Journal: Nature Communications
Article Title: Targeting notch signaling to restore neural development and behavior in mouse models of ASD
doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-70321-6
Figure Lengend Snippet: a , b Flow cytometric analysis comparing Notch1 expression in the GE and the cortex ( a ), and in the transient VPA-treated forebrain primary culture (in vitro ASD model) and untreated culture ( b ). c Quantification of active NOTCH1 intracellular domain (ICN) protein levels in the in vitro ASD model, with or without pharmacological inhibition of Notch activity by DAPT treatment (Control= 7, VPA = 9, VPA + DAPT = 9, DAPT = 5). P = 0.0087 (Control vs. VPA), p < 0.0001 (VPA vs. VPA + DAPT). d Experimental scheme for genetic and pharmacological manipulation of Notch signaling in forebrain culture. Notch inhibition or activation was induced on DIV3–4, and maintained until DIV22–26. e , f Effects of Notch gain-of-function and loss-of-function on Vip transcript levels using the in vitro ASD models. e Overexpression of Notch1 ICN via retroviral infection reduced Vip transcript levels in forebrain cultures (Control = 9, ICN = 15). P = 0.0017 ( Vip ), p = 0.2867 ( Sst ). f Genome editing-mediated Notch1 gene disruption or DAPT treatment increased Vip transcript levels (Control = 5, sgN1 = 6; Control = 6, DAPT = 3). Single-guide RNAs of Notch1 (sgN1) was introduced with retrovirus vectors into forebrain cultures. The cultures used in the genome-editing experiments were prepared from embryos of Cas9-expressing mice. P = 0.0066 ( Vip , sgN1), p = 0.6345 ( Sst , sgN1), p < 0.0001 ( Vip , DAPT), p = 0.0736 ( Sst , DAPT). g Rescue of VPA-induced reduction in Vip transcript through Notch1 gene disruption (sgN1) or DAPT treatment (Control = 11, VPA = 21, VPA+sgN1 = 12; Control = 14, VPA = 15, VPA + DAPT = 4). P < 0.0001. h , i Representative images and quantification of VIP-IN density in forebrain cultures, showing significant reduction following overexpression of Notch1 ICN (Control = 9, ICN = 7). Arrowheads indicate VIP-stained cells. P = 0.0027. Scale bar: 50 µm. j , k Representative images and quantification of VIP-IN density showing restoration by gene disruption of Notch1 in VPA-exposed forebrain cultures prepared from Cas9-expressing embryos (Control = 7, VPA = 7, VPA+sgN1 = 15). P < 0.0001 (Control vs. VPA), p = 0.0003 (VPA vs. VPA+ sgN1). Scale bar: 50 µm. c , e , f , g , k , i Data are presented as mean values +/− SEM. c , g , k One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s multiple comparisons test. e , f , i Two-tailed unpaired t-test. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
Article Snippet: The following commercially available primary antibodies were used: Rabbit anti-VIP (1:1000, 20077, ImmunoStar) Mouse anti-Reelin (1:500, D223-3 (CR-50), MBL) Rat anti-Somatostatin (1:300, MAB354 (YC7), Merck Millipore) Rabbit anti-Parvalbumin (1:1000, MSFR105210, Nittobo Medical) Rabbit anti-Calretinin (1:1000, MSFR100440, Nittobo Medical) Mouse anti-Calretinin (1:1000, MAB1568 (6B8.2), Merck Millipore) Mouse anti-GAD67 (1:1000, MAB5406 (1G10.2), Merck Millipore) Rabbit anti-PROX1 (1:1000, ab199359, Abcam) Mouse anti-COUP-TFII (1:1000, PP-H7147-00 (H7147), Perseus Proteomics) Rabbit anti-SOX6 (1:1000, ab30455, Abcam) Mouse anti-LHX6 (1:1000, H00026468-M02 (1B11), Abnova) Mouse anti-HDAC3 (1:1000, #3949 (7G6C5), Cell Signaling) Rabbit anti-cleaved NOTCH1 (1:1000, #4147 (Val1744) (D3D8), Cell Signaling,) Mouse anti-GAPDH (1:1000, Santa Cruz Biotechnology) For immunostaining, Alexa Fluor 488- or 546-conjugated secondary antibodies (Molecular Probes) were used.
Techniques: Expressing, In Vitro, Inhibition, Activity Assay, Control, Activation Assay, Over Expression, Retroviral, Infection, Disruption, Staining, Two Tailed Test