| First Author | Garrett AM | Year | 2009 |
| Journal | J Neurosci | Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 38 | Pages | 11723-31 |
| PubMed ID | 19776259 | Mgi Jnum | J:153046 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:4360803 | Doi | 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2818-09.2009 |
| Citation | Garrett AM, et al. (2009) Control of CNS synapse development by {gamma}-protocadherin-mediated astrocyte-neuron contact. J Neurosci 29(38):11723-31 |
| abstractText | Recent studies indicate that astrocytes, whose processes enwrap synaptic terminals, promote synapse formation both by releasing soluble factors and through contact-dependent mechanisms. Although astrocyte-secreted synaptogenic factors have been identified, the molecules underlying perisynaptic astroctye-neuron contacts are unknown. Here we show that the gamma-protocadherins (gamma-Pcdhs), a family of 22 neuronal adhesion molecules encoded by a single gene cluster, are also expressed by astrocytes and localize to their perisynaptic processes. Using cocultures in which either astrocytes or neurons are Pcdh-gamma-null, we find that astrocyte-neuron gamma-Pcdh contacts are critical for synaptogenesis in developing cultures. Synaptogenesis can eventually proceed among neurons cocultured with Pcdh-gamma-null astrocytes, but only if these neurons themselves express the gamma-Pcdhs. Consistent with this, restricted mutation of the Pcdh-gamma cluster in astrocytes in vivo significantly delays both excitatory and inhibitory synapse formation. Together, these results identify the first known contact-dependent mechanism by which perisynaptic astrocyte processes promote synaptogenesis. |
