day (P) 21, at which time mice were group housed.

Behavioral tests

All behavioral tests were performed with the observer blinded to the experimental conditions. 5–9 litters per condition were used in the behavioral studies including both male and female offspring.

Ultrasonic Vocalization

USV testing was performed on postnatal days 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. On these days mothers were removed from the home cage and placed in a separate room away from the pups. The pups remained in the home cage without mothers for 15 min. Immediately following maternal separation, both male and female pups were placed individually into plastic bowls (14.5 and 9.0 cm wide at the top and bottom, 7.5 cm high). Each bowl was then placed in a sound-attenuated chamber (96.52 W × 35.56 D × 63.5 cm H, Med Associated, St Albans, VT) equipped with an ultrasonic vocalization microphone (P48 Avisoft Bioacoustics/Emkay Microphone, Avisoft Bioacoustics, Berlin, Germany) mounted on the ceiling. The microphone was connected via an E-MU 0404 USB Audio device to a computer. Acoustic data were displayed in real time by the Avisoft RECORDER, a multi-channel triggering hard-disk recording software (version 3.4; Avisoft Bioacoustics), and were recorded at a sampling rate of 192 kHz in 16 bit format and analyzed by Avisoft SASLab Pro (version 4.51; Avisoft Bioacoustics).

Marble Burying

Marble burying was performed on P40 animals from the two groups. To a 38.5 × 30 cm mouse cage containing 3.5 cm of corn cob bedding (277.4 g/l, GREENPRODUCTS, IA, USA) 200 g of Tek-fresh bedding (80.3 g/l, Harlan, IN, USA) was added and mixed thoroughly. Mice were acclimatized in such a cage for 24 h before testing. On the day of testing a similar new cage was setup and each mouse was acclimatized to it for 30 min prior to testing. Bedding was remixed immediately prior to testing and 30 glass marbles were placed on the bedding at a 5 × 6 arrangement. Individual mice were placed in the cage with the lid closed for 30 min. The mouse was then removed and marbles were scored. A marble was considered buried if 2/3 of it was covered by bedding.

Rotarod

Mice (6 weeks old) were placed on the motorized rod in the chamber (Rotamex 4/8, Columbus Instruments). Rotarod testing consisted of three trials per day (10 min inter-trial interval) over the course of 4 days. Acclimatization was carried out at a constant speed (4 r.p.m. over 180 s on days 1 and 2; 8 r.p.m. over 180 s on days 3 and 4) before training. In the first phase of the testing (days 1 and 2), the rotation speed gradually increased from 4 to 40 r.p.m. over a course of 300 s. In the second phase of testing (days 3 and 4), the rotation speed gradually increased from 8 to 79 r.p.m. over a course of 300 s. The time latency was recorded when a mouse fell off, made one complete backward revolution while hanging on or reached 300 s on the rod.

Social Interactions

Both male and female offspring were tested for social interaction in adulthood (after postnatal day 90). Individual animals were first habituated for 2 days in the testing chamber. One day post habituation, same sex animals from the same prenatal treatment condition were paired and placed in the testing chamber simultaneously, and their behaviors were video recorded for 5 min. Animals were then returned to the home cage for 10 min, and the procedure was repeated two more times, resulting in three 5-min sessions with the same test partner. In a fourth 5-min recording session, animals were paired with a novel partner from the same prenatal treatment condition.

The amount of time that a pair of animals engaged in social behaviors, regardless of the initiating subject, were determined by scorers blinded to the test conditions. Behaviors including sniffing, climbing over and crawling underneath partners, partner grooming, and partner pursuit were scored using the JWatcher behavioral coding software (http://www.jwatcher.ucla.edu/), and the total time spent in social behavior was used for analysis.

Biochemical Assays

Tissue lysates

Both male and female offspring from a total of 12 litters per condition were used. Brains were quickly snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80 °C until further use. Tissues were lysed in homogenization buffer (50 mM Tris, 10 mM EDTA, pH7.4) containing protease and phosphatase inhibitors using a small plastic pestle fitted to a motorized hand held homogenizer. Tissue was further triturated for complete homogenization. Tissue was incubated for 20 min in a cold room on a rotator and then centrifuged for 15 min at 7000 xg at 4 °C. Supernatant was carefully collected and stored at −80 °C until further use. Protein content in all the samples was determined using the BCA kit (Pierce, Pittsburg, PA) with BSA as a standard.

