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Chugani DC, Chugani HT, Wiznitzer M, Parikh S, Evans PA, Hansen RL, Nass R, Janisse JJ, Dixon-Thomas P, Behen M, Rothermel R, Parker JS, Kumar A, Muzik O, Edwards DJ, Hirtz D. Efficacy of Low-Dose Buspirone for Restricted and Repetitive Behavior in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Trial. J Pediatr 2016; 170:45-53.e1-4. [PMID: 26746121 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine safety and efficacy of the 5HT1A serotonin partial agonist buspirone on core autism and associated features in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). STUDY DESIGN Children 2-6 years of age with ASD (N = 166) were randomized to receive placebo or 2.5 or 5.0 mg of buspirone twice daily. The primary objective was to evaluate the effects of 24 weeks of buspirone on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) Composite Total Score. Secondary objectives included evaluating the effects of buspirone on social competence, repetitive behaviors, language, sensory dysfunction, and anxiety and to assess side effects. Positron emission tomography measures of tryptophan metabolism and blood serotonin concentrations were assessed as predictors of buspirone efficacy. RESULTS There was no difference in the ADOS Composite Total Score between baseline and 24 weeks among the 3 treatment groups (P = .400); however, the ADOS Restricted and Repetitive Behavior score showed a time-by-treatment effect (P = .006); the 2.5-mg buspirone group showed significant improvement (P = .003), whereas placebo and 5.0-mg buspirone groups showed no change. Children in the 2.5-mg buspirone group were more likely to improve if they had fewer foci of increased brain tryptophan metabolism on positron emission tomography (P = .018) or if they showed normal levels of blood serotonin (P = .044). Adverse events did not differ significantly among treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with 2.5 mg of buspirone in young children with ASD might be a useful adjunct therapy to target restrictive and repetitive behaviors in conjunction with behavioral interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00873509.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane C Chugani
- Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI.
| | - Harry T Chugani
- Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI; Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Max Wiznitzer
- Neuroscience Institute, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH
| | - Sumit Parikh
- Cleveland Clinic Neurogenetics & Metabolism, Neuroscience Institute Lerner College of Medicine-Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Patricia A Evans
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Children's Medical Center of Dallas, Dallas, TX
| | - Robin L Hansen
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Ruth Nass
- Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - James J Janisse
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Pamela Dixon-Thomas
- Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Michael Behen
- Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI
| | - Robert Rothermel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Jacqueline S Parker
- Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI; Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Otto Muzik
- Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI; Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - David J Edwards
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Deborah Hirtz
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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52
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Neuropsychopharmacotherapeutic efficacy of curcumin in experimental paradigm of autism spectrum disorders. Life Sci 2015; 141:156-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2015.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Hua R, Wei M, Zhang C. The complex genetics in autism spectrum disorders. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2015; 58:933-45. [PMID: 26335739 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-015-4893-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a pervasive neurodevelopmental disease characterized by deficits in social interaction and nonverbal communication, as well as restricted interests and stereotypical behavior. Genetic changes/heritability is one of the major contributing factors, and hundreds to thousands of causative and susceptible genes, copy number variants (CNVs), linkage regions, and microRNAs have been associated with ASD which clearly indicates that ASD is a complex genetic disorder. Here, we will briefly summarize some of the high-confidence genetic changes in ASD and their possible roles in their pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - MengPing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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Nakai N, Otsuka S, Myung J, Takumi T. Autism spectrum disorder model mice: Focus on copy number variation and epigenetics. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2015; 58:976-84. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-015-4891-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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55
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Liu X, Tamada K, Kishimoto R, Okubo H, Ise S, Ohta H, Ruf S, Nakatani J, Kohno N, Spitz F, Takumi T. Transcriptome profiling of white adipose tissue in a mouse model for 15q duplication syndrome. GENOMICS DATA 2015; 5:394-6. [PMID: 26484295 PMCID: PMC4583688 DOI: 10.1016/j.gdata.2015.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is not only associated with unhealthy lifestyles, but also linked to genetic predisposition. Previously, we generated an autism mouse model (patDp/+) that carries a 6.3 Mb paternal duplication homologous to the human 15q11–q13 locus. Chromosomal abnormalities in this region are known to cause autism spectrum disorder, Prader–Willi syndrome, and Angelman syndrome in humans. We found that, in addition to autistic-like behaviors, patDp/+ mice display late-onset obesity and hypersensitivity to a high-fat diet. These phenotypes are likely to be the results of genetic perturbations since the energy expenditures and food intakes of patDp/+ mice do not significantly differ from those of wild-type mice. Intriguingly, we found that an enlargement of adipose cells precedes the onset of obesity in patDp/+ mice. To understand the underlying molecular networks responsible for this pre-obese phenotype, we performed transcriptome profiling of white adipose tissue from patDp/+ and wild-type mice using microarray. We identified 230 genes as differentially expressed genes. Sfrp5 — a gene whose expression is positively correlated with adipocyte size, was found to be up-regulated, and Fndc5, a potent inducer of brown adipogenesis was identified to be the top down-regulated gene. Subsequent pathway analysis highlighted a set of 35 molecules involved in energy production, lipid metabolism, and small molecule biochemistry as the top candidate biological network responsible for the pre-obese phenotype of patDp/+. The microarray data were deposited in NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus database with accession number GSE58191. Ultimately, our dataset provides novel insights into the molecular mechanism of obesity and demonstrated that patDp/+ is a valuable mouse model for obesity research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxi Liu
