Synaptic pathology in Huntington’s disease: Beyond the corticostriatal pathway

Abstract

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a heritable, fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the Huntingtin gene. It is characterized by chorea, as well as cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. Histopathologically, there is a massive loss of striatal projection neurons and less but significant loss in other areas throughout the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical (CBGTC) loop. The mutant huntingtin protein has been implicated in numerous functions, including an important role in synaptic transmission. Most studies on anatomical and physiological alterations in HD have focused on striatum and cerebral cortex. However, based on recent CBGTC projectome evidence, the need to study other pathways has become increasingly clear. In this review, we examine the current status of our knowledge of morphological and electrophysiological alterations of those pathways in animal models of HD. Based on recent studies, there is accumulating evidence that synaptic disconnection, particularly along excitatory pathways, is pervasive and almost universal in HD, thus supporting a critical role of the huntingtin protein in synaptic transmission.

1. Introduction

Huntington’s Disease (HD) is an inherited, ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by a mutation in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene, containing an elongated CAG (glutamine) chain (The Huntington’s Disease Collaborative Research Group, 1993). When the number of CAG triplet repeats exceeds 36, patients will inexorably develop the disease. The main motor symptom of HD is chorea (abnormal dance-like movements), along with psychiatric and cognitive abnormalities. Other movement disorders also occur including; impairment in coordination of voluntary movements such as speech, swallowing, and balance (Duff et al., 2007; Paulsen et al., 2008). As HD progresses, predominant motor symptoms evolve into bradykinesia and rigidity. Histopathologically, HD primarily affects the basal ganglia, specifically the striatal medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs), also known as striatal projection neurons (SPNs). Neurons in other brain regions, including cortical pyramidal neurons (CPNs) and thalamic neurons, also are lost (Vonsattel et al., 1985; Waldvogel et al., 2015). In the striatum, various interneuron types are spared, except for the parvalbumin (PV)-expressing fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs) (Ferrante et al., 1987; Harrington and Kowall, 1991; Reiner et al., 2013). In human motor cortex there is selective loss of calbindin-D28k (CB) interneurons in cases with motor disorder but not mood disorder. Whereas in the anterior cingulate cortex there is loss of CB, calretinin, and PV interneurons in cases with mood disorder but not motor disorder (Kim et al., 2014).

The huntingtin protein (HTT) is critical for normal brain synaptic transmission. Thus, HTT acts as a scaffold protein and is linked to diverse processes such as transport of vesicles and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (Saudou and Humbert, 2016; Zuccato and Cattaneo, 2009). Studies in HD animal models have shown altered exocytosis of presynaptic vesicles and Ca²⁺ influx (Joshi et al., 2009; Morton et al., 2001). This has led to the idea that HD is not just a neurodegenerative disease but it is actually a synaptopathy (Cepeda and Levine, 2020; Li et al., 2003; Zieger and Choquet, 2021). Indeed, targeted deletion of normal HTT from striatal MSNs disrupts synaptic connectivity to output structures (Burrus et al., 2020).

The normal HTT protein is also critical during development, as lack of the protein is lethal (Duyao et al., 1995; Nasir et al., 1995; Saudou and Humbert, 2016; Zeitlin et al., 1995). Inactivation of HTT by RNA interference or deletion of the gene affects spindle orientation and cell fate of cortical progenitors in the ventricular zone of mouse embryos (Godin et al., 2010; Molina-Calavita et al., 2014). In addition, mutant (m)HTT protein presence during embryonic development alters neuronal migration, orientation and final positioning (Barnat et al., 2017; Osmand et al., 2016). Interestingly, expression of mHTT during early development is sufficient to cause a permanent HD phenotype even when mHTT expression is terminated by postnatal day 21 (Molero et al., 2016). In HD patients, cortical thinning and loss of white matter are common in pre-manifest HD subjects (Aylward, 2007; Reading et al., 2005; Rosas et al., 2005; Rosas et al., 2006; Waldvogel et al., 2015). Prodromal HD patients exhibit small intracranial volumes, suggesting mHTT can cause abnormal brain development (Nopoulos et al., 2011). Our own studies demonstrated the frequent occurrence of dysplastic lesions in the cortex of symptomatic and presymptomatic HD mice (Cepeda et al., 2019). Aberrant cortical development is likely to affect synaptic transmission along multiple pathways in the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical (CBGTC) loop. The question can be raised as to whether there is a node in the CBGTC loop where synaptic pathology begins or if it starts simultaneously in several regions. Only examination of areas beyond the corticostriatal pathway during brain development, as well as during presymptomatic and symptomatic stages of HD will allow answering those questions. However, in order to uncover the functional alterations along the CBGTC loop, an intimate knowledge of the anatomical pathways of this circuit is required. The development of new and more advanced anatomical tracing techniques, e.g., anterograde and retrograde viruses, is beginning to provide a more comprehensive picture, albeit of increasing complexity, of a growing number of parallel and convergent pathways constituting the CBGTC loop. Knowledge of how these pathways are affected in HD is a conditio sine qua non for a better understanding of underlying pathological mechanisms. This review focuses primarily on synaptic mechanisms, more detailed information on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of HD neuropathology, including receptor alterations of MSNs and CPNs in mouse models, can be found in a number of comprehensive reviews (Mackay et al., 2018; Plotkin and Surmeier, 2015; Raymond et al., 2011). We apologize for not being able to cite the already abundant and excellent literature on this subject matter.

