1
|
Zhao T, Yang F, Zhang B, Ren Y, Yuan J, Wang Y, Lu H, Yu G, Feng J. A novel variant in the 3' UTR of the TCF4 gene likely causes Pitt-Hopkins syndrome: a case report. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2024; 19:368. [PMID: 39375747 PMCID: PMC11457474 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-024-03383-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that results from variants of TCF4 gene. PTHS follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern and the underlying pathological mechanisms of this disease are still unclear. METHODS Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was conducted to screen for potential pathogenic variant in a boy highly suspected of having a genetic disorder. PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to verify the effects of the variant. Serum TCF4 levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS We present a 4-year and 3-month-old Chinese boy clinically and molecularly diagnosed with PTHS. The proband experienced global development delay, and the preliminary clinical diagnosis was cerebral palsy. WGS identified a de novo heterozygous variant: c.*1A > G in the 3'UTR of the TCF4 gene as a potential cause of his condition. The variant was verified to cause aberrant mRNA splicing by PCR and the aberrant splicing was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. CONCLUSION The study identified and demonstrated the pathogenicity of a novel 3'UTR site TCF4 variant for the first time. This research enhances understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms of PTHS and aids genetic counseling and diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhao
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Big Data in Pediatric Precision Medicine, Center for Bio-medical Informatics, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Genetics, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingbing Zhang
- Kunming Medical University Haiyuan College, Yunnan, China
| | - Yongyong Ren
- SJTU-Yale Joint Center for Biostatistics and Data Science, National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiuzhou Yuan
- Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Lu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Big Data in Pediatric Precision Medicine, Center for Bio-medical Informatics, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- SJTU-Yale Joint Center for Biostatistics and Data Science, National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangjun Yu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Big Data in Pediatric Precision Medicine, Center for Bio-medical Informatics, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jincai Feng
- Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
- Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chiu C, Küchler A, Depienne C, Preuße C, Marina AD, Reis A, Kaiser FJ, Nolte K, Hentschel A, Schara-Schmidt U, Kölbel H, Roos A. Skeletal muscle vulnerability in a child with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. Skelet Muscle 2024; 14:15. [PMID: 39026379 PMCID: PMC11256580 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-024-00348-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND TCF4 acts as a transcription factor that binds to the immunoglobulin enhancer Mu-E5/KE5 motif. Dominant variants in TCF4 are associated with the manifestation of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, a rare disease characterized by severe mental retardation, certain features of facial dysmorphism and, in many cases, with abnormalities in respiratory rhythm (episodes of paroxysmal tachypnea and hyperventilation, followed by apnea and cyanosis). Frequently, patients also develop epilepsy, microcephaly, and postnatal short stature. Although TCF4 is expressed in skeletal muscle and TCF4 seems to play a role in myogenesis as demonstrated in mice, potential myopathological findings taking place upon the presence of dominant TCF4 variants are thus far not described in human skeletal muscle. METHOD To address the pathological effect of a novel deletion affecting exons 15 and 16 of TCF4 on skeletal muscle, histological and immunofluorescence studies were carried out on a quadriceps biopsy in addition to targeted transcript studies and global proteomic profiling. RESULTS We report on muscle biopsy findings from a Pitt-Hopkins patient with a novel heterozygous deletion spanning exon 15 and 16 presenting with neuromuscular symptoms. Microscopic characterization of the muscle biopsy revealed moderate fiber type I predominance, imbalance in the proportion of fibroblasts co-expressing Vimentin and CD90, and indicate activation of the complement cascade in TCF4-mutant muscle. Protein dysregulations were unraveled by proteomic profiling. Transcript studies confirmed a mitochondrial vulnerability in muscle and confirmed reduced TCF4 expression. CONCLUSION Our combined findings, for the first time, unveil myopathological changes as phenotypical association of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome and thus expand the current clinical knowledge of the disease as well as support data obtained on skeletal muscle of a mouse model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celine Chiu
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Alma Küchler
- Center for Rare Diseases Essen, Institute for Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Christel Depienne
- Center for Rare Diseases Essen, Institute for Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Corinna Preuße
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Adela Della Marina
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Andre Reis
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Frank J Kaiser
- Center for Rare Diseases Essen, Institute for Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Kay Nolte
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Andreas Hentschel
- Leibniz-Institute for Analytical Science -ISAS- E.V, 44127, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ulrike Schara-Schmidt
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Heike Kölbel
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas Roos
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany.
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 5B2, Canada.
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
van der Laan L, Lauffer P, Rooney K, Silva A, Haghshenas S, Relator R, Levy MA, Trajkova S, Huisman SA, Bijlsma EK, Kleefstra T, van Bon BW, Baysal Ö, Zweier C, Palomares-Bralo M, Fischer J, Szakszon K, Faivre L, Piton A, Mesman S, Hochstenbach R, Elting MW, van Hagen JM, Plomp AS, Mannens MMAM, Alders M, van Haelst MM, Ferrero GB, Brusco A, Henneman P, Sweetser DA, Sadikovic B, Vitobello A, Menke LA. DNA methylation episignature and comparative epigenomic profiling for Pitt-Hopkins syndrome caused by TCF4 variants. HGG ADVANCES 2024; 5:100289. [PMID: 38571311 PMCID: PMC11087720 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2024.100289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by pathogenic variants in TCF4, leading to intellectual disability, specific morphological features, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Epigenetic dysregulation has been implicated in PTHS, prompting the investigation of a DNA methylation (DNAm) "episignature" specific to PTHS for diagnostic purposes and variant reclassification and functional insights into the molecular pathophysiology of this disorder. A cohort of 67 individuals with genetically confirmed PTHS and three individuals with intellectual disability and a variant of uncertain significance (VUS) in TCF4 were studied. The DNAm episignature was developed with an Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip array analysis using peripheral blood cells. Support vector machine (SVM) modeling and clustering methods were employed to generate a DNAm classifier for PTHS. Validation was extended to an additional cohort of 11 individuals with PTHS. The episignature was assessed in relation to other neurodevelopmental disorders and its specificity was examined. A specific DNAm episignature for PTHS was established. The classifier exhibited high sensitivity for TCF4 haploinsufficiency and missense variants in the basic-helix-loop-helix domain. Notably, seven individuals with TCF4 variants exhibited negative episignatures, suggesting complexities related to mosaicism, genetic factors, and environmental influences. The episignature displayed degrees of overlap with other related disorders and biological pathways. This study defines a DNAm episignature for TCF4-related PTHS, enabling improved diagnostic accuracy and VUS reclassification. The finding that some cases scored negatively underscores the potential for multiple or nested episignatures and emphasizes the need for continued investigation to enhance specificity and coverage across PTHS-related variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liselot van der Laan
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Lauffer
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kathleen Rooney
- Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Science Centre, London, ON, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ananília Silva
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Sadegheh Haghshenas
- Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Science Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | - Raissa Relator
- Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Science Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | - Michael A Levy
- Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Science Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | - Slavica Trajkova
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Sylvia A Huisman
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Zodiak, Prinsenstichting, Purmerend, the Netherlands
| | - Emilia K Bijlsma
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tjitske Kleefstra
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Bregje W van Bon
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Özlem Baysal
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Christiane Zweier
- Department of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany; Department of Human Genetics, University of Bern, Inselspital Universitätsspital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - María Palomares-Bralo
- Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics (INGEMM), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jan Fischer
- Institute for Clinical Genetics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katalin Szakszon
- Institute of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Laurence Faivre
- UFR Des Sciences de Santé, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231 GAD «Génétique des Anomalies du Développement», FHUTRANSLAD, Dijon, France; CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Centre de Génétique, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares «Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs», FHU-TRANSLDAD, Dijon, France
| | - Amélie Piton
- Genetic Diagnosis Laboratories, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg 67000, France
| | - Simone Mesman
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, FNWI, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ron Hochstenbach
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mariet W Elting
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Johanna M van Hagen
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Astrid S Plomp
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel M A M Mannens
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mariëlle Alders
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mieke M van Haelst
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Giovanni B Ferrero
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Alfredo Brusco
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Peter Henneman
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David A Sweetser
- Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bekim Sadikovic
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Science Centre, London, ON, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Antonio Vitobello
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, FHU-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Leonie A Menke
- Amsterdam Reproduction & Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience - Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hassona Y, Alqaisi D, Alkilani A, AbuHijleh I. Expanding the phenotype in Pitt-Hopkins syndrome; description of new oral finding and dental management considerations. BMC Oral Health 2024; 24:597. [PMID: 38778377 PMCID: PMC11112874 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04296-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder with physical, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics that is caused by heterozygous mutations in the TCF4 gene. Patients with PTHS might present a unique challenge for oral healthcare professionals because of the associated comorbidities. CASE REPORT Here we describe a new case of PTHS in a 13-year-old girl with particular emphasis on oro-dental findings and oral healthcare management. Observed oro-dental findings in our case included shallow palate, absence of lingual frenum, gingival enlargement, thick lips and relative microdontia. The patient was unable to tolerate dental care under local anesthesia. Therefore, comprehensive dental treatment was performed under general anesthesia after a careful pre-anesthetic cardio-respiratory, neurological, and hematological evaluation. The patient was closely monitored intra-operatively for breathing rhythm, O2 saturation, and signs of respiratory distress. The patient was observed for 24 h post-op for respiratory distress and was discharged then uneventfully. CONCLUSION Dental treatment under general anesthesia in these patients might be complicated by the abnormal breathing rhythm, and close monitoring and follow up for signs of respiratory distress after general anesthesia is necessary. Recognition of oral and dental findings might help to expand the phenotype and better characterize rare syndromes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yazan Hassona
- Faculty of Dentistry, Centre for Oral Diseases Studies, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, As-Salt, Jordan.
- School of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, As-Salt, Jordan.