Multiplex Immunoassays

Cerebellar lysates were shipped on dry ice and a quantibody cytokine array (QAM-CYT-5) comprising of 40 proteins was performed at Ray Biotech. The 40 different proteins in the array comprised of chemokines, cytokines and growth factors: bFGF, BLC, CD30L, Eotaxin, Eotaxin-2, Fas L, G-CSF, GM-CSF, ICAM-1, IFNγ, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-21, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, KC, Leptin, LIX, M-CSF, MCP-1, MCP-5, MIG, MIP-1α, MIP-1γ, PF-4, RANTES, TARC, TCA-3, TNF RI, TNF RII and TNFα respectively. Samples from both the control and MIA offspring at the different ages (P1, P7 n=4 each and P14, P30 n=6 each) were run. Values below or at limit of detection (LOD) were considered undetected. The following proteins were not detected at any time point or condition and were not considered further: CD30L, Eotaxin, G-CSF, IL-13, Leptin, MIG, RANTES, and TCA-3.

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Cerebellar lysates from P14 control and MIA offspring were diluted 1 : 1 with the diluent and assayed for TNFα (Invitrogen) by ELISA using the standard procedures described in the product information sheet of the kit. All samples were run in duplicates and curve fit to obtain concentration values from the eight standards on the standard curve.

Isolation of Synaptosomes

Purified synaptosomes were isolated using a discontinuous sucrose density gradient by differential centrifugation as described in our earlier study (Pendyala ). To obtain enough protein, P14 cerebella from two animals were pooled and a total of nine litters were used.

Western Blot Analysis

SDS-PAGE electrophoresis was performed using Biorad gel system as previously described (Pendyala ). For western blot analyses 10 μg of lysate and 20 μg of synaptosomes from the control and MIA offspring were loaded onto 4–12% gradient Tris-Glycine gels (Biorad) under reducing conditions. Following transfer, blots were blocked using 5% nonfat dried milk for 1 h at room temperature to minimize non-specific antibody binding. Immunoblotting was carried out with antibodies against TNFR1 (1 : 250, Biovision), Cerebellin-1 (1 : 250, Abcam), GluRδ2 (1 : 2500, Millipore) and GAPDH (1 : 5000, Millipore) overnight at 4 °C with gentle rocking. Blots were washed thrice with TBS-Tween 0.1% followed by treatment with secondary antibody (1:2500, 1 : 2000 and 1 : 5000 HRP conjugated anti rabbit IgG for TNFR1, Cerebellin-1 and GluRδ2 respectively; 1 : 5000 HRP conjugated anti chicken for GAPDH) for 1 hour at room temperature. Blots were further washed thrice with TBS-Tween 0.1% and developed with 1 : 1 solution of Super Signal West Pico Chemiluminescent Substrate and Luminol/Enhancer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Rockford, IL, USA) and visualized using FluorHD2 imaging system (Cell Biosciences, Santa Clara, CA). Densitometric scanning was performed using the Image J software from NIH.

Mixed Cerebellar Cultures

Cerebella from postnatal day 0 mice were isolated and mixed cerebellar cultures were prepared using a protocol modified from (Baptista ). Following dissociation, cells were plated in Basal Medium Eagle (BME; Sigma, B9638) supplemented with Sigma I-1884 and 10 mg/ml BSA in 16 well Lab-Tek chamber slides (Nunc #178599) coated with high MW poly-D lysine (Sigma, P7405), at 30 000 cells/well. Cells were fixed at 14 days in vitro (DIV). A total of four control and four MIA litters were used for this study.

Immunohistochemistry

Fixed cells were incubated in 0.1% Triton-X for 2 min, washed three times with PBS 1X, pre-incubated 1 hour in 5% NGS with 0.1% Triton 100 × in PBS and then immunostained with primary antibodies against GFP (polyclonal 1 : 300, Life Technologies), against VGluT1 (polyclonal 1 : 300, Millipore) and against GluRδ2 (monoclonal 1 : 300, Millipore) overnight. The secondary antibodies were Alexa 486, 594, and 647 coupled to goat anti-chicken, anti-guinea pig, anti-mouse, respectively (1 : 500, Invitrogen), in 1% NGS only in PBS.