2. A new vista of the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical loop

The classical view of the CBGTC loop postulates the existence of parallel pathways, each carrying different types of information. Very succinctly, information flows through this loop in three parallel channels; associative, limbic and sensorimotor through the dorsomedial, ventromedial and lateral two quadrants of the striatum, respectively (Alexander et al., 1986; Aoki et al., 2019; Haber, 2003; Mandelbaum et al., 2019; Parent and Hazrati, 1994; Wallace et al., 2017). However, this scheme is insufficient to explain the multiple functions performed by the basal ganglia (Plotkin and Goldberg, 2019). Likewise, the segmentation of the striatum itself has increased considerably. Thus, a mesoscale mouse corticostriatal projectome from the entire cerebral cortex to the dorsal striatum identified 29 distinct functional striatal domains based on the topography of cortical inputs (Hintiryan et al., 2016).

In a recent paper, the same group provided a detailed map of the multi-synaptic output pathways arising from these striatal domains. The authors identified 14 substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), 36 external globus pallidus (GPe), and 6 parafascicular and ventromedial thalamic nuclei domains, as well as a direct cortico-SNr projection. They also demonstrated that multiple striatal domains of the direct pathway display a greater convergence (i.e., more direct pathway inputs consolidate in the same output structure, SNr/GPi) than that of the more parallel striatopallidal indirect pathway, where different striatal domains remain separate in the GPe. Importantly, thalamic domains relay this output back to the originating corticostriatal neurons of each subnetwork forming a veritable closed loop (Foster et al., 2021).

3. Mouse models of HD

The introduction of genetic rodent models of HD, in particular mouse models, has allowed examination of the evolution of symptoms as well as the localization of neuronal and synaptic abnormalities (Brooks and Dunnett, 2015; Levine et al., 2004). The current mouse models can replicate some characteristics of HD to different degrees. No one model, however, can replicate the symptomatology and histopathology of human HD (Levine et al., 2004). Differences in mouse models are due to the expression of either truncated or full-length human mHTT. We will describe the most common transgenic and knock-in (KI) HD mouse models discussed in this review. The first transgenic mouse model of HD, and the most extensively studied, is the R6/2 model. This model carries exon 1 of the human gene, which contains the N-terminal 171 amino acids and therefore can cause acute neuronal toxicity. The model produces a severe, fast-progressing phenotype similar to juvenile HD (Mangiarini et al., 1996). However, these mice do not express the mHTT in its natural genomic and protein context, which could lead to the loss of any potential post-translational modifications and protein interactions occurring in human HD. Additionally, it has been shown that mHTT fragments generated by intracellular cleavage in human HD and full-length transgenic models have a different subcellular localization than pre-cleaved truncated mHTT in R6/2 mice (Warby et al., 2008). This again, raises doubts about the model’s capability to recapitulate all aspects of disease pathology.

The most widely studied full-length transgenic mouse models are the yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) and the bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) HD models, which express human mHTT (Gray et al., 2008; Hodgson et al., 1999). The YAC128 model exhibits age-dependent striatal, followed by cortical atrophy and mimics human disease progression by displaying first a hyperkinetic and later a hypokinetic phenotype (Slow et al., 2003). The BACHD model carries 97 mixed CAACAG repeats. It shows reduced cortical and striatal volume and progressive motor impairments, consistent with the findings in the YAC128 mice (Gray et al., 2008). Although similar in terms of deficits in motor learning and coordination, depressive-like symptoms, and striatal volume loss, the two models also show differences. For example, while YAC128 mice exhibit widespread accumulation of mHTT aggregates in striatum, these aggregates are absent in BACHD mice. In addition, DARPP-32, enkephalin, and dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptor mRNAs are significantly decreased in YAC128 but not BACHD mice (Pouladi et al., 2012).