| | - Dua'a Alqaisi
- School of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, As-Salt, Jordan
| | - Asma Alkilani
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, As-Salt, Jordan
| | - Iyas AbuHijleh
- School of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, As-Salt, Jordan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bhattacharyya N, Chai N, Hafford-Tear NJ, Sadan AN, Szabo A, Zarouchlioti C, Jedlickova J, Leung SK, Liao T, Dudakova L, Skalicka P, Parekh M, Moghul I, Jeffries AR, Cheetham ME, Muthusamy K, Hardcastle AJ, Pontikos N, Liskova P, Tuft SJ, Davidson AE. Deciphering novel TCF4-driven mechanisms underlying a common triplet repeat expansion-mediated disease. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011230. [PMID: 38713708 PMCID: PMC11101122 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is an age-related cause of vision loss, and the most common repeat expansion-mediated disease in humans characterised to date. Up to 80% of European FECD cases have been attributed to expansion of a non-coding CTG repeat element (termed CTG18.1) located within the ubiquitously expressed transcription factor encoding gene, TCF4. The non-coding nature of the repeat and the transcriptomic complexity of TCF4 have made it extremely challenging to experimentally decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying this disease. Here we comprehensively describe CTG18.1 expansion-driven molecular components of disease within primary patient-derived corneal endothelial cells (CECs), generated from a large cohort of individuals with CTG18.1-expanded (Exp+) and CTG 18.1-independent (Exp-) FECD. We employ long-read, short-read, and spatial transcriptomic techniques to interrogate expansion-specific transcriptomic biomarkers. Interrogation of long-read sequencing and alternative splicing analysis of short-read transcriptomic data together reveals the global extent of altered splicing occurring within Exp+ FECD, and unique transcripts associated with CTG18.1-expansions. Similarly, differential gene expression analysis highlights the total transcriptomic consequences of Exp+ FECD within CECs. Furthermore, differential exon usage, pathway enrichment and spatial transcriptomics reveal TCF4 isoform ratio skewing solely in Exp+ FECD with potential downstream functional consequences. Lastly, exome data from 134 Exp- FECD cases identified rare (minor allele frequency <0.005) and potentially deleterious (CADD>15) TCF4 variants in 7/134 FECD Exp- cases, suggesting that TCF4 variants independent of CTG18.1 may increase FECD risk. In summary, our study supports the hypothesis that at least two distinct pathogenic mechanisms, RNA toxicity and TCF4 isoform-specific dysregulation, both underpin the pathophysiology of FECD. We anticipate these data will inform and guide the development of translational interventions for this common triplet-repeat mediated disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nihar Bhattacharyya
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Niuzheng Chai
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Amanda N. Sadan
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anita Szabo
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jana Jedlickova
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Szi Kay Leung
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Tianyi Liao
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lubica Dudakova
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlina Skalicka
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Mohit Parekh
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ismail Moghul
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron R. Jeffries
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Michael E. Cheetham
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alison J. Hardcastle
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nikolas Pontikos
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Petra Liskova
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Stephen J. Tuft
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alice E. Davidson
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Reaney L, Collins A. Complex visceral hyperalgesia in an adolescent with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. BMJ Case Rep 2024; 17:e258257. [PMID: 38373809 PMCID: PMC10882374 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-258257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
An early-adolescent boy with a background of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome was transferred to a tertiary paediatric hospital with symptoms of a functional large bowel obstruction. He required extensive surgical intervention including a transverse colectomy, drainage of an abdominal abscess, laparotomy and adhesionolysis, and insertion of a gastrostomy and jejunostomy. He had significant ongoing issues with visceral hyperalgesia that was refractory to a wide range of pharmacological treatments and required admission to the intensive care unit on multiple occasions, and consultations with international experts in Pitt-Hopkins syndrome and pain specialists. An individualised pain plan was created and adjusted over time, with eventual good effect, and he was transferred back to his regional hospital and subsequently discharged home.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Reaney
- General Paediatrics, Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhao T, Wu S, Shen Y, Leng J, Genchev GZ, Lu H, Feng J. Clinical and genetic characterization of 47 Chinese pediatric patients with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome: a retrospective study. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2024; 19:51. [PMID: 38331897 PMCID: PMC10851572 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-024-03055-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that remains underdiagnosed and its clinical presentations and mutation profiles in a diverse population are yet to be evaluated. This retrospective study aims to investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of Chinese patients with PTHS. METHODS The clinical, biochemical, genetic, therapeutic, and follow-up data of 47 pediatric patients diagnosed with PTHS between 2018 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS The Chinese PTHS patients presented with specific facial features and exhibited global developmental delay of wide severity range. The locus heterogeneity of the TCF4 gene in the patients was highlighted, emphasizing the significance of genetic studies for accurate diagnosis, albeit no significant correlations between genotype and phenotype were observed in this cohort. The study also reports the outcomes of patients who underwent therapeutic interventions, such as ketogenic diets and biomedical interventions. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this retrospective analysis expand the phenotypic and molecular spectra of PTHS patients. The study underscores the need for a long-term prospective follow-up study to assess potential therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhao
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Big Data in Pediatric Precision Medicine, Center for Biomedical Informatics, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengnan Wu
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiping Shen
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Jing Leng
- Wellness Center, 16 Philadelphia Ave, Shillington, PA, 19607, USA
| | - Georgi Z Genchev
- Center of Excellence in Computational Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Hui Lu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Big Data in Pediatric Precision Medicine, Center for Biomedical Informatics, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jincai Feng
- Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
- Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Çağlayan E, Turan K. An in silico prediction of interaction models of influenza A virus PA and human C14orf166 protein from yeast-two-hybrid screening data. Proteins 2023; 91:1235-1244. [PMID: 37265372 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The human C14orf166 protein, also known as RNA transcription, translation, and transport factor, shows positive modulatory activity on the cellular RNA polymerase II enzyme. This protein is a component of the tRNA-splicing ligase complex and is involved in RNA metabolism. It also functions in the nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of RNA molecules. The C14orf166 protein has been reported to be associated with some types of cancer. It has been shown that the C14orf166 protein binds to the influenza A virus RNA polymerase PA subunit and has a stimulating effect on viral replication. In this study, candidate interactor proteins for influenza A virus PA protein were screened with a Y2H assay using HEK293 Matchmaker cDNA. The C14orf166 protein fragments in different sizes were found to interact with the PA. The three-dimensional structures of the viral PA and C14orf166 proteins interacting with the PA were generated using the I-TASSER algorithm. The interaction models between these proteins were predicted with the ClusPro protein docking algorithm and analyzed with PyMol software. The results revealed that the carboxy-terminal end of the C14orf166 protein is involved in this interaction, and it is highly possible that it binds to the carboxy-terminal of the PA protein. Although amino acid residues in the interaction area of the PA protein with the C14orf166 showed distribution from 450th to 700th position, the intense interaction region was revealed to be at amino acid positions 610-630.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elif Çağlayan
- University of Health Sciences Kartal Koşuyolu High Speciality Educational and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Kadir Turan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Comisi F, Esposito E, Marras M, Soddu C, Savasta S. Unusual Inconsolable Crying: An Insight, Case Report, and Review of the Literature on the Pitt-Hopkins Gastrointestinal Phenotype. Cureus 2023; 15:e43781. [PMID: 37731434 PMCID: PMC10507423 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a rare, neurodevelopmental genetic disorder caused by mutations in the TCF4 gene. This gene encodes a ubiquitous, class I, basic helix-loop-helix factor, which is implicated in various developmental and regulatory processes. Predominant clinical manifestations of PTHS include facial dysmorphisms, intellectual disability, absence of expressive language, epilepsy, as well as visual and musculoskeletal impairments. Gastrointestinal (GI) complications, such as chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, gastroparesis with delayed bowel transit, chronic constipation culminating in failure to thrive, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), are also prevalent in these patients. The early identification of pain etiology in PTHS patients poses a significant clinical challenge. This report presents two cases of PTHS patients suffering from gastrointestinal dysmotility, evaluated at our Pediatrics Clinic at the "Microcitemico" Hospital. A review of existing literature was conducted via the PubMed database to elucidate the current understanding of the GI phenotype in PTHS. Twenty articles were deemed most relevant and selected for this purpose. In both patients, severe constipation and abdominal distension resulted in persistent agitation and inconsolable crying. These distress symptoms were completely ameliorated following prompt pharmacological intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena Esposito
- Pediatrics Department, Ospedale Microcitemico, Cagliari, ITA
| | | | | | - Salvatore Savasta
- Pediatric and Rare Diseases Clinic, Ospedale Microcitemico, Cagliari, ITA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bohlen JF, Cleary CM, Das D, Sripathy SR, Sadowski N, Shim G, Kenney RF, Buchler IP, Banerji T, Scanlan TS, Mulkey DK, Maher BJ. Promyelinating drugs promote functional recovery in an autism spectrum disorder mouse model of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. Brain 2023; 146:3331-3346. [PMID: 37068912 PMCID: PMC10393406 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Pitt-Hopkins syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder caused by autosomal dominant mutations in the human transcription factor 4 gene (TCF4). One pathobiological process caused by murine Tcf4 mutation is a cell autonomous reduction in oligodendrocytes and myelination. In this study, we show that the promyelinating compounds, clemastine, sobetirome and Sob-AM2 are effective at restoring myelination defects in a Pitt-Hopkins syndrome mouse model. In vitro, clemastine treatment reduced excess oligodendrocyte precursor cells and normalized oligodendrocyte density. In vivo, 2-week intraperitoneal administration of clemastine also normalized oligodendrocyte precursor cell and oligodendrocyte density in the cortex of Tcf4 mutant mice and appeared to increase the number of axons undergoing myelination, as EM imaging of the corpus callosum showed a significant increase in the proportion of uncompacted myelin and an overall reduction in the g-ratio. Importantly, this treatment paradigm resulted in functional rescue by improving electrophysiology and behaviour. To confirm behavioural rescue was achieved via enhancing myelination, we show that treatment with the thyroid hormone receptor agonist sobetirome or its brain penetrating prodrug Sob-AM2, was also effective at normalizing oligodendrocyte precursor cell and oligodendrocyte densities and behaviour in the Pitt-Hopkins syndrome mouse model. Together, these results provide preclinical evidence that promyelinating therapies may be beneficial in Pitt-Hopkins syndrome and potentially other neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by dysmyelination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph F Bohlen
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Colin M Cleary
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Debamitra Das
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Srinidhi Rao Sripathy
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Norah Sadowski
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Gina Shim
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Rakaia F Kenney
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ingrid P Buchler
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Tapasree Banerji
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology and Program in Chemical Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Thomas S Scanlan
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology and Program in Chemical Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Daniel K Mulkey
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Brady J Maher
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Fujimura K, Guise AJ, Nakayama T, Schlaffner CN, Meziani A, Kumar M, Cheng L, Vaughan DJ, Kodani A, Van Haren S, Parker K, Levy O, Durbin AF, Bosch I, Gehrke L, Steen H, Mochida GH, Steen JA. Integrative systems biology characterizes immune-mediated neurodevelopmental changes in murine Zika virus microcephaly. iScience 2023; 26:106909. [PMID: 37332674 PMCID: PMC10275723 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Characterizing perturbation of molecular pathways in congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is critical for improved therapeutic approaches. Leveraging integrative systems biology, proteomics, and RNA-seq, we analyzed embryonic brain tissues from an immunocompetent, wild-type congenital ZIKV infection mouse model. ZIKV induced a robust immune response accompanied by the downregulation of critical neurodevelopmental gene programs. We identified a negative correlation between ZIKV polyprotein abundance and host cell cycle-inducing proteins. We further captured the downregulation of genes/proteins, many of which are known to be causative for human microcephaly, including Eomesodermin/T-box Brain Protein 2 (EOMES/TBR2) and Neuronal Differentiation 2 (NEUROD2). Disturbances of distinct molecular pathways in neural progenitors and post-mitotic neurons may contribute to complex brain phenotype of congenital ZIKV infection. Overall, this report on protein- and transcript-level dynamics enhances understanding of the ZIKV immunopathological landscape through characterization of fetal immune response in the developing brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimino Fujimura
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Genetics and Genomics and The Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Shin-Yurigaoka General Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Amanda J. Guise
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tojo Nakayama
- Division of Genetics and Genomics and The Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christoph N. Schlaffner
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anais Meziani
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mukesh Kumar
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Long Cheng
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dylan J. Vaughan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics and The Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Kodani
- Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease Research and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Simon Van Haren
- Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Ofer Levy
- Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ann F. Durbin
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Irene Bosch
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lee Gehrke
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hanno Steen
- Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ganeshwaran H. Mochida
- Division of Genetics and Genomics and The Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Judith A. Steen
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Schweizer RM, Ivy CM, Natarajan C, Scott GR, Storz JF, Cheviron ZA. Gene regulatory changes underlie developmental plasticity in respiration and aerobic performance in highland deer mice. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:3483-3496. [PMID: 37073620 PMCID: PMC10330314 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity can play an important role in the ability of animals to tolerate environmental stress, but the nature and magnitude of plastic responses are often specific to the developmental timing of exposure. Here, we examine changes in gene expression in the diaphragm of highland deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in response to hypoxia exposure at different stages of development. In highland deer mice, developmental plasticity in diaphragm function may mediate changes in several respiratory traits that influence aerobic metabolism and performance under hypoxia. We generated RNAseq data from diaphragm tissue of adult deer mice exposed to (1) life-long hypoxia (before conception to adulthood), (2) post-natal hypoxia (birth to adulthood), (3) adult hypoxia (6-8 weeks only during adulthood) or (4) normoxia. We found five suites of co-regulated genes that are differentially expressed in response to hypoxia, but the patterns of differential expression depend on the developmental timing of exposure. We also identified four transcriptional modules that are associated with important respiratory traits. Many of the genes in these transcriptional modules bear signatures of altitude-related selection, providing an indirect line of evidence that observed changes in gene expression may be adaptive in hypoxic environments. Our results demonstrate the importance of developmental stage in determining the phenotypic response to environmental stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rena M. Schweizer
