Neeraj Soni
Associate Research Scientist in PediatricsAbout
Research
Publications
Featured Publications
GABAergic neuron-to-glioma synapses in diffuse midline gliomas
Barron T, Yalçın B, Su M, Byun Y, Gavish A, Shamardani K, Xu H, Ni L, Soni N, Mehta V, Maleki Jahan S, Kim Y, Taylor K, Keough M, Quezada M, Geraghty A, Mancusi R, Vo L, Castañeda E, Woo P, Petritsch C, Vogel H, Kaila K, Monje M. GABAergic neuron-to-glioma synapses in diffuse midline gliomas. Nature 2025, 639: 1060-1068. PMID: 39972132, PMCID: PMC11946904, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08579-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDiffuse midline gliomaHigh-grade gliomasPatient-derived orthotopic xenograft modelsOrthotopic xenograft modelMidline gliomaXenograft modelElevated intracellular chloride concentrationWhole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiologyActivation of GABAergic interneuronsDiffuse intrinsic pontine gliomaIDH wild-type glioblastomaIntrinsic pontine gliomaWild-type glioblastomaGABA-mediated signalingPatch-clamp electrophysiologyIntracellular chloride concentrationMolecularly distinct subtypesCancer-related deathsChloride transport functionBrain cancer-related deathsProliferation in vivoGABAergic currentsPontine gliomaBenzodiazepine lorazepamGABAergic interneuronsCholinergic neuronal activity promotes diffuse midline glioma growth through muscarinic signaling.
Drexler R, Drinnenberg A, Gavish A, Yalçin B, Shamardani K, Rogers AE, Mancusi R, Trivedi V, Taylor KR, Kim YS, Woo PJ, Soni N, Su M, Ravel A, Tatlock E, Midler A, Wu SH, Ramakrishnan C, Chen R, Ayala-Sarmiento AE, Fernandez Pacheco DR, Siverts L, Daigle TL, Tasic B, Zeng H, Breunig JJ, Deisseroth K, Monje M. Cholinergic neuronal activity promotes diffuse midline glioma growth through muscarinic signaling. Cell 2025, 188: 4640-4657.e30. PMID: 40541184, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.031.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchClock proteins regulate spatiotemporal organization of clock genes to control circadian rhythms
Xiao Y, Yuan Y, Jimenez M, Soni N, Yadlapalli S. Clock proteins regulate spatiotemporal organization of clock genes to control circadian rhythms. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118: e2019756118. PMID: 34234015, PMCID: PMC8285898, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019756118.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCore clock genesSubnuclear localizationClock proteinsRepression phaseClock genesSubnuclear reorganizationIntracellular dynamicsGene expressionClock-regulated genesMolecular mechanismsSpatiotemporal organizationCircadian rhythm defectsRhythmic gene expressionMolecular mechanisms of circadian rhythmsCircadian clock componentsCore clock proteinsLamin B receptorNuclear envelope proteinsSpatial reorganizationMechanisms of circadian rhythmsCircadian rhythmPERIOD proteinsNuclear peripheryClock componentsClock neuronsOdor coding in the antenna of the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans
Soni N, Chahda JS, Carlson JR. Odor coding in the antenna of the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2019, 116: 14300-14308. PMID: 31221757, PMCID: PMC6628836, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1907075116.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTsetse fly Glossina morsitansClasses of sensillaFruit flyPhysiological analysisAlarm pheromoneDifferent response dynamicsOlfactory sensillaFly antennaOlfactory cuesCellular basisWide diversityTsetse fliesSensillaFliesDifferent functionsDifferent odor stimuliGlossina morsitansPheromoneTsetseFunctional organizationHostDrosophilaMorphological typesOdorantsStriking differenceThe molecular and cellular basis of olfactory response to tsetse fly attractants
Chahda JS, Soni N, Sun JS, Ebrahim SAM, Weiss BL, Carlson JR. The molecular and cellular basis of olfactory response to tsetse fly attractants. PLOS Genetics 2019, 15: e1008005. PMID: 30875383, PMCID: PMC6420007, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOlfactory receptor neuronsSensory pitsCellular basisHeterologous expression systemTsetse fly Glossina morsitansTerrestrial habitatsExpression systemGene expressionEmpty neuronAnimal matterOlfactory responsesSpecialized subtypesMajor vectorStrong attractantReceptor gene expressionG. fuscipesDrosophilaMalarial parasitesReceptor neuronsFliesAttractantsDevastating diseaseOlfactory systemBlood of humansGlossina morsitansChronic alcohol exposure disrupts CB1 regulation of GABAergic transmission in the rat basolateral amygdala