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kota Tamada
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan ; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Rui Kishimoto
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan ; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Hiroko Okubo
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Satoko Ise
- Banyu Tsukuba Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2611, Japan
| | - Hisashi Ohta
- Banyu Tsukuba Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2611, Japan
| | - Sandra Ruf
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jin Nakatani
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ohtsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan
| | - Nobuoki Kohno
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - François Spitz
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Toru Takumi
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan ; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan ; JST, CREST, Japan
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56
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Kloth AD, Badura A, Li A, Cherskov A, Connolly SG, Giovannucci A, Bangash MA, Grasselli G, Peñagarikano O, Piochon C, Tsai PT, Geschwind DH, Hansel C, Sahin M, Takumi T, Worley PF, Wang SSH. Cerebellar associative sensory learning defects in five mouse autism models. eLife 2015; 4:e06085. [PMID: 26158416 PMCID: PMC4512177 DOI: 10.7554/elife.06085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory integration difficulties have been reported in autism, but their underlying brain-circuit mechanisms are underexplored. Using five autism-related mouse models, Shank3+/ΔC, Mecp2(R308/Y), Cntnap2-/-, L7-Tsc1 (L7/Pcp2(Cre)::Tsc1(flox/+)), and patDp(15q11-13)/+, we report specific perturbations in delay eyeblink conditioning, a form of associative sensory learning requiring cerebellar plasticity. By distinguishing perturbations in the probability and characteristics of learned responses, we found that probability was reduced in Cntnap2-/-, patDp(15q11-13)/+, and L7/Pcp2(Cre)::Tsc1(flox/+), which are associated with Purkinje-cell/deep-nuclear gene expression, along with Shank3+/ΔC. Amplitudes were smaller in L7/Pcp2(Cre)::Tsc1(flox/+) as well as Shank3+/ΔC and Mecp2(R308/Y), which are associated with granule cell pathway expression. Shank3+/ΔC and Mecp2(R308/Y) also showed aberrant response timing and reduced Purkinje-cell dendritic spine density. Overall, our observations are potentially accounted for by defects in instructed learning in the olivocerebellar loop and response representation in the granule cell pathway. Our findings indicate that defects in associative temporal binding of sensory events are widespread in autism mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander D Kloth
- Department of Molecular Biology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Aleksandra Badura
- Department of Molecular Biology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Amy Li
- Department of Molecular Biology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Adriana Cherskov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Sara G Connolly
- Department of Molecular Biology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Andrea Giovannucci
- Department of Molecular Biology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - M Ali Bangash
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Giorgio Grasselli
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Olga Peñagarikano
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Claire Piochon
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Peter T Tsai
- The F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Christian Hansel
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- The F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | | | - Paul F Worley
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Samuel S-H Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
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57
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Kishimoto R, Tamada K, Liu X, Okubo H, Ise S, Ohta H, Ruf S, Nakatani J, Kohno N, Spitz F, Takumi T. Model mice for 15q11-13 duplication syndrome exhibit late-onset obesity and altered lipid metabolism. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:4559-72. [PMID: 26002101 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Copy number variations on human chromosome 15q11-q13 have been implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders. A paternal loss or duplication of the Prader-Willi syndrome/Angelman syndrome (PWS/AS) region confers a risk of obesity, although the mechanism remains a mystery due to a lack of an animal model that accurately recreates the obesity phenotype. We performed detailed analyses of mice with duplication of PWS/AS locus (6 Mb) generated by chromosome engineering and found that animals with a paternal duplication of this region (patDp/+) show late-onset obesity, high sensitivity for high-fat diet, high levels of blood leptin and insulin without an increase in food intake. We show that prior to becoming obese, young patDp/+ mice already had enlarged white adipocytes. Transcriptome analysis of adipose tissue revealed an up-regulation of Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (Sfrp5), known to promote adipogenesis. We additionally generated a new mouse model of paternal duplication focusing on a 3 Mb region (3 Mb patDp/+) within the PWS/AS locus. These mice recapitulate the obese phenotypes including expansion of visceral adipose tissue. Our results suggest paternally expressed genes in PWS/AS locus play a significant role for the obesity and identify new potential targets for future research and treatment of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Kishimoto