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Catherine M. Ivy
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4K1
| | | | - Graham R. Scott
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4K1
| | - Jay F. Storz
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Zachary A. Cheviron
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Aldeeri AA, Abu-El-Haija A. A typical variant in TCF4 exon 18 is not associated with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome but with a familial case of mild and nonspecific neurodevelopmental disorder. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:1070-1076. [PMID: 36574749 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
TCF4 gene encodes a class I helix-loop-helix transcription factor critical for the developing brain. Common polymorphisms in TCF4 and disruptive variants in the proximal region of the gene have been linked to relatively mild neuropsychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders. In contrast, variants impacting distal exons are associated with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS), a severe autosomal dominant condition characterized by profound intellectual disability, developmental delay, limited or absent speech, distinctive facies, and disordered breathing. Although phenotypic variability has been observed in PTHS, intellectual impairment and significant speech and motor delays are invariably present. In contrast to the typical de novo variants causing TCF4-related disorder and PTHS, we report a familial form of TCF4-related disorder where the missense variant arose de novo in the father and was inherited by two of his children. Although this family's variant's position in exon 18 predicted a typical PTHS phenotype, none of the affected individuals met the clinical diagnostic criteria for PTHS suggested by Zollino et al. in the first international consensus statement (as in the study by Zollino et al. in 2019). Rather, the three affected family members exhibited remarkably variable and milder phenotypes than would have been predicted from the position of their TCF4 variant. Thus, the clinical spectrum of PTHS-associated TCF4 variants may be broader than previously reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman A Aldeeri
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aya Abu-El-Haija
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Guo F, Wang Y. TCF7l2, a nuclear marker that labels premyelinating oligodendrocytes and promotes oligodendroglial lineage progression. Glia 2023; 71:143-154. [PMID: 35841271 PMCID: PMC9772070 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Clinical and basic neuroscience research is greatly benefited from the identification and characterization of lineage specific and developmental stage-specific markers. In the glial research community, histological markers that specifically label newly differentiated premyelinating oligodendrocytes are still scarce. Premyelinating oligodendrocyte markers, especially those of nuclear localization, enable researchers to easily quantify the rate of oligodendrocyte generation regardless of developmental ages. We propose that the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7l2, mouse gene symbol Tcf7l2) is a useful nuclear marker that specifically labels newly generated premyelinating oligodendrocytes and promotes oligodendroglial lineage progression. Here, we highlight the controversial research history of TCF7l2 expression and function in oligodendroglial field and discuss previous experimental data justifying TCF7l2 as a specific nuclear marker for premyelinating oligodendrocytes during developmental myelination and remyelination. We conclude that TCF7l2 can be used alone or combined with pan-oligodendroglial lineage markers to identify newly differentiated or newly regenerated oligodendrocytes and quantify the rate of oligodendrocyte generation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fuzheng Guo
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children Sacramento California USA
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children Sacramento California USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Martinowich K, Das D, Sripathy SR, Mai Y, Kenney RF, Maher BJ. Evaluation of Na v1.8 as a therapeutic target for Pitt Hopkins Syndrome. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:76-82. [PMID: 36224259 PMCID: PMC9812766 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01811-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pitt Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS) is a rare syndromic form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) caused by autosomal dominant mutations in the Transcription Factor 4 (TCF4) gene. TCF4 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that is critical for neurodevelopment and brain function through its binding to cis-regulatory elements of target genes. One potential therapeutic strategy for PTHS is to identify dysregulated target genes and normalize their dysfunction. Here, we propose that SCN10A is an important target gene of TCF4 that is an applicable therapeutic approach for PTHS. Scn10a encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.8 and is consistently shown to be upregulated in PTHS mouse models. In this perspective, we review prior literature and present novel data that suggests inhibiting Nav1.8 in PTHS mouse models is effective at normalizing neuron function, brain circuit activity and behavioral abnormalities and posit this therapeutic approach as a treatment for PTHS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keri Martinowich
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Debamitra Das
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Srinidhi Rao Sripathy
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Yishan Mai
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Rakaia F. Kenney
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Brady J. Maher
- grid.429552.d0000 0004 5913 1291Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Differential Regulation of the BDNF Gene in Cortical and Hippocampal Neurons. J Neurosci 2022; 42:9110-9128. [PMID: 36316156 PMCID: PMC9761680 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2535-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a widely expressed neurotrophin that supports the survival, differentiation, and signaling of various neuronal populations. Although it has been well described that expression of BDNF is strongly regulated by neuronal activity, little is known whether regulation of BDNF expression is similar in different brain regions. Here, we focused on this fundamental question using neuronal populations obtained from rat cerebral cortices and hippocampi of both sexes. First, we thoroughly characterized the role of the best-described regulators of BDNF gene - cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) family transcription factors, and show that activity-dependent BDNF expression depends more on CREB and the coactivators CREB binding protein (CBP) and CREB-regulated transcriptional coactivator 1 (CRTC1) in cortical than in hippocampal neurons. Our data also reveal an important role of CREB in the early induction of BDNF mRNA expression after neuronal activity and only modest contribution after prolonged neuronal activity. We further corroborated our findings at BDNF protein level. To determine the transcription factors regulating BDNF expression in these rat brain regions in addition to CREB family, we used in vitro DNA pulldown assay coupled with mass spectrometry, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and bioinformatics, and propose a number of neurodevelopmentally important transcription factors, such as FOXP1, SATB2, RAI1, BCL11A, and TCF4 as brain region-specific regulators of BDNF expression. Together, our data reveal complicated brain region-specific fine-tuning of BDNF expression.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To date, majority of the research has focused on the regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain but much less is known whether the regulation of BDNF expression is universal in different brain regions and neuronal populations. Here, we report that the best described regulators of BDNF gene from the cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) transcription factor family have a more profound role in the activity-dependent regulation of BDNF in cortex than in hippocampus. Our results indicate a brain region-specific fine tuning of BDNF expression. Moreover, we have used unbiased determination of novel regulators of the BDNF gene and report a number of neurodevelopmentally important transcription factors as novel potential regulators of the BDNF expression.
Collapse
|
17
|
Sy MR, Chauhan J, Prescott K, Imam A, Kraus A, Beleza A, Salkeld L, Hosdurga S, Parker M, Vasudevan P, Islam L, Goel H, Bain N, Park SM, Mohammed S, Dieterich K, Coutton C, Satre V, Vieville G, Donaldson A, Beneteau C, Ghoumid J, Bogaert KVD, Boogaerts A, Boudry E, Vanlerberghe C, Petit F, Bernardini L, Torres B, Mattina T, Carli D, Mandrile G, Pinelli M, Brunetti-Pierri N, Neas K, Beddow R, Tørring PM, Faletra F, Spedicati B, Gasparini P, Mussa A, Ferrero GB, Lampe A, Lam W, Bi W, Bacino CA, Kuwahara A, Bush JO, Zhao X, Luna PN, Shaw CA, Rosenfeld JA, Scott DA. Exome sequencing efficacy and phenotypic expansions involving esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula plus. Am J Med Genet A 2022; 188:3492-3504. [PMID: 36135330 PMCID: PMC9669235 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) is a life-threatening birth defect that often occurs with other major birth defects (EA/TEF+). Despite advances in genetic testing, a molecular diagnosis can only be made in a minority of EA/TEF+ cases. Here, we analyzed clinical exome sequencing data and data from the DECIPHER database to determine the efficacy of exome sequencing in cases of EA/TEF+ and to identify phenotypic expansions involving EA/TEF. Among 67 individuals with EA/TEF+ referred for clinical exome sequencing, a definitive or probable diagnosis was made in 11 cases for an efficacy rate of 16% (11/67). This efficacy rate is significantly lower than that reported for other major birth defects, suggesting that polygenic, multifactorial, epigenetic, and/or environmental factors may play a particularly important role in EA/TEF pathogenesis. Our cohort included individuals with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants that affect TCF4 and its downstream target NRXN1, and FANCA, FANCB, and FANCC, which are associated with Fanconi anemia. These cases, previously published case reports, and comparisons to other EA/TEF genes made using a machine learning algorithm, provide evidence in support of a potential pathogenic role for these genes in the development of EA/TEF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary R. Sy
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College
of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jaynee Chauhan
- Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service, Leeds Teaching
Hospitals NHS Trust, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Katrina Prescott
- Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service, Leeds Teaching
Hospitals NHS Trust, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Aliza Imam
- Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service, Leeds Teaching
Hospitals NHS Trust, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Alison Kraus
- Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service, Leeds Teaching
Hospitals NHS Trust, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Ana Beleza
- Clinical Genetics Department, University Hospitals Bristol
and Weston, Bristol NHS Foundation, Bristol, UK
| | - Lee Salkeld
- Whiteladies Medical Group, Whatley Road, Clifton, Bristol,
UK
| | - Saraswati Hosdurga
- Community Children’s Health Partnership, Sirona
Health and Care, Bristol, UK
| | - Michael Parker
- Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust,
Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Lily Islam
- Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Himanshu Goel
- Hunter New England Local Health District, Hunter Genetics,
Waratah, NSW, Australia
- University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicole Bain
- Department of Molecular Medicine, New South Wales Health
Pathology, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Soo-Mi Park
- East Anglian Medical Genetics Service, Cambridge
University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Klaus Dieterich
- Département de Génétique et
Procréation, Hôpital Couple Enfant, CHU Grenoble, Grenoble Cedex,
France
- INSERM U1216 Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences,
Cellular Myology and Pathology, Grenoble, France
| | - Charles Coutton
- Département de Génétique et
Procréation, Hôpital Couple Enfant, CHU Grenoble, Grenoble Cedex,
France
- Genetic Epigenetic and Therapies of Infertility team,
Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université
Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Véronique Satre
- Département de Génétique et
Procréation, Hôpital Couple Enfant, CHU Grenoble, Grenoble Cedex,
France
- Genetic Epigenetic and Therapies of Infertility team,
Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université
Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Gaëlle Vieville
- Département de Génétique et
Procréation, Hôpital Couple Enfant, CHU Grenoble, Grenoble Cedex,
France
| | - Alan Donaldson
- Clinical Genetics Department, St Michaels Hospital,
Bristol, UK
| | - Claire Beneteau
- Nantes Université, CHU de Nantes, UF 9321 de
Fœtopathologie et Génétique, Nantes, France
| | - Jamal Ghoumid
- Université de Lille, ULR7364 RADEME, CHU Lille,
Clinique de Génétique Guy Fontaine, Lille, France
| | - Kris Van Den Bogaert
- Center for Human Genetics, University Hospitals
Leuven–KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anneleen Boogaerts
- Center for Human Genetics, University Hospitals
Leuven–KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elise Boudry
- CHU Lille, Institut de Génétique
Médicale, Lille, France
| | - Clémence Vanlerberghe
- Université de Lille, ULR7364 RADEME, CHU Lille,
Clinique de Génétique Guy Fontaine, Lille, France
| | - Florence Petit
- Université de Lille, ULR7364 RADEME, CHU Lille,
Clinique de Génétique Guy Fontaine, Lille, France
| | - Laura Bernardini
- Medical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo
della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Barbara Torres
- Medical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo
della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Teresa Mattina
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences,
Medical Genetics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Scientific Foundation and Clinic G. B. Morgagni,
Catania, Italy
| | - Diana Carli
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University
of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giorgia Mandrile
- Medical Genetics Unit, San Luigi University Hospital,
University of Torino, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Michele Pinelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical
Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM),
Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM),
Pozzuoli, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of
Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Rachel Beddow
- Wellington Regional Genetics laboratory, Wellington, New
Zealand
| | - Pernille M. Tørring
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University
Hospital, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Flavio Faletra
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS Burlo
Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
| | - Beatrice Spedicati
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences,
University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Paolo Gasparini
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS Burlo
Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences,
University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mussa
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University
of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Pediatric Clinical Genetics Unit, Regina Margherita
Childrens Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Anne Lampe
- South East Scotland Clinical Genetics Service, Western
General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Wayne Lam
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Western General
Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Weimin Bi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College
of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Baylor Genetics, Houston, TX, 77021, USA
| | - Carlos A. Bacino
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College
of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Akela Kuwahara
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of
California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California
San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and
Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Jeffrey O. Bush
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of
California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California
San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and
Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Xiaonan Zhao
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College
of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Baylor Genetics, Houston, TX, 77021, USA
| | - Pamela N. Luna
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College
of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chad A. Shaw
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College
of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jill A. Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College
of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Daryl A. Scott
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College
