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Golub MS, Bulleri AM, Hogrefe CE, Sherwood RJ. Bone growth in juvenile rhesus monkeys is influenced by 5HTTLPR polymorphisms and interactions between 5HTTLPR polymorphisms and fluoxetine. Bone 2015; 79:162-9. [PMID: 26067181 PMCID: PMC4511468 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2015.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Male rhesus monkeys received a therapeutic oral dose of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine daily from 1 to 3 years of age. Puberty is typically initiated between 2 and 3 years of age in male rhesus and reproductive maturity is reached at 4 years. The study group was genotyped for polymorphisms in the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and serotonin transporter (SERT) genes that affect serotonin neurotransmission. Growth was assessed with morphometrics at 4 month intervals and radiographs of long bones were taken at 12 month intervals to evaluate skeletal growth and maturation. No effects of fluoxetine, or MAOA or SERT genotype were found for growth during the first year of the study. Linear growth began to slow during the second year of the study and serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) long polymorphic region (5HTTLPR) polymorphism effects with drug interactions emerged. Monkeys with two SERT 5HTTLPR L alleles (LL, putative greater transcription) had 25-39% less long bone growth, depending on the bone, than monkeys with one S and one L allele (SL). More advanced skeletal maturity was also seen in the LL group, suggesting earlier onset of puberty. An interaction between 5HTTLPR polymorphisms and fluoxetine was identified for femur and tibia growth; the 5HTTLPR effect was seen in controls (40% less growth for LL) but not in the fluoxetine treated group (10% less growth for LL). A role for serotonin in peripubertal skeletal growth and maturation has not previously been investigated but may be relevant to treatment of children with SSRIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari S Golub
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Alicia M Bulleri
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Casey E Hogrefe
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Richard J Sherwood
- Division of Morphological Sciences and Biostatistics, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45434, USA
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Provençal N, Booij L, Tremblay RE. The developmental origins of chronic physical aggression: biological pathways triggered by early life adversity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 218:123-33. [PMID: 25568459 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.111401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Longitudinal epidemiological studies with birth cohorts have shown that physical aggression in humans does not appear suddenly in adolescence as commonly thought. In fact, physically aggressive behaviour is observed as early as 12 months after birth, its frequency peaks around 2-4 years of age and decreases in frequency until early adulthood. However, a minority of children (3-7%) maintain a high frequency of physical aggression from childhood to adolescence and develop serious social adjustment problems during adulthood. Genetic factors and early social experiences, as well as their interaction, have been shown to play an important role in the development of chronic aggressive behaviour. However, the biological mechanisms underlying these associations are just beginning to be uncovered. Recent evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms are responsive to adverse environments and could be involved in the development of chronic aggression. Using both gene candidate and genomic approaches, recent studies have identified epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation alterations in genes involved in the stress response and the serotonin and immune systems to be partly responsible for the long-lasting effects of early adversity. Further longitudinal studies with biological, environmental and behavioural assessments from birth onwards are needed to elucidate the sequence of events that leads to these long-lasting epigenetic marks associated with early adversity and aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Provençal
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Linda Booij
- Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Richard E Tremblay
- Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada Department of Psychology and Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2V 2S9, Canada School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland Institute of Genetic, Neurobiological, and Social Foundations of Child Development, Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050, Russian Federation
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Staes N, Koski SE, Helsen P, Fransen E, Eens M, Stevens JMG. Chimpanzee sociability is associated with vasopressin (Avpr1a) but not oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) variation. Horm Behav 2015; 75:84-90. [PMID: 26299644 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The importance of genes in regulating phenotypic variation of personality traits in humans and animals is becoming increasingly apparent in recent studies. Here we focus on variation in the vasopressin receptor gene 1a (Avpr1a) and oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and their effects on social personality traits in chimpanzees. We combine newly available genetic data on Avpr1a and OXTR allelic variation of 62 captive chimpanzees with individual variation in personality, based on behavioral assessments. Our study provides support for the positive association of the Avpr1a promoter region, in particular the presence of DupB, and sociability in chimpanzees. This complements findings of previous studies on adolescent chimpanzees and studies that assessed personality using questionnaire data. In contrast, no significant associations were found for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ss1388116472 of the OXTR and any of the personality components. Most importantly, our study provides additional evidence for the regulatory function of the 5' promoter region of Avpr1a on social behavior and its evolutionary stable effect across species, including rodents, chimpanzees and humans. Although it is generally accepted that complex social behavior is regulated by a combination of genes, the environment and their interaction, our findings highlight the importance of candidate genes with large effects on behavioral variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Staes
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Sonja E Koski
- Helsinki University, Finnish Centre of Excellence in Intersubjectivity in Interaction, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Philippe Helsen
- Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Erik Fransen
- University of Antwerp, Statua Center for Statistics, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marcel Eens
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Jeroen M G Stevens
- Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
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54
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Kudryavtseva NN, Markel AL, Orlov YL. Aggressive behavior: Genetic and physiological mechanisms. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1134/s2079059715040085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Driscoll CA, Barr CS. Studying longitudinal trajectories in animal models of psychiatric illness and their translation to the human condition. Neurosci Res 2015; 102:67-77. [PMID: 26276350 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Many forms of psychopathology and/or psychiatric illness can occur through the pathways of altered environmental sensitivity, impulsivity, social functioning, and anxious responding. While these traits are also heritable, environmental conditions are known to play a critical role. The genetic factors that contribute to these traits may be adaptive in certain contexts, but can - under the environmental conditions commonly faced among modern humans - also be key moderators of risk for psychopathological outcomes. This article will discuss how animal studies inform us of the various environmental mechanisms through which prenatal or early postnatal environmental challenge can produce long-term effects on behavior and will briefly address how pre-copulatory, pre-natal and early postnatal epigenetic effects can contribute to persistent alterations in offspring behavior. Its main focus will be how nonhuman primate studies have helped us to understand how genetic vulnerability factors can moderate responses to early environmental factors, suggesting pathways through which early stress might produce long-term effects, thus pointing to systems that might moderate risk for psychiatric illnesses in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Driscoll
- Section of Comparative Behavioral Genomics, NIH/NIAAA/LNG, 5625 Fishers Lane, 3S-32, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA
| | - Christina S Barr
- Section of Comparative Behavioral Genomics, NIH/NIAAA/LNG, 5625 Fishers Lane, 3S-32, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA.
