title: BCL11B/CTIP2 is highly expressed in GABAergic interneurons of the mouse somatosensory cortex.
abstract: In the nervous system, BCL11B is crucial for the development of deep layer corticospinal projection neurons and striatal medium spiny neurons and is often used as a marker for the aforementioned cell types. However, the expression of BCL11B in subtypes of non-excitatory neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) has not been reported in the mouse. In this study we show that BCL11B is extensively expressed in S1 GABAergic interneurons, throughout the three main subgroups (somatostatin-, parvalbumin- and 5HT3a-expresssing). Almost all BCL11B positive cells in the upper S1 layers were GABAergic interneurons and surprisingly, almost 40% of the BCL11B positive neurons in layer V were GABAergic interneurons. Single cell mRNA sequencing data revealed higher Bcl11b expression in S1 interneurons compared to deep layer pyramidal neurons. The highest levels of Bcl11b expression were found within the 5HT3a population, specifically in putative neurogliaform interneuron subclasses (5HT3a-positive but not expressing vasoactive intestinal peptide). In the light of our findings we suggest caution using BCL11B as a single marker to identify neurons.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kasra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nikouei
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ana B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Manchado
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: Jens.hjerling-leffler@ki.se.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hjerling-Leffler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D059330:GABAergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C511143:Bcl11b protein, mouse; D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013004:Somatostatin
keywords: B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11B; CTIP2; GABAergic interneurons; Mouse; Somatosensory cortex