of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics,
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
Recent advances in genomics have revealed a wide spectrum of genetic variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders at an unprecedented scale. An increasing number of studies have consistently identified mutations-both inherited and de novo-impacting the function of specific brain circuits. This suggests that, during brain development, alterations in distinct neural circuits, cell types, or broad regulatory pathways ultimately shaping synapses might be a dysfunctional process underlying these disorders. Here, we review findings from human studies and animal model research to provide a comprehensive description of synaptic and circuit mechanisms implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. We discuss how specific synaptic connections might be commonly disrupted in different disorders and the alterations in cognition and behaviors emerging from imbalances in neuronal circuits. Moreover, we review new approaches that have been shown to restore or mitigate dysfunctional processes during specific critical windows of brain development. Considering the heterogeneity of neurodevelopmental disorders, we also highlight the recent progress in developing improved clinical biomarkers and strategies that will help to identify novel therapeutic compounds and opportunities for early intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Exposito-Alonso
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom;
- Current affiliation: Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
| | - Beatriz Rico
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom;
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Azmerin M, Hussain MS, Aziz MA, Barek MA, Begum M, Sen N, Rahman MA, Shahriar M, Baeesa SS, Ashraf GM, Islam MS. TF and TCF4 gene polymorphisms are linked to autism spectrum disorder: a case-control study. J Int Med Res 2022; 50:3000605221138492. [PMID: 36448207 PMCID: PMC9716618 DOI: 10.1177/03000605221138492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing, appropriate diagnosis and prevention strategies are still lacking. This case-control study was designed to explore the association between ASD and the rs1867503 and rs9951150 polymorphisms of the TF and TCF4 genes, respectively. METHODS Ninety-six children with ASD and 118 healthy children were recruited and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique was applied for genotyping. RESULTS The frequencies of the mutant allele G were 48% and 44% for the rs1867503 and rs9951150 polymorphisms, respectively. In our analysis, both TF and TCF4 polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk of developing ASD. AG heterozygotes (OR = 3.18), GG mutant homozygotes (OR = 2.62), AG + GG combined genotypes (OR = 2.98), and G mutant alleles of TF rs1867503 (OR = 1.94) were associated with a significantly elevated risk of ASD. Likewise, AG heterozygotes (OR = 2.92), GG mutant homozygotes (OR = 2.36), AG + GG combined genotypes (OR = 2.72), and G minor alleles of TCF4 rs9951150 (OR = 1.92) were associated with a significantly elevated risk of ASD. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that TF rs1867503 and TCF4 rs9951150 polymorphisms may be strongly associated with the development of ASD in Bangladeshi children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Azmerin
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Saddam Hussain
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh,Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Abdul Aziz
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh,Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Abdul Barek
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh,Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Mobashera Begum
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh,Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Niloy Sen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh,Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Abdur Rahman
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Shahriar
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Saleh Salem Baeesa
- Division of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, University City, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammad Safiqul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh,Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh,Mohammad Safiqul Islam, Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur-3814, Noakhali, Bangladesh.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sirp A, Shubina A, Tuvikene J, Tamberg L, Kiir CS, Kranich L, Timmusk T. Expression of alternative transcription factor 4 mRNAs and protein isoforms in the developing and adult rodent and human tissues. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1033224. [PMID: 36407762 PMCID: PMC9666405 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1033224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor 4 (TCF4) belongs to the class I basic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors (also known as E-proteins) and is vital for the development of the nervous system. Aberrations in the TCF4 gene are associated with several neurocognitive disorders such as schizophrenia, intellectual disability, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome, a rare but severe autism spectrum disorder. Expression of the human TCF4 gene can produce at least 18 N-terminally distinct protein isoforms, which activate transcription with different activities and thus may vary in their function during development. We used long-read RNA-sequencing and western blot analysis combined with the analysis of publicly available short-read RNA-sequencing data to describe both the mRNA and protein expression of the many distinct TCF4 isoforms in rodent and human neural and nonneural tissues. We show that TCF4 mRNA and protein expression is much higher in the rodent brain compared to nonneural tissues. TCF4 protein expression is highest in the rodent cerebral cortex and hippocampus, where expression peaks around birth, and in the rodent cerebellum, where expression peaks about a week after birth. In human, highest TCF4 expression levels were seen in the developing brain, although some nonneural tissues displayed comparable expression levels to adult brain. In addition, we show for the first time that out of the many possible TCF4 isoforms, the main TCF4 isoforms expressed in the rodent and human brain and other tissues are TCF4-B, -C, -D, -A, and-I. Taken together, our isoform specific analysis of TCF4 expression in different tissues could be used for the generation of gene therapy applications for patients with TCF4-associated diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Sirp
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Anastassia Shubina
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jürgen Tuvikene
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia,Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Laura Tamberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Carl Sander Kiir
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Laura Kranich
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia,Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia,*Correspondence: Tõnis Timmusk,
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Colin E, Duffourd Y, Tisserant E, Relator R, Bruel AL, Tran Mau-Them F, Denommé-Pichon AS, Safraou H, Delanne J, Jean-Marçais N, Keren B, Isidor B, Vincent M, Mignot C, Heron D, Afenjar A, Heide S, Faudet A, Charles P, Odent S, Herenger Y, Sorlin A, Moutton S, Kerkhof J, McConkey H, Chevarin M, Poë C, Couturier V, Bourgeois V, Callier P, Boland A, Olaso R, Philippe C, Sadikovic B, Thauvin-Robinet C, Faivre L, Deleuze JF, Vitobello A. OMIXCARE: OMICS technologies solved about 33% of the patients with heterogeneous rare neuro-developmental disorders and negative exome sequencing results and identified 13% additional candidate variants. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1021785. [PMID: 36393831 PMCID: PMC9650323 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1021785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Patients with rare or ultra-rare genetic diseases, which affect 350 million people worldwide, may experience a diagnostic odyssey. High-throughput sequencing leads to an etiological diagnosis in up to 50% of individuals with heterogeneous neurodevelopmental or malformation disorders. There is a growing interest in additional omics technologies in translational research settings to examine the remaining unsolved cases. Methods: We gathered 30 individuals with malformation syndromes and/or severe neurodevelopmental disorders with negative trio exome sequencing and array comparative genomic hybridization results through a multicenter project. We applied short-read genome sequencing, total RNA sequencing, and DNA methylation analysis, in that order, as complementary translational research tools for a molecular diagnosis. Results: The cohort was mainly composed of pediatric individuals with a median age of 13.7 years (4 years and 6 months to 35 years and 1 month). Genome sequencing alone identified at least one variant with a high level of evidence of pathogenicity in 8/30 individuals (26.7%) and at least a candidate disease-causing variant in 7/30 other individuals (23.3%). RNA-seq data in 23 individuals allowed two additional individuals (8.7%) to be diagnosed, confirming the implication of two pathogenic variants (8.7%), and excluding one candidate variant (4.3%). Finally, DNA methylation analysis confirmed one diagnosis identified by genome sequencing (Kabuki syndrome) and identified an episignature compatible with a BAFopathy in a patient with a clinical diagnosis of Coffin-Siris with negative genome and RNA-seq results in blood. Conclusion: Overall, our integrated genome, transcriptome, and DNA methylation analysis solved 10/30 (33.3%) cases and identified a strong candidate gene in 4/30 (13.3%) of the patients with rare neurodevelopmental disorders and negative exome sequencing results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Colin
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU d’Angers, Angers, France
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
| | - Yannis Duffourd
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Emilie Tisserant
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
| | - Raissa Relator
- Molecular Diagnostics Program and Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Sciences and Saint Joseph’s Healthcare, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ange-Line Bruel
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Frédéric Tran Mau-Them
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Denommé-Pichon
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Hana Safraou
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Julian Delanne
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Centre de Génétique et Centre de Référence “Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs”, Hôpital d’Enfants, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Nolwenn Jean-Marçais
- Centre de Génétique et Centre de Référence “Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs”, Hôpital d’Enfants, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Boris Keren
- Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Département de Génétique, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | | | - Marie Vincent
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Cyril Mignot
- Sorbonne Université/INSERM U1127/CNRS UMR 7225/Institut du Cerveau, Paris, France
- Service de Neurologie, Hôpital la Pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Heron
- Département de Génétique, Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière et Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Afenjar
- Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Département de Génétique, Sorbonne Université, GRC No. 19, ConCer-LD, Centre de Référence Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - Solveig Heide
- Département de Génétique, Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière et Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - Anne Faudet
- Département de Génétique, Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière et Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - Perrine Charles
- Département de Génétique, Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière et Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Odent
- Service de Génétique Clinique, European Reference Network (ERN) ITHACA, CHU Rennes, Rennes, France
- IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes)—UMR 6290, ERL U1305, CNRS, INSERM, Univ Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Yvan Herenger
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Arthur Sorlin
- Centre de Génétique et Centre de Référence “Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs”, Hôpital d’Enfants, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Sébastien Moutton
- Centre de Génétique et Centre de Référence “Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs”, Hôpital d’Enfants, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Jennifer Kerkhof
- Molecular Diagnostics Program and Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Sciences and Saint Joseph’s Healthcare, London, ON, Canada
| | - Haley McConkey
- Molecular Diagnostics Program and Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Sciences and Saint Joseph’s Healthcare, London, ON, Canada
| | - Martin Chevarin
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Charlotte Poë
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Victor Couturier
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Valentin Bourgeois
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Patrick Callier
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
| | - Anne Boland
- Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine (CNRGH), Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Robert Olaso
- Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine (CNRGH), Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- LabEx GENMED (Medical Genomics)ParisFrance
| | - Christophe Philippe
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Bekim Sadikovic
- Molecular Diagnostics Program and Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Sciences and Saint Joseph’s Healthcare, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Christel Thauvin-Robinet
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Centre de Référence Maladies Rares “Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares”, Centre de Génétique, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Laurence Faivre
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Centre de Génétique et Centre de Référence “Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs”, Hôpital d’Enfants, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Jean-François Deleuze
- Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine (CNRGH), Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
- LabEx GENMED (Medical Genomics)ParisFrance
| | - Antonio Vitobello
- UFR des Sciences de Santé, GAD “Génétique des Anomalies du Développement”, INSERM-Université de Bourgogne UMR1231, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU)-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Ben-Mahmoud A, Jun KR, Gupta V, Shastri P, de la Fuente A, Park Y, Shin KC, Kim CA, da Cruz AD, Pinto IP, Minasi LB, Silva da Cruz A, Faivre L, Callier P, Racine C, Layman LC, Kong IK, Kim CH, Kim WY, Kim HG. A rigorous in silico genomic interrogation at 1p13.3 reveals 16 autosomal dominant candidate genes in syndromic neurodevelopmental disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:979061. [PMID: 36277487 PMCID: PMC9582330 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.979061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide chromosomal microarray is extensively used to detect copy number variations (CNVs), which can diagnose microdeletion and microduplication syndromes. These small unbalanced chromosomal structural rearrangements ranging from 1 kb to 10 Mb comprise up to 15% of human mutations leading to monogenic or contiguous genomic disorders. Albeit rare, CNVs at 1p13.3 cause a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) including development delay (DD), intellectual disability (ID), autism, epilepsy, and craniofacial anomalies (CFA). Most of the 1p13.3 CNV cases reported in the pre-microarray era encompassed a large number of genes and lacked the demarcating genomic coordinates, hampering the discovery of positional candidate genes within the boundaries. In this study, we present four subjects with 1p13.3 microdeletions displaying DD, ID, autism, epilepsy, and CFA. In silico comparative genomic mapping with three previously reported subjects with CNVs and 22 unreported DECIPHER CNV cases has resulted in the identification of four different sub-genomic loci harboring five positional candidate genes for DD, ID, and CFA at 1p13.3. Most of these genes have pathogenic variants reported, and their interacting genes are involved in NDDs. RT-qPCR in various human tissues revealed a high expression pattern in the brain and fetal brain, supporting their functional roles in NDDs. Interrogation of variant databases and interacting protein partners led to the identification of another set of 11 potential candidate genes, which might have been dysregulated by the position effect of these CNVs at 1p13.3. Our studies define 1p13.3 as a genomic region harboring 16 NDD candidate genes and underscore the critical roles of small CNVs in in silico comparative genomic mapping for disease gene discovery. Our candidate genes will help accelerate the isolation of pathogenic heterozygous variants from exome/genome sequencing (ES/GS) databases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Afif Ben-Mahmoud
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Kyung Ran Jun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, South Korea
| | - Vijay Gupta
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Pinang Shastri
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville, NC, United States
| | - Alberto de la Fuente
- Diabetes Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Yongsoo Park
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Kyung Chul Shin
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Chong Ae Kim
- Faculdade de Medicina, Unidade de Genética do Instituto da Criança – Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aparecido Divino da Cruz
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Genetics Master Program, Replicon Research Group, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Genetics Master Program, Replicon Research Nucleus, School of Agrarian and Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goias, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Irene Plaza Pinto