The knock-in mouse models express mHTT in the most realistic genomic context, since the human polyQ sequence is inserted into the endogenous mouse HTT gene (Shelbourne et al., 1999). The Q140 model contains the chimeric mouse/human exon 1 with 140 CAG repeats. This model displays early selective atrophy in the striatum and cortex as well as behavioral symptoms at 4 months of age. A recent KI model derived from the Q140 is the Q175, which is now widely used because of its breeding stability and replication of adult-onset progressive motor symptoms and brain pathology (Smith et al., 2014). Although each model shows relatively different characteristics of the HD progression in humans, the major findings on electrophysiological and morphological changes have been quite consistent across multiple lines (Cummings et al., 2009).

Most basic research has focused on examining the effect and the underlying mechanisms of neuronal and synaptic dysfunction in the striatum and cortex (Cepeda et al., 2010; Cummings et al., 2009; Heikkinen et al., 2012; Miller et al., 2008; Rebec et al., 2006; Walker et al., 2008). All studies have confirmed a progressive disconnection along the corticostriatal pathway (Cepeda et al., 2003). Based on the new and more detailed corticostriatal connectome, a recent study examined the specific corticostriatal connections primarily affected in symptomatic Q175 HD mice. The authors examined projections from the upper limb motor regions to the intermediate level of the caudate putamen (CPi). They showed that while primary motor cortex projections were unaffected, secondary motor cortex projections to the CPi were significantly reduced (Hintiryan et al., 2016). The specific loss of projections from the secondary but not the primary motor cortex suggests a pathway-specific loss instead of a complete corticostriatal connectome loss.

4. Striatal output structures

Striatal output structures are innervated by projection MSNs giving rise to two major pathways: direct and indirect. Direct pathway MSNs, expressing DA D1 receptors and substance P, project to the internal globus pallidus (GPi)/SNr. Indirect MSNs, expressing DA D2 receptors and enkephalin, project to the GPe, which in turn projects to the subthalamic nucleus (STN) before reaching their final destination in the SNr (Gerfen, 1992). A third pathway, the hyperdirect pathway, arises from CPNs that project directly to the STN. The hyperdirect pathway is able to bypass the indirect pathway, with the STN projection neurons exciting the SNr to suppress thalamocortical activity, thus increasing inhibition of the motor neurons and suppressing movement (DeLong and Wichmann, 2007) (Fig. 1). An imbalance in basal ganglia connectivity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of HD. Thus, while motor signs are associated with altered connectivity in the indirect pathway, apathy seems more associated with changes in the direct pathway (Nair et al., 2021). Although both the direct and indirect pathways are affected as disease progresses, it has long been held that, at least in human patients, indirect pathway MSNs are affected earlier compared to those in the direct pathway (Albin et al., 1992; Reiner et al., 1988). This could mean that indirect pathway MSNs are more vulnerable to the HD mutation. In mouse models, cell loss is less evident and occurs very late (Turmaine et al., 2000). For example, in Q175 mice, no loss of striatal MSNs was seen up to 18 months of age, although enkephalin expression was reduced (Deng et al., 2021). Interestingly, and probably as a compensatory mechanism, enkephalin and substance P terminals were more abundant in GPe and SNr/GPi respectively at both 6 and 18 months. Electrophysiological studies revealed functional alterations more selectively on direct pathway MSNs in early stages of disease in two HD mouse models, YAC128 and BACHD, with an increase in spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents (sEPSCs), whereas in late stages both direct and indirect pathway MSNs were affected (Andre et al., 2011). It is thus expected that alterations in striatal MSNs lead to faulty communication with their output regions. Although few, recent studies highlight changes in these output regions (Barry et al., 2018; Perez-Rosello et al., 2019), as well as in other nodes of the CBGTC loop (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1.

Simplified diagram of the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical (CBGTC) loop. Striatal medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) expressing dopamine (DA) D1 receptors receive glutamatergic (Glu) inputs (+) from cortical pyramidal neurons (CPNs) and project to the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) as well as the internal segment of the globus pallidus (GPi). This is called the direct pathway and promotes movement. MSNs expressing DA D2 receptors also receive inputs from CPNs and project to the external segment of the globus pallidus (GPe). The GPe, in turn, projects to the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and this to the SNr/GPi. This is known as the indirect pathway and counteracts movement. GABA (−) outputs from SNr/GPi project to the thalamus (Thal), which in turn, sends Glu inputs (+) back to the cortex thus completing the CBGTC loop. Both D1 and D2 MSNs also receive afferents from the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and Thal. A hyperdirect pathway connects the CPNs of the cortex directly to the STN. In addition, a newly described pathway from CPNs to SNr GABAergic neurons is illustrated. Several classes of interneurons, including acetylcholine (ACh) interneurons, exert control over the MSNs. For the sake of simplicity, GABAergic interneurons and some additional synaptic pathways are not illustrated.

Fig. 2.

