Tuning of fast-spiking interneuron properties by an activity-dependent transcriptional switch

N Dehorter, G Ciceri, G Bartolini, L Lim, I Del Pino… - Science, 2015 - science.org
Science, 2015science.org
The function of neural circuits depends on the generation of specific classes of neurons.
Neural identity is typically established near the time when neurons exit the cell cycle to
become postmitotic cells, and it is generally accepted that, once the identity of a neuron has
been established, its fate is maintained throughout life. Here, we show that network activity
dynamically modulates the properties of fast-spiking (FS) interneurons through the
postmitotic expression of the transcriptional regulator Er81. In the adult cortex, Er81 protein …
The function of neural circuits depends on the generation of specific classes of neurons. Neural identity is typically established near the time when neurons exit the cell cycle to become postmitotic cells, and it is generally accepted that, once the identity of a neuron has been established, its fate is maintained throughout life. Here, we show that network activity dynamically modulates the properties of fast-spiking (FS) interneurons through the postmitotic expression of the transcriptional regulator Er81. In the adult cortex, Er81 protein levels define a spectrum of FS basket cells with different properties, whose relative proportions are, however, continuously adjusted in response to neuronal activity. Our findings therefore suggest that interneuron properties are malleable in the adult cortex, at least to a certain extent.
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