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56
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Choi Y, Jung YD, Ayarpadikannan S, Koga A, Imai H, Hirai H, Roos C, Kim HS. Novel variable number of tandem repeats of gibbon MAOA gene and its evolutionary significance. Genome 2015; 57:427-32. [PMID: 25360715 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2014-0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) are scattered throughout the primate genome, and genetic variation of these VNTRs have been accumulated during primate radiation. Here, we analyzed VNTRs upstream of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene in 11 different gibbon species. An abundance of truncated VNTR sequences and copy number differences were observed compared to those of human VNTR sequences. To better understand the biological role of these VNTRs, a luciferase activity assay was conducted and results indicated that selected VNTR sequences of the MAOA gene from human and three different gibbon species (Hylobates klossii, Hylobates lar, and Nomascus concolor) showed silencing ability. Together, these data could be useful for understanding the evolutionary history and functional significance of MAOA VNTR sequences in gibbon species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Choi
- a Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea
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57
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Yamaguchi Y, Lee YA, Goto Y. Dopamine in socioecological and evolutionary perspectives: implications for psychiatric disorders. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:219. [PMID: 26136653 PMCID: PMC4468839 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) transmission in brain areas such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) plays important roles in cognitive and affective function. As such, DA deficits have been implicated in a number of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Accumulating evidence suggests that DA is also involved in social behavior of animals and humans. Although most animals organize and live in social groups, how the DA system functions in such social groups of animals, and its dysfunction causes compromises in the groups has remained less understood. Here we propose that alterations of DA signaling and associated genetic variants and behavioral phenotypes, which have been normally considered as “deficits” in investigation at an individual level, may not necessarily yield disadvantages, but even work advantageously, depending on social contexts in groups. This hypothesis could provide a novel insight into our understanding of the biological mechanisms of psychiatric disorders, and a potential explanation that disadvantageous phenotypes associated with DA deficits in psychiatric disorders have remained in humans through evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshie Yamaguchi
- Section of Cognition and Learning, Department of Cognitive Science, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University Inuyama, Japan
| | - Young-A Lee
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Catholic University of Daegu Gyeongsan-Si, Korea
| | - Yukiori Goto
- Section of Cognition and Learning, Department of Cognitive Science, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University Inuyama, Japan
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58
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Bethea CL, Phu K, Kim A, Reddy AP. Androgen metabolites impact CSF amines and axonal serotonin via MAO-A and -B in male macaques. Neuroscience 2015; 301:576-89. [PMID: 26086546 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
A number of studies have shown that mutations or deletions of the monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) gene cause elevated CNS serotonin and elevated impulsive aggression in humans and animal models. In addition, low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5HIAA) has been documented in a limited number of violent criminal populations and in macaques that exhibit impulsive aggression. To reconcile these different analyses, we hypothesized that CSF 5HIAA reflected degradation of serotonin by the activity of MAO-A; and that low MAO-A activity would result in lower CSF 5HIAA, but overall higher serotonin in the CNS. To test this hypothesis, male Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) were castrated, rested for 5-7months, and then treated for 3months with [1] placebo, [2] testosterone (T), [3] dihydrotestosterone (DHT; non-aromatizable androgen) and 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD) (steroidal aromatase inhibitor), or [4] flutamide (FLUT; androgen antagonist) and ATD (n=5/group). These treatments enable isolation of androgen and estrogen activities. In the dorsal raphe, MAO-A and MAO-B expressions were determined with in situ hybridization (ISH) and protein expression of aromatase was determined with immunohistochemistry (IHC). CSF concentrations of 5HIAA, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), and homovanillic acid (HVA) were determined with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). From the same animals, previously published data on serotonin axon density were used as a proxy for CNS serotonin. Aromatase conversion of T to estrogen (E) suppressed MAO-A (positive pixel area, p=0.0045), but androgens increased MAO-B (positive pixel area, p=0.014). CSF 5HIAA was suppressed by conversion of T to E (Cohen's d=0.6). CSF 5HIAA was positively correlated with MAO-A-positive pixel area (r(2)=0.78). CSF 5HIAA was inversely correlated with serotonin axon-positive pixel area (r(2)=0.69). In summary, CSF 5HIAA reflects MAO-A activity rather than global serotonin. Low CSF 5HIAA may, in this paradigm, reflect higher serotonin activity. Androgens lower MAO-A activity via metabolism to E, thus elevating CNS serotonin and decreasing CSF 5HIAA. Since androgens increase certain types of aggression, these data are consistent with studies demonstrating that lower MAO-A activity is associated with elevated serotonin and increased aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Bethea
- Division of Reproductive and Development Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97201, United States.
| | - K Phu
- Division of Reproductive and Development Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
| | - A Kim
- Division of Reproductive and Development Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
| | - A P Reddy
- Division of Reproductive and Development Science, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
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Abstract
Aggression and violence represent a significant public health concern and a clinical challenge for the mental healthcare provider. A great deal has been revealed regarding the neurobiology of violence and aggression, and an integration of this body of knowledge will ultimately serve to advance clinical diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. We will review here the latest findings regarding the neurobiology of aggression and violence. First, we will introduce the construct of aggression, with a focus on issues related to its heterogeneity, as well as the importance of refining the aggression phenotype in order to reduce pathophysiologic variability. Next we will examine the neuroanatomy of aggression and violence, focusing on regional volumes, functional studies, and interregional connectivity. Significant emphasis will be on the amygdala, as well as amygdala-frontal circuitry. Then we will turn our attention to the neurochemistry and molecular genetics of aggression and violence, examining the extensive findings on the serotonergic system, as well as the growing literature on the dopaminergic and vasopressinergic systems. We will also address the contribution of steroid hormones, namely, cortisol and testosterone. Finally, we will summarize these findings with a focus on reconciling inconsistencies and potential clinical implications; and, then we will suggest areas of focus for future directions in the field.
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60
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Dettmer AM, Suomi SJ. Nonhuman primate models of neuropsychiatric disorders: influences of early rearing, genetics, and epigenetics. ILAR J 2015; 55:361-70. [PMID: 25225312 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilu025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This report reviews the scientific literature from the past several decades that focuses on nonhuman primates (NHPs) as models of neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety, and alcoholism. In particular, we highlight the approaches, advantages, and disadvantages of the rearing, genetic, and epigenetic methodologies behind these studies as a means of evaluating the application of these methods in assessing disorders in NHPs as models of human disease. Finally, we describe the contributions the NHP studies have made to neuropsychiatric research and areas for future research.
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61
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Golub MS, Hogrefe CE. Fetal iron deficiency and genotype influence emotionality in infant rhesus monkeys. J Nutr 2015; 145:647-53. [PMID: 25733484 PMCID: PMC4336538 DOI: 10.3945/jn.114.201798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anemia during the third trimester of fetal development affects one-third of the pregnancies in the United States and has been associated with postnatal behavioral outcomes. This study examines how fetal iron deficiency (ID) interacts with the fetal monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) genotype. MAOA metabolizes monoamine neurotransmitters. MAOA polymorphisms in humans affect temperament and modify the influence of early adverse environments on later behavior. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to advance translation of developmental ID research in animal models by taking into account genetic factors that influence outcomes in human populations. METHODS Male infant rhesus monkeys 3-4 mo old born to mothers fed an ID (10 ppm iron) diet were compared with controls (100 ppm iron). Infant monkeys with high- or low-transcription rate MAOA polymorphisms were equally distributed between diet groups. Behavioral responses to a series of structured experiences were recorded during a 25-h separation of the infants from their mothers. RESULTS Infant monkeys with low-transcription MAOA polymorphisms more clearly demonstrated the following ID effects suggested in earlier studies: a 4% smaller head circumference, a 39% lower cortisol response to social separation, a 129% longer engagement with novel visual stimuli, and 33% lesser withdrawal in response to a human intruder. The high MAOA genotype ID monkeys demonstrated other ID effects: less withdrawal and emotionality after social separation and lower "fearful" ratings. CONCLUSION MAOA × ID interactions support the role of monoamine neurotransmitters in prenatal ID effects in rhesus monkeys and the potential involvement of common human polymorphisms in determining the pattern of neurobehavioral effects produced by inadequate prenatal nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Casey E Hogrefe
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
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Sleep patterns in male juvenile monkeys are influenced by gestational iron deprivation and monoamine oxidase A genotype. Br J Nutr 2015; 112:1478-83. [PMID: 25351859 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114514002451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Individual differences in sleep patterns of children may have developmental origins. In the present study, two factors known to influence behavioural development, monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) genotype and prenatal Fe-deficient (ID) diet, were examined for their influences on sleep patterns in juvenile rhesus monkeys. Sleep patterns were assessed based on a threshold for inactivity as recorded by activity monitors. Pregnant monkeys were fed diets containing either 100 parts per million (ppm) Fe (Fe sufficient, IS) or 10 ppm Fe (ID). At 3-4 months of age, male offspring were genotyped for polymorphisms of the MAOA gene that lead to high or low transcription. At 1 and 2 years of age, sleep patterns were assessed. Several parameters of sleep architecture changed with age. At 1 year of age, monkeys with the low-MAOA genotype demonstrated a trend towards more sleep episodes at night compared with those with the high-MAOA genotype. When monkeys reached 2 years of age, prenatal ID reversed this trend; ID in the low-MAOA group resulted in sleep fragmentation, more awakenings at night and more sleep episodes during the day when compared with prenatal IS in this genotype. The ability to consolidate sleep during the dark cycle was disrupted by prenatal ID, specifically in monkeys with the low-MAOA genotype.