Simplified diagram of the CBGTC loop in late stage HD. Glu inputs (+) from CPNs are reduced onto both direct (D1) and indirect (D2) pathway MSNs. GABA (−) outputs from D1 MSNs are reduced onto SNr/GPi neurons, dis-inhibiting these neurons and promoting hypokinesia. GABA (−) outputs from D2 MSNs are unchanged or decreased, but reduced GABA reuptake disrupts firing patterns of PV-expressing GABAergic neurons in the GPe and facilitate bursting activity. This, in conjunction with reduced cortical input through the hyperdirect pathway, may reduce STN firing. Question marks indicate that alterations of these pathways in HD remain unknown or studies are inconclusive.

The Indirect Pathway: The GP, both GPe and GPi, are important nodes in the CBGTC loop and have been the targets for ablation and neuromodulation, i.e., deep brain stimulation (DBS), to improve motor disorders, including HD (Bonomo et al., 2021; Cif and Hariz, 2017; Reiner, 2004; Wojtecki et al., 2016). As the first relay station of the indirect pathway and considering that striatal enkephalin-containing neurons appear more susceptible than direct pathway MSNs, it is important to know how this nucleus is altered in HD.

GPe:

There are three main cellular types in the GPe that have been characterized morphologically and electrophysiologically (Cooper and Stanford, 2000; Hegeman et al., 2016; Kita and Kitai, 1991). The most abundant are the prototypical (PV-expressing) neurons, that project to the STN, and the arkypallidal (Npas- or FoxP2-expressing) neurons that project back to the striatum. Interestingly, it is the arkypallidal, not the prototypical GPe neurons that are lost in symptomatic Q175 mice at 18 months (Deng et al., 2021). We examined passive and active membrane properties of GPe neurons in R6/2 model mice. As HD progresses GPe neurons in this model showed an increase in cell membrane capacitance and input resistance (Akopian et al., 2016). R6/2 GPe neurons also showed alterations in firing patterns; increased interspike interval variation and number of bursts. Optogenetically-evoked responses of indirect pathway MSNs onto GPe neurons, in both R6/2 and YAC128 HD mice, showed an increase in decay time and area while amplitude remained unchanged (Barry et al., 2018). In contrast, another study reported no change in decay time but a significant increase in amplitude of optically-evoked GABA responses (Perez-Rosello et al., 2019). However, the underlying mechanism for this change was not explained as both pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms were invoked. A more recent study in our laboratory determined that the increase in decay time of the optogenetically-evoked responses of GPe neurons is probably caused by alterations in expression of GABA transporter-3 (GAT-3). In agreement, a GAT-3 inhibitor, SNAP5114, caused an increase in decay time in WT but not R6/2 neurons (Barry et al., 2020). Overall, there were no significant differences in frequency of spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic currents (sIPSCs) or inter-event interval (IEI) in symptomatic R6/2 (2 months), presymptomatic (2 months) or symptomatic (12 months) YAC128 GPe neurons compared to WT littermates (Barry et al., 2018). Although the kinetics of sIPSCs of GPe neurons showed no significant differences between R6/2 and WT mice, there was a non-significant increase in decay time in the R6/2 neurons (Barry et al., 2018).

STN:

There is a significant loss of STN neurons in symptomatic Q175 mice (Atherton et al., 2016; Deng et al., 2021). Furthermore, the neuronal activity of the STN is altered in early stages of HD in two HD mouse models, BACHD and Q175, exhibiting prolonged N-methyl-Daspartate (NMDA) receptor mediated synaptic currents due to a reduction in glutamate uptake (Atherton et al., 2016). In symptomatic YAC128 mice, a progressive age-dependent disconnection of the hyperdirect pathway, similar to that seen in the corticostriatal pathway, was observed (Callahan and Abercrombie, 2015a). Thus, cortical entrainment of STN activity was disrupted and there was an increase in the proportion of STN neurons that were less phase-locked to cortical activity. In addition, evoked responses of STN neurons to cortical stimulation as well as spontaneous firing of STN neurons were decreased. In R6/2 mice, cortical entrainment of STN neural activity also was disrupted, leading the authors to conclude that miscommunication between cortex and STN may be a mechanism contributing to disordered motor control in HD (Callahan and Abercrombie, 2015b).

A recent study examined neuronal activity throughout different regions of the indirect pathway using in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological recordings in Q175 mice at early symptomatic stages (6–12 months). Compared with WT mice, D2-MSNs were hypoactive, leading to hyperactivity of prototypic PV-positive GPe neurons. In contrast, arkypallidal GPe neurons and STN neurons were hypoactive. Notably, the hypoactivity of STN and arkypallidal GPe neurons was partially alleviated by optogenetic inhibition of prototypic GPe neurons (Callahan et al., 2021). Another recent study identified a subnetwork of direct pathway MSNs specifically targeting arkypallidal Npas-positive neurons in the GPe (Cui et al., 2021). Its role in HD pathogenesis remains to be determined.