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Genetics Master Program, Replicon Research Group, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Genetics Master Program, Replicon Research Nucleus, School of Agrarian and Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goias, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Lysa Bernardes Minasi
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Genetics Master Program, Replicon Research Group, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Genetics Master Program, Replicon Research Nucleus, School of Agrarian and Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goias, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Alex Silva da Cruz
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Genetics Master Program, Replicon Research Group, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Genetics Master Program, Replicon Research Nucleus, School of Agrarian and Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goias, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Laurence Faivre
- Inserm UMR 1231 GAD, Genetics of Developmental Disorders, Université de Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
- Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs, Hôpital d’Enfants, Dijon, France
| | - Patrick Callier
- UMR 1231 GAD, Inserm – Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Caroline Racine
- UMR 1231 GAD, Inserm – Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Lawrence C. Layman
- Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility and Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Il-Keun Kong
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Woo-Yang Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Hyung-Goo Kim
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- *Correspondence: Hyung-Goo Kim,
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Mokhtari MA, Sargazi S, Saravani R, Heidari Nia M, Mirinejad S, Hadzsiev K, Bene J, Shakiba M. Genetic Polymorphisms in miR-137 and Its Target Genes, TCF4 and CACNA1C, Contribute to the Risk of Bipolar Disorder: A Preliminary Case-Control Study and Bioinformatics Analysis. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:1886658. [PMID: 36193501 PMCID: PMC9526595 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1886658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has suggested that miR-137 and its target genes, CACNA1C, and TCF4, are amongst the most robustly implicated genes in psychiatric disorders. This preliminary study is aimed at investigating the effects of genetic variations in miR-137 (rs1625579A/C), TCF4 (rs1261084C/T), and CACNA1C (rs10774053A/G and rs10466907G/T) on BD susceptibility. We recruited 252 BD patients and 213 healthy subjects as the control group. Genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP and ARMS-PCR methods. Enhanced risk of BD was found under the codominant homozygous, dominant, and allelic models of TCF4 rs1261084C/T, codominant homozygous and allelic models of CACNA1C rs10466907G/T polymorphisms, as well as codominant homozygous, dominant, recessive, and allelic models of the CACNA1C rs10774053A/G. Moreover, both TT/AG/GT/AA and TT/GG/GT/AC genotype combinations strongly increased the risk of BD in the participants. The bioinformatics analyses revealed that rs1261084C/T and rs10466907G/T created and disrupted binding sites of some miRNAs in the 3'-untranslated region of TCF4 and CACNA1C genes. In contrast, the rs10774053A/G created a new binding site for a major splicing factor and might have an effective role in the function of the CACNA1C protein. We have found that all the studied SNPs are positively associated with BD susceptibility. Replicated studies on different ethnicities are required to confirm these findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ali Mokhtari
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran
| | - Saman Sargazi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran
| | - Ramin Saravani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran
| | - Milad Heidari Nia
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran
| | - Shekoufeh Mirinejad
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran
| | - Kinga Hadzsiev
- Department of Medical Genetics, Clinical Center, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs H-7624, Hungary
| | - Judit Bene
- Department of Medical Genetics, Clinical Center, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs H-7624, Hungary
| | - Mansoor Shakiba
- Department of Psychiatry, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Chan HYE, Chen ZS. Multifaceted investigation underlies diverse mechanisms contributing to the downregulation of Hedgehog pathway-associated genes INTU and IFT88 in lung adenocarcinoma and uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:7794-7823. [PMID: 36084949 PMCID: PMC9596204 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Hedgehog (Hh) signaling primarily functions in the control of mammalian embryonic development but also has roles in cancer. The Hh activation depends on ciliogenesis, a cellular process that describes outgrowth of the primary cilium from cell membrane. Ciliogenesis initiation requires a set of proteins known as planar cell polarity (PCP) effectors. Inturned (INTU) is a PCP effector that reportedly functions synergistically with Hh signaling in basal cell carcinoma, suggesting that INTU has an oncogenic role. In this study, we carried out a pan-cancer investigation on the prognostic significance of INTU in different types of cancer. We demonstrated that INTU downregulation correlated with reduced survival probabilities in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) patients. Similar expression patterns and prognostic values were identified for intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88), another Hh pathway-associated gene. We elucidated multiple mechanisms at transcriptional, post-transcriptional and translational levels that involved transcription factor 4 and non-coding RNAs-associated regulatory networks contributing to the reduction of INTU and IFT88 levels in LUAD and UCEC samples. Taken together, this study demonstrates the prognostic significance of the Hh-related genes INTU and IFT88 in LUAD and UCEC and further delineates multifaceted mechanisms leading to INTU and IFT88 downregulation in tumor samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ho Yin Edwin Chan
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhefan Stephen Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
McKnight D, Bean L, Karbassi I, Beattie K, Bienvenu T, Bonin H, Fang P, Chrisodoulou J, Friez M, Helgeson M, Krishnaraj R, Meng L, Mighion L, Neul J, Percy A, Ramsden S, Zoghbi H, Das S. Recommendations by the ClinGen Rett/Angelman-like expert panel for gene-specific variant interpretation methods. Hum Mutat 2022; 43:1097-1113. [PMID: 34837432 PMCID: PMC9135956 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The genes MECP2, CDKL5, FOXG1, UBE3A, SLC9A6, and TCF4 present unique challenges for current ACMG/AMP variant interpretation guidelines. To address those challenges, the Rett and Angelman-like Disorders Variant Curation Expert Panel (Rett/AS VCEP) drafted gene-specific modifications. A pilot study was conducted to test the clarity and accuracy of using the customized variant interpretation criteria. Multiple curators obtained the same interpretation for 78 out of the 87 variants (~90%), indicating appropriate usage of the modified guidelines the majority of times by all the curators. The classification of 13 variants changed using these criteria specifications compared to when the variants were originally curated and as present in ClinVar. Many of these changes were due to internal data shared from laboratory members however some changes were because of changes in strength of criteria. There were no two-step classification changes and only 1 clinically relevant change (Likely pathogenic to VUS). The Rett/AS VCEP hopes that these gene-specific variant curation rules and the assertions provided help clinicians, clinical laboratories, and others interpret variants in these genes but also other fully penetrant, early-onset genes associated with rare disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John Chrisodoulou
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and the University of Melbourne,University of Sydney
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Popp B, Bienvenu T, Giurgea I, Metreau J, Kraus C, Reis A, Fischer J, Bralo MP, Castano JT, Lapunzina P, Almoguera B, Lopez-Grondona F, Sticht H, Zweier C. The recurrent TCF4 missense variant p.(Arg389Cys) causes a neurodevelopmental disorder overlapping with but not typical for Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. Clin Genet 2022; 102:517-523. [PMID: 35908153 PMCID: PMC10108566 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
TCF4 haploinsufficiency by deletions, truncating variants or loss-of-function missense variants within the DNA-binding and protein interacting bHLH domain causes Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS). This neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) is characterized by severe intellectual disability (ID), epilepsy, hyperbreathing and a typical facial gestalt. Only few aberrations of the N-terminus of TCF4 were associated with milder or atypical phenotypes. By personal communication and searching databases we assembled six cases with the novel, recurrent, de novo missense variant c.1165C > T, p.(Arg389Cys) in TCF4. This variant was identified by diagnostic exome or panel sequencing and is located upstream of the bHLH domain. All six individuals presented with moderate to severe ID with language impairment. Microcephaly occurred in two individuals, epilepsy only in one, and no breathing anomalies or myopia were reported. Facial gestalt showed some aspects of PTHS but was rather non-specific in most individuals. Interestingly, the variant is located within the AD2 activation domain next to a highly conserved coactivator-recruitment motif and might alter interaction with coactivator proteins independently from the bHLH domain. Our findings of a recurrent missense variant outside the bHLH domain in six individuals with an ID phenotype overlapping with but not typical for PTHS delineate a novel genotype-phenotype correlation for TCF4-related NDDs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernt Popp
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Center of Functional Genomics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thierry Bienvenu
- INSERM U1266, Institut de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences de Paris, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Irina Giurgea
- Département de Génétique Médicale, INSERM Childhood Genetic Diseases, AP-HP. Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - Julia Metreau
- APHP, Service de neurologie pédiatrique, Hôpital Universitaire Bicetre, Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France
| | - Cornelia Kraus
- Institute of Human Genetics, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - André Reis
- Institute of Human Genetics, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Fischer
- Institute for Clinical Genetics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - María Palomares Bralo
- INGEMM, Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Universitario La Paz, IDIPAZ, Madrid, Spain.,ITHACA European Reference Network, Spain.,CIBERER, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jair Tenorio Castano
- INGEMM, Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Universitario La Paz, IDIPAZ, Madrid, Spain.,ITHACA European Reference Network, Spain.,CIBERER, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Lapunzina
- INGEMM, Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Universitario La Paz, IDIPAZ, Madrid, Spain.,ITHACA European Reference Network, Spain.,CIBERER, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Berta Almoguera
- CIBERER, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Genetics and Genomics, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fermina Lopez-Grondona
- CIBERER, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Genetics and Genomics, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christiane Zweier
- Institute of Human Genetics, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Human Genetics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Tas M, Kurtulus M, Gulnerman EFK, Turkyilmaz C, Percin F, Ergenekon E, Koc E. Pitt-Hopkins syndrome accompanying hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in a newborn. Int J Dev Neurosci 2022; 82:458-462. [PMID: 35707852 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the substantial causes of developmental-cognitive disability in neonates. In this early period, it is difficult to diagnose accompanying or predisposing genetic diseases in HIE patients. Herein, we present a patient with HIE who was diagnosed with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome in the newborn period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melda Tas
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mervenur Kurtulus
- Department of Pediatrics, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Elı F Keles Gulnerman
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Canan Turkyilmaz
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ferda Percin
- Department of Medical Genetics, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ebru Ergenekon
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Esin Koc
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Kim H, Gao EB, Draper A, Berens NC, Vihma H, Zhang X, Higashi-Howard A, Ritola KD, Simon JM, Kennedy AJ, Philpot BD. Rescue of behavioral and electrophysiological phenotypes in a Pitt-Hopkins syndrome mouse model by genetic restoration of Tcf4 expression. eLife 2022; 11:e72290. [PMID: 35535852 PMCID: PMC9090324 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by monoallelic mutation or deletion in the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) gene. Individuals with PTHS typically present in the first year of life with developmental delay and exhibit intellectual disability, lack of speech, and motor incoordination. There are no effective treatments available for PTHS, but the root cause of the disorder, TCF4 haploinsufficiency, suggests that it could be treated by normalizing TCF4 gene expression. Here, we performed proof-of-concept viral gene therapy experiments using a conditional Tcf4 mouse model of PTHS and found that postnatally reinstating Tcf4 expression in neurons improved anxiety-like behavior, activity levels, innate behaviors, and memory. Postnatal reinstatement also partially corrected EEG abnormalities, which we characterized here for the first time, and the expression of key TCF4-regulated genes. Our results support a genetic normalization approach as a treatment strategy for PTHS, and possibly other TCF4-linked disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyojin Kim
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Eric B Gao
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Adam Draper
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Noah C Berens
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Hanna Vihma
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Xinyuan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bates College, Lewiston, United States
| | | | | | - Jeremy M Simon
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Andrew J Kennedy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bates College, Lewiston, United States
| | - Benjamin D Philpot
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil, Chapel Hill, United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Papes F, Camargo AP, de Souza JS, Carvalho VMA, Szeto RA, LaMontagne E, Teixeira JR, Avansini SH, Sánchez-Sánchez SM, Nakahara TS, Santo CN, Wu W, Yao H, Araújo BMP, Velho PENF, Haddad GG, Muotri AR. Transcription Factor 4 loss-of-function is associated with deficits in progenitor proliferation and cortical neuron content. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2387. [PMID: 35501322 PMCID: PMC9061776 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29942-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription Factor 4 (TCF4) has been associated with autism, schizophrenia, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. However, how pathological TCF4 mutations affect the human neural tissue is poorly understood. Here, we derive neural progenitor cells, neurons, and brain organoids from skin fibroblasts obtained from children with Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome carrying clinically relevant mutations in TCF4. We show that neural progenitors bearing these mutations have reduced proliferation and impaired capacity to differentiate into neurons. We identify a mechanism through which TCF4 loss-of-function leads to decreased Wnt signaling and then to diminished expression of SOX genes, culminating in reduced progenitor proliferation in vitro. Moreover, we show reduced cortical neuron content and impaired electrical activity in the patient-derived organoids, phenotypes that were rescued after correction of TCF4 expression or by pharmacological modulation of Wnt signaling. This work delineates pathological mechanisms in neural cells harboring TCF4 mutations and provides a potential target for therapeutic strategies for genetic disorders associated with this gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Papes
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil.
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Center for Medicinal Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-886, Brazil.
| | - Antonio P Camargo
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Janaina S de Souza
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Vinicius M A Carvalho
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Ryan A Szeto
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Erin LaMontagne
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - José R Teixeira
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Simoni H Avansini
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-887, Brazil
| | - Sandra M Sánchez-Sánchez
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Thiago S Nakahara
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Carolina N Santo
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
- Center for Medicinal Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-886, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Hang Yao
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Barbara M P Araújo
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Paulo E N F Velho
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13083-887, Brazil
| | - Gabriel G Haddad
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA
| | - Alysson R Muotri
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA.