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63
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Patterns of genetic variation and the role of selection in HTR1A and HTR1B in macaques (Macaca). BMC Genet 2014; 15:116. [PMID: 25376878 PMCID: PMC4228068 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-014-0116-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Research has increasingly highlighted the role of serotonin in behavior. However, few researchers have examined serotonin in an evolutionary context, although such research could provide insight into the evolution of important behaviors. The genus Macaca represents a useful model to address this, as this genus shows a wide range of behavioral variation. In addition, many genetic features of the macaque serotonin system are similar to those of humans, and as common models in biomedical research, knowledge of the genetic variation and evolution of serotonin functioning in macaques are particularly relevant for studies of human evolution. Here, we examine the role of selection in the macaque serotonin system by comparing patterns of genetic variation for two genes that code for two types of serotonin receptors – HTR1A and HTR1B – across five species of macaques. Results The pattern of variation is significantly different for HTR1A compared to HTR1B. Specifically, there is an increase in between-species variation compared to within-species variation for HTR1A. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that portions of HTR1A show an elevated level of nonsynonymous substitutions. Together these analyses are indicative of positive selection acting on HTR1A, but not HTR1B. Furthermore, the haplotype network for HTR1A is inconsistent with the species tree, potentially due to both deep coalescence and selection. Conclusions The results of this study indicate distinct evolutionary histories for HTR1A and HTR1B, with HTR1A showing evidence of selection and a high level of divergence among species, a factor which may have an impact on biomedical research that uses these species as models. The wide genetic variation of HTR1A may also explain some of the species differences in behavior, although further studies on the phenotypic effect of the sequenced polymorphisms are needed to confirm this. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-014-0116-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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He Y, Hogrefe CE, Grapov D, Palazoglu M, Fiehn O, Turck CW, Golub MS. Identifying individual differences of fluoxetine response in juvenile rhesus monkeys by metabolite profiling. Transl Psychiatry 2014; 4:e478. [PMID: 25369145 PMCID: PMC4259988 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2014.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Revised: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluoxetine is the only psychopharmacological agent approved for depression by the US Food and Drug Administration for children and is commonly used therapeutically in a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders. Therapeutic response shows high individual variability, and severe side effects have been observed. In the current study we set out to identify biomarkers of response to fluoxetine as well as biomarkers that correlate with impulsivity, a measure of reward delay behavior and potential side effect of the drug, in juvenile male rhesus monkeys. The study group was also genotyped for polymorphisms of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), a gene that has been associated with psychiatric disorders. We used peripheral metabolite profiling of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from animals treated daily with fluoxetine or vehicle for one year. Fluoxetine response metabolite profiles and metabolite/reward delay behavior associations were evaluated using multivariate analysis. Our analyses identified a set of plasma and CSF metabolites that distinguish fluoxetine- from vehicle-treated animals and metabolites that correlate with impulsivity. Some metabolites displayed an interaction between fluoxetine and MAOA genotype. The identified metabolite biomarkers belong to pathways that have important functions in central nervous system physiology. Biomarkers of response to fluoxetine in the normally functioning brain of juvenile nonhuman primates may aid in finding predictors of response to treatment in young psychiatric populations and in progress toward the realization of a precision medicine approach in the area of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y He
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - C E Hogrefe
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - D Grapov
- NIH West Coast Metabolomics Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - M Palazoglu
- NIH West Coast Metabolomics Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - O Fiehn
- NIH West Coast Metabolomics Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - C W Turck
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany,Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstrasse 2, Munich, D-80804, Germany E-mail:
| | - M S Golub
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA,Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. E-mail:
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Reichl C, Kaess M, Resch F, Brunner R. [The role of genotype in the intergenerational transmission of experiences of childhood adversity]. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR KINDER-UND JUGENDPSYCHIATRIE UND PSYCHOTHERAPIE 2014; 42:349-59. [PMID: 25163997 DOI: 10.1024/1422-4917/a000310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of childhood abuse and maltreatment is estimated to lie at about 15% in the overall German population. Previous research suggested that about one third of all individuals who had experienced childhood adversity subsequently maltreated their own children or responded insensitively to their children's needs. Empirical studies imply that interindividual differences in the responsiveness to childhood adversity can partially be explained by gene-environment interactions. This article discusses the potential interplay of genes and environment in the context of transmitting maltreating behavior and (in)sensitive parenting against the background of current challenges in genetic research. Selected studies on gene × environment interactions are presented and relevant gene polymorphisms are identified. Overall, previous studies reported interactions between polymorphisms of the serotonergic, dopaminergic, oxytocin-related, and arginine vasopressin-related systems and childhood experiences of care and abuse in the prediction of social behaviors during mother-child interactions. The results indicate a differential susceptibility toward both negative and positive environments which is dependent on genetic characteristics. Future research should thus investigate the effects of children's presumed risk gene variants toward negative as well as positive parenting. This could contribute to a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the intergenerational transmission of abusive and beneficial parenting behavior and help to avoid false stigmatizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Reichl
- Sektion Störungen der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
| | - Michael Kaess
- Sektion Störungen der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
| | - Franz Resch
- Sektion Störungen der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
| | - Romuald Brunner
- Sektion Störungen der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
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Fluoxetine: juvenile pharmacokinetics in a nonhuman primate model. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:4041-7. [PMID: 24700388 PMCID: PMC4176515 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3537-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine is the only psychopharmacological agent approved for use in children. While short-term studies of side effects have been performed, long-term consequences for brain development are not known. Such studies can be performed in appropriate animal models if doses modeling therapeutic use in children are known. OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to identify a daily dose of fluoxetine in juvenile monkeys which would result in serum fluoxetine and norfluoxetine concentrations in the therapeutic range for children. METHODS Juvenile (2.5-year-old rhesus monkeys, n = 6) received single administration of doses of 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg day fluoxetine on a background of chronic dosing at an intermediate level to provide steady-state conditions to model therapeutic administration. Using nonlinear modeling, standard pharmacokinetic parameters were derived. Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine neurotransmitters were assayed to confirm the pharmacological effects. RESULTS Dose-dependent area under the curve (AUC) and C max values were seen, while T max and absorption/elimination half-lives were minimally influenced by dose. A dosage of 2 mg/kg day given over a 14-week period led to steady-state serum concentrations of active agent (fluoxetine + norfluoxetine) similar to those recorded from drug monitoring studies in children. Cisternal cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of serotonin increased significantly over the 14-week period, while concentrations of the serotonin metabolite (5-HIAA) were lower but not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS A dose of 2 mg/kg day fluoxetine in juvenile rhesus monkeys provides an internal dose similar to therapeutic use in children and will help establish a valuable animal model for understanding fluoxetine's therapeutic and potential adverse effects in children.
