RNA-seq experiment of shControl and shPHF8 Astrocytes

In this study we analyzed the contribution of PHF8 histone demethylase to astrocytes differentiation from mouse neural stem cells. We found that PHF8 depletion affects astocytes differentiation. Moreover, PHF8 is crucial for synaptogenesis in neurons/astrocytes cocultures. Genome wide analysis demonstrated that PHF8 controls the expression of critical astrogenic and synaptogenic genes by keeping low levels of H4K20me1 at promoters. PHF8 depletion induces aberrant astrocytes phenotype and caused a significant decrease in miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSC) frequency and amplitude in neurons/astrocytes coclutures. These data reveal a new role of PHF8 in astrocyte differentiation and function, modulating neuronal synapse. Thus, lack of histone demethylase activity associated to PHF8 mutations might led to synapse disfunction that could directly impact into X-linked intellectual disabilities. RNA-seq of shPHF8 in Astrocytes was performed using two biological replicates of control (shctr rep1, shctr rep2) and shPHF8 (shPHF8 rep1, shPHF8 rep2).