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Kota Tamada
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Xiaoxi Liu
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroko Okubo
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Satoko Ise
- Banyu Tsukuba Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2611, Japan
| | - Hisashi Ohta
- Banyu Tsukuba Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2611, Japan
| | - Sandra Ruf
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jin Nakatani
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ohtsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan and
| | - Nobuoki Kohno
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - François Spitz
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Toru Takumi
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan, JST, CREST, Tokyo, Japan
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58
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Valdez C, Scroggs R, Chassen R, Reiter LT. Variation in Dube3a expression affects neurotransmission at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. Biol Open 2015; 4:776-82. [PMID: 25948754 PMCID: PMC4571101 DOI: 10.1242/bio.20148045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in UBE3A expression levels in neurons can cause neurogenetic disorders ranging from Angelman syndrome (AS) (decreased levels) to autism (increased levels). Here we investigated the effects on neuronal function of varying UBE3A levels using the Drosophila neuromuscular junction as a model for both of these neurogenetic disorders. Stimulations that evoked excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) at 1 Hz intermittently failed to evoke EJPs at 15 Hz in a significantly higher proportion of Dube3a over-expressors using the pan neuronal GAL4 driver C155-GAL4 (C155-GAL4>UAS-Dube3a) relative to controls (C155>+ alone). However, in the Dube3a over-expressing larval neurons with no failures, there was no difference in EJP amplitude at the beginning of the train, or the rate of decrease in EJP amplitude over the course of the train compared to controls. In the absence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), spontaneous EJPs were observed in significantly more C155-GAL4>UAS-Dube3a larva compared to controls. In the presence of TTX, spontaneous and evoked EJPs were completely blocked and mEJP amplitude and frequency did not differ among genotypes. These data suggest that over-expression of wild type Dube3a, but not a ubiquitination defective Dube3a-C/A protein, compromises the ability of motor neuron axons to support closely spaced trains of action potentials, while at the same time increasing excitability. EJPs evoked at 15 Hz in the absence of Dube3a (Dube3a15b homozygous mutant larvae) decayed more rapidly over the course of 30 stimulations compared to w1118 controls, and Dube3a15b larval muscles had significantly more negative resting membrane potentials (RMP). However, these results could not be recapitulated using RNAi knockdown of Dube3a in muscle or neurons alone, suggesting more global developmental defects contribute to this phenotype. These data suggest that reduced UBE3A expression levels may cause global changes that affect RMP and neurotransmitter release from motorneurons at the neuromuscular junction. Similar affects of under- and over-expression of UBE3A on membrane potential and synaptic transmission may underlie the synaptic plasticity defects observed in both AS and autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Valdez
- Department of Neurology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Ave., Link 415, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Reese Scroggs
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Ave., Link 515, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Rachel Chassen
- Department of Neurology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Ave., Link 415, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Lawrence T Reiter
- Department of Neurology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Ave., Link 415, Memphis, TN 38163, USA Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Ave., Link 515, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
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59
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Ellegood J, Nakai N, Nakatani J, Henkelman M, Takumi T, Lerch J. Neuroanatomical Phenotypes Are Consistent With Autism-Like Behavioral Phenotypes in the 15q11-13 Duplication Mouse Model. Autism Res 2015; 8:545-55. [PMID: 25755142 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Paternally and maternally inherited deletions and duplications of human chromosome 15q11-13 are relatively common in the human population. Furthermore, duplications in the 15q region are often associated with autism. Both maternal and paternal interstitial 15q11-13 duplication mouse models have been previously created, where several behavioral differences were found in the paternal duplication (patDp/+) mouse but not in the maternal duplication (matDp/+). These included decreased sociability, behavioral inflexibility, abnormal ultrasonic vocalizations, decreased spontaneous activity, and increased anxiety. Similarly, in the current study, we found several anatomical differences in the patDp/+ mice that were not seen in the matDp/+ mice. Regional differences that are evident only in the paternal duplication are a smaller dentate gyrus and smaller medial striatum. These differences may be responsible for the behavioral inflexibility. Furthermore, a smaller dorsal raphe nucleus could be responsible for the reported serotonin defects. This study highlights consistency that can be found between behavioral and anatomical phenotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada (J.E., R.M.H., J.L.)
| | - Nobuhiro Nakai
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saiama, Japan (N.N., T.T.)
| | - Jin Nakatani
- Shiga University of Medical Science, Ohtsu, Shiga, Japan (J.N.)
| | - Mark Henkelman
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada (J.E., R.M.H., J.L.)
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (R.M.H., J.L.)
| | - Toru Takumi
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saiama, Japan (N.N., T.T.)
- JST, CREST(T.T.)
| | - Jason Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada (J.E., R.M.H., J.L.)
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (R.M.H., J.L.)
