NOX1/NADPH oxidase affects the development of autism-like behaviors in a maternal immune activation model

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2021-01, Vol.534, p.59-66
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xueqing, Ibi, Masakazu, Haga, Ryu, Iwata, Kazumi, Matsumoto, Misaki, Asaoka, Nozomi, Liu, Junjie, Katsuyama, Masato, Yabe-Nishimura, Chihiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autism spectrum disorder (ASD); Autism Spectrum Disorder - etiology; Autism Spectrum Disorder - immunology; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Cerebellum - embryology; Cerebral Cortex - embryology; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Male; Maternal immune activation (MIA); Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; NADPH oxidase; NADPH Oxidase 1 - genetics; NADPH Oxidase 1 - metabolism; NOX1; Poly I-C - immunology; Poly I-C - pharmacology; Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)); Pregnancy; Purkinje cells; Purkinje Cells - pathology
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.11.070

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by genetic and environmental factors. Among the environmental factors, maternal infection is known as one of the principal risk factors for ASD. On the other hand, postmortem studies suggested the relationship of oxidative stress with ASD etiology. However, the role of oxidative stress in the development of ASD remains unclear. Here, we report the involvement of NOX1/NADPH oxidase, an enzyme generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), in behavioral and anatomical abnormalities in a maternal immune activation (MIA) model. In the MIA model of gestational polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) exposure, increased serum levels of IL-6 were observed in both wild-type (WT) and Nox1-deficient mice (Nox1KO). Following the comparable induction of MIA in the two genotypes, impairment of social preference and defects in motor coordination were observed in WT offspring but not in offspring deficient in Nox1. MIA up-regulated NOX1 mRNA in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of the fetus but not in the adult offspring. Although the development of cortical neurons was unaffected by MIA in either genotype, the dropout of Purkinje cells in lobule VII of MIA-affected offspring was significantly ameliorated in Nox1KO. Taken together, these results suggested that NOX1/NADPH oxidase plays an essential role in some behavioral phenotypes observed in ASD, possibly by promoting the loss of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. •Roles of NOX1/NADPH oxidase were studied in maternal immune activation (MIA) model.•Nox1 deficiency rescued impairment of social preference in MIA-affected offspring.•Nox1 deficiency rescued impairment of motor coordination in MIA-affected offspring.•MIA up-regulated NOX1 mRNA in cerebral cortex and cerebellum of the fetus.•Loss of Purkinje cells in MIA offspring was ameliorated by Nox1 deficiency.