Dynamics of Intracellular Signaling and Therapeutic Targets

Intracellular signals determine the properties of a cell within an organism, and participates in the intregration of extracellular cues leading to an appropriate cellular response. Our approach focuses on the dynamic aspects of this integration process, in particular with the use of real-time biosensor imaging. We use this experimental framework to monitor adaptations in physiopathological conditions and analyze the effects of pharmacological compounds. This will ultimately lead to novel therapeutic strategies.

Trans-differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis

A short splice variant of adenylyl cyclase perturbs cAMP signaling.

Vascular smooth muscle cells submitted to chronic inflammation - such as that involved in athrosclerotic plaque formation or post-angiopalsty restenosis - show a prominent reduction in their cAMP production, leading to increased cell motility and proliferation. We showed that this transdifferentiation depends on the de-novo expression of a short splice variants of adenylyl cyclase 8, which lacks the first 5 transmembrane segments. These short forms of AC8 exert a dominant-negative effect by dimerizing with the other full-length functional adenylyl cyclases, retaining them in the endoplasmic reticulum and thus reducing global cAMP production within the cell.

We are now exploring how to inhibit this deleterious process in the prospect of preventing vascular diseases.

More on the short AC8 isoforms

Biosensor imaging to analyze the dysfunctions in cAMP signaling

Live-imaging of cAMP in primary cultures of control vascular smooth muscle cells (top) and the same cell type after chronic interleukine treatment (bottom). Forskolin was used to increase cAMP production. In control cells, this leads to a maximal response, whereas transdifferentiated cells show a limited cAMP production.

Reference: Vallin et al, 2018.

Dopamine and other neuromodulators in the striatum

A number of neuromodulators, a complex integrating scheme

A number of neuromodulators converge on striatal neurons. We analzye how these signaling events are integrated at the level of adenylyl cyclases or phosphodiesterases, and how these processses are altered in pathological conditions.

Dopamine action in the striatum

Dopamine signals are integrated in a non-linear way

It is commonly accepted that a low level of dopamine preferentially activate D2 dopamine receptors, while D1 receptors would respond selectively to a high level of dopamine such as that associated with a reward. This assumption is challenged by simultaneously imaging cAMP in D1 and D2 neurons: both neurons respond to dopamine with almost the same sensitivity. Further down the cascade, integration of such signal shows non-linearity of the system, caused by DARPP-32.

Cellular mechanisms involved in the dopamine / acetylcholine balance

Acetylcholine gates the action of dopamine

M4 muscarinic are negatively coupled to cAMP production, and co-expressed with D1 dopamine receptors by medium spiny neurons of the direct pathway. Activation of these receptors could in theory oppose the positive action of dopamine, and a pause in the firing of cholinergic neurons is required to allow for a positive response to dopamine. This was studied by numeric simulation. Experiments revealed that M4 receptors were highly sensitive to very low doses of acetylcholine, and these receptors therefore exert a powerful negative control on cAMP.

We are now studying the control of acetylcholine release by cholinergic interneurons.

Phosphodiesterases

Phosphodiesterases determine the dynamics of cyclic nucleotide signals

The main phosphodiesterases expressed in the striatum are PDE1B, PDE2A and PDE10A, degrading both cAMP and cGMP. PDE4 is marginally expressed and degrades specifically cAMP. We use biosensor imaging to analyze their functional role and determine their potential as therapeutic targets.

PDE10A is responsible for controlling baseline cAMP levels in the striatum (Polito, 2015).

PDE2A in the striatum can be efficiently activated by cGMP, and controls the higher levels of concentration of both cAMP and cGMP (Polito, 2013). In the mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome, PDE2A is expressed to a higher level than in control mice, leading to abnormal cAMP signaling (Maurin, 2018).

PDE1B in the striatum reduces the cAMP response when dopamine and glutamate signals are coincident.

cAMP signaling during neuronal migration

Newly formed neurons

This project developed through a collaboration with Isabelle Caillé aims at analyzing the transient cAMP signals that occurr in the cytosol of neurons during their migration from the sub-ventricular zone toward the olfactory bulb.

Alterations in camp signaling in Alzheimer's disease

Neurons and vessels undergo a coicident degeneration during Alzheimer's disease.