Confocal Imaging and Spine Analysis

Confocal imaging was performed on a Zeiss, LSM 700 using a 40x 1.4 N.A Oil lens. Images of Purkinje cell dendrites were collected at 512 × 512 pixels with pixel size of 0.12 μm and Z step of 0.21 μm, at 8 bit with 488 nm and 555, 659 nm lasers. Three-six Purkinje cells were imaged in each culture and a total of approximately 15 microns of a distal dendrite was analyzed per cell. Qualitative analysis of colocalization between GluRδ2 or GluRδ2/VGluT1 and dendritic spines was performed only on clearly visible spines that were protruding laterally from the dendrites using the ImarisColoc software as previously described (Coiro ).

Statistics

Data are reported as mean±s.e.m. Data from USV, social interaction and the rotarod were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA for within subject effects. Other analyses were done either using two-sided unpaired Student's t-test or with one- or two-way ANOVA with the Bonferonni method for post hoc multiple comparisons. Data was analyzed using the Graph Pad Prism software.

RESULTS

The goal of the study was to determine whether MIA induces changes in levels of cytokines in the cerebellum and whether these changes were accompanied by alterations in synapses. As we were interested in studying cerebellar Purkinje neuron synapses we have used a transgenic mouse that expresses EGFP under the Purkinje cell promoter PCP2 (also known as L7) on the FVB background. Since different mouse strains have different basal levels of behavior (Yang ) and MIA can have differential effects depending on mouse strains (Schwartzer ), we first tested if the MIA inducing protocol of a single injection of 20 mg/kg poly(I:C) at (E)12.5 results in previously described behavioral impairments in the offspring.

MIA Offspring Display Behavioral Deficits

Previous studies demonstrated that MIA offspring have impairments in ultrasonic vocalizations (USV), marble burying and social interactions, which model the core behavioral deficits in ASD (Choi ; Malkova ). Measurement of USVs is a standard behavioral test to assess early communicative behavior. Pups were separated from mothers and the total number of USVs emitted by individual pups over a 3-min period on postnatal days 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 were measured (Figure 1a). For the mice for which the sex was noted, there was no significant main effect of sex (Supplementary Figure 1A), we therefore pooled the male and female mice. Compared to controls (n=37), MIA offspring (n=38) emitted significantly fewer vocalizations on postnatal day 6 and 8 (P=0.02 and P=0.029, respectively). MIA offspring also produced a significantly higher number of USVs compared to controls on postnatal day 10 (P=0.007) suggesting there is a shift in progression of the USVs in the MIA offspring. These results suggest that maternal separation-induced USV productions are altered in MIA offspring. Subsequent analysis at postnatal days 12 and 14 revealed no significant differences between the two groups thereby suggesting that MIA offspring display alterations in effective communication during the early stages of development.