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA) and Archealization (ArchC), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Mueller JL, Goldstein AM. The science of Hirschsprung disease: What we know and where we are headed. Semin Pediatr Surg 2022; 31:151157. [PMID: 35690468 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2022.151157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a rich network of neurons and glial cells that comprise the gastrointestinal tract's intrinsic nervous system and are responsible for controlling numerous complex functions, including digestion, transit, secretion, barrier function, and maintenance of a healthy microbiome. Development of a functional ENS relies on the coordinated interaction between enteric neural crest-derived cells and their environment as the neural crest-derived cells migrate rostrocaudally along the embryonic gut mesenchyme. Congenital or acquired disruption of ENS development leads to various neurointestinal diseases. Hirschsprung disease is a congenital neurocristopathy, a disease of the neural crest. It is characterized by a variable length of distal colonic aganglionosis due to a failure in enteric neural crest-derived cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and/or survival. In this review, we will review the science of Hirschsprung disease, targeting an audience of pediatric surgeons. We will discuss the basic biology of normal ENS development, as well as what goes awry in ENS development in Hirschsprung disease. We will review animal models that have been integral to studying this disease, as well as current hot topics and future research, including genetic risk profiling, stem cell therapy, non-invasive diagnostic techniques, single-cell sequencing techniques, and genotype-phenotype correlation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Mueller
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., WRN 1151, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Allan M Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., WRN 1151, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Masson J, Pons L, Busa T, Missirian C, Lines M, Tevissen H, Diguet F, Rollat-Farnier PA, Lesca G, Sanlaville D, Schluth-Bolard C. Disruption and deletion of the proximal part of TCF4 are associated with mild intellectual disability: About three new patients. Eur J Med Genet 2022; 65:104458. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2022.104458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
32
|
Kirikae H, Uematsu M, Numata-Uematsu Y, Saijo N, Katata Y, Oikawa Y, Kikuchi A, Yanagi K, Kaname T, Haginoya K, Kure S. Two types of early epileptic encephalopathy in a Pitt-Hopkins syndrome patient with a novel TCF4 mutation. Brain Dev 2022; 44:148-152. [PMID: 34579981 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2021.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in TCF4. Seizures have been found to vary among patients with PTHS. We report the case of a PTHS patient with a novel missense mutation in the gene TCF4, presenting with two types of early epileptic encephalopathy. CASE REPORT The patient was a Japanese boy. His first seizure was reported at 17 days of age, with twitching of the left eyelid and tonic-clonic seizures on either side of his body. An ictal electroencephalogram (EEG) showed epileptic discharges arising independently from both hemispheres, occasionally resembling migrating partial seizures of infancy (MPSI) that migrated from one side to the other. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed agenesis of the corpus callosum. His facial characteristics included a distinctive upper lip and thickened helices. His seizures were refractory, and psychomotor development was severely delayed. At the age of 10 months, he developed West syndrome with spasms and hypsarrhythmia. After being prescribed topiramate (TPM), his seizures and EEG abnormalities dramatically improved. Also, psychomotor development progressed. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a novel de novo missense mutation in exon 18 (NM_001083962.2:c.1718A > T, p.(Asn573Ile)), corresponding to the basic region of the basic helix-loop-helix domain, which may be a causative gene for epileptic encephalopathy. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with PTHS treated with TPM, who presented with both MPSI as well as West syndrome. This may help provide new insights regarding the phenotypes caused by mutations in TCF4.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hinako Kirikae
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Mitsugu Uematsu
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
| | | | - Naoya Saijo
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yu Katata
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Oikawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsuo Kikuchi
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kumiko Yanagi
- Department of Genome Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tadashi Kaname
- Department of Genome Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Haginoya
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shigeo Kure
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Papale LA, Madrid A, Zhang Q, Chen K, Sak L, Keleş S, Alisch RS. Gene by environment interaction mouse model reveals a functional role for 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in neurodevelopmental disorders. Genome Res 2022; 32:266-279. [PMID: 34949667 PMCID: PMC8805724 DOI: 10.1101/gr.276137.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Mouse knockouts of Cntnap2 show altered neurodevelopmental behavior, deficits in striatal GABAergic signaling, and a genome-wide disruption of an environmentally sensitive DNA methylation modification (5-hydroxymethylcytosine [5hmC]) in the orthologs of a significant number of genes implicated in human neurodevelopmental disorders. We tested adult Cntnap2 heterozygous mice (Cntnap2 +/-; lacking behavioral or neuropathological abnormalities) subjected to a prenatal stress and found that prenatally stressed Cntnap2 +/- female mice show repetitive behaviors and altered sociability, similar to the homozygote phenotype. Genomic profiling revealed disruptions in hippocampal and striatal 5hmC levels that are correlated to altered transcript levels of genes linked to these phenotypes (e.g., Reln, Dst, Trio, and Epha5). Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing and hippocampal nuclear lysate pull-down data indicated that 5hmC abundance alters the binding of the transcription factor CLOCK near the promoters of these genes (e.g., Palld, Gigyf1, and Fry), providing a mechanistic role for 5hmC in gene regulation. Together, these data support gene-by-environment hypotheses for the origins of mental illness and provide a means to identify the elusive factors contributing to complex human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ligia A Papale
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Andy Madrid
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
| | - Kailei Chen
- Department of Statistics, Biostatistics, and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Lara Sak
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Sündüz Keleş
- Department of Statistics, Biostatistics, and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | - Reid S Alisch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Sanders B, D'Andrea D, Collins MO, Rees E, Steward TGJ, Zhu Y, Chapman G, Legge SE, Pardiñas AF, Harwood AJ, Gray WP, O'Donovan MC, Owen MJ, Errington AC, Blake DJ, Whitcomb DJ, Pocklington AJ, Shin E. Transcriptional programs regulating neuronal differentiation are disrupted in DLG2 knockout human embryonic stem cells and enriched for schizophrenia and related disorders risk variants. Nat Commun 2022; 13:27. [PMID: 35031607 PMCID: PMC8760302 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27601-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Coordinated programs of gene expression drive brain development. It is unclear which transcriptional programs, in which cell-types, are affected in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Here we integrate human genetics with transcriptomic data from differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into cortical excitatory neurons. We identify transcriptional programs expressed during early neurogenesis in vitro and in human foetal cortex that are down-regulated in DLG2−/− lines. Down-regulation impacted neuronal differentiation and maturation, impairing migration, morphology and action potential generation. Genetic variation in these programs is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive function, with associated variants predominantly concentrated in loss-of-function intolerant genes. Neurogenic programs also overlap schizophrenia GWAS enrichment previously identified in mature excitatory neurons, suggesting that pathways active during prenatal cortical development may also be associated with mature neuronal dysfunction. Our data from human embryonic stem cells, when combined with analysis of available foetal cortical gene expression data, de novo rare variants and GWAS statistics for neuropsychiatric disorders and cognition, reveal a convergence on transcriptional programs regulating excitatory cortical neurogenesis. Coordinated programs of gene expression drive brain development. Here, the authors use human embryonic stem cells and foetal cortical tissue as well as available GWAS statistics and analysis of genetic variants associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and cognition revealing a convergence on transcriptional programs regulating excitatory cortical neurogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bret Sanders
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Daniel D'Andrea
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Mark O Collins
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Elliott Rees
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Tom G J Steward
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Ying Zhu
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Gareth Chapman
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Sophie E Legge
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Antonio F Pardiñas
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Adrian J Harwood
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - William P Gray
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Michael C O'Donovan
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Michael J Owen
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.,MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Adam C Errington
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Derek J Blake
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | | | - Andrew J Pocklington
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - Eunju Shin
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK. .,School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Keele, ST5 5BG, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
Alterations to the gut microbiome have been reported between children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and typically developing (TD) children. Characterizing these differences has led to the proposal of new treatments for ASD, such as probiotic interventions and fecal matter transplants. However, no study to date has characterized the gut microbiome or metabolome in Pitt Hopkins syndrome (PTHS), a severe ASD with a high incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances such as constipation. Here, we surveyed the gut microbiome and metabolome in a cohort of PTHS individuals and their unaffected parents. We focused our analysis on Clostridium bolteae, a microbe previously associated with ASD known to chemically modify bile acids in the gut. PTHS individuals carry a higher load of C. bolteae than their parents as well as both ASD and non-ASD individuals from the American Gut Project cohort. Specific metabolites were associated with PTHS, including bile acids and sphingosines. With a metadata reanalysis tool, we found that PTHS-associated metabolites have previously been identified in inflammatory bowel disease and obesity patients. These results suggest microbial involvement in PTHS, but further research must be performed to clarify the exact mechanisms through which microbes may act. Furthermore, new associations between PTHS-specific metabolites and other conditions may lead to additional therapeutic options for PTHS individuals. IMPORTANCE GI disturbances in ASD such as severe constipation can be medically significant and often require medication. This is especially true for individuals with PTHS, suggesting that the gut microbiome may be involved in PTHS’s pathology. Revealing associations between specific gut microbes and PTHS may allow the development of new therapeutics or the application of existing therapeutics to ease day-to-day challenges encountered by PTHS individuals. In this study, we characterized an association between C. bolteae and PTHS, in addition to metabolites linked to both PTHS and C. bolteae. We also identified other microbiome-involved medical conditions where PTHS-associated metabolites have been isolated. Utilizing common metabolites to identify conditions with similar phenotypes may suggest new therapeutic options for GI-related symptoms.