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60
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Shigemori T, Sakai A, Takumi T, Itoh Y, Suzuki H. Altered Microglia in the Amygdala Are Involved in Anxiety-related Behaviors of a Copy Number Variation Mouse Model of Autism. J NIPPON MED SCH 2015; 82:92-9. [DOI: 10.1272/jnms.82.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Shigemori
- Department of Pediatrics, Nippon Medical School
- Department of Pharmacology, Nippon Medical School
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61
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Piochon C, Kloth AD, Grasselli G, Titley HK, Nakayama H, Hashimoto K, Wan V, Simmons DH, Eissa T, Nakatani J, Cherskov A, Miyazaki T, Watanabe M, Takumi T, Kano M, Wang SSH, Hansel C. Cerebellar plasticity and motor learning deficits in a copy-number variation mouse model of autism. Nat Commun 2014; 5:5586. [PMID: 25418414 PMCID: PMC4243533 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A common feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the impairment of motor control and learning, occurring in a majority of children with autism, consistent with perturbation in cerebellar function. Here we report alterations in motor behaviour and cerebellar synaptic plasticity in a mouse model (patDp/+) for the human 15q11-13 duplication, one of the most frequently observed genetic aberrations in autism. These mice show ASD-resembling social behaviour deficits. We find that in patDp/+ mice delay eyeblink conditioning--a form of cerebellum-dependent motor learning--is impaired, and observe deregulation of a putative cellular mechanism for motor learning, long-term depression (LTD) at parallel fibre-Purkinje cell synapses. Moreover, developmental elimination of surplus climbing fibres--a model for activity-dependent synaptic pruning--is impaired. These findings point to deficits in synaptic plasticity and pruning as potential causes for motor problems and abnormal circuit development in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Piochon
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Alexander D Kloth
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Giorgio Grasselli
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Heather K Titley
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Hisako Nakayama
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
| | - Kouichi Hashimoto
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
| | - Vivian Wan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Dana H Simmons
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Tahra Eissa
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Jin Nakatani
- Shiga University of Medical Science, Ohtsu 520-2192, Japan
| | - Adriana Cherskov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Taisuke Miyazaki
- Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Toru Takumi
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako 351-0198, Japan
| | - Masanobu Kano
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Samuel S-H Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Christian Hansel
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
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Park H, Shin JW, Park SG, Kim W. Microbial communities in the upper respiratory tract of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109710. [PMID: 25329665 PMCID: PMC4199592 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory infections are well-known triggers of chronic respiratory diseases. Recently, culture-independent tools have indicated that lower airway microbiota may contribute to pathophysiologic processes associated with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the relationship between upper airway microbiota and chronic respiratory diseases remains unclear. This study was undertaken to define differences of microbiota in the oropharynx of asthma and COPD patients relative to those in healthy individuals. To account for the qualitative and quantitative diversity of the 16S rRNA gene in the oropharynx, the microbiomes of 18 asthma patients, 17 COPD patients, and 12 normal individuals were assessed using a high-throughput next-generation sequencing analysis. In the 259,572 total sequence reads, α and β diversity measurements and a generalized linear model revealed that the oropharynx microbiota are diverse, but no significant differences were observed between asthma and COPD patients. Pseudomonas spp. of Proteobacteria and Lactobacillus spp. of Firmicutes were highly abundant in asthma and COPD. By contrast, Streptococcus, Veillonella, Prevotella, and Neisseria of Bacteroidetes dominated in the healthy oropharynx. These findings are consistent with previous studies conducted in the lower airways and suggest that oropharyngeal airway microbiota are important for understanding the relationships between the various parts of the respiratory tract with regard to bacterial colonization and comprehensive assessment of asthma and COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- HeeKuk Park
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong Wook Shin
- Division of Pulmonology and Allergology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang-Gue Park
- Department of Applied Statistics, Faculty of Business and Economics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Wonyong Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
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63
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Genomic and genetic aspects of autism spectrum disorder. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 452:244-53. [PMID: 25173933 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.08.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic component. The past decade has witnessed tremendous progress in the genetic studies of ASD. In this article, we review the accumulating literatures on the monogenic forms of ASD and chromosomal abnormalities associated with ASD, the genome-wide linkage and association studies, the copy number variation (CNV) and the next generation sequencing (NGS) studies. With more than hundreds of mutations being implicated, the convergent biological pathways are emerging and the genetic landscape of ASD becomes clearer. The genetic studies provide a solid basis for future translational study for better diagnoses, intervention and treatment of ASD.
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64
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Davis BA, Isles AR. Modelling the genetic contribution to mental illness: a timely end for the psychiatric rodent? Eur J Neurosci 2014; 39:1933-42. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Brittany A. Davis
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute; Cardiff University; Hadyn Ellis Building Maindy Road Cardiff CF24 4HQ UK
| | - Anthony R. Isles
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute; Cardiff University; Hadyn Ellis Building Maindy Road Cardiff CF24 4HQ UK
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65
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Habituation of exploratory behaviour in VPA rats: animal model of autism. Interdiscip Toxicol 2014; 6:222-7. [PMID: 24678262 PMCID: PMC3945762 DOI: 10.2478/intox-2013-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with multifactorial aetiology, represented as impairment in social behaviour, communication and the occurrence of repetitive activities, which can be observed in the early life. The core features are frequently accompanied by other manifestations, including limited environmental exploration. The aim of the presented study, realised on an animal model of autism – VPA rats, i.e. animals prenatally affected with valproic acid on gestation day 12.5, was to investigate the habituation process of exploratory activity (manifested by a gradual decrease in the intensity of locomotor activity), which reflects the stage of the central nervous system. VPA rats were tested in open-field in three developmental periods – weaning (postnatal day 21 – PND 21), puberty (PND 42) and adulthood (PND 72). In each period of ontogenesis, the rapidity of habituation was evaluated by using the method of linear regression. Compared to controls, VPA rats showed a significant decrease in the intensity and an increase in the rapidity of exploratory activity habituation during puberty and adulthood. Our results indicate that the animal model of autism, i.e. VPA rats, showed disabilities in the development of the nervous system. These findings can help confirm not only the validity of this animal model of autism but can also help better understand neuronal changes in humans with autism.