Figure 1

MIA offspring display ASD core behavioral deficits but not motor coordination deficits. (a) MIA offspring generated distinct patterns of total vocalizations. There was no significant main effect of sex F1,46=0.006, P=0.94. There was a significant main effect of postnatal days, F4,90=4 8.340, P<0.001, and a significant postnatal day x condition interaction, F4,90=2.718, P=0.035. Examinations of individual postnatal days using one-way ANOVA indicated that compared to control offspring, MIA offspring emitted a significantly lower number of USVs on postnatal days 6 and 8, F1,75=5.560, P=0.021 and F1,75=4.988, P=0.029, respectively. MIA offspring emitted significantly more vocalizations on postnatal day 10 F1,75=7.665, P=0.007, as determined by one-way ANOVA based on postnatal day x condition interaction. (b) P40 MIA and control offspring were assessed for repetitive behavior by marble burying assay. MIA offspring (male, n=17 and female, n=18) displayed higher marble burying than control offspring male (n=16) and female (n=18) with main effects of sex (F1,65=4.7, P=0.03) and prenatal condition (F1,65=19.59, P<0.0001) but no significant sex x prenatal condition interaction (F1,65=0.0138, P=0.9). (c) MIA offspring display abnormal social interaction behaviors. Adult MIA (n=9) and control (n=9) offspring were repeatedly paired with the same partner for 3 sessions and a different partner in a fourth session. Arrows point to sessions with novel mouse pairing. There was a significant session x prenatal condition interaction, F3,14=5.144, P=0.013. Post hoc one way ANOVA comparisons of individual sessions showed that the control group had a significantly longer interaction time compared to the MIA group during session 1, F1,16=5.353, P=0.034. In the control mice there was no significance between session 1 and 4, but there was a significant decrease in the amount of time spent interacting from session 1 to 2, t(8)=3.451, P=0.009. MIA offspring showed an increase in interaction across sessions, with session 4 showing a significant increase in social behavior compared to session 1, t(8)=2.519, P=0.036. (d) Females showed better motor coordination and there was a significant main effect of sex (F1, 40=5.268, P=0.027). The main prenatal condition effect was not significant, F1,40=2.552, P=0.118, nor the sex × prenatal condition interaction, F(1, 40)=1.575, P=0.217. (e and f) To determine if MIA offspring display increased motor learning, mice were tested on additional trials at 4–40 r.p.m. and 8–79 r.p.m. There was no main effect of sex (F1,40=2.135, P=0.152) therefore both sexes were pooled. Although there was a significant main effect of trials for both the 4–40 r.p.m. trials (F5, 210=29, P<0.0001) and the 8–79 r.p.m. trials (F5,210=2.691, P=0.22), there was no significant main effect of prenatal condition (F1, 42=0.1479, P=0.702) and (F1, 42=1.391, P=0.24) for the 4–40 and the 8–79 r.p.m. trials respectively as determined by RM two-way ANOVA. *p<0.05, **p<0.01.

To determine if MIA offspring display altered behaviors beyond early development, we tested them on the marble burying task that is a widely used test of repetitive and perseverative behaviors. At postnatal day 40, there was an 80 and 54% increase in marble burying of MIA males and females, respectively (Figure 1b, P<0.0001). Thus in the FVB mouse strain MIA results in increased repetitive behavior.

We also assessed whether MIA offspring have deficits in social interaction, assessing the active interaction time in a test mouse with a novel mouse over 5 min. Postnatal day 90 mice from both the groups were tested for social interactions that spanned over four sessions (Figure 1c). There was no significant main effect of sex, we therefore pooled male and female mice (Supplementary Figure 1B). Compared to controls, MIA offspring displayed significantly less social interaction behavior in the first session (P=0.034). Examination of the control group alone showed that there was no significance between session 1 and 4, both consisting of interactions with novel partners. However, there was a significant decrease in the amount of time spent interacting from session 1 to 2, (P<0.0001). In contrast, analysis of the MIA group alone showed a gradual increase in the amount of time spent interacting with partners across sessions, with session 4 showing a significant increase in social behavior compared to session 1 (P<0.036). These results suggest that social interaction behaviors are altered in MIA offspring.

Altogether, these data demonstrate that MIA induced by a single injection of 20 mg/kg Poly(I:C) at E12.5 in the FVB strain results in offspring exhibiting similar behavioral impairments previously described in other strains.

Considering our focus on the cerebellum in this study we asked if motor coordination, a cerebellar-dependent behavior, was impaired in the MIA offspring. To measure motor coordination we compared the time to fall from an accelerating rotarod (4–40 r.p.m. over 300 s) during the first trial. Females had better motor coordination than males as measured by time to fall on the first trial (P=0.027). Despite a trend towards reduced motor coordination in male MIA offspring, MIA had no effect on motor coordination (P=0.118, Figure 1d). Recently, a new behavioral test has been used to measure acquired repetitive behaviors using the rotarod (Rothwell ). In this paradigm, following the initial tests with rotation speed of 4–40 r.p.m. (Figure 1e and Supplementary Figure 1C), mice are switched to a more challenging phase for six sessions with the rotation speed at 8–79 r.p.m. over 300 s (Figure 1f). It has been shown that mice with mutations in NL3, a gene implicated in ASD, had enhanced learning at the higher speed compared to WT mice (Rothwell ). Considering the increased marble burying behavior observed in MIA offspring we tested whether increased learning on the rotarod is also observed in MIA offspring. No difference in motor learning between MIA and control mice was observed in the 4–40 r.p.m. trials (P=0.7) or in the 8–79 r.p.m. trials (P=0.244). These results suggest that MIA offspring do not have enhanced learning as measured by the rotarod assay.