Collapse
|
36
|
Sirp A, Roots K, Nurm K, Tuvikene J, Sepp M, Timmusk T. Functional consequences of TCF4 missense substitutions associated with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, mild intellectual disability, and schizophrenia. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101381. [PMID: 34748727 PMCID: PMC8648840 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor 4 (TCF4) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor essential for neurocognitive development. The aberrations in TCF4 are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia, intellectual disability, and Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, an autism-spectrum disorder characterized by developmental delay. Several disease-associated missense mutations in TCF4 have been shown to interfere with TCF4 function, but for many mutations, the impact remains undefined. Here, we tested the effects of 12 functionally uncharacterized disease-associated missense mutations and variations in TCF4 using transient expression in mammalian cells, confocal imaging, in vitro DNA-binding assays, and reporter assays. We show that Pitt-Hopkins syndrome-associated missense mutations within the basic helix-loop-helix domain of TCF4 and a Rett-like syndrome-associated mutation in a transcription activation domain result in altered DNA-binding and transcriptional activity of the protein. Some of the missense variations found in schizophrenia patients slightly increase TCF4 transcriptional activity, whereas no effects were detected for missense mutations linked to mild intellectual disability. We in addition find that the outcomes of several disease-related mutations are affected by cell type, TCF4 isoform, and dimerization partner, suggesting that the effects of TCF4 mutations are context-dependent. Together with previous work, this study provides a basis for the interpretation of the functional consequences of TCF4 missense variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Sirp
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Kaisa Roots
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Kaja Nurm
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jürgen Tuvikene
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia; Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Mari Sepp
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia; Protobios LLC, Tallinn, Estonia.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Sarkar D, Shariq M, Dwivedi D, Krishnan N, Naumann R, Bhalla US, Ghosh HS. Adult brain neurons require continual expression of the schizophrenia-risk gene Tcf4 for structural and functional integrity. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:494. [PMID: 34564703 PMCID: PMC8464606 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01618-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The schizophrenia-risk gene Tcf4 has been widely studied in the context of brain development using mouse models of haploinsufficiency, in utero knockdown and embryonic deletion. However, Tcf4 continues to be abundantly expressed in adult brain neurons where its functions remain unknown. Given the importance of Tcf4 in psychiatric diseases, we investigated its role in adult neurons using cell-specific deletion and genetic tracing in adult animals. Acute loss of Tcf4 in adult excitatory neurons in vivo caused hyperexcitability and increased dendritic complexity of neurons, effects that were distinct from previously observed effects in embryonic-deficiency models. Interestingly, transcriptomic analysis of genetically traced adult-deleted FACS-sorted Tcf4-knockout neurons revealed that Tcf4 targets in adult neurons are distinct from those in the embryonic brain. Meta-analysis of the adult-deleted neuronal transcriptome from our study with the existing datasets of embryonic Tcf4 deficiencies revealed plasma membrane and ciliary genes to underlie Tcf4-mediated structure-function regulation specifically in adult neurons. The profound changes both in the structure and excitability of adult neurons upon acute loss of Tcf4 indicates that proactive regulation of membrane-related processes underlies the functional and structural integrity of adult neurons. These findings not only provide insights for the functional relevance of continual expression of a psychiatric disease-risk gene in the adult brain but also identify previously unappreciated gene networks underpinning mature neuronal regulation during the adult lifespan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dipannita Sarkar
- grid.22401.350000 0004 0502 9283National Center for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, 560065 India ,grid.502290.cThe University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, 560064 India
| | - Mohammad Shariq
- grid.22401.350000 0004 0502 9283National Center for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, 560065 India ,grid.502290.cThe University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bangalore, 560064 India
| | - Deepanjali Dwivedi
- grid.22401.350000 0004 0502 9283National Center for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, 560065 India
| | - Nirmal Krishnan
- grid.22401.350000 0004 0502 9283National Center for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, 560065 India
| | - Ronald Naumann
- grid.419537.d0000 0001 2113 4567MPI of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, 01307 Germany
| | - Upinder Singh Bhalla
- grid.22401.350000 0004 0502 9283National Center for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, 560065 India
| | - Hiyaa Singhee Ghosh
- National Center for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, 560065, India.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Matricardi S, Bonanni P, Iapadre G, Elia M, Cesaroni E, Danieli A, Negrin S, Zagaroli L, Operto FF, Carotenuto M, Pisani F, Turco EC, Orsini A, Bonuccelli A, Savasta S, Concolino D, Di Cara G, Striano P, Verrotti A. Epilepsy, electroclinical features, and long-term outcomes in Pitt-Hopkins syndrome due to pathogenic variants in the TCF4 gene. Eur J Neurol 2021; 29:19-25. [PMID: 34519126 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by deletions/variants in the TCF4 gene. Seizures may be present in up to half of the patients, leading to a more severe disease burden. This study aims to analyse the electroclinical phenotype, treatment options, and long-term outcomes of epilepsy in PTHS. METHODS A multicentre observational cohort study was performed, and the electroclinical data of PTHS individuals affected by epileptic seizures were retrospectively reviewed and analysed. RESULTS The series includes 21 patients (11 female) with a median age at seizure onset of 2 years (range = 0.5-8). The median time of follow-up was 7.9 years (range = 2-27). Both generalized and focal epilepsies were present at the same prevalence (42.8%), whereas a minority of patients presented developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (14.4%). At the long-term follow-up, 42.8% achieved seizure freedom, whereas 42.8% developed drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). The age at seizure onset was found to be an independent predictor for seizure outcome; in this regard, patients having seizure onset after the age of 2 years were more prone to achieve seizure freedom (odds ratio = 0.04, 95% confidence interval = 0.003-0.53; p = 0.01). During evolution, seizures tended to settle down, and even in patients with DRE, seizures tended to persist at a lower frequency and appeared to be more easily manageable over time. CONCLUSIONS This study provides new insight into the natural history of epilepsy in PTHS. Better characterization of epileptic phenotype and prompt tailored treatment improve overall management and quality of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Matricardi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, "G. Salesi" Children's Hospital, Ospedali Riuniti Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonanni
- Epilepsy Unit, IRCCS Eugenio Medea Scientific Institute, Conegliano, Italy
| | - Giulia Iapadre
- Department of Paediatrics, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maurizio Elia
- Unit of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiopathology, Oasi Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging (IRCCS), Troina, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cesaroni
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, "G. Salesi" Children's Hospital, Ospedali Riuniti Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Alberto Danieli
- Epilepsy Unit, IRCCS Eugenio Medea Scientific Institute, Conegliano, Italy
| | - Susanna Negrin
- Epilepsy Unit, IRCCS Eugenio Medea Scientific Institute, Conegliano, Italy
| | - Luca Zagaroli
- Department of Paediatrics, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Marco Carotenuto
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health and Physical and Preventive Medicine, Luigi Vanvitelli University, Caserta, Italy
| | - Francesco Pisani
- Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, Maternal and Child Health Department, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy
| | - Emanuela Claudia Turco
- Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, Maternal and Child Health Department, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandro Orsini
- Paediatric Neurology, Paediatric Department, Santa Chiara's University Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alice Bonuccelli
- Paediatric Neurology, Paediatric Department, Santa Chiara's University Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Salvatore Savasta
- Department of Paediatrics, Maggiore Hospital ASST Crema, Crema, Italy
| | - Daniela Concolino
- Paediatrics Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Cara
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Paediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, Giannina Gaslini Institute, IRCCS, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alberto Verrotti
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
New avenues in molecular genetics for the diagnosis and application of therapeutics to the epilepsies. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 121:106428. [PMID: 31400936 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Genetic epidemiology studies have shown that most epilepsies involve some genetic cause. In addition, twin studies have helped strengthen the hypothesis that in most patients with epilepsy, a complex inheritance is involved. More recently, with the development of high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarrays and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, the discovery of genes related to the epilepsies has accelerated tremendously. Especially, the use of whole exome sequencing (WES) has had a considerable impact on the identification of rare genetic variants with large effect sizes, including inherited or de novo mutations in severe forms of childhood epilepsies. The identification of pathogenic variants in patients with these childhood epilepsies provides many benefits for patients and families, such as the confirmation of the genetic nature of the diseases. This process will allow for better genetic counseling, more accurate therapy decisions, and a significant positive emotional impact. However, to study the genetic component of the more common forms of epilepsy, the use of high-density SNP arrays in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) seems to be the strategy of choice. As such, researchers can identify loci containing genetic variants associated with the common forms of epilepsy. The knowledge generated over the past two decades about the effects of the mutations that cause the monogenic epilepsy is tremendous; however, the scientific community is just starting to apply this information in order to generate better target treatments.
Collapse
|
40
|
Wittmann MT, Katada S, Sock E, Kirchner P, Ekici AB, Wegner M, Nakashima K, Lie DC, Reis A. scRNA sequencing uncovers a TCF4-dependent transcription factor network regulating commissure development in mouse. Development 2021; 148:269257. [PMID: 34184026 PMCID: PMC8327186 DOI: 10.1242/dev.196022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factor 4 (TCF4) is a crucial regulator of neurodevelopment and has been linked to the pathogenesis of autism, intellectual disability and schizophrenia. As a class I bHLH transcription factor (TF), it is assumed that TCF4 exerts its neurodevelopmental functions through dimerization with proneural class II bHLH TFs. Here, we aim to identify TF partners of TCF4 in the control of interhemispheric connectivity formation. Using a new bioinformatic strategy integrating TF expression levels and regulon activities from single cell RNA-sequencing data, we find evidence that TCF4 interacts with non-bHLH TFs and modulates their transcriptional activity in Satb2+ intercortical projection neurons. Notably, this network comprises regulators linked to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders, e.g. FOXG1, SOX11 and BRG1. In support of the functional interaction of TCF4 with non-bHLH TFs, we find that TCF4 and SOX11 biochemically interact and cooperatively control commissure formation in vivo, and regulate the transcription of genes implicated in this process. In addition to identifying new candidate interactors of TCF4 in neurodevelopment, this study illustrates how scRNA-Seq data can be leveraged to predict TF networks in neurodevelopmental processes. Summary: Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies interactions of TCF4 with non-bHLH transcription factors linked to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disease in the regulation of interhemispheric projection neuron development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Theres Wittmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sayako Katada
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Elisabeth Sock
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Philipp Kirchner
- Institute of Human Genetics, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arif B Ekici
- Institute of Human Genetics, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Wegner
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kinichi Nakashima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Dieter Chichung Lie
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - André Reis
- Institute of Human Genetics, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Santos-Terra J, Deckmann I, Fontes-Dutra M, Schwingel GB, Bambini-Junior V, Gottfried C. Transcription factors in neurodevelopmental and associated psychiatric disorders: A potential convergence for genetic and environmental risk factors. Int J Dev Neurosci 2021; 81:545-578. [PMID: 34240460 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a heterogeneous and highly prevalent group of psychiatric conditions marked by impairments in the nervous system. Their onset occurs during gestation, and the alterations are observed throughout the postnatal life. Although many genetic and environmental risk factors have been described in this context, the interactions between them challenge the understanding of the pathways associated with NDDs. Transcription factors (TFs)-a group of over 1,600 proteins that can interact with DNA, regulating gene expression through modulation of RNA synthesis-represent a point of convergence for different risk factors. In addition, TFs organize critical processes like angiogenesis, blood-brain barrier formation, myelination, neuronal migration, immune activation, and many others in a time and location-dependent way. In this review, we summarize important TF alterations in NDD and associated disorders, along with specific impairments observed in animal models, and, finally, establish hypotheses to explain how these proteins may be critical mediators in the context of genome-environment interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Júlio Santos-Terra
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders (GETTEA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,School of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Autism Wellbeing And Research Development (AWARD) Institute, BR-UK-CA, Preston, UK
| | - Iohanna Deckmann
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders (GETTEA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,School of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Autism Wellbeing And Research Development (AWARD) Institute, BR-UK-CA, Preston, UK
| | - Mellanie Fontes-Dutra
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders (GETTEA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,School of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Autism Wellbeing And Research Development (AWARD) Institute, BR-UK-CA, Preston, UK
| | - Gustavo Brum Schwingel
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders (GETTEA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,School of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Autism Wellbeing And Research Development (AWARD) Institute, BR-UK-CA, Preston, UK
| | - Victorio Bambini-Junior
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders (GETTEA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,School of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Autism Wellbeing And Research Development (AWARD) Institute, BR-UK-CA, Preston, UK.,School of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
| | - Carmem Gottfried
- Translational Research Group in Autism Spectrum Disorders (GETTEA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,School of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Autism Wellbeing And Research Development (AWARD) Institute, BR-UK-CA, Preston, UK
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
El Khouri E, Ghoumid J, Haye D, Giuliano F, Drevillon L, Briand-Suleau A, De La Grange P, Nau V, Gaillon T, Bienvenu T, Jacquemin-Sablon H, Goossens M, Amselem S, Giurgea I. Wnt/β-catenin pathway and cell adhesion deregulation in CSDE1-related intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3572-3585. [PMID: 33867523 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01072-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Among the genetic factors playing a key role in the etiology of intellectual disabilities (IDs) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), several encode RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). In this study, we deciphered the molecular and cellular bases of ID-ASD in a patient followed from birth to the age of 21, in whom we identified a de novo CSDE1 (Cold Shock Domain-containing E1) nonsense variation. CSDE1 encodes an RBP that regulates multiple cellular pathways by monitoring the translation and abundance of target transcripts. Analyses performed on the patient's primary fibroblasts showed that the identified CSDE1 variation leads to haploinsufficiency. We identified through RNA-seq assays the Wnt/β-catenin signaling and cellular adhesion as two major deregulated pathways. These results were further confirmed by functional studies involving Wnt-specific luciferase and substrate adhesion assays. Additional data support a disease model involving APC Down-Regulated-1 (APCDD1) and cadherin-2 (CDH2), two components of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, CDH2 being also pivotal for cellular adhesion. Our study, which relies on both the deep phenotyping and long-term follow-up of a patient with CSDE1 haploinsufficiency and on ex vivo studies, sheds new light on the CSDE1-dependent deregulated pathways in ID-ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E El Khouri
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Maladies génétiques d'expression pédiatrique, Département de Génétique médicale, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - J Ghoumid