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66
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Shoji H, Takao K, Hattori S, Miyakawa T. Contextual and cued fear conditioning test using a video analyzing system in mice. J Vis Exp 2014. [PMID: 24637495 PMCID: PMC4122439 DOI: 10.3791/50871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The contextual and cued fear conditioning test is one of the behavioral tests that assesses the ability of mice to learn and remember an association between environmental cues and aversive experiences. In this test, mice are placed into a conditioning chamber and are given parings of a conditioned stimulus (an auditory cue) and an aversive unconditioned stimulus (an electric footshock). After a delay time, the mice are exposed to the same conditioning chamber and a differently shaped chamber with presentation of the auditory cue. Freezing behavior during the test is measured as an index of fear memory. To analyze the behavior automatically, we have developed a video analyzing system using the ImageFZ application software program, which is available as a free download at http://www.mouse-phenotype.org/. Here, to show the details of our protocol, we demonstrate our procedure for the contextual and cued fear conditioning test in C57BL/6J mice using the ImageFZ system. In addition, we validated our protocol and the video analyzing system performance by comparing freezing time measured by the ImageFZ system or a photobeam-based computer measurement system with that scored by a human observer. As shown in our representative results, the data obtained by ImageFZ were similar to those analyzed by a human observer, indicating that the behavioral analysis using the ImageFZ system is highly reliable. The present movie article provides detailed information regarding the test procedures and will promote understanding of the experimental situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotaka Shoji
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University; Japan Science and Technology Agency, Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology (CREST)
| | - Keizo Takao
- Japan Science and Technology Agency, Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology (CREST); Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
| | - Satoko Hattori
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University; Japan Science and Technology Agency, Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology (CREST)
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University; Japan Science and Technology Agency, Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology (CREST); Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences;
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Sadakata T, Shinoda Y, Sato A, Iguchi H, Ishii C, Matsuo M, Yamaga R, Furuichi T. Mouse models of mutations and variations in autism spectrum disorder-associated genes: mice expressing Caps2/Cadps2 copy number and alternative splicing variants. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2013; 10:6335-53. [PMID: 24287856 PMCID: PMC3881117 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph10126335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Revised: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 11/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by disturbances in interpersonal relationships and behavior. Although the prevalence of autism is high, effective treatments have not yet been identified. Recently, genome-wide association studies have identified many mutations or variations associated with ASD risk on many chromosome loci and genes. Identification of the biological roles of these mutations or variations is necessary to identify the mechanisms underlying ASD pathogenesis and to develop clinical treatments. At present, mice harboring genetic modifications of ASD-associated gene candidates are the best animal models to analyze hereditary factors involved in autism. In this report, the biological significance of ASD-associated genes is discussed by examining the phenotypes of mouse models with ASD-associated mutations or variations in mouse homologs, with a focus on mice harboring genetic modifications of the Caps2/Cadps2 (Ca2+-dependent activator protein for secretion 2) gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsushi Sadakata
- Advanced Scientific Research Leaders Development Unit, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan; E-Mail:
- JST-CREST, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Yo Shinoda
- JST-CREST, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan; E-Mails: (Y.S.); (A.S.); (H.I.); (C.I.); (M.M.); (R.Y.)
| | - Akira Sato
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan; E-Mails: (Y.S.); (A.S.); (H.I.); (C.I.); (M.M.); (R.Y.)
| | - Hirotoshi Iguchi
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan; E-Mails: (Y.S.); (A.S.); (H.I.); (C.I.); (M.M.); (R.Y.)
| | - Chiaki Ishii
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan; E-Mails: (Y.S.); (A.S.); (H.I.); (C.I.); (M.M.); (R.Y.)
| | - Makoto Matsuo
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan; E-Mails: (Y.S.); (A.S.); (H.I.); (C.I.); (M.M.); (R.Y.)
| | - Ryosuke Yamaga
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan; E-Mails: (Y.S.); (A.S.); (H.I.); (C.I.); (M.M.); (R.Y.)
| | - Teiichi Furuichi
- JST-CREST, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan; E-Mails: (Y.S.); (A.S.); (H.I.); (C.I.); (M.M.); (R.Y.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +81-4-7122-9303; Fax: +81-4-7123-9767
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Lanz TA, Guilmette E, Gosink MM, Fischer JE, Fitzgerald LW, Stephenson DT, Pletcher MT. Transcriptomic analysis of genetically defined autism candidate genes reveals common mechanisms of action. Mol Autism 2013; 4:45. [PMID: 24238429 PMCID: PMC4176301 DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-4-45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Austism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous behavioral disorder or condition characterized by severe impairment of social engagement and the presence of repetitive activities. The molecular etiology of ASD is still largely unknown despite a strong genetic component. Part of the difficulty in turning genetics into disease mechanisms and potentially new therapeutics is the sheer number and diversity of the genes that have been associated with ASD and ASD symptoms. The goal of this work is to use shRNA-generated models of genetic defects proposed as causative for ASD to identify the common pathways that might explain how they produce a core clinical disability. Methods Transcript levels of Mecp2, Mef2a, Mef2d, Fmr1, Nlgn1, Nlgn3, Pten, and Shank3 were knocked-down in mouse primary neuron cultures using shRNA constructs. Whole genome expression analysis was conducted for each of the knockdown cultures as well as a mock-transduced culture and a culture exposed to a lentivirus expressing an anti-luciferase shRNA. Gene set enrichment and a causal reasoning engine was employed to identify pathway level perturbations generated by the transcript knockdown. Results Quantification of the shRNA targets confirmed the successful knockdown at the transcript and protein levels of at least 75% for each of the genes. After subtracting out potential artifacts caused by viral infection, gene set enrichment and causal reasoning engine analysis showed that a significant number of gene expression changes mapped to pathways associated with neurogenesis, long-term potentiation, and synaptic activity. Conclusions This work demonstrates that despite the complex genetic nature of ASD, there are common molecular mechanisms that connect many of the best established autism candidate genes. By identifying the key regulatory checkpoints in the interlinking transcriptional networks underlying autism, we are better able to discover the ideal points of intervention that provide the broadest efficacy across the diverse population of autism patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mathew T Pletcher
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer, Inc, Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA.
