Endothelial SHANK3 regulates tight junctions in the neonatal mouse blood-brain barrier through ?-Catenin signaling.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability condition arising from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Despite the blood-brain barrier (BBB) serving as a crucial gatekeeper, conveying environmental influences into the brain parenchyma, the contributions of BBB in ASD pathogenesis remain largely uncharted. Here we report that SHANK3, ...
an ASD-risk gene, expresses in the BBB-forming brain endothelial cells (BECs) and regulates tight junctional (TJ) integrity essential for BBB's barrier function. Endothelium-specific Shank3 (eShank3) knockout (KO) neonatal mice exhibit male-specific BBB-hyperpermeability, reduced neuronal excitability, and impaired ultra-sonic communications. Although BBB permeability is restored during adult age, the male mutant mice display reduced neuronal excitability and impaired sociability. Further analysis reveals that the BBB-hyperpermeability is attributed to the ?-Catenin imbalance triggered by eShank3-KO. These findings highlight a pathogenic mechanism stemming from the ASD-risk Shank3, emphasizing the significance of neonatal BECs in the BBB as a potential therapeutic target for ASD.
Mesh Terms:
Animals, Animals, Newborn, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Blood-Brain Barrier, Brain, Endothelial Cells, Female, Humans, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Microfilament Proteins, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Neurons, Signal Transduction, Tight Junctions, beta Catenin
Nat Commun
Date: Feb. 06, 2025
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