- Département de Génétique, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.,Service de Génétique Clinique, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, CHU Lille, Lille, France
| | - D Haye
- Service de Génétique Médicale Centre, Hospitalo-Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France
| | - F Giuliano
- Service de Génétique Médicale Centre, Hospitalo-Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France
| | - L Drevillon
- Département de Génétique, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.,CHU Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | - A Briand-Suleau
- Département de Génétique, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.,Service de Génétique et Biologie Moléculaires, Hôpital Cochin, INSERM UMR1266 - Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP) and University of Paris, Paris, France
| | | | - V Nau
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Maladies génétiques d'expression pédiatrique, Département de Génétique médicale, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - T Gaillon
- Département de Génétique, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - T Bienvenu
- Service de Génétique et Biologie Moléculaires, Hôpital Cochin, INSERM UMR1266 - Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP) and University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - H Jacquemin-Sablon
- INSERM UMR1053 Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology, BaRITOn, Bordeaux, France
| | - M Goossens
- Département de Génétique, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - S Amselem
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Maladies génétiques d'expression pédiatrique, Département de Génétique médicale, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France
| | - I Giurgea
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Maladies génétiques d'expression pédiatrique, Département de Génétique médicale, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France. .,Département de Génétique, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Pearson E, Watkins A, Oliver C, Karim A, Clayton-Smith J, Welham A. The adaptive functioning profile of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. Eur J Med Genet 2021; 64:104279. [PMID: 34174467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2021.104279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are few cohort studies describing the adaptive functioning profile for Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS). In this study we examine the adaptive functioning profile for PTHS and compare it to Angelman syndrome (AS). METHOD Caregivers of 14 individuals with PTHS, 33 with deletion AS and 23 with non-deletion AS, completed the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II. RESULTS The profile of adaptive functioning in PTHS was characterised by strengths in socialisation, followed by motor skills, communication then daily living skills. The PTHS group scored significantly lower than the non-deletion AS group on all domains except socialisation and significantly lower than the deletion AS group, for motor skills only. CONCLUSIONS An uneven adaptive behavior profile for individuals with PTHS mirrors that of AS, with implications for assessment and intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Effie Pearson
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; School of Psychology, College of Health & Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
| | - Alice Watkins
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Chris Oliver
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Amna Karim
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jill Clayton-Smith
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Alice Welham
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, UK
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Compe E, Egly JM. The Long Road to Understanding RNAPII Transcription Initiation and Related Syndromes. Annu Rev Biochem 2021; 90:193-219. [PMID: 34153211 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-090220-112253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, transcription of protein-coding genes requires the assembly at core promoters of a large preinitiation machinery containing RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and general transcription factors (GTFs). Transcription is potentiated by regulatory elements called enhancers, which are recognized by specific DNA-binding transcription factors that recruit cofactors and convey, following chromatin remodeling, the activating cues to the preinitiation complex. This review summarizes nearly five decades of work on transcription initiation by describing the sequential recruitment of diverse molecular players including the GTFs, the Mediator complex, and DNA repair factors that support RNAPII to enable RNA synthesis. The elucidation of the transcription initiation mechanism has greatly benefited from the study of altered transcription components associated with human diseases that could be considered transcription syndromes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Compe
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch CEDEX, Commune Urbaine de Strasbourg, France; ,
| | - Jean-Marc Egly
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch CEDEX, Commune Urbaine de Strasbourg, France; , .,College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Chen HY, Bohlen JF, Maher BJ. Molecular and Cellular Function of Transcription Factor 4 in Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome. Dev Neurosci 2021; 43:159-167. [PMID: 34134113 DOI: 10.1159/000516666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor 4 (TCF4, also known as ITF2 or E2-2) is a type I basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor. Autosomal dominant mutations in TCF4 cause Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS), a rare syndromic form of autism spectrum disorder. In this review, we provide an update on the progress regarding our understanding of TCF4 function at the molecular, cellular, physiological, and behavioral levels with a focus on phenotypes and therapeutic interventions. We examine upstream and downstream regulatory networks associated with TCF4 and discuss a range of in vitro and in vivo data with the aim of understanding emerging TCF4-specific mechanisms relevant for disease pathophysiology. In conclusion, we provide comments about exciting future avenues of research that may provide insights into potential new therapeutic targets for PTHS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huei-Ying Chen
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,
| | - Joseph F Bohlen
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Brady J Maher
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Bartlett T. Fusion of single-cell transcriptome and DNA-binding data, for genomic network inference in cortical development. BMC Bioinformatics 2021; 22:301. [PMID: 34088262 PMCID: PMC8176738 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-021-04201-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Network models are well-established as very useful computational-statistical tools in cell biology. However, a genomic network model based only on gene expression data can, by definition, only infer gene co-expression networks. Hence, in order to infer gene regulatory patterns, it is necessary to also include data related to binding of regulatory factors to DNA. RESULTS We propose a new dynamic genomic network model, for inferring patterns of genomic regulatory influence in dynamic processes such as development. Our model fuses experiment-specific gene expression data with publicly available DNA-binding data. The method we propose is computationally efficient, and can be applied to genome-wide data with tens of thousands of transcripts. Thus, our method is well suited for use as an exploratory tool for genome-wide data. We apply our method to data from human fetal cortical development, and our findings confirm genomic regulatory patterns which are recognised as being fundamental to neuronal development. CONCLUSIONS Our method provides a mathematical/computational toolbox which, when coupled with targeted experiments, will reveal and confirm important new functional genomic regulatory processes in mammalian development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bartlett
- University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abe‐Hatano C, Iida A, Kosugi S, Momozawa Y, Terao C, Ishikawa K, Okubo M, Hachiya Y, Nishida H, Nakamura K, Miyata R, Murakami C, Takahashi K, Hoshino K, Sakamoto H, Ohta S, Kubota M, Takeshita E, Ishiyama A, Nakagawa E, Sasaki M, Kato M, Matsumoto N, Kamatani Y, Kubo M, Takahashi Y, Natsume J, Inoue K, Goto Y. Whole genome sequencing of 45 Japanese patients with intellectual disability. Am J Med Genet A 2021; 185:1468-1480. [PMID: 33624935 PMCID: PMC8247954 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) is characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors, originating before the age of 18 years. However, the genetic etiologies of ID are still incompletely elucidated due to the wide range of clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has been applied as a single-step clinical diagnostic tool for ID because it detects genetic variations with a wide range of resolution from single nucleotide variants (SNVs) to structural variants (SVs). To explore the causative genes for ID, we employed WGS in 45 patients from 44 unrelated Japanese families and performed a stepwise screening approach focusing on the coding variants in the genes. Here, we report 12 pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants: seven heterozygous variants of ADNP, SATB2, ANKRD11, PTEN, TCF4, SPAST, and KCNA2, three hemizygous variants of SMS, SLC6A8, and IQSEC2, and one homozygous variant in AGTPBP1. Of these, four were considered novel. Furthermore, a novel 76 kb deletion containing exons 1 and 2 in DYRK1A was identified. We confirmed the clinical and genetic heterogeneity and high frequency of de novo causative variants (8/12, 66.7%). This is the first report of WGS analysis in Japanese patients with ID. Our results would provide insight into the correlation between novel variants and expanded phenotypes of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chihiro Abe‐Hatano
- Department of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect ResearchNational Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
- Department of PediatricsNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineAichiJapan
| | - Aritoshi Iida
- Medical Genome CenterNational Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| | - Shunichi Kosugi
- Laboratory for Statistical and Translational GeneticsRIKEN Center for Integrative Medical SciencesKanagawaJapan
| | - Yukihide Momozawa
- Laboratory for Genotyping DevelopmentRIKEN Center for Integrative Medical SciencesKanagawaJapan
| | - Chikashi Terao
- Laboratory for Statistical and Translational GeneticsRIKEN Center for Integrative Medical SciencesKanagawaJapan
- Clinical Research CenterShizuoka General HospitalShizuokaJapan
- The Department of Applied GeneticsThe School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of ShizuokaShizuokaJapan
| | - Keiko Ishikawa
- Medical Genome CenterNational Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| | - Mariko Okubo
- Department of Child NeurologyNational Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| | - Yasuo Hachiya
- Department of NeuropediatricsTokyo Metropolitan Neurological HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Hiroya Nishida
- Department of NeuropediatricsTokyo Metropolitan Neurological HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Kazuyuki Nakamura
- Department of PediatricsYamagata University Faculty of MedicineYamagataJapan
| | - Rie Miyata
- Department of PediatricsTokyo‐Kita Medical CenterTokyoJapan
| | - Chie Murakami
- Department of PediatricsKitakyusyu Children's Rehabilitation CenterFukuokaJapan
| | - Kan Takahashi
- Department of PediatricsOme Municipal General HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Kyoko Hoshino
- Department of PediatricsMinami Wakayama Medical CenterWakayamaJapan
| | - Haruko Sakamoto
- Department of NeonatologyJapanese Red Cross Osaka HospitalOsakaJapan
| | - Sayaka Ohta
- Division of NeurologyNational Center for Child Health and DevelopmentTokyoJapan
| | - Masaya Kubota
- Division of NeurologyNational Center for Child Health and DevelopmentTokyoJapan
| | - Eri Takeshita
- Department of Child NeurologyNational Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| | - Akihiko Ishiyama
- Department of Child NeurologyNational Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| | - Eiji Nakagawa
- Department of Child NeurologyNational Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| | - Masayuki Sasaki
- Department of Child NeurologyNational Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| | - Mitsuhiro Kato
- Department of PediatricsYamagata University Faculty of MedicineYamagataJapan
- Department of PediatricsShowa University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Naomichi Matsumoto
- Department of Human GeneticsYokohama City University Graduate School of MedicineKanagawaJapan
| | - Yoichiro Kamatani
- Laboratory for Statistical and Translational GeneticsRIKEN Center for Integrative Medical SciencesKanagawaJapan
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical SciencesGraduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Michiaki Kubo
- Laboratory for Genotyping DevelopmentRIKEN Center for Integrative Medical SciencesKanagawaJapan
| | - Yoshiyuki Takahashi
- Department of PediatricsNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineAichiJapan
| | - Jun Natsume
- Department of PediatricsNagoya University Graduate School of MedicineAichiJapan
| | - Ken Inoue
- Department of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect ResearchNational Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| | - Yu‐Ichi Goto
- Department of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect ResearchNational Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
- Medical Genome CenterNational Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Bohîlţea RE, Cîrstoiu MM, Nedelea FM, Turcan N, Georgescu TA, Munteanu O, Baroş A, Istrate-Ofiţeru AM, Berceanu C. Case report of a novel phenotype in 18q deletion syndrome. ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY 2021; 61:905-910. [PMID: 33817732 PMCID: PMC8112787 DOI: 10.47162/rjme.61.3.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The latest decades are characterized by an enormous progression in the field of human genetics. In consequences, for various phenotypic manifestations, genetic testing could identify a specific underlying cause. An estimated incidence for all types of 18q deletions is one in 55 000 births predominant on females. About 94% of cases with 18q deletion syndrome appearance are de novo, and the remaining 6% are the inherited from a parent carrying a balanced chromosomal translocation. We present the case of a 35-year-old female who was admitted in our Unit for a second ultrasound opinion after being diagnosed at the second trimester scan at gestational age of 21 weeks of pregnancy with multiple brain and heart malformations, having the recommendation for fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Further investigations included genetic analysis and pathological examination. Major malformations diagnosed and confirmed were agenesis of the corpus callosum, ventriculomegaly with dilated fourth ventricle, partial agenesis of vermis, bilateral anophthalmia with wide nasal base and left cleft lip. Additional, cardiac malformation, with an important ventricular septal defect and overriding aorta were noted. The results of the microarray analysis showed an abnormal fetal karyotype with a loss of 30.5 basis identified in the long arm of chromosome 18. Although most of the cases of 18q deletion are sporadically or de novo, could be cases where the possible existing syndromes can be inherited from a healthy or mild affected parent. Therefore, in order to establish the recurrence risk, parental karyotypes are recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Elena Bohîlţea
- Department of Anatomy, Department of Pathology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; ,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Integrative analysis identifies bHLH transcription factors as contributors to Parkinson's disease risk mechanisms. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3502. [PMID: 33568722 PMCID: PMC7875985 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple genetic risk signals for Parkinson’s disease (PD), however translation into underlying biological mechanisms remains scarce. Genomic functional annotations of neurons provide new resources that may be integrated into analyses of GWAS findings. Altered transcription factor binding plays an important role in human diseases. Insight into transcriptional networks involved in PD risk mechanisms may thus improve our understanding of pathogenesis. We analysed overlap between genome-wide association signals in PD and open chromatin in neurons across multiple brain regions, finding a significant enrichment in the superior temporal cortex. The involvement of transcriptional networks was explored in neurons of the superior temporal cortex based on the location of candidate transcription factor motifs identified by two de novo motif discovery methods. Analyses were performed in parallel, both finding that PD risk variants significantly overlap with open chromatin regions harboring motifs of basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factors. Our findings show that cortical neurons are likely mediators of genetic risk for PD. The concentration of PD risk variants at sites of open chromatin targeted by members of the bHLH transcription factor family points to an involvement of these transcriptional networks in PD risk mechanisms.
Collapse
|
50
|
Teixeira JR, Szeto RA, Carvalho VMA, Muotri AR, Papes F. Transcription factor 4 and its association with psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:19. [PMID: 33414364 PMCID: PMC7791034 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01138-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The human transcription factor 4 gene (TCF4) encodes a helix-loop-helix transcription factor widely expressed throughout the body and during neural development. Mutations in TCF4 cause a devastating autism spectrum disorder known as Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, characterized by a range of aberrant phenotypes including severe intellectual disability, absence of speech, delayed cognitive and motor development, and dysmorphic features. Moreover, polymorphisms in TCF4 have been associated with schizophrenia and other psychiatric and neurological conditions. Details about how TCF4 genetic variants are linked to these diseases and the role of TCF4 during neural development are only now beginning to emerge. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the functions of TCF4 and its protein products at both the cellular and organismic levels, as well as a description of pathophysiological mechanisms associated with this gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José R. Teixeira
- grid.411087.b0000 0001 0723 2494Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Ryan A. Szeto
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Vinicius M. A. Carvalho
- grid.411087.b0000 0001 0723 2494Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo Brazil ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Alysson R. Muotri
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Fabio Papes
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. .,Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|