Poly(I:C) Treatment Induces a Neuroinflammatory State in the Cerebellum of MIA Offspring

Previous studies determined that MIA results in altered levels of cytokines in the brain but the cerebellum has not been examined (Garay ). To assess if MIA affects expression of chemokines and cytokines in the cerebellum during development, we performed a multiplex ELISA on the cerebellar lysates from control and MIA offspring at postnatal days 1, 7, 14, and 30. The multiplex ELISA comprised of a panel of 40 chemokines, cytokines and growth factors. We first determined the developmental expression profile in the cerebellum (Figure 2,Supplementary Table 1). Although most of these molecules were detected in the control cerebellum with concentrations ranging from 1–300 pg/ml, we did observe higher concentrations (>1000 pg/ml) of certain immune molecules such as IL-17 and PF-4 at several time points. While the expression levels of some proteins seemed relatively constant over development (ie, IL-1b, IL-2, IL-5, and TNFRI) others seemed to be more dynamically expressed. For example, M-CSF was not detected at P0 but was detected from P7 onwards. bFGF, IL-7, TNFRII and TNFα, were detected at P1 and P30 but not at P7 and P14. Taken together, these data indicate that immune molecules are expressed in the developing cerebellum in an age-dependent manner.

Figure 2

Dynamic expression of cytokines and chemokines in the cerebellum throughout normal development. To illustrate changes in cytokine concentrations with age, the average values for each cytokine concentration in pg/ml of cerebellar lysate are plotted at the four ages examined. Values of mean±SEM concentration are included in Supplementary Table 1.

We next compared how the levels of chemokines and cytokines are altered by MIA. We found a differential expression of several of the chemokines and cytokines between the two groups at different stages of development (Figure 3, Supplementary Table 2). At P1, two cytokines Fas-L (2.79-fold, P=0.027) and IL-6 (2.35-fold, P=0.031) were significantly upregulated while there was a strong trend towards a decrease in the growth factor bFGF (0.38-fold, P=0.059). At P7, levels of IL-2 (2.56-fold, P=0.002), IL-3 (2.49-fold, P=0.002) and TNFRI (1.47fold, P=0.023) were significantly upregulated while Eotaxin-2 was downregulated (0.62-fold, P=0.027) in the MIA offspring. At P14, which represents a peak in synaptogenesis, we observed a significant increase in the levels of MIP-1γ (2.16-fold, P=0.02), TNF RI (1.64-fold, P=0.004) and its ligand TNFα (3.21-fold, P=0.01). Reduction in the levels of ICAM-1 (0.23-fold, P=0.001) and IL-10 (0.24-fold, P=0.022) were also noted in the MIA offspring. At P30, we found a significant increase in MIP-1γ (1.8-fold, P=0.029) and a trend towards a large increase in M-CSF (11-fold, P=0.08) while IFNγ (0.55-fold, P=0.003) and IL-17 (0.58-fold, P=0.031) were significantly downregulated in the MIA offspring. Taken together, these data imply that MIA induces altered cytokine and chemokine profiles in the cerebellum that persist throughout development (Figure 3b).

Figure 3

(a) MIA induces long lasting changes in cerebellar cytokines throughout development. Multiplex array showing the differential expression of various immune molecules in the cerebellar lysates of MIA offspring compared to control values at different stages of development. The average fold-change and SEM in cytokine concentration in cerebellum from MIA offspring compared to control values is plotted. Values from MIA offspring are either black, red, or green, and the control values are superimposed in clear bars. Red and green bars indicate statistically significant increases or decreases, respectively, compared to controls (P<0.05). Increases are shown above 1 and decreases, below 1. Values of fold change and SEMs are included in Supplementary Table 2. (b) A heat map is used to summarize the results for MIA-induced changes in cytokines and chemokines. The degree of change is indicated by the depth of color as indicated in the lower panel. ND = below the level of detection.