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Liu H, Li Y, Guo G. Gene by Social-Environment Interaction for Youth Delinquency and Violence: Thirty-Nine Aggression-related Genes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 93:881-903. [PMID: 25755300 DOI: 10.1093/sf/sou086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Complex human traits are likely to be affected by many environmental and genetic factors, and the interactions among them. However, previous gene-environment interaction (G×E) studies have typically focused on one or only a few genetic variants at a time. To provide a broader view of G×E, this study examines the relationship between 403 genetic variants from 39 genes and youth delinquency and violence. We find evidence that low social control is associated with greater genetic risk for delinquency and violence and high/moderate social control with smaller genetic risk for delinquency and violence. Our findings are consistent with prior G×E studies based on a small number of genetic variants, and, more importantly, we show that these findings still hold when a large number of genetic variants are considered simultaneously. A key implication of these findings is that the expression of multiple genes related to delinquency depends on the social environment: gene expression is likely to be amplified in low-social-control environments but, tends to be suppressed in high/moderate-social-control environments. This study not only deepens our understanding of how the social environment shapes individual behavior, but also provides important conceptual and methodological insights for future G×E research on complex human traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hexuan Liu
- Department of Sociology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; Carolina Population Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Sociology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Guang Guo
- Department of Sociology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; Carolina Population Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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68
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Abstract
The disciplines of developmental psychopathology and behavior genetics are concerned with many of the same questions about the etiology and course of normal and abnormal behavior and about the factors that promote typical development despite the presence of risk. The goal of this paper is to summarize how research in behavior genetics has shed light on questions that are central to developmental psychopathology. We briefly review the origins of behavior genetics, summarize the findings that have been gleaned from several decades of quantitative and molecular genetics research, and describe future directions for research that will delineate gene function as well as pathways from genes to brain to behavior. The importance of environmental contributions, at both genetic and epigenetic levels, will be discussed. We conclude that behavior genetics has made significant contributions to developmental psychopathology by documenting the interplay among risk and protective factors at multiple levels of the organism, by clarifying the causal status of risk exposures, and by identifying factors that account for change and stability in psychopathology. As the tools to identify gene function become increasingly sophisticated, and as behavioral geneticists become increasingly interdisciplinary in their scope, the field is poised to make ever greater contributions to our understanding of typical and atypical development.
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69
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Abstract
Because of their strong similarities to humans across physiologic, developmental, behavioral, immunologic, and genetic levels, nonhuman primates are essential models for a wide spectrum of biomedical research. But unlike other animal models, nonhuman primates possess substantial outbred genetic variation, reducing statistical power and potentially confounding interpretation of results in research studies. Although unknown genetic variation is a hindrance in studies that allocate animals randomly, taking genetic variation into account in study design affords an opportunity to transform the way that nonhuman primates are used in biomedical research. New understandings of how the function of individual genes in rhesus macaques mimics that seen in humans are greatly advancing the rhesus macaques utility as research models, but epistatic interaction, epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, and the intricacies of gene networks limit model development. We are now entering a new era of nonhuman primate research, brought on by the proliferation and rapid expansion of genomic data. Already the cost of a rhesus macaque genome is dwarfed by its purchase and husbandry costs, and complete genomic datasets will inevitably encompass each rhesus macaque used in biomedical research. Advancing this outcome is paramount. It represents an opportunity to transform the way animals are assigned and used in biomedical research and to develop new models of human disease. The genetic and genomic revolution brings with it a paradigm shift for nonhuman primates and new mandates on how nonhuman primates are used in biomedical research.
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Relationships between androgens, serotonin gene expression and innervation in male macaques. Neuroscience 2014; 274:341-56. [PMID: 24909896 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.05.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Androgen administration to castrated individuals was purported to decrease activity in the serotonin system. However, we found that androgen administration to castrated male macaques increased fenfluramine-induced serotonin release as reflected by increased prolactin secretion. In this study, we sought to define the effects of androgens and aromatase inhibition on serotonin-related gene expression in the dorsal raphe, as well as serotonergic innervation of the LC. Male Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) were castrated for 5-7 months and then treated for 3 months with (1) placebo, (2) testosterone (T), (3) dihydrotestosterone (DHT; non-aromatizable androgen) and ATD (steroidal aromatase inhibitor), or (4) Flutamide (FLUT; androgen antagonist) and ATD (n=5/group). This study reports the expression of serotonin-related genes: tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2), serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) and the serotonin 1A autoreceptor (5HT1A) using digoxigenin-ISH and image analysis. To examine the production of serotonin and the serotonergic innervation of a target area underlying arousal and vigilance, we measured the serotonin axon density entering the LC with ICC and image analysis. TPH2 and SERT expression were significantly elevated in T- and DHT + ATD-treated groups over placebo- and FLUT + ATD-treated groups in the dorsal raphe (p < 0.007). There was no difference in 5HT1A expression between the groups. There was a significant decrease in the pixel area of serotonin axons and in the number of varicosities in the LC across the treatment groups with T > placebo > DHT + ATD = FLUT + ATD treatments. Comparatively, T- and DHT + ATD-treated groups had elevated TPH2 and SERT gene expression, but the DHT + ATD group had markedly suppressed serotonin axon density relative to the T-treated group. Further comparison with previously published data indicated that TPH2 and SERT expression reflected yawning and basal prolactin secretion. The serotonin axon density in the LC agreed with the area under the fenfluramine-stimulated prolactin curve, providing a morphological basis for the pharmacological results. This suggested that androgen activity increased TPH2 and SERT gene expression but, aromatase activity, and neural production of estradiol (E), may subserve axonal serotonin and determination of the compartment acted upon by fenfluramine. In summary, androgens stimulated serotonin-related gene expression, but aromatase inhibition dissociated gene expression from the serotonin innervation of the LC terminal field and fenfluramine-stimulated prolactin secretion.
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A functional polymorphism of the MAOA gene modulates spontaneous brain activity in pons. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:243280. [PMID: 24971323 PMCID: PMC4055575 DOI: 10.1155/2014/243280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of a functional polymorphism of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene on spontaneous brain activity in healthy male adolescents. METHODS Thirty-one healthy male adolescents with the low-activity MAOA genotype (MAOA-L) and 25 healthy male adolescents with the high-activity MAOA genotype (MAOA-H) completed the 11-item Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) questionnaire and were subjected to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) of the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal was calculated using REST software. ALFF data were related to BIS scores and compared between genotype groups. RESULTS Compared with the MAOA-H group, the MAOA-L group showed significantly lower ALFFs in the pons. There was a significant correlation between the BIS scores and the ALFF values in the pons for MAOA-L group, but not for the MAOA-H group. Further regression analysis showed a significant genotype by ALFF values interaction effect on BIS scores. CONCLUSIONS Lower spontaneous brain activity in the pons of the MAOA-L male adolescents may provide a neural mechanism by which boys with the MAOA-L genotype confers risk for impulsivity and aggression.
