Abstract
Down syndrome, caused by trisomy 21, affects around six million people worldwide and features learning, memory and language deficits. However, the mechanisms underlying trisomy 21 neurophenotypes involving human cortical circuitry are unknown. By characterising developing neural network dynamics and single cell excitability profiles, from synaptic and voltage-dependent ion channel behaviour using an isogenic induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal model, we show that trisomy 21 impairs the activity and development of cortical circuitry. This is caused by deficient glutamatergic synaptic connectivity and by aberrant intrinsic membrane properties involving K+ and Na+ channels culminating in spike firing defects that weaken neural network activity and disrupt the synchrony of developing neurons. We also identify transiently activated A-type K+ channels, specifically Kv4.3 channels, as a key orchestrator for Down syndrome during neurodevelopment. Overall, these excitability changes will significantly contribute towards the aberrant neurophenotypes observed later on in life.
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Acknowledgements
This work was funded by a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award in Science 217199/Z/19/Z. AM was funded by a William Harvey Academy Fellowship, co-funded by the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) under REA no. 608765. SBH was awarded a fellowship from International Rett Syndrome Foundation (3606). AP and IA were funded by Adris foundation, NPOO-NextGeneration (NEURO-MORF) and the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ-UIP-2025-02-5828), CRP-ICGEB (CRP/HRV25-03).
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Conceptualisation–S.B.H., D.N., T.G.S. Electrophysiology–S.B.H., M.M. Confocal Imaging–I.A., A.P. Differentiation of iPSC cultures–A.M., I.A., A.P., P.A.G., N.L.O’B. Maintenance of cultures-A.M., I.A., A.P., P.A.G., N.L.O.B., S.B.H. Transcriptomics analysis–J.K., H.J.K. Mathematical modelling–R.N. Funding acquisition and project leadership–S.B.H., D.N. and T.G.S. The initial draft was written by S.B.H. and T.G.S., and all authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript.
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Hannan, S.B., Alić, I., Murray, A. et al. Synaptic and intrinsic membrane defects disrupt early neural network dynamics in Down syndrome. Nat Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-68048-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-68048-x