The direct pathway: As HD progresses changes occur in the direct pathway output structures [SNr and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc)] both in terms of intrinsic and synaptic properties. SNr neurons of the CAG140 HD model were shown to have increased burst rates compared to their WT littermates during early development of symptoms (Murphy-Nakhnikian et al., 2012). In R6/2 mice, SNr neurons were shown to have decreased cell membrane capacitance and increased membrane input resistance indicating decreases in somatic area and dendritic processes (Barry et al., 2018). This is similar to alterations found in the cortex and striatum of symptomatic R6/2 mice (Klapstein et al., 2001). Most SNr neurons fire spontaneously with a rhythmic pattern. In R6/2 mice there was an increase in low frequency firing cells compared to WT littermates (Barry et al., 2018). Using optogenetic techniques, we also showed a decrease in amplitude of the evoked synaptic response of direct pathway MSN terminals onto SNr neurons. Decreased amplitude of evoked responses in the YAC128 HD mouse model also was observed (Barry et al., 2018). Compared to results from GPe neurons, there were significant decreases of sIPSCs frequency and amplitude in symptomatic R6/2 (2 months) SNr neurons compared to WT littermates (Barry et al., 2018). sIPSCs amplitude was also decreased in symptomatic (12 months) YAC128, but unchanged in presymptomatic (2 months) compared to WT littermates. The decreased amplitude of optogenetically evoked GABAergic responses corroborated the reduction in frequency and amplitude of the sIPSCs (Barry et al., 2018).

5. The SNc-striatum DA pathway

The SNc plays an important role in HD pathophysiology. Indeed, biphasic changes in striatal DA content, increased in the early stage but decreased in the late stage, reflect clinical symptoms, i.e., hyperkinesia followed by bradykinesia (Cepeda et al., 2014). In addition, regions with early HD pathology all receive dense DA inputs (Menalled et al., 2003). Although DA SNc neurons do not appear to be lost in HD, they undergo functional changes. Electrophysiological studies in R6/1 mice, a model similar to the R6/2 but with slow progression, demonstrated that, although DA neurons do not show changes in basic membrane properties, there is a reduction of small-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels (SK3, responsible for the slow afterhyperpolarization), leading to hyperexcitability and concomitant increases in DA release followed by drastic reductions in DA availability in late stages of the disease (Dallerac et al., 2015). Consistent with this observation, studies have shown progressive loss of DA in the striatum of HD animal models (Johnson et al., 2006; Ortiz et al., 2011; Ortiz et al., 2012), which could explain bradykinesia in the late stages. The origin of early increases in DA is unknown but anatomical studies have suggested that early degeneration of striosomal MSNs may produce hyperactivity of the nigrostriatal DA pathway, causing chorea (Hedreen and Folstein, 1995). In addition, changes in cortical input onto SNc neurons could also contribute to biphasic changes in DA release.

6. The thalamostriatal pathway: morphological and electrophysiological findings

Aside from the cortex, the striatum also receives considerable excitatory inputs from the thalamus, which end mainly on the spines and dendrites of MSNs and cholinergic interneurons (Doig et al., 2010; Lapper and Bolam, 1992; Smith et al., 2004). The thalamic projection is topographically organized and arises predominantly from the centromedian (CM) and parafascicular (Pf) nuclei (Berendse and Groenewegen, 1990; Wall et al., 2013).

Tracing studies indicated that direct and indirect pathway MSNs in mice receive inputs from relatively equal numbers of thalamic neurons (Wall et al., 2013). In Q140 mice it was shown that thalamostriatal projections are reduced compared to WT mice (Deng et al., 2013). Using VGLUT2 (vesicular glutamate transporter 2) immunohistochemistry to detect thalamostriatal terminals, they observed a significant reduction in both axodendritic and axospinous thalamostriatal terminals that was already evident in the dorsolateral striatum at 1 month of age and continued up to 12 months. Consistent with the early loss of thalamostriatal projections in Q140 mice, striatal expression of proteins critical to thalamostriatal synapse formation, such as the semaphorin 3E receptor Plexin-D1 signaling complex (Ding et al., 2011), were significantly reduced early in the lifespan of several genetic mouse models of HD (Kuhn et al., 2007). A follow up study from Reiner’s group compared cortical and thalamic inputs to the direct and indirect pathway MSNs in 4 and 12 month-old Q140 mice. The authors found that the loss of corticostriatal terminals at 12 months of age was preferential for D1-positive spines. In contrast, thalamostriatal terminal loss was comparable for spines from both pathways (Deng et al., 2014). They concluded that a differential thalamic and cortical input loss to MSNs is an early event in HD and that the loss of cortical input onto direct pathway neurons may contribute to pre-manifest motor slowing. These early and consistent changes suggest the abnormal development of basal ganglia connectivity.