Varodayan F, Bajo M, Soni N, Luu G, Madamba S, Schweitzer P, Roberto M. Chronic alcohol exposure disrupts CB1 regulation of GABAergic transmission in the rat basolateral amygdala. Addiction Biology 2016, 22: 766-778. PMID: 26786379, PMCID: PMC4956605, DOI: 10.1111/adb.12369.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBasolateral nucleus of the amygdalaChronically ethanol-exposed ratsEthanol-exposed ratsGABAergic transmissionGABA releaseBasolateral nucleusRat basolateral nucleus of the amygdalaAgonist WIN-55,212-2Facilitation of GABA releaseBLA pyramidal neuronsAbstinent alcoholic patientsChronic ethanol exposureWIN-55,212-2Chronic alcohol exposureAlcohol-dependent stateRat basolateral amygdalaExposed ratsRegulation of GABAergic transmissionPresynaptic sitesIntermittent ethanolBasolateral amygdalaAntagonist AM251Acute ethanolEthanol exposureAlcohol exposureFunctional interaction between Lypd6 and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Arvaniti M, Jensen M, Soni N, Wang H, Klein A, Thiriet N, Pinborg L, Muldoon P, Wienecke J, Damaj M, Kohlmeier K, Gondré‐Lewis M, Mikkelsen J, Thomsen M. Functional interaction between Lypd6 and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Journal Of Neurochemistry 2016, 138: 806-820. PMID: 27344019, PMCID: PMC5017906, DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13718.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingAnimalsAnimals, NewbornAntigens, LyBrain ChemistryGPI-Linked ProteinsHumansIn Vitro TechniquesMaleMAP Kinase Signaling SystemMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutNicotineNicotinic AgonistsPC12 CellsRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyReceptors, NicotinicTemporal LobeTissue DistributionConceptsNicotine exposureNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsLynx familyCholinergic signalingHippocampus in adulthoodMultiple nAChR subtypesPerinatal nicotine exposureRat brain slicesAcetylcholine receptorsNicotine-induced ERK phosphorylationFunction of nicotinic receptorsNAChR functionNicotinic receptorsNAChR subtypesInward currentsHuman brainLypd6Brain slicesNAChRsBrainExtracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylationFunctional interactionsAdulthoodRegulatory proteinsHuman brain extractsChronic ethanol exposure decreases CB1 receptor function at GABAergic synapses in the rat central amygdala
Varodayan F, Soni N, Bajo M, Luu G, Madamba S, Schweitzer P, Parsons L, Roberto M. Chronic ethanol exposure decreases CB1 receptor function at GABAergic synapses in the rat central amygdala. Addiction Biology 2015, 21: 788-801. PMID: 25940135, PMCID: PMC4635109, DOI: 10.1111/adb.12256.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCeA GABAergic transmissionIntermittent ethanol exposureCB1 signalingChronic ethanol exposureEndogenous cannabinoidsEthanol exposureGABAergic transmissionGABA releaseTransition to alcohol dependenceAcute response to ethanolEthanol-induced GABA releaseType 1 cannabinoid receptorAgonist WIN-55,212-2GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currentsAlcohol-naive ratsCB1 receptor functionCeA GABA releaseCB1 antagonist AM251Ethanol-induced impairmentEndogenous cannabinoid levelsEthanol-exposed ratsType 2 cannabinoid receptorWIN-55,212-2Chronic alcohol exposureAlcohol-induced disruption
2025
DMG-51. Microglia Remodel Neural Circuitry in Diffuse Midline Glioma
Mancusi R, Tatlock E, Shamardani K, Acosta-Alvarez L, Gavish A, Niizuma K, Drexler R, Trivedi V, Soni N, Woo P, Mulinyawe S, Jahan S, Malacon K, Byun Y, Geraghty A, Barron T, Taylor K, Monje M. DMG-51. Microglia Remodel Neural Circuitry in Diffuse Midline Glioma. Neuro-Oncology Pediatrics 2025, 1 DOI: 10.1093/neuped/wuaf001.081.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDiffuse midline gliomaPediatric high-grade gliomasImmunocompetent murine modelGlutamatergic neuronal activityHigh-grade gliomasSynaptic engulfmentTumor-SpecificCircuit refinementMidline gliomaNeuronal activityPatient-derived xenograft modelsLethal formSynaptic integrationMicroglia–neuron signalingTumor-associated microgliaCancer-related deathsParacrine growth factorsNeural circuit refinementNeural circuitryNeuronal hyperexcitabilityNeuronal excitabilityNetwork excitabilityTumor-associatedNeural hyperexcitabilityHealthy brain
2023
Investigating the effects of a FAAH inhibitor in the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus using a new ex vivo mouse preparation
Prabhala, B. K., Chettri, J., Irrinki, N., Garg, A., Jersie-Christensen, R., Jenssen, H., Mojsoska, B., Soni, N., & Kohlmeier, K. A. (2023). Investigating the effects of a FAAH inhibitor in the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus using a new ex vivo mouse preparation. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports, 9, Article 100111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmcr.2023.100111Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Get In Touch
Contacts
Email