Since our main emphasis was to elucidate how a neuroinflammatory state impacts the synapse, and since P14 is when there is a peak in synaptogenesis, our subsequent studies focused on P14. We were particularly interested in two proteins that were identified in the array at P14: the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and its ligand TNFα because of their known roles in regulating synapses (Habbas ; Rothwell ). To further validate the preliminary observation, we performed a western blot analysis on the cerebellum. There was an increase in TNFR1 expression in the MIA offspring (Figure 4a and b control: 1±0.11, n=23; MIA: 1.39±0.11, n=26; P=0.017, unpaired t-test). In parallel, ELISA analysis on the cerebellar lysates revealed an increase of 1.43 fold in TNFα expression in the MIA offspring (Figure 4c, control: 0.99±0.07, n=22 animals; MIA: 1.45±0.19, n=19 animals; P=0.029, unpaired t-test). These results demonstrate that a proinflammatory cytokine with previously described role in synaptic modulation is upregulated in the cerebellum of MIA offspring.

Figure 4

MIA induces increased expression of TNFα and TNFR1 during synaptogenesis. (a) Western blot showing an increase in TNFR1 expression in the cerebellar lysates of P14 MIA offspring. (b) Bar graphs showing significant increase in TNFR1 expression in MIA offspring (n=23) versus controls (n=26). (c) ELISA showing an increase in TNFα expression in the cerebellar lysates of MIA animals (n=22) versus controls (n=19). *P<0.05 as determined by an unpaired t-test.

MIA Offspring Display Reduction in Cerebellar Synaptic Organizing Proteins

We next investigated how alterations in proinflammatory cytokine levels impact the development of synapses. Cerebellar synaptosomes were isolated from control and MIA offspring at P14 and analyzed by western blots for expression of synaptic organizing protein cerebellin-1 and its postsynaptic interacting protein glutamate receptor delta 2 (GluRδ2). We observed a 31% decrease in cerebellin-1 expression in the MIA offspring (Figure 5a, control: 1±0.09, n=14; MIA: 0.69±0.09, n=20; P=0.035 unpaired t-test). and a 27% reduction in GluRδ2 expression in the MIA offspring (Figure 5b, control: 1±0.12, n=17; MIA: 0.73±0.05, n=21 animals; P=0.033 unpaired t-test). These data demonstrate altered expression levels of important cerebellar synaptic organizing proteins in the MIA offspring suggesting that synaptic structure is likely to be altered in the cerebellum.

Figure 5

MIA induces a reduction in expression of synapse organizing proteins cerebellin-1 and GluRδ2. (a) Western blot showing a decrease in cerebellin-1 expression in the purified cerebellar synaptosomes of P14 MIA offspring (n=14) versus controls (n=20). (b) Western blot showing a decrease in GluRδ2 expression in the purified cerebellar synaptosomes of P14 MIA animals (n=17) versus controls (n=21). Bar graphs for both the proteins are represented below each western blot. *P<0.05 as determined by an unpaired t-test.

Maternal Immune Activation Decreases Glutamatergic Synapse Density on Purkinje Neurons From Newborn Offspring

To determine if reduced levels of synaptic organizer proteins results in reduced number of synapses, as has been shown for cortical neurons (Coiro ; Elmer ), we prepared dissociated mixed cerebellar cultures from PCP2-GFP mice. Cells were immunostained for the presynaptic protein vesicular glutamate transporter-1 (VGluT1) and the postsynaptic density protein GluRδ2 (Figure 6a and b). Consistent with the reduced levels of GluRδ2 in synaptosomes of MIA offspring, we have found that there was approximately a 10% reduction in proportion of dendritic spines that colocailzed with GluRδ2 puncta (control: 82.9±2.1%, n=19 cells, MIA: 75.5±2.8%, n=17 cells, P=0.039, Figure 6c). We next asked if reduced GluRδ2 in dendritic spines results in fewer synapses as identified as spines that contain GluRδ2 and are contacted by a VGluT1 puncta. In cultures from MIA offspring there was 15% reduction in the proportion of dendritic spines that colocolized with GluRδ2 and VGluT1 (control: 60.1±3.1%, n=19 cells, MIA: 51.4±3.6%, n=17 cells, P=0.035, Figure 6d) indicating a reduction in number of synapses.

Figure 6

MIA decreases glutamatergic synapse density on cerebellar Purkinje neuron from newborn offspring. (a and b) GFP-expressing Purkinje neurons in 14 day mixed cerebellar cultures from control and MIA offspring, respectively. Cells were immunostained for the excitatory presynaptic marker VGluT1 and the postsynaptic marker GluRδ2. (c) There are fewer dendritic spines with GluRδ2 puncta in MIA cultures. (d) There are fewer synapses (spines with GluRδ2 and VGluT1) in MIA cultures. Arrowheads in merged images point to spines without GluRδ2 or VGluT1 (green), spines with GluRδ2 only (red), or spines with GluRδ2 and VGluT1 (blue). *p<0.05.