Functional studies using optogenetic stimulation of the thalamostriatal pathway highlighted overall increases in glutamate release probability and decreases in AMPAR/NMDAR current ratios (Kolodziejczyk and Raymond, 2016; Parievsky et al., 2017). Parievsky et al. found increased decay time in both AMPAR and NMDAR currents, potentially as a compensatory mechanism to counter the reduced number of excitatory synaptic contacts and therefore, reduced peak amplitude. A higher relative proportion of NMDARs at thalamostriatal synapses, longer decay times of NMDAR-mediated currents, and increased glutamate release probability, all support an important role of thalamostriatal projections in excitotoxicity. Both studies also found increased activation of extrasynaptic NMDARs, which is associated with cell death signaling (Hardingham and Bading, 2010), in different HD mouse models. Notably, Kolodziejczyk and Raymond observed this occurrence as early as 14 days in vitro in their YAC128 thalamostriatal co-culture system (Kolodziejczyk and Raymond, 2016). This further established the possible role of thalamic afferents in HD pathology, as well as suggested that these early changes are possibly regulated by an impaired receptor transport or distribution mechanism in HD.

There is little data on the abnormalities of thalamic input to striatal interneurons in both animal models and human HD. One potential cell type prone to dysfunction is the cholinergic interneuron, because it receives excitatory inputs directly from the thalamus in both rodents and primates (Doig et al., 2010; Lapper and Bolam, 1992). Cholinergic interneurons project to both direct and indirect pathway MSNs, and modulate the responsivity of these neurons at corticostriatal synapses (Ding et al., 2010; Pisani et al., 2007; Smith et al., 2011). A study in R6/2 mice showed that neurons of the Pf nucleus, the main source of thalamostriatal afferents providing trophic support to cholinergic interneurons, degenerate at an early stage (Crevier-Sorbo et al., 2020). Using ChAT immunolabeling to identify cholinergic interneurons, significant changes in the VGLUT2 labeled thalamic input to striatal cholinergic interneurons were observed in 1 and 4 month-old Q140 mice (Deng and Reiner, 2016). The dendrites of Q140 cholinergic interneurons were significantly fewer and shorter as early as 1 month of age, and there were fewer dendritic arborizations from individual interneurons as well, consistent with another report (Holley et al., 2015). In this study, we also reported enhanced inhibitory inputs to cholinergic interneurons in R6/2 mice, which would reduce their activity and pacemaking ability. Overall, these results show that the abundance of thalamic input to striatal cholinergic interneurons is reduced early on in Q140 mice. In support, it has been demonstrated that the responsiveness of striatal cholinergic interneurons to thalamic inputs in presymptomatic Q175 mice also is reduced (Tanimura et al., 2016). To our knowledge, no published information from studies of mouse models is available on how HD may affect thalamic inputs to other striatal interneuron types.

7. The thalamocortical pathway: morphological and electrophysiological findings

The role of the thalamus and the thalamocortical projection in HD has been understudied, even though some of the earliest sensory, attention, and cognitive deficits are clearly associated with thalamocortical circuits. In HD, it is hypothesized that the early loss of indirect pathway MSNs results in disinhibition of the motor thalamocortical pathway (Albin et al., 1992; Deng et al., 2004; Reiner et al., 1988), although evidence from mouse models suggests the disinhibition may also be due to alterations in the direct pathway (Andre et al., 2011). In addition, CPNs that synapse on thalamic nuclei neurons are preferentially lost (Hedreen et al., 1991), suggesting potential reciprocal disruption in the circuitry.