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AVPR1A Variation in Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Population Differences and Association with Behavioral Style. INT J PRIMATOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-013-9747-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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73
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Prenatal iron deficiency and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) polymorphisms: combined risk for later cognitive performance in rhesus monkeys. GENES AND NUTRITION 2014; 9:381. [PMID: 24402517 DOI: 10.1007/s12263-013-0381-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene polymorphisms resulting in high and low transcription rates are associated with individual differences in reward efficacy and response inhibition. Iron deficiency (ID) is the most frequent single-nutrient deficiency worldwide, and prenatal ID has recently been shown to carry a risk for lower mental development scores in infants. In this study, a potential interaction of MAOA genotype and prenatal ID was studied in young male rhesus monkeys. Cognitive tasks, including problem solving, responsiveness to reward and attention, were used to characterize the potential interaction of these two fetal risks. ID was induced by feeding rhesus monkey dams an iron-deficient (10 ppm, ID) or an iron-sufficient (100 ppm, IS) diet during gestation (n = 10/group). Subgroups of the ID and IS diet offspring had low-MAOA or high-MAOA transcription rate polymorphisms. ID combined with low-MAOA genotype showed distinctive effects on reward preference and problem solving while ID in hi-MAOA juveniles modified response inhibition. Given the incidence of ID and MAOA polymorphisms in humans, this interaction could be a significant determinant of cognitive performance.
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Abstract
Aggressive behavior can have adaptive value in certain environmental contexts, but when extreme or executed inappropriately, can also lead to maladaptive outcomes. Neurogenetic studies performed in nonhuman primates have shown that genetic variation that impacts reward sensitivity, impulsivity, and anxiety can contribute to individual differences in aggressive behavior. Genetic polymorphisms in the coding or promoter regions of the Mu-Opioid Receptor (OPRM1), Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH), Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA), Dopamine D4 Receptor (DRD4), and Serotonin Transporter (SLC6A4) genes have been shown to be functionally similar in humans and rhesus macaques and have been demonstrated to contribute to individual differences in aggression. This body of literature suggests mechanisms by which genetic variation that promotes aggressivity could simultaneously increase evolutionary success while making modern humans more vulnerable to psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina S Barr
- Section of Comparative Behavioral Genomics, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, NIH/NIAAA, Rockville, MD, USA,
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Shattuck MR, Satkoski-Trask J, Deinard A, Tito RY, Smith DG, Malhi RS. The evolutionary history of SLC6A4 and the role of plasticity in Macaca. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2013; 153:605-16. [PMID: 24375078 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin has been repeatedly indicated as a biological marker of behavior. In particular, the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4, has been the focus of a large body of research. Interestingly, both rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and humans have independently evolved a number of shared polymorphisms for this gene, which is indicative of parallel evolution between the two species. However, little is known about the evolution of this gene, particularly within macaques. Although there are several hypotheses as to the adaptive values of various polymorphisms, few authors have gone beyond theoretical discussion. Here, we examined the genetic variation in SLC6A4 within and between several species of macaques and investigate whether selection has played a significant role in its evolutionary history. In addition, we assayed the promoter region polymorphism, 5-HTTLPR, which is known to play a significant role in regulating both serotonin turnover and behavior. In examining the distribution of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, we identified significant differences between Indian and Chinese populations of Macaca mulatta; furthermore, we discovered its presence in Macaca cyclopis, which has not been described before. In regard to the evolutionary history of SLC6A4, we found little evidence for selection and conclude that SLC6A4 largely evolved through neutral processes, possibly due to its potential role in regulating behavioral plasticity. However, we also found very low levels of linkage between the coding regions and 5-HTTLPR. Because we limited evolutionary analyses to the coding regions, it is possible that the promoter region shows a distinct evolutionary history from SLC6A4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena R Shattuck
- Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801
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76
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Tung J, Gilad Y. Social environmental effects on gene regulation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2013; 70:4323-39. [PMID: 23685902 PMCID: PMC3809334 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1357-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Revised: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Social environmental conditions, particularly the experience of social adversity, have long been connected with health and mortality in humans and other social mammals. Efforts to identify the physiological basis for these effects have historically focused on their neurological, endocrinological, and immunological consequences. Recently, this search has been extended to understanding the role of gene regulation in sensing, mediating, and determining susceptibility to social environmental variation. Studies in laboratory rodents, captive primates, and human populations have revealed correlations between social conditions and the regulation of a large number of genes, some of which are likely causal. Gene expression responses to the social environment are, in turn, mediated by a set of underlying regulatory mechanisms, of which epigenetic marks are the best studied to date. Importantly, a number of genes involved in the response to the social environment are also associated with susceptibility to other external stressors, as well as certain diseases. Hence, gene regulatory studies are a promising avenue for understanding, and potentially developing strategies to address, the effects of social adversity on health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Tung
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Box 90383, Durham, NC, 27708, USA,
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77
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Kohl C, Riccio O, Grosse J, Zanoletti O, Fournier C, Klampfl SM, Schmidt MV, Sandi C. The interplay of conditional NCAM-knockout and chronic unpredictable stress leads to increased aggression in mice. Stress 2013; 16:647-54. [PMID: 24010949 DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2013.840824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is a key regulator of brain plasticity. Substantial evidence indicates that NCAM is down-regulated by exposure to sustained stress and chronic stress seems to lead to increased aggression. In addition, constitutional NCAM deletion in mice has been shown to lead to increased intermale aggression and altered emotionality Forebrain-specific postnatal NCAM knockout was previously shown to impair cognitive function, particularly when animals were exposed to subchronic stress, but the effects on emotional and social behavior remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the potential interplay of a forebrain-specific postnatal NCAM deletion and exposure to different lengths of repeated stress (i.e. subchronic: 14 days; chronic: 29 days) on aggressive and emotional behavior. Our results show that postnatal deletion of NCAM in the forebrain leads to increased aggression and altered emotionality depending on the duration of stress, whereas conditional NCAM knockout has no basal impact on these behaviors. These findings support the involvement of NCAM in the regulation of emotional and aggressive behaviors, suggesting that diminished NCAM expression might be a critical vulnerability factor for the development of these behavioral alterations under repeated exposure to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Kohl
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , EPFL, Lausanne , Switzerland and
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78
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Reiss D, Leve LD, Neiderhiser JM. How genes and the social environment moderate each other. Am J Public Health 2013; 103 Suppl 1:S111-21. [PMID: 23927504 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2013.301408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Recent research has suggested that the social environment can moderate the expression of genetic influences on health and that genetic influences can shape an individual's sensitivity to the social environment. Evidence supports 4 major mechanisms: genes can influence an individual's response to environmental stress, genes may enhance an individual's sensitivity to both favorable and adverse environments, inherited characteristics may better fit with some environments than with others, and inherited capabilities may only become manifest in challenging or responsive environments. Further progress depends on better recognition of patterns of gene-environment interaction, improved methods of assessing the environment and its impact on genetic mechanisms, the use of appropriately designed laboratory studies, identification of heritable differences in an individual before environmental moderation occurs, and clarification of the timing of the impact of social and genetic moderation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Reiss
- David Reiss is with the Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Leslie D. Leve is with the University of Oregon, Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services, and the Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene. Jenae M. Neiderhiser is with the Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
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Abstract
Numerous studies link decreased serotonin metabolites with increased impulsive and aggressive traits. However, although pharmacological depletion of serotonin is associated with increased aggression, interventions aimed at directly decreasing serotonin neuron activity have supported the opposite association. Furthermore, it is not clear if altered serotonin activity during development may contribute to some of the observed associations. Here, we used two pharmacogenetic approaches in transgenic mice to selectively and reversibly reduce the firing of serotonin neurons in behaving animals. Conditional overexpression of the serotonin 1A receptor (Htr1a) in serotonin neurons showed that a chronic reduction in serotonin neuron firing was associated with heightened aggression. Overexpression of Htr1a in adulthood, but not during development, was sufficient to increase aggression. Rapid suppression of serotonin neuron firing by agonist treatment of mice expressing Htr1a exclusively in serotonin neurons also led to increased aggression. These data confirm a role of serotonin activity in setting thresholds for aggressive behavior and support a direct association between low levels of serotonin homeostasis and increased aggression.