In summary, our study indicates that as previously described for the cortex, MIA results in altered expression of cytokines and impaired synaptic development in the cerebellum of the offspring, which might contribute to altered behavior in these mice.

DISCUSSION

Here we have investigated how the cerebellum is impacted by MIA using the poly(I:C) induction model. We report, that as previously described for other brain regions, in the cerebellum there are altered levels of proinflammatory cytokines during and after synaptogenesis that are accompanied by impairments in synaptic proteins and formation of synapses. These cerebellar changes are likely to contribute to the impairments in ASD relevant behaviors that these mice exhibit.

Although the cerebellum is mainly known for its role in regulating motor control and balance, increasing evidence points to involvement in higher cognitive and affective functions (D'Mello and Stoodley, 2015). Based on connectivity and focal lesions studies it has been suggested that early cerebellar dysfunction may disrupt the maturation of distant neocortical circuits thus mediating some of the core ASD deficits (Wang ). The cerebellum has been the most consistently observed site of pathology in ASD (Amaral ; Courchesne ; D'Mello and Stoodley, 2015; Levitt ; Palmen ; Wang ) and functional cerebellar impairments were observed in both ASD and SZ (Allen and Courchesne, 2003; Brown ; Pierce and Courchesne, 2001). In ASD, the cerebellum shows both gross and cellular defects, especially in the vermis with most notable histopathological feature being the reduction in the number of Purkinje neurons (Bailey ; Kemper and Bauman, 1988). Interestingly, a similar reduction was reported in the number of Purkinje cells in the MIA offspring (Shi ) and cerebellar impairments were reported in over 26 ASD mouse models (Ellegood ).

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the causes of ASD and SZ are due to both genetic and environmental factors. Animal studies have shown that MIA can have different impact on different mouse strains suggesting important interactions between genetic variability and environmental insults. For example, while MIA led to an increase in USVs in the 8 day old BTBR mouse, no change was observed in the C57 mice at that age (Schwartzer ). Our study is the first that has analyzed the impact of MIA on ASD-relevant behavior in the FVB strain. Our data show that MIA offspring display altered USVs with lower number of calls during postnatal days 6 and 8 but significantly higher number on days 10. Although some studies previously shown reduced USVs in MIA offspring (Malkova ) increased vocalization as we found in this study has been also reported in the second postnatal week (Choi ; Schwartzer ). Previous studies implicate that the rat pup USVs is largely associated with negative affective states, as these calls are typically increased when pups are exposed to adverse environments such as maternal separation (Li ) and cold temperature (Blumberg and Stolba, 1996). This is further supported by studies indicating that rat and mouse USVs may be reduced with the administration of anxiolytic drugs (Li ; Nastiti ). On the basis of these results, we may speculate that the affective development of MIA pups shows an altered trajectory. Isolation-induced USVs elicit pup retrieval by the parents suggesting that these calls play an important role in social communication between mother and infant (Branchi ; D'Amato ). An alternate theory regarding differences in the patterns of maternal separation-induced pup USVs is that MIA induces developmental abnormalities in communications (Bowers ). Here, our analysis was limited to the number of USVs and further analysis could determine if different repertoire of isolation-induced USV subtypes are observed in MIA offspring as has been shown in other ASD mouse models (Scattoni ).

We find that the behavioral deficits propagate into adulthood in these animals as evidenced by increased repetitive behavior and impairment in social interactions. Interestingly, we have not observed significant changes in motor coordination in MIA offspring suggesting strain dependent effects of MIA on this behavior (Naviaux ). We have also for the first time applied the modified accelerated rotarod test (Rothwell ) to the MIA offspring. We have found no increased learning, which was previously ascribed to enhanced repetitive and stereotypic behavior. These data therefore suggest that increased marble burying and enhanced learning on the rotarod might be mediated by different circuits that are differentially affected by MIA.

