Perineuronal net receptor PTPσ regulates retention of memories
Authors: Lesnikova Angelina , Casarotto Plinio , Biojone Caroline , Castrén Eero 
Published: February 2021

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) have an important physiological role in retention of learning by restricting cognitive flexibility. Their deposition peaks after developmental periods of intensive learning, usually in late childhood, and they help in long-term preservation of new acquired skills and information. Modulation of PNN function by various techniques enhances plasticity and regulates retention of memories, which may be beneficial when memory persistence entails negative symptoms such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we investigated the role of PTPσ (receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase S, a phosphatase that is activated by binding of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans from PNNs) in retention of memories using novel object recognition and fear conditioning rodent models. We observed that mice haploinsufficient forPTPRSgene (PTPσ+/−), although having improved short-term object recognition memory, display impaired long-term memory in both novel object recognition and fear conditioning paradigm, as compared to WT littermates. However, PTPσ+/−mice didn’t show any differences in behavioral tests that do not heavily rely on cognitive flexibility, such as elevated plus maze, open field, marble burying and forced swimming test. Since PTPσ has been shown to interact with and dephosphorylate TRKB, we investigated activation of this receptor and its downstream pathways in limbic areas known to be associated with memory. We found that phosphorylation of TRKB and PLCγ are increased in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and amygdala of PTPσ+/−mice, but other TRKB-mediated signaling pathways are not affected. Our data suggest that disruption of PNN-PTPσ complex facilitates short-term memory by promoting TRKB phosphorylation in different brain areas, but that PTPσ activity is required for the retention of long-term memories. Inhibition of PTPσ or disruption of PNN-PTPσ-TRKB complex might be a potential target for disorders where negative modulation of the acquired memories can be beneficial.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding

This work was supported by Doctoral Program in Integrative Life Science, Jalmari ja Rauha Ahokkaan Säätiö grant, Centre for International Mobility (CIMO) Grant TM-16-10112, and by grants from European Research Council (#322742), EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) CircProt (#301225 and #643417), Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, and the Academy of Finland (#294710 and #307416). None of the funders had a role in the data acquisition, analysis or manuscript preparation.

Author contributions

PC, CB and EC designed the study; AL, PC and CB performed the experiments and analyzed the data; AL wrote the manuscript draft; AL, PC, CB and EC revised the manuscript.

Contribution to the Field Statement

Plasticity of neuronal networks increases brain’s ability to adapt and it is compromised in various conditions including psychiatric diseases, brain injuries, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Perineuronal nets, through their receptor PTPσ restrict neuronal plasticity in adult brain, which is considered important for the retention of long-term memories. We have previously shown that this restricted plasticity is mediated by inhibition by PTPσ of the TRKB neurotrophin receptor. We have now investigated the biochemical and behavioral phenotype of mice with reduced PTPσ expression. We observed that PTPσ+/−mice have increased phosphorylation of TRKB and its downstream partner PLCγ1 in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala, demonstrating chronic overactivation of plasticity-related pathways. Consistently, PTPσ+/−mice demonstrated facilitated learning but impaired long-term memory retention. Unexpectedly, long-term memory of PTPσ+/−mice was impaired, suggesting that perneuronal net-stimulated PTPσ activity is important in memory retention. This effect of neuronal “hyperplasticity” induced by PTPσ knockout may be both beneficial and harmful in the treatment of human patients, which should be taken into account when developing therapeutic strategies.