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Monoamine Neurotransmitter Metabolites in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of a Group of Hybrid Baboons (Papio hamadryas × P. anubis). INT J PRIMATOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-013-9698-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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81
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Runcie DE, Wiedmann RT, Archie EA, Altmann J, Wray GA, Alberts SC, Tung J. Social environment influences the relationship between genotype and gene expression in wild baboons. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20120345. [PMID: 23569293 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in the social environment can have profound effects on survival and reproduction in wild social mammals. However, we know little about the degree to which these effects are influenced by genetic differences among individuals, and conversely, the degree to which social environmental variation mediates genetic reaction norms. To better understand these relationships, we investigated the potential for dominance rank, social connectedness and group size to modify the effects of genetic variation on gene expression in the wild baboons of the Amboseli basin. We found evidence for a number of gene-environment interactions (GEIs) associated with variation in the social environment, encompassing social environments experienced in adulthood as well as persistent effects of early life social environment. Social connectedness, maternal dominance rank and group size all interacted with genotype to influence gene expression in at least one sex, and either in early life or in adulthood. These results suggest that social and behavioural variation, akin to other factors such as age and sex, can impact the genotype-phenotype relationship. We conclude that GEIs mediated by the social environment are important in the evolution and maintenance of individual differences in wild social mammals, including individual differences in responses to social stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Runcie
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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82
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Park TW, Park YH, Kwon HJ, Lim MH. Association between TPH2 gene polymorphisms and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Korean children. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2013; 17:301-6. [PMID: 23461725 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2012.0376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder of the school-age population. ADHD is a familial disorder and genetic studies estimate heritability at 80%-90%. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the genetic type and alleles for the TPH2 gene in Korean children with ADHD. The sample consisted of 142 ADHD children and 139 control children. We diagnosed ADHD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition). ADHD symptoms were evaluated with Conners' Parent Rating Scales and Dupaul Parent ADHD Rating Scales. Blood samples were taken from the 281 subjects, DNA was extracted from blood lymphocytes, and polymerase chain reaction was performed for TPH2 polymorphism. Alleles and genotype frequencies were compared using the chi-square test. We compared the allele and genotype frequencies of TPH2 gene polymorphism in the ADHD and control groups. This study showed that there was a significant correlation among the frequencies of the rs11179027 (odd ratio [OR]=2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.13-3.97, p=0.020) and rs1843809 (OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.24-0.97, p=0.040) of alleles of TPH2, but the final conclusions are not definite. Follow-up studies with larger patient or pure subgroups are expected. These results suggested that TPH2 might be related to ADHD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Won Park
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Chonju, South Korea
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83
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Peripuberty stress leads to abnormal aggression, altered amygdala and orbitofrontal reactivity and increased prefrontal MAOA gene expression. Transl Psychiatry 2013; 3:e216. [PMID: 23321813 PMCID: PMC3566724 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2012.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Although adverse early life experiences have been found to increase lifetime risk to develop violent behaviors, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these long-term effects remain unclear. We present a novel animal model for pathological aggression induced by peripubertal exposure to stress with face, construct and predictive validity. We show that male rats submitted to fear-induction experiences during the peripubertal period exhibit high and sustained rates of increased aggression at adulthood, even against unthreatening individuals, and increased testosterone/corticosterone ratio. They also exhibit hyperactivity in the amygdala under both basal conditions (evaluated by 2-deoxy-glucose autoradiography) and after a resident-intruder (RI) test (evaluated by c-Fos immunohistochemistry), and hypoactivation of the medial orbitofrontal (MO) cortex after the social challenge. Alterations in the connectivity between the orbitofrontal cortex and the amygdala were linked to the aggressive phenotype. Increased and sustained expression levels of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene were found in the prefrontal cortex but not in the amygdala of peripubertally stressed animals. They were accompanied by increased activatory acetylation of histone H3, but not H4, at the promoter of the MAOA gene. Treatment with an MAOA inhibitor during adulthood reversed the peripuberty stress-induced antisocial behaviors. Beyond the characterization and validation of the model, we present novel data highlighting changes in the serotonergic system in the prefrontal cortex-and pointing at epigenetic control of the MAOA gene-in the establishment of the link between peripubertal stress and later pathological aggression. Our data emphasize the impact of biological factors triggered by peripubertal adverse experiences on the emergence of violent behaviors.
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84
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Latham KE, Sapienza C, Engel N. The epigenetic lorax: gene-environment interactions in human health. Epigenomics 2012; 4:383-402. [PMID: 22920179 DOI: 10.2217/epi.12.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, we have witnessed an explosion of information on genetic factors underlying common human diseases and disorders. This 'human genomics' information revolution has occurred as a backdrop to a rapid increase in the rates of many human disorders and diseases. For example, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, asthma, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have increased at rates that cannot be due to changes in the genetic structure of the population, and are difficult to ascribe to changes in diagnostic criteria or ascertainment. A likely cause of the increased incidence of these disorders is increased exposure to environmental factors that modify gene function. Many environmental factors that have epidemiological association with common human disorders are likely to exert their effects through epigenetic alterations. This general mechanism of gene-environment interaction poses special challenges for individuals, educators, scientists and public policy makers in defining, monitoring and mitigating exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith E Latham
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
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85
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Karere GM, Sullivan E, Kinnally EL, Capitanio JP, Lyons LA. Enhancing genotyping of MAOA-LPR and 5-HTT-LPR in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). J Med Primatol 2012; 41:407-11. [PMID: 23078595 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic variation in monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and serotonin transporter (5-HTT)-linked polymorphic regions (LPR) is associated with neuropsychiatric behavior. METHODS We genotyped 37 macaques using conventional PCR product gel fractionation and by capillary electrophoresis of multiplexed amplicons and compared the data. RESULTS Genotype concordance was 97% and 95% for MAOA-LPR and 5-HTT-LPR, respectively. Capillary electrophoresis was more sensitive and cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS Multiplexing MAOA-LPR and 5-HTT-LPR will enhance the genotyping of large sample sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genesio M Karere
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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86
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Ferguson B, Hunter JE, Luty J, Street SL, Woodall A, Grant KA. Genetic load is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation in macaques. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2012; 11:949-57. [PMID: 22998353 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2012.00856.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis pathway is associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia and alcohol abuse. Studies have demonstrated an association between HPA axis dysfunction and gene variants within the cortisol, serotonin and opioid signaling pathways. We characterized polymorphisms in genes linked to these three neurotransmitter pathways and tested their potential interactions with HPA axis activity, as measured by dexamethasone (DEX) suppression response. We determined the percent DEX suppression of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in 62 unrelated, male rhesus macaques. While DEX suppression of cortisol was robust amongst 87% of the subjects, ACTH suppression levels were broadly distributed from -21% to 66%. Thirty-seven monkeys from the high and low ends of the ACTH suppression distribution (18 'high' and 19 'low' animals) were genotyped at selected polymorphisms in five unlinked genes (rhCRH, rhTPH2, rhMAOA, rhSLC6A4 and rhOPRM). Associations were identified between three variants (rhCRH-2610C>T, rhTPH2 2051A>C and rh5-HTTLPR) and level of DEX suppression of ACTH. In addition, a significant additive effect of the 'risk' genotypes from these three loci was detected, with an increasing number of 'risk' genotypes associated with a blunted ACTH response (P = 0.0009). These findings suggest that assessment of multiple risk alleles in serotonin and cortisol signaling pathway genes may better predict risk for HPA axis dysregulation and associated psychiatric disorders than the evaluation of single gene variants alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ferguson
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - J E Hunter