Several studies have demonstrated altered expression of cytokines and markers of oxidative stress in biofluids such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid as well as the brain in ASD patients suggesting a neuroinflammatory condition to contribute to the symptoms and pathology of ASD (Ashwood ; Ashwood ; Chez ; Molloy ; Pardo ; Vargas ). Furthermore, these observations have been validated in rodent models especially the MIA model induced by the viral mimetic poly(I:C) (Garay ; Patterson, 2009; Shi ) although some studies failed to detect signs of inflammation in offspring born to immune-challenged mothers (Missault ; Willi ) and even showed reduction in inflammatory cytokines in the periphery (Pacheco-Lopez ). To determine if poly(I:C) induced MIA leads to changes in the cerebellar cytokine milieu, we employed an unbiased multiplex ELISA platform to evaluate the changes in chemokine and cytokines expression in cerebellum during the first four weeks of postnatal development. Indeed a large number of chemokines and cytokines were differentially expressed suggesting that MIA leads to dynamic changes in the cytokine levels in the brains of the offspring and that these changes occur in an age-specific manner. Increased expression in the proinflammatory cytokine interlukin-6 (IL-6) in the cerebellum of ASD brains has been previously reported (Wei ). Interestingly, we have found significant but transient increase in IL-6 at postnatal day 1. The early increase in IL-6 is thought to be critical for mediating the behavioral impairments in MIA offspring (Smith ). The significant increase of IL-6 in the cerebellar lysates of MIA offspring at P1 could thus serve as a trigger eventually leading to an imbalance in the levels of other cytokines during the course of development. One such immune molecule increased in the MIA offspring later in development is the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα. Increased levels of TNFα has been found in both ASD (Chez ; Vargas ) and SZ (Miller ) although reduction in TNFα levels was also reported in SZ (Zhang ). Impaired TNFα signaling has been implicated in impaired neurogenesis during maternal infections (Carpentier ). Moreover, TNFα has been shown to be an important modulator of synaptic function and plasticity (Beattie ) (Habbas ). The altered expression of TNFα and TNFR1 is therefore also likely to affect synapses in the cerebellum. Our data complement a previous study that performed a similar analysis in the cortex and the hippocampus (Garay ). Although some similarities exist; the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 is reduced in all brain regions examined, increase in IL-6 and TNFα was observed in the cerebellum while no change or opposite effect was observed in the cortical regions. Together these studies indicate that brain regional differences are observed with MIA. The cerebellar cytokine/chemokine profiles presented here provide evidence to the involvement of the cerebellum in MIA.

Dendritic spines have been shown to be impaired in various neuropsychiatric diseases, including in ASD and SZ brains (Glantz and Lewis, 2000; Hutsler et al, 2010; Penzes ; Selemon and Goldman-Rakic, 1999). In the MIA mouse model, alterations in synaptic development have been previously demonstrated in the hippocampus (Ito ) and the cortex (Coiro ; Elmer ) but not in the cerebellum of MIA offspring. Given the importance of immune proteins in normal synaptic development (Boulanger and Shatz, 2004) and the evidence of altered expression in cerebella of MIA offspring we tested if proteins with known functions in neuronal development and signaling to be dysregulated in the MIA offspring. Cerebellin 1, a protein that belongs to the C1q family, is a synaptic organizer that plays an essential role in the formation and maintenance of excitatory synapses in the cerebellum and interacts with the Purkinje cell specific glutamate receptor, GluRδ2, (Matsuda ; Yuzaki, 2011). We found significant reduction in both cerebellin 1 and GluRδ2. Reduction in normal synapses and numerous naked spines lacking their presynaptic partners are found in mice with mutations in cerebellin 1 or GluRδ2 (Guastavino ; Hirai ; Kurihara ). Consistent with their role as synaptic organizers we found that reduced levels of cerebellin 1 and GluRδ2 in MIA offspring is also associated with a deficit in the ability of cerebellar neurons to form synapses and an increased number of dendritic spines that are not in contact with a presynaptic terminal. Thus, MIA results in alterations in immune molecules and synaptic impairments throughout the brain, which are likely to contribute to the behavioral impairments observed in these mice.

FUNDING AND DISCLOSURE

This work was supported by: DOD/CDMRP Autism Research Program Idea Development Grant 13-1-0440 (AD), Nebraska Research Initiative (AD) and by National Institutes of Health grants R01MH107223 (AD) and P20RR018788. The authors declare no conflict of interest.