Using patch clamp electrophysiology in brain slices, preliminary studies in our lab described altered membrane properties in thalamic neurons of R6/2 mice. Even at the presymptomatic stage both ventral anterior lateral (VAL) and ventral posteromedial (VPM) neurons start to show alterations in either membrane properties (VAL) or somatic size (VPM). These changes become more pronounced in the symptomatic stage leading to decreased capacitance, increased input resistance and faster decay time constants. This suggests signs of degeneration in both regions. CPNs in the barrel cortex of symptomatic R6/2 mice also exhibited altered membrane properties indicative of degeneration. When optically stimulating these thalamocortical terminals, smaller IPSCs and EPSCs were observed in CPNs, which suggests a possible disconnection between the thalamus and the cortex, especially between the thalamus and GABAergic interneurons of the barrel cortex in the case of IPSCs (Holley et al., 2019). In a more recent study, we utilized high-density silicone probes to examine the effects of altered thalamocortical pathway in HD in more physiological conditions. Early symptomatic Q175 mice were trained to perform a simple cued-response behavioral task. It consisted of licking for milk in response to an audible cue delivered via a solenoid valve actuation. Responses to the reward stimuli, i.e., licking, were measured and analyzed for various brain regions (Shobe et al., 2021). We observed delayed cortical (both CPNs and FSIs) and thalamic responses to reward stimuli, as well as impaired thalamocortical coherence (Shobe et al., 2021). Specifically, we found an increase in delta band power in the cortex of Q175 mice, which is consistent with many HD studies in humans (Hunter et al., 2010; Leuchter et al., 2017; Painold et al., 2010) and is suggestive of impaired thalamocortical communication. As the thalamus does not receive inputs directly from the striatum, but through SNr/GPi, we believe that cell dysfunction in the striatum is unlikely the culprit of the thalamocortical changes found in this study. Instead, early cognitive and behavioral changes are primarily due to altered thalamocortical activity, which subsequently affects the corticostriatal pathway.

8. Therapies to rescue synaptic pathology

Based on our knowledge of synaptic pathology, which therapies are more suitable to treat HD symptoms? Classically, therapies for HD primarily target the symptom of chorea with a variety of treatments including: DA antagonists, DA-depleting agents [tetrabenazine (TBZ)], glutamate antagonists, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, lithium and deep brain stimulation to name a few (Armstrong et al., 2012; Bagchi, 1983; Paleacu, 2007; Pidgeon and Rickards, 2013). Currently TBZ, a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor, is one of the very few FDA approved drugs for HD (Huntington Study Group, 2006). YAC128 mice in the early stages of the disease show increased stereotypies that are decreased by TBZ treatment, supporting increased DA tone in direct pathway neurons (Andre et al., 2011). TBZ helps control chorea but has negligible effects on other HD symptoms such as psychiatric disturbances.

New therapies use Zinc-finger transcription repressors and CRISPRCas9 to target HTT DNA (Estevez-Fraga et al., 2020). Others use genetargeting strategies specifically for the mHTT gene and/or mHTT protein (Leavitt and Tabrizi, 2020). However, recent studies by large pharmaceutical companies using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to lower mHTT in HD patients have stalled. A phase I/II trial by Roche, using the drug tominersen, showed significantly lower levels of mHTT in patients’ cerebrospinal fluid without significant side effects. However, the phase III trial of tominersen was halted as the drug had less efficacy than placebo, and when given more frequently, led to a worse outcome. An independent committee of experts reviewed the data, leading to an early termination of the trial due to the drug’s potential benefits not outweighing the risks (Kwon, 2021). Other studies examined whether selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors could improve pathogenesis of the disease in HD rodent models. Indeed, R6/2 mice treated with a highly selective PDE10A inhibitor, TP-10, ameliorated behavioral deficits and brain pathology by increasing striatal and cortical levels of phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and BDNF (Beaumont et al., 2016; Giampa et al., 2010). A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, phase II clinical trial (Amaryllis) used the PDE10A inhibitor PF-02545920 to examine the efficacy on motor function along with the safety and tolerability of the drug. The trial used the Unified-Huntington’s-Disease-Rating-scale Total-Motor-Score (UHDRS-TMS), UHDRS-Total-Maximum-Chorea score and Clinical-Global-Impression of Improvement as measurements of changes in HD patients who were separated into three groups (5 mg PF-02545920, 20 mg PF-02545920 or placebo). Unfortunately, the results showed no benefits of the drug compared to placebo (Delnomdedieu et al., 2018). Similarly, a selective PDE9A inhibitor, PF-04447943, rescued corticostriatal transmission in BACHD transgenic rats (Chakroborty et al., 2020). In contrast, no significant beneficial role for SCH-51866, a PDE1/5 inhibitor, was observed in either motor or cognitive behavioral tasks (Beaumont et al., 2014). Another strategy aimed at restoring synaptic corticostriatal communication used an ampakine, Cx614, known to facilitate glutamate release and increase BDNF, which is reduced in HD (Park, 2018; Zuccato et al., 2005). There was an augmentation of synaptic activity in both WT and R62 mice, but this effect was reduced in symptomatic mice (Cepeda et al., 2010). Recently, optogenetic activation of cortical regions projecting to the striatum, in particular the secondary motor cortex (M2), was reported to be beneficial to treat some motor symptoms and rescue synaptic deficits caused by the corticostriatal disconnection in R6/2 mice (Fernandez-Garcia et al., 2020). This stimulation could restore levels of trophic factors such as BDNF.