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - J Luty
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - S L Street
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - A Woodall
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - K A Grant
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA.,Behavioral Neurosciences Department, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
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87
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Reif A, Weber H, Domschke K, Klauke B, Baumann C, Jacob CP, Ströhle A, Gerlach AL, Alpers GW, Pauli P, Hamm A, Kircher T, Arolt V, Wittchen HU, Binder EB, Erhardt A, Deckert J. Meta-analysis argues for a female-specific role of MAOA-uVNTR in panic disorder in four European populations. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2012; 159B:786-93. [PMID: 22911667 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Panic disorder (PD) is a common mental disorder, ranking highest among the anxiety disorders in terms of disease burden. The pathogenesis of PD is multifactorial with significant heritability, however only a few convincing risk genes have been reported thus far. One of the most promising candidates is the gene encoding monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), due to its key role in monoaminergic neurotransmission, established validity of animal models, and the efficacy of MAO inhibitors in the treatment of PD. A promoter repeat polymorphism in MAOA (MAOA-uVNTR) impacts on gene expression; high-expression alleles have been reported to increase the risk for PD. To further scrutinize the role of this polymorphism, we performed a formal meta-analysis on MAOA-uVNTR and PD using original data from four published European (Estonian, German, Italian, and Polish) samples and genotypes from three hitherto unpublished German PD samples, resulting in the largest (n = 1,115 patients and n = 1,260 controls) genetic study on PD reported to date. In the unpublished samples, evidence for association of MAOA-uVNTR with PD was obtained in one of the three samples. Results of the meta-analysis revealed a significant and female-specific association when calculating an allelic model (OR = 1.23, P = 0.006). This sex-specific effect might be explained by a gene-dose effect causing higher MAOA expression in females. Taken together, our meta-analysis therefore argues that high-expression MAOA-uVNTR alleles significantly increase the risk towards PD in women. However, epigenetic mechanisms might obfuscate the genetic association, calling for ascertainment in larger samples as well as assessment of the MAOA promoter methylation status therein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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88
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Abstract
Aggression mediates competition for food, mating partners, and habitats and, among social animals, establishes stable dominance hierarchies. In humans, abnormal aggression is a hallmark of neuropsychiatric disorders and can be elicited by environmental factors acting on an underlying genetic susceptibility. Identifying the genetic architecture that predisposes to aggressive behavior in people is challenging because of difficulties in quantifying the phenotype, genetic heterogeneity, and uncontrolled environmental conditions. Studies on mice have identified single-gene mutations that result in hyperaggression, contingent on genetic background. These studies can be complemented by systems genetics approaches in Drosophila melanogaster, in which mutational analyses together with genome-wide transcript analyses, artificial selection studies, and genome-wide analysis of epistasis have revealed that a large segment of the genome contributes to the manifestation of aggressive behavior with widespread epistatic interactions. Comparative genomic analyses based on the principle of evolutionary conservation are needed to enable a complete dissection of the neurogenetic underpinnings of this universal fitness trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert R H Anholt
- Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7617, USA.
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89
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Capitanio JP, Del Rosso LA, Calonder LA, Blozis SA, Penedo MCT. Behavioral effects of prenatal ketamine exposure in rhesus macaques are dependent on MAOA genotype. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2012; 20:173-80. [PMID: 22250657 PMCID: PMC3481859 DOI: 10.1037/a0026773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that is used in anesthetic, abuse, and therapeutic contexts. Recent evidence suggests that ketamine may affect not only glutamate systems, but may also act on receptors in the dopamine and serotonin systems. Because monoamine neurotransmitters play important trophic roles in prenatal development, we hypothesized that the behavioral consequences of prenatal exposure to ketamine may be moderated by genotype of the promoter in the monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) gene. Eighty-two infant rhesus monkeys were identified that had known dates of conception and exposures to ketamine during gestation. Animals were tested at 3-4 months of age on a battery of tests assessing responsiveness to maternal separation, recognition memory, and contact with novel objects. Animals were classified by putative activity levels for the MAOA genotype. The effects of prenatal ketamine exposure were seen only in the context of MAOA genotype. Greater exposure to ketamine resulted in increased activity, less willingness to perform in the memory task, and reduced emotionality and novel-object contact, but only for individuals with the low-activity genotype. Nearly all effects of ketamine were the result of first- and second-trimester exposure. MAOA genotype moderates the role of prenatal ketamine exposure at time points in gestation earlier than have been shown in past research, and is particularly evident for measures of emotionality. These results support the idea that ketamine's use might be best considered in light of individuals' genetic characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P. Capitanio
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis,California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis
| | - Laura A. Del Rosso
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis
| | - Laura A. Calonder
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis
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90
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Abstract
Addictions are common, chronic, and relapsing diseases that develop through a multistep process. The impact of addictions on morbidity and mortality is high worldwide. Twin studies have shown that the heritability of addictions ranges from 0.39 (hallucinogens) to 0.72 (cocaine). Twin studies indicate that genes influence each stage from initiation to addiction, although the genetic determinants may differ. Addictions are by definition the result of gene × environment interaction. These disorders, which are in part volitional, in part inborn, and in part determined by environmental experience, pose the full range of medical, genetic, policy, and moral challenges. Gene discovery is being facilitated by a variety of powerful approaches, but is in its infancy. It is not surprising that the genes discovered so far act in a variety of ways: via altered metabolism of drug (the alcohol and nicotine metabolic gene variants), via altered function of a drug receptor (the nicotinic receptor, which may alter affinity for nicotine but as discussed may also alter circuitry of reward), and via general mechanisms of addiction (genes such as monoamine oxidase A and the serotonin transporter that modulate stress response, emotion, and behavioral control). Addiction medicine today benefits from genetic studies that buttress the case for a neurobiologic origin of addictive behavior, and some general information on familially transmitted propensity that can be used to guide prevention. A few well-validated, specific predictors such as OPRM1, ADH1B, ALDH2, CHRNA5, and CYP26 have been identified and can provide some specific guidance, for example, to understand alcohol-related flushing and upper GI cancer risk (ADH1B and AKLDH2), variation in nicotine metabolism (CYP26), and, potentially, naltrexone treatment response (OPRM1). However, the genetic predictors available are few in number and account for only a small portion of the genetic variance in liability, and have not been integrated into clinical nosology or care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ducci
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine, Kings College, Box P063, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - David Goldman
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
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91
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Social environment is associated with gene regulatory variation in the rhesus macaque immune system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:6490-5. [PMID: 22493251 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1202734109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in the social environment is a fundamental component of many vertebrate societies. In humans and other primates, adverse social environments often translate into lasting physiological costs. The biological mechanisms associated with these effects are therefore of great interest, both for understanding the evolutionary impacts of social behavior and in the context of human health. However, large gaps remain in our understanding of the mechanisms that mediate these effects at the molecular level. Here we addressed these questions by leveraging the power of an experimental system that consisted of 10 social groups of female macaques, in which each individual's social status (i.e., dominance rank) could be experimentally controlled. Using this paradigm, we show that dominance rank results in a widespread, yet plastic, imprint on gene regulation, such that peripheral blood mononuclear cell gene expression data alone predict social status with 80% accuracy. We investigated the mechanistic basis of these effects using cell type-specific gene expression profiling and glucocorticoid resistance assays, which together contributed to rank effects on gene expression levels for 694 (70%) of the 987 rank-related genes. We also explored the possible contribution of DNA methylation levels to these effects, and identified global associations between dominance rank and methylation profiles that suggest epigenetic flexibility in response to status-related behavioral cues. Together, these results illuminate the importance of the molecular response to social conditions, particularly in the immune system, and demonstrate a key role for gene regulation in linking the social environment to individual physiology.