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69
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Copy number variation at 22q11.2: from rare variants to common mechanisms of developmental neuropsychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2013; 18:1153-65. [PMID: 23917946 PMCID: PMC3852900 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2013.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Revised: 05/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Recently discovered genome-wide rare copy number variants (CNVs) have unprecedented levels of statistical association with many developmental neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, as CNVs often include multiple genes, causal genes responsible for CNV-associated diagnoses and traits are still poorly understood. Mouse models of CNVs are in use to delve into the precise mechanisms through which CNVs contribute to disorders and associated traits. Based on human and mouse model studies on rare CNVs within human chromosome 22q11.2, we propose that alterations of a distinct set of multiple, noncontiguous genes encoded in this chromosomal region, in concert with modulatory impacts of genetic background and environmental factors, variably shift the probabilities of phenotypes along a predetermined developmental trajectory. This model can be further extended to the study of other CNVs and may serve as a guide to help characterize the impact of genes in developmental neuropsychiatric disorders.
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70
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Yammamoto H, Tanaka S, Tanaka A, Hide I, Seki T, Sakai N. Long-term exposure of RN46A cells expressing serotonin transporter (SERT) to a cAMP analog up-regulates SERT activity and is accompanied by neural differentiation of the cells. J Pharmacol Sci 2012; 121:25-38. [PMID: 23269237 DOI: 10.1254/jphs.12229fp] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To examine the functional regulation of serotonin transporter (SERT) by cAMP, we examined whether SERT uptake activity was affected by dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP), a cAMP analog, in SERT-transfected RN46A cells derived from embryonic rat raphe neurons. Long-term exposure (> 4 h) of dbcAMP (1 mM) to SERT-expressing RN46A cells significantly up-regulated SERT activity. In addition, a selective PKA activator, but not a selective EPAC activator, increased the serotonin uptake activity of SERT, suggesting that this regulation was mainly mediated via PKA. Time-dependent up-regulation of SERT activity by dbcAMP was accompanied by neural differentiation of RN46A cells. Further investigation of dbcAMP-induced up-regulation of SERT revealed that dbcAMP elevated SERT protein levels without affecting SERT mRNA transcription. The chase assay for residual SERT protein revealed that dbcAMP slowed its degradation rate. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that plasma membrane-localized SERT was more abundant in dbcAMP-treated cells than in non-treated cells, suggesting that dbcAMP up-regulated SERT by decreasing its degradation and increasing its plasma membrane expression. These results raise the possibility that the elevation of intracellular cAMP up-regulated SERT function through a mechanism linked to the differentiation of RN46A cells and show the importance of SERT function during the developmental process of the serotonergic nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Yammamoto
- Department of Molecular and Pharmacological Neuroscience, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan
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71
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Kane MJ, Angoa-Peréz M, Briggs DI, Sykes CE, Francescutti DM, Rosenberg DR, Kuhn DM. Mice genetically depleted of brain serotonin display social impairments, communication deficits and repetitive behaviors: possible relevance to autism. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48975. [PMID: 23139830 PMCID: PMC3490915 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired reciprocal social interaction, communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. A very large number of genes have been linked to autism, many of which encode proteins involved in the development and function of synaptic circuitry. However, the manner in which these mutated genes might participate, either individually or together, to cause autism is not understood. One factor known to exert extremely broad influence on brain development and network formation, and which has been linked to autism, is the neurotransmitter serotonin. Unfortunately, very little is known about how alterations in serotonin neuronal function might contribute to autism. To test the hypothesis that serotonin dysfunction can contribute to the core symptoms of autism, we analyzed mice lacking brain serotonin (via a null mutation in the gene for tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2)) for behaviors that are relevant to this disorder. Mice lacking brain serotonin (TPH2-/-) showed substantial deficits in numerous validated tests of social interaction and communication. These mice also display highly repetitive and compulsive behaviors. Newborn TPH2-/- mutant mice show delays in the expression of key developmental milestones and their diminished preference for maternal scents over the scent of an unrelated female is a forerunner of more severe socialization deficits that emerge in weanlings and persist into adulthood. Taken together, these results indicate that a hypo-serotonin condition can lead to behavioral traits that are highly characteristic of autism. Our findings should stimulate new studies that focus on determining how brain hyposerotonemia during critical neurodevelopmental periods can alter the maturation of synaptic circuits known to be mis-wired in autism and how prevention of such deficits might prevent this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Kane
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Mariana Angoa-Peréz
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Denise I. Briggs
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Catherine E. Sykes
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Dina M. Francescutti
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - David R. Rosenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Donald M. Kuhn
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
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Christofolini DM, Meloni VA, Ramos MADP, Oliveira MM, de Mello CB, Pellegrino R, Takeno SS, Melaragno MI. Autistic disorder phenotype associated to a complex 15q intrachromosomal rearrangement. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2012; 159B:823-8. [PMID: 22911893 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The proximal regions of acrocentric chromosomes, particularly 15q11.2, are frequently involved in structural rearrangement. However, interstitial duplications involving one of the chromosome 15 homologues are less frequent, with few patients described with molecular techniques. These patients present distinctive clinical findings including developmental delay and intellectual disability, minor dysmorphic facial features, epilepsy, and autistic behavior. Here we describe an interstitial rearrangement of chromosome 15 composed of a triplication -6.9 Mb from 15q11.2 to 15q13.2 followed by a duplication of -2.4 Mb from 15q13.2 to 15q13.3, defined using different approaches as MLPA, qPCR, array and FISH. FISH revealed that the middle part of the triplicated segment was in inverted position. The parental origin of the rearrangement was assessed using methylation assay and SNP array that revealed the maternal origin of the additional material. The patient presents most of the clinical features associated to 15q11.2 triplication: minor dysmorphic facial features, generalized epilepsy, absence seizures, intellectual disability, and autistic behavior. In conclusion, the use of more accurate molecular tools enabled a detailed investigation, providing the identification of intrachromosome duplication/triplication and bringing new light to the study of genetic causes of autistic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Maria Christofolini
- Genetics Division, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (1) (FMABC), São Paulo, Brazil.
