{"title":"Elevated reactive aggression in forebrain-specific Ccn2 knockout mice","authors":"Ho-Ching Chang, Chi-Hou Ng, Yu-Fu Chen, Yu-Chun Wang, I-Shing Yu, Lukas Jyuhn-Hsiarn Lee, Li-Jen Lee, Kuang-Yung Lee","doi":"10.1002/ccs3.12040","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2) is a matricellular protein that plays important roles in connective tissue. CCN2 is also expressed in the nervous system; however, its role is still unclear. To explore CCN2 function in the brain, we generated forebrain-specific <i>Ccn2</i> knockout (Fb<i>Ccn2</i> KO) mice. In this study, we examined the behavioral phenotypes of Fb<i>Ccn2</i>KO mice. Male mice lacking CCN2 in the forebrain exhibited normal locomotion, sensorimotor gating, and social behaviors but signs of anxiety and elevated reactive aggression. We checked the c-fos expression in aggression-related brain regions following the resident-intruder task (RIT), an aggression test. RIT-induced c-fos levels in the medial amygdala (MeA) were higher in Fb<i>Ccn2</i><sup>−/−</sup> mice as compared to controls. However, in the prefrontal cortex, RIT-induced c-fos levels in Fb<i>Ccn2</i><sup>−/−</sup> mice were lower than controls. Our results suggested in male mice lacking CCN2 in the olfaction-related regions, olfactory social cues elicit greater signals in the MeA, resulting in greater reactive aggression in the RIT. Further, lacking CCN2 in the prefrontal cortex, the major area related to inhibitory control and emotion regulation, may lead to signs of anxiety and the failure to suppress aggressive behaviors. Our model is useful in elaborating the mechanism underlying reactive aggression and therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":15226,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ccs3.12040","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ccs3.12040","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CELL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2) is a matricellular protein that plays important roles in connective tissue. CCN2 is also expressed in the nervous system; however, its role is still unclear. To explore CCN2 function in the brain, we generated forebrain-specific Ccn2 knockout (FbCcn2 KO) mice. In this study, we examined the behavioral phenotypes of FbCcn2KO mice. Male mice lacking CCN2 in the forebrain exhibited normal locomotion, sensorimotor gating, and social behaviors but signs of anxiety and elevated reactive aggression. We checked the c-fos expression in aggression-related brain regions following the resident-intruder task (RIT), an aggression test. RIT-induced c-fos levels in the medial amygdala (MeA) were higher in FbCcn2−/− mice as compared to controls. However, in the prefrontal cortex, RIT-induced c-fos levels in FbCcn2−/− mice were lower than controls. Our results suggested in male mice lacking CCN2 in the olfaction-related regions, olfactory social cues elicit greater signals in the MeA, resulting in greater reactive aggression in the RIT. Further, lacking CCN2 in the prefrontal cortex, the major area related to inhibitory control and emotion regulation, may lead to signs of anxiety and the failure to suppress aggressive behaviors. Our model is useful in elaborating the mechanism underlying reactive aggression and therapeutic strategies.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling provides a forum for fundamental and translational research. In particular, it publishes papers discussing intercellular and intracellular signaling pathways that are particularly important to understand how cells interact with each other and with the surrounding environment, and how cellular behavior contributes to pathological states. JCCS encourages the submission of research manuscripts, timely reviews and short commentaries discussing recent publications, key developments and controversies.
Research manuscripts can be published under two different sections :
In the Pathology and Translational Research Section (Section Editor Andrew Leask) , manuscripts report original research dealing with celllular aspects of normal and pathological signaling and communication, with a particular interest in translational research.
In the Molecular Signaling Section (Section Editor Satoshi Kubota) manuscripts report original signaling research performed at molecular levels with a particular interest in the functions of intracellular and membrane components involved in cell signaling.