Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Cell. 2023 Sep 28;186(20):4289-4309.e23. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.002. Epub 2023 Sep 7.
Here, we reveal an unanticipated role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in regulating complex social behavior in ants. Using scRNA-seq, we find localization in the BBB of a key hormone-degrading enzyme called juvenile hormone esterase (Jhe), and we show that this localization governs the level of juvenile hormone (JH3) entering the brain. Manipulation of the Jhe level reprograms the brain transcriptome between ant castes. Although ant Jhe is retained and functions intracellularly within the BBB, we show that Drosophila Jhe is naturally extracellular. Heterologous expression of ant Jhe into the Drosophila BBB alters behavior in fly to mimic what is seen in ants. Most strikingly, manipulation of Jhe levels in ants reprograms complex behavior between worker castes. Our study thus uncovers a remarkable, potentially conserved role of the BBB serving as a molecular gatekeeper for a neurohormonal pathway that regulates social behavior.
在这里，我们揭示了血脑屏障 (BBB) 在调节蚂蚁复杂社会行为方面的一个意外作用。通过 scRNA-seq，我们发现一种名为保幼激素酯酶 (Jhe) 的关键激素降解酶在 BBB 中的定位，并且我们表明这种定位控制着进入大脑的保幼激素 (JH3) 的水平。Jhe 水平的操纵可在蚂蚁的不同品级之间重塑大脑转录组。尽管蚂蚁 Jhe 被保留并在 BBB 内的细胞内发挥作用，但我们表明果蝇 Jhe 是天然的细胞外形式。将蚂蚁 Jhe 异源表达到果蝇 BBB 中会改变果蝇的行为，使其类似于在蚂蚁中观察到的行为。最引人注目的是，在蚂蚁中操纵 Jhe 水平会重塑工蚁品级之间的复杂行为。因此，我们的研究揭示了 BBB 作为调节社会行为的神经激素途径的分子门卫的显著的、可能保守的作用。