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Farook MF, DeCuypere M, Hyland K, Takumi T, LeDoux MS, Reiter LT. Altered serotonin, dopamine and norepinepherine levels in 15q duplication and Angelman syndrome mouse models. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43030. [PMID: 22916201 PMCID: PMC3420863 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2012] [Accepted: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood neurodevelopmental disorders like Angelman syndrome and autism may be the result of underlying defects in neuronal plasticity and ongoing problems with synaptic signaling. Some of these defects may be due to abnormal monoamine levels in different regions of the brain. Ube3a, a gene that causes Angelman syndrome (AS) when maternally deleted and is associated with autism when maternally duplicated has recently been shown to regulate monoamine synthesis in the Drosophila brain. Therefore, we examined monoamine levels in striatum, ventral midbrain, frontal cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex and hippocampus in Ube3a deficient and Ube3a duplication animals. We found that serotonin (5HT), a monoamine affected in autism, was elevated in the striatum and cortex of AS mice. Dopamine levels were almost uniformly elevated compared to control littermates in the striatum, midbrain and frontal cortex regardless of genotype in Ube3a deficient and Ube3a duplication animals. In the duplication 15q autism mouse model, paternal but not maternal duplication animals showed a decrease in 5HT levels when compared to their wild type littermates, in accordance with previously published data. However, maternal duplication animals show no significant changes in 5HT levels throughout the brain. These abnormal monoamine levels could be responsible for many of the behavioral abnormalities observed in both AS and autism, but further investigation is required to determine if any of these changes are purely dependent on Ube3a levels in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Febin Farook
- Department of Neurology, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Michael DeCuypere
- Department of Neurosurgery, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Keith Hyland
- Medical Neurogenetics, LCC, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Toru Takumi
- Hiroshima University, School of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Mark S. LeDoux
- Department of Neurology, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Lawrence T. Reiter
- Department of Neurology, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UTHSC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
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Animal models of psychiatric disorders that reflect human copy number variation. Neural Plast 2012; 2012:589524. [PMID: 22900207 PMCID: PMC3414062 DOI: 10.1155/2012/589524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Revised: 06/11/2012] [Accepted: 06/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of genetic technologies has led to the identification of several copy number variations (CNVs) in the human genome. Genome rearrangements affect dosage-sensitive gene expression in normal brain development. There is strong evidence associating human psychiatric disorders, especially autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia to genetic risk factors and accumulated CNV risk loci. Deletions in 1q21, 3q29, 15q13, 17p12, and 22q11, as well as duplications in 16p11, 16p13, and 15q11-13 have been reported as recurrent CNVs in ASD and/or schizophrenia. Chromosome engineering can be a useful technology to reflect human diseases in animal models, especially CNV-based psychiatric disorders. This system, based on the Cre/loxP strategy, uses large chromosome rearrangement such as deletion, duplication, inversion, and translocation. Although it is hard to reflect human pathophysiology in animal models, some aspects of molecular pathways, brain anatomy, cognitive, and behavioral phenotypes can be addressed. Some groups have created animal models of psychiatric disorders, ASD, and schizophrenia, which are based on human CNV. These mouse models display some brain anatomical and behavioral abnormalities, providing insight into human neuropsychiatric disorders that will contribute to novel drug screening for these devastating disorders.
