Lhx6 Directly Regulates Arx and CXCR7 to Determine Cortical Interneuron Fate and Laminar Position

Cortical GABAergic interneurons have essential roles for information processing and their dysfunction is implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders. Transcriptional codes are elucidating mechanisms of interneuron specification in the MGE (a subcortical progenitor zone), which regulate their migration, integration, and function within cortical circuitry. Lhx6, a LIM-homeodomain transcription factor, is essential for specification of MGE-derived somatostatin and parvalbumin interneurons. Here, we demonstrate that some Lhx6−/− MGE cells acquire a CGE-like fate. Using an in vivo MGE complementation/transplantation assay, we show that Lhx6-regulated genes Arx and CXCR7 rescue divergent aspects of Lhx6−/− cell-fate and laminar mutant phenotypes and provide insight into a neonatal role for CXCR7 in MGE-derived interneuron lamination. Finally, Lhx6 directly binds in vivo to an Arx enhancer and to an intronic CXCR7 enhancer that remains active in mature interneurons. These data define the molecular identity of Lhx6 mutants and introduce technologies to test mechanisms in GABAergic interneuron differentiation. •Lhx6−/− interneurons acquire CGE-like interneuron properties•Postnatal CXCR-signaling regulates interneuron integration into layer V•Arx and CXCR7 rescue Lhx6−/− cell fate and lamination phenotypes in vivo•Lhx6 directly regulates Arx and CXCR7 enhancers Vogt et al. propose mechanisms for LHX6 regulation of cortical interneuron cell fate and migration. They show Lhx6 mutant cells resemble CGE-like interneurons and find divergent roles for ARX and CXCR7 via transplantation of transduced MGE cells in vivo.