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92
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Golub MS, Hogrefe CE, Unger EL. Influence of prenatal iron deficiency and MAOA genotype on response to social challenge in rhesus monkey infants. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2012; 11:278-90. [PMID: 22340208 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2012.00772.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Social and emotional behaviors are known to be sensitive to both developmental iron deficiency (ID) and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene polymorphisms. In this study, male rhesus monkey infants deprived of dietary iron in utero were compared with iron sufficient (IS) controls (n = 10/group). Half of each group had low MAOA activity genotypes and half had high MAOA activity genotypes. A series of social response tests were conducted at 3-14 months of age. MAOA genotype influenced attention to a video of aggressive behavior, emotional expression (fear, grimace and sniff) in the social intruder test, social actions (displacement, grooming) in the social dyad test, and aggressive responses to a threatening picture. Interactions between MAOA and prenatal ID were seen in response to the aggressive video, in temperament ratings, in affiliative behavior in the social dyad test, in cortisol response in the social buffering test and in response to a social intruder and to pictures with social and nonsocial themes. In general, the effects of ID were dependent on MAOA genotype in terms of both direction and size of the effect. Nutrition/genotype interactions may shed new light on behavioral consequences of nutritional deprivation during brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Golub
- Department of Environmental Toxicology California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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93
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Kiser D, SteemerS B, Branchi I, Homberg JR. The reciprocal interaction between serotonin and social behaviour. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2012; 36:786-98. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2011] [Revised: 11/23/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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94
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Sethi D, Chen CP, Jing RY, Thakur ML, Wickstrom E. Fluorescent Peptide–PNA Chimeras for Imaging Monoamine Oxidase A mRNA in Neuronal Cells. Bioconjug Chem 2012; 23:158-63. [DOI: 10.1021/bc2004507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dalip Sethi
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, ‡Radiology, and §Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
| | - Chang-Po Chen
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, ‡Radiology, and §Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
| | - Rui-Yan Jing
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, ‡Radiology, and §Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
| | - Mathew L. Thakur
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, ‡Radiology, and §Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
| | - Eric Wickstrom
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, ‡Radiology, and §Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
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95
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Enge S, Fleischhauer M, Lesch KP, Reif A, Strobel A. Serotonergic modulation in executive functioning: Linking genetic variations to working memory performance. Neuropsychologia 2011; 49:3776-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2011] [Revised: 09/10/2011] [Accepted: 09/25/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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96
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Marmorstein NR, Hart D. Interactions Between MAOA Genotype and Receipt of Public Assistance: Predicting Change in Depressive Symptoms and Body Mass Index. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE 2011; 21:619-630. [PMID: 21949471 PMCID: PMC3178327 DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-7795.2010.00694.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Response to stress is determined in part by genetically-influenced regulation of the monoamine system. We examined the interaction of a stressor (receipt of public assistance) and a gene regulating the monoamine system (MAOA) in the prediction of change in adolescent depressive symptoms and body mass index (BMI). Participants were drawn from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health (AddHealth) genetically-informative subsample. We focused on males due to the fact that males only have one MAOA allele. Growth curve analyses were conducted to assess the association between public assistance, MAOA allele, and their interaction and the intercept and slope of depressive symptoms and BMI. The results indicated that among males, MAOA allele type interacted with receipt of public assistance in the prediction of rate of change in both depressive symptoms and BMI from early adolescence through early adulthood. Males with the short MAOA allele whose families received public assistance tended to experience increased growth in depressive symptoms and BMI. Implications of the findings for understanding the relations among stress, physiology, and development are discussed.
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97
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Sullivan EC, Mendoza SP, Capitanio JP. Similarity in temperament between mother and offspring rhesus monkeys: sex differences and the role of monoamine oxidase-a and serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism genotypes. Dev Psychobiol 2011; 53:549-63. [PMID: 21866539 PMCID: PMC3162344 DOI: 10.1002/dev.20594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Temperament is usually considered biologically based and largely inherited, however, the environment can shape the development of temperament. Allelic variation may confer differential sensitivity to early environment resulting in variations in temperament. Here we explore the relationship between measures of temperament in mothers and their first-born offspring and the role of genetic sensitivity in establishing the strength of these associations. Temperament ratings were conducted on 3- to 4-month-old rhesus monkeys after a 25-hr biobehavioral assessment. Factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure of temperament. Females assessed as infants have reproduced and their offspring have also been evaluated through the standardized testing paradigm. Canonical correlation analysis revealed statistically significant associations between factor scores of mothers and sons, but not mothers and daughters. Further, offspring possessing the high activity, "low risk," alleles of the rhMAOA-LPR or rh5-HTTLPR showed statistically significant canonical correlations, whereas those possessing other alleles did not, suggesting differential genetic sensitivity to the normative early experience of maternal temperament.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C Sullivan
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California, USA.
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98
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Neumann ID, Wegener G, Homberg JR, Cohen H, Slattery DA, Zohar J, Olivier JDA, Mathé AA. Animal models of depression and anxiety: What do they tell us about human condition? Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2011; 35:1357-75. [PMID: 21129431 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2010] [Revised: 10/24/2010] [Accepted: 11/19/2010] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
While modern neurobiology methods are necessary they are not sufficient to elucidate etiology and pathophysiology of affective disorders and develop new treatments. Achievement of these goals is contingent on applying cutting edge methods on appropriate disease models. In this review, the authors present four rodent models with good face-, construct-, and predictive-validity: the Flinders Sensitive rat line (FSL); the genetically "anxious" High Anxiety-like Behavior (HAB) line; the serotonin transporter knockout 5-HTT(-/-) rat and mouse lines; and the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) model induced by exposure to predator scent, that they have employed to investigate the nature of depression and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- I D Neumann
- Dept of Behavioural Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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99
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McGhee KE, Travis J. Early food and social environment affect certain behaviours but not female choice or male dominance in bluefin killifish. Anim Behav 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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100
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Mertins V, Schote AB, Hoffeld W, Griessmair M, Meyer J. Genetic susceptibility for individual cooperation preferences: the role of monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) in the voluntary provision of public goods. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20959. [PMID: 21698196 PMCID: PMC3116851 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2011] [Accepted: 05/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the context of social dilemmas, previous research has shown that human cooperation is mainly based on the social norm of conditional cooperation. While in most cases individuals behave according to such a norm, deviant behavior is no exception. Recent research further suggests that heterogeneity in social behavior might be associated with varying genetic predispositions. In this study, we investigated the relationship between individuals' behavior in a public goods experiment and the promoter-region functional repeat polymorphism in the monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA). In a dynamic setting of increasing information about others' contributions, we analyzed differences in two main components of conditional cooperation, namely the players' own contribution and their beliefs regarding the contribution of other players. We showed that there is a significant association between individuals' behavior in a repeated public goods game and MAOA. Our results suggest that male carriers of the low activity alleles cooperate significantly less than those carrying the high activity alleles given a situation where subjects had to rely on their innate beliefs about others' contributions. With increasing information about the others' cooperativeness, the genetic effect diminishes. Furthermore, significant opposing effects for female subjects carrying two low activity alleles were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Mertins
- Institute for Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Community (IAAEG), University of Trier, Trier, Germany.
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