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Malhotra D, Sebat J. CNVs: harbingers of a rare variant revolution in psychiatric genetics. Cell 2012; 148:1223-41. [PMID: 22424231 PMCID: PMC3351385 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 593] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The genetic bases of neuropsychiatric disorders are beginning to yield to scientific inquiry. Genome-wide studies of copy number variation (CNV) have given rise to a new understanding of disease etiology, bringing rare variants to the forefront. A proportion of risk for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism can be explained by rare mutations. Such alleles arise by de novo mutation in the individual or in recent ancestry. Alleles can have specific effects on behavioral and neuroanatomical traits; however, expressivity is variable, particularly for neuropsychiatric phenotypes. Knowledge from CNV studies reflects the nature of rare alleles in general and will serve as a guide as we move forward into a new era of whole-genome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dheeraj Malhotra
- Beyster Center for Genomics of Psychiatric Diseases, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 1020103, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 1020103, USA
| | - Jonathan Sebat
- Beyster Center for Genomics of Psychiatric Diseases, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 1020103, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 1020103, USA
- Department of Cellular Molecular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 1020103, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 1020103, USA
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Koshimizu H, Fukui Y, Takao K, Ohira K, Tanda K, Nakanishi K, Toyama K, Oshima M, Taketo MM, Miyakawa T. Adenomatous polyposis coli heterozygous knockout mice display hypoactivity and age-dependent working memory deficits. Front Behav Neurosci 2011; 5:85. [PMID: 22347851 PMCID: PMC3276361 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2011.00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2011] [Accepted: 12/06/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A tumor suppressor gene, Adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc), is expressed in the nervous system from embryonic to adulthood stages, and transmits the Wnt signaling pathway in which schizophrenia susceptibility genes, including T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) and calcineurin (CN), are involved. However, the functions of Apc in the nervous system are largely unknown. In this study, as the first evaluation of Apc function in the nervous system, we have investigated the behavioral significance of the Apc gene, applying a battery of behavioral tests to Apc heterozygous knockout (Apc(+/-)) mice. Apc(+/-) mice showed no significant impairment in neurological reflexes or sensory and motor abilities. In various tests, including light/dark transition, open-field, social interaction, eight-arm radial maze, and fear conditioning tests, Apc(+/-) mice exhibited hypoactivity. In the eight-arm radial maze, Apc(+/-) mice 6-7 weeks of age displayed almost normal performance, whereas those 11-12 weeks of age showed a severe performance deficit in working memory, suggesting that Apc is involved in working memory performance in an age-dependent manner. The possibility that anemia, which Apc(+/-) mice develop by 17 weeks of age, impairs working memory performance, however, cannot be excluded. Our results suggest that Apc plays a role in the regulation of locomotor activity and presumably working memory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisatsugu Koshimizu
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University Toyoake, Japan
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Watanabe Y, Tsujimura A, Takao K, Nishi K, Ito Y, Yasuhara Y, Nakatomi Y, Yokoyama C, Fukui K, Miyakawa T, Tanaka M. Relaxin-3-deficient mice showed slight alteration in anxiety-related behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2011; 5:50. [PMID: 21887138 PMCID: PMC3156976 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2011.00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2011] [Accepted: 08/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin-3 is a neuropeptide belonging to the relaxin/insulin superfamily. Studies using rodents have revealed that relaxin-3 is predominantly expressed in neurons in the nucleus incertus (NI) of the pons, the axons of which project to forebrain regions including the hypothalamus. There is evidence that relaxin-3 is involved in several functions, including food intake and stress responses. In the present study, we generated relaxin-3 gene knockout (KO) mice and examined them using a range of behavioral tests of sensory/motor functions and emotion-related behaviors. The results revealed that relaxin-3 KO mice exhibited normal growth and appearance, and were generally indistinguishable from wild genotype littermates. There was no difference in bodyweight among genotypes until at least 28 weeks after birth. In addition, there were no significant differences between wild-type and KO mice in locomotor activity, social interaction, hot plate test performance, fear conditioning, depression-like behavior, and Y-maze test performance. However, in the elevated plus maze test, KO mice exhibited a robust increase in the tendency to enter open arms, although they exhibited normal performance in a light/dark transition test and showed no difference from wild-type mice in the time spent in central area in the open field test. On the other hand, a significant increase in the acoustic startle response was observed in KO mice. These results indicate that relaxin-3 is slightly involved in the anxiety-related behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihisa Watanabe
- Department of Basic Geriatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto, Japan
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Takumi T. The neurobiology of mouse models syntenic to human chromosome 15q. J Neurodev Disord 2011; 3:270-81. [PMID: 21789598 PMCID: PMC3261275 DOI: 10.1007/s11689-011-9088-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Accepted: 07/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in childhood as social behavioral abnormalities, such as abnormal social interaction, impaired communication, and restricted interest or behavior. Of the known causes of autism, duplication of human chromosome 15q11–q13 is the most frequently associated cytogenetic abnormality. Chromosome 15q11–q13 is also known to include imprinting genes. In terms of neuroscience, it contains interesting genes such as Necdin, Ube3a, and a cluster of GABAA subunits as well as huge clusters of non-coding RNAs (small nucleolar RNAs, snoRNAs). Phenotypic analyses of mice genetically or chromosomally engineered for each gene or their clusters on a region of mouse chromosome seven syntenic to human 15q11–q13 indicate that this region may be involved in social behavior, serotonin metabolism, and weight control. Further studies using these models will provide important clues to the pathophysiology of autism. This review overviews phenotypes of mouse models of genes in 15q11–q13 and their relationships to autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toru Takumi
- Laboratory of Integrative Bioscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami, Hiroshima, 734-8553, Japan,
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