Neural Stem Cells:

As mentioned before, in rodent models of HD neuronal loss is only mild or occurs very late in disease progression. Thus, symptoms are caused principally by cell dysfunction, in particular abnormal synaptic communication (Levine et al., 2004). In contrast, in human patients clinical symptoms occur as a combination of functional and structural changes. The question is, how can we replace the massive loss of neurons and reconstruct synaptic microcircuits in striatum and other brain regions? Experimental models are beginning to provide an answer (Bjorklund and Parmar, 2020). Implantation of multiple stem cell lines has been used to treat HD symptoms in animal models and were recently reviewed (Holley et al., 2018). These include adult multipotent stem cells (e.g., adipose- and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells), pluripotent stem cells and, more recently, embryonically-derived neural stem cells (NSCs), which can differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes (Park et al., 2021). We used ESI-017-derived human (h)NSCs for transplantation studies in HD mice. ESI-017 is one of the six clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell lines generated from supernumerary embryos and approved for clinical application. We demonstrated that ESI-017-derived hNSCs survive, make synaptic contacts, and are electrophysiologically active in striatum and cerebral cortex of R6/2 mice. Further, they partially rescue some MSN membrane properties, attenuate epileptiform activity, and improve some behavioral symptoms (Reidling et al., 2018). These differentiated stem cells also increase BDNF and reduce aberrant accumulation of mHTT in the striatum of transplanted animals. Thus, hNSCs have the potential of restoring corticostriatal connectivity in HD. Two other strategies have been attempted that promise restoration of basal ganglia connectivity. One consists of grafting differentiated human striatal progenitors. In a rat model of HD, these progenitors undergo maturation and integrate into host striatal circuits, extend projections to target output regions and receive synaptic contacts. Notably, transplanted rats show significant improvement in sensory-motor tasks up to 2 months after transplant (Besusso et al., 2020). The other strategy used an in vivo cell conversion technology to reprogram striatal astrocytes into GABAergic neurons through AAV-mediated ectopic expression of NeuroD1 and Dlx2 transcription factors. The striatal astrocyteconverted neurons showed action potentials and synaptic events, and projected their axons to the appropriate target regions. Behavioral analyses of treated R6/2 mice showed a significant extension of life span and improvement of motor deficits (Wu et al., 2020). Our more recent study demonstrated that 8-month implantation of hNSCs into the striatum of Q175 HD mice ameliorates behavioral deficits, increases BDNF and reduces mHTT. More importantly, in the context of synaptic pathology, electrophysiological and morphological studies demonstrated that hNSCs differentiate into diverse neuronal populations, including MSN- and interneuron-like cells. Remarkably, hNSCs receive synaptic inputs, innervate host neurons, and improve membrane and synaptic properties (Holley et al., 2020).

9. Conclusions

Almost 20 years ago, we postulated the idea that in HD there is a progressive disconnection along the corticostriatal pathway (Cepeda et al., 2003). This can now be generalized to other excitatory pathways within the CBGTC loop, supporting an important role of HTT in synaptic transmission. Nonetheless, a comprehensive hodology of synaptic dysfunction throughout the CBGTC loop is still incomplete and future advances in the understanding of HD mechanisms should concentrate on finding early changes not only in the corticostriatal projection but also in other pathways. In particular, alterations in thalamostriatal and thalamocortical pathways, that seem to precede and set the stage for corticostriatal pathway dysfunction, are beginning to be unraveled. The GPi/SNr-thalamic projection also should be studied.

In addition, investigators should try to tease apart an underlying cause from a compensatory mechanism. For example, late decreases in glutamate or DA release could very well be a homeostatic adaptation for early increases. Similarly, increased abundance of striatal terminals in output regions could be a compensatory consequence of reduced MSN output. It is important to realize that with disease progression both degenerative and regenerative morphological changes occur pari passu (Ferrante et al., 1991; Graveland et al., 1985). In fact, axonal regeneration and sprouting have been proposed as a potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative disorders (Marshall and Farah, 2021). Based on the above findings, it appears that the striatum itself is not the main or sole instigator of neuropathological changes in HD. We need to look at other nodes in the CBGTC loop to find the answer. Either an altered cortical input due to aberrant development or a combination of thalamocortical and thalamostriatal disrupted connectivity, appears to be the primum movens of synaptic pathology.

Another pressing question is how early synaptic dysfunction can be identified. Is the faulty cortical architecture reported in some animal models (Cepeda et al., 2019) the trigger of a cascade of morphological and functional changes in the CBGTC loop? Based on the fact that mHTT is already present during the embryonic period and leads to aberrant brain development, we may speculate that some of the early changes in morphology and synaptic activity could represent preemptive adaptations aimed at delaying disease manifestations.