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Olafson E, Bedford SA, Devenyi GA, Patel R, Tullo S, Park MTM, Parent O, Anagnostou E, Baron-Cohen S, Bullmore ET, Chura LR, Craig MC, Ecker C, Floris DL, Holt RJ, Lenroot R, Lerch JP, Lombardo MV, Murphy DGM, Raznahan A, Ruigrok ANV, Spencer MD, Suckling J, Taylor MJ, Lai MC, Chakravarty MM. Examining the Boundary Sharpness Coefficient as an Index of Cortical Microstructure in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:3338-3352. [PMID: 33693614 PMCID: PMC8196259 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with atypical brain development. However, the phenotype of regionally specific increased cortical thickness observed in ASD may be driven by several independent biological processes that influence the gray/white matter boundary, such as synaptic pruning, myelination, or atypical migration. Here, we propose to use the boundary sharpness coefficient (BSC), a proxy for alterations in microstructure at the cortical gray/white matter boundary, to investigate brain differences in individuals with ASD, including factors that may influence ASD-related heterogeneity (age, sex, and intelligence quotient). Using a vertex-based meta-analysis and a large multicenter structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dataset, with a total of 1136 individuals, 415 with ASD (112 female; 303 male), and 721 controls (283 female; 438 male), we observed that individuals with ASD had significantly greater BSC in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and left inferior frontal gyrus indicating an abrupt transition (high contrast) between white matter and cortical intensities. Individuals with ASD under 18 had significantly greater BSC in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and right postcentral gyrus; individuals with ASD over 18 had significantly increased BSC in the bilateral precuneus and superior temporal gyrus. Increases were observed in different brain regions in males and females, with larger effect sizes in females. BSC correlated with ADOS-2 Calibrated Severity Score in individuals with ASD in the right medial temporal pole. Importantly, there was a significant spatial overlap between maps of the effect of diagnosis on BSC when compared with cortical thickness. These results invite studies to use BSC as a possible new measure of cortical development in ASD and to further examine the microstructural underpinnings of BSC-related differences and their impact on measures of cortical morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Olafson
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York City, NY 10021, USA
| | - Saashi A Bedford
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Gabriel A Devenyi
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Raihaan Patel
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Stephanie Tullo
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Min Tae M Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London N6A 3K7, ON, Canada
| | - Olivier Parent
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Departement de Psychologie, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto M4G 1R8, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Edward T Bullmore
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Lindsay R Chura
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Michael C Craig
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
- National Autism Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, London BR3 3BX, UK
| | - Christine Ecker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of the Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60528, Germany
| | - Dorothea L Floris
- Donders Center for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen 6525 HR, The Netherlands
- Department for Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen 02.275, The Netherlands
| | - Rosemary J Holt
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Rhoshel Lenroot
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
- Laboratory for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-9663, USA
| | - Amber N V Ruigrok
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Michael D Spencer
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - John Suckling
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Margot J Taylor
- Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
| | | | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health and Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto M6J 1H4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei 100229, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - M Mallar Chakravarty
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
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Westmark CJ. Consumption of Breast Milk Is Associated with Decreased Prevalence of Autism in Fragile X Syndrome. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13061785. [PMID: 34073785 PMCID: PMC8225095 DOI: 10.3390/nu13061785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Breastfeeding is associated with numerous health benefits, but early life nutrition has not been specifically studied in the neurodevelopmental disorder fragile X syndrome (FXS). Herein, I evaluate associations between the consumption of breast milk during infancy and the prevalence of autism, allergies, diabetes, gastrointestinal (GI) problems and seizures in FXS. The study design was a retrospective survey of families enrolled in the Fragile X Online Registry and Accessible Research Database (FORWARD). There was a 1.7-fold reduction in the prevalence of autism in FXS participants who were fed breast milk for 12 months or longer. There were strong negative correlations between increased time the infant was fed breast milk and the prevalence of autism and seizures and moderate negative correlations with the prevalence of GI problems and allergies. However, participants reporting GI problems or allergies commenced these comorbidities significantly earlier than those not fed breast milk. Parsing the data by sex indicated that males exclusively fed breast milk exhibited decreased prevalence of GI problems and allergies. These data suggest that long-term or exclusive use of breast milk is associated with reduced prevalence of key comorbidities in FXS, although breast milk is associated with the earlier development of GI problems and allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara J. Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; ; Tel.: +1-608-262-9730
- Molecular & Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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53
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Veraart J, Raven EP, Edwards LJ, Weiskopf N, Jones DK. The variability of MR axon radii estimates in the human white matter. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:2201-2213. [PMID: 33576105 PMCID: PMC8046139 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The noninvasive quantification of axonal morphology is an exciting avenue for gaining understanding of the function and structure of the central nervous system. Accurate non-invasive mapping of micron-sized axon radii using commonly applied neuroimaging techniques, that is, diffusion-weighted MRI, has been bolstered by recent hardware developments, specifically MR gradient design. Here the whole brain characterization of the effective MR axon radius is presented and the inter- and intra-scanner test-retest repeatability and reproducibility are evaluated to promote the further development of the effective MR axon radius as a neuroimaging biomarker. A coefficient-of-variability of approximately 10% in the voxelwise estimation of the effective MR radius is observed in the test-retest analysis, but it is shown that the performance can be improved fourfold using a customized along-tract analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle Veraart
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of RadiologyNew York University Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Erika P. Raven
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of RadiologyNew York University Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- CUBRIC, School of PsychologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Luke J. Edwards
- Department of NeurophysicsMax Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzigGermany
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Department of NeurophysicsMax Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzigGermany
- Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth SciencesLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
| | - Derek K. Jones
- CUBRIC, School of PsychologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health ResearchAustralian Catholic UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
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Lazari A, Lipp I. Can MRI measure myelin? Systematic review, qualitative assessment, and meta-analysis of studies validating microstructural imaging with myelin histology. Neuroimage 2021; 230:117744. [PMID: 33524576 PMCID: PMC8063174 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent years have seen an increased understanding of the importance of myelination in healthy brain function and neuropsychiatric diseases. Non-invasive microstructural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) holds the potential to expand and translate these insights to basic and clinical human research, but the sensitivity and specificity of different MR markers to myelination is a subject of debate. To consolidate current knowledge on the topic, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that validate microstructural imaging by combining it with myelin histology. We find meta-analytic evidence for correlations between various myelin histology metrics and markers from different MRI modalities, including fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity, macromolecular pool, magnetization transfer ratio, susceptibility and longitudinal relaxation rate, but not mean diffusivity. Meta-analytic correlation effect sizes range widely, between R2 = 0.26 and R2 = 0.82. However, formal comparisons between MRI-based myelin markers are limited by methodological variability, inconsistent reporting and potential for publication bias, thus preventing the establishment of a single most sensitive strategy to measure myelin with MRI. To facilitate further progress, we provide a detailed characterisation of the evaluated studies as an online resource. We also share a set of 12 recommendations for future studies validating putative MR-based myelin markers and deploying them in vivo in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Lazari
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Ilona Lipp
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
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Cucchiara F, Frumento P, Banfi T, Sesso G, Di Galante M, D'Ascanio P, Valvo G, Sicca F, Faraguna U. Electrophysiological features of sleep in children with Kir4.1 channel mutations and Autism-Epilepsy phenotype: a preliminary study. Sleep 2021; 43:5625283. [PMID: 31722434 PMCID: PMC7157183 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsz255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Study Objectives Recently, a role for gain-of-function (GoF) mutations of the astrocytic potassium channel Kir4.1 (KCNJ10 gene) has been proposed in subjects with Autism–Epilepsy phenotype (AEP). Epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are common and complexly related to sleep disorders. We tested whether well characterized mutations in KCNJ10 could result in specific sleep electrophysiological features, paving the way to the discovery of a potentially relevant biomarker for Kir4.1-related disorders. Methods For this case–control study, we recruited seven children with ASD either comorbid or not with epilepsy and/or EEG paroxysmal abnormalities (AEP) carrying GoF mutations of KCNJ10 and seven children with similar phenotypes but wild-type for the same gene, comparing period-amplitude features of slow waves detected by fronto-central bipolar EEG derivations (F3-C3, F4-C4, and Fz-Cz) during daytime naps. Results Children with Kir4.1 mutations displayed longer slow waves periods than controls, in Fz-Cz (mean period = 112,617 ms ± SE = 0.465 in mutated versus mean period = 105,249 ms ± SE = 0.375 in controls, p < 0.001). An analog result was found in F3-C3 (mean period = 125,706 ms ± SE = 0.397 in mutated versus mean period = 120,872 ms ± SE = 0.472 in controls, p < 0.001) and F4-C4 (mean period = 127,914 ms ± SE = 0.557 in mutated versus mean period = 118,174 ms ± SE = 0.442 in controls, p < 0.001). Conclusion This preliminary finding suggests that period-amplitude slow wave features are modified in subjects carrying Kir4.1 GoF mutations. Potential clinical applications of this finding are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Cucchiara
- SONNOLab, Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetic Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Frumento
- Unit of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tommaso Banfi
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Gianluca Sesso
- Neuropsychiatry Complex Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Di Galante
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola D'Ascanio
- SONNOLab, Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Valvo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Unit, Azienda USL Toscana Sudest, Grosseto, Italy
| | - Federico Sicca
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ugo Faraguna
- SONNOLab, Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
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Li X, Zhang K, He X, Zhou J, Jin C, Shen L, Gao Y, Tian M, Zhang H. Structural, Functional, and Molecular Imaging of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:1051-1071. [PMID: 33779890 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00673-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder associated with both genetic and environmental risks. Neuroimaging approaches have been widely employed to parse the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying ASD, and provide critical insights into the anatomical, functional, and neurochemical changes. We reviewed recent advances in neuroimaging studies that focused on ASD by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), or single-positron emission tomography (SPECT). Longitudinal structural MRI has delineated an abnormal developmental trajectory of ASD that is associated with cascading neurobiological processes, and functional MRI has pointed to disrupted functional neural networks. Meanwhile, PET and SPECT imaging have revealed that metabolic and neurotransmitter abnormalities may contribute to shaping the aberrant neural circuits of ASD. Future large-scale, multi-center, multimodal investigations are essential to elucidate the neurophysiological underpinnings of ASD, and facilitate the development of novel diagnostic biomarkers and better-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Medical PET Center, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Xiao He
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Medical PET Center, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Jinyun Zhou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Medical PET Center, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Chentao Jin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Medical PET Center, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Lesang Shen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Yuanxue Gao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Medical PET Center, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Mei Tian
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Medical PET Center, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Medical PET Center, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
- The College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
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57
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Andrews DS, Lee JK, Harvey DJ, Waizbard-Bartov E, Solomon M, Rogers SJ, Nordahl CW, Amaral DG. A Longitudinal Study of White Matter Development in Relation to Changes in Autism Severity Across Early Childhood. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:424-432. [PMID: 33349451 PMCID: PMC7867569 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cross-sectional diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging studies suggest that young autistic children have alterations in white matter structure that differ from older autistic individuals. However, it is unclear whether these differences result from atypical neurodevelopment or sampling differences between young and older cohorts. Furthermore, the relationship between altered white matter development and longitudinal changes in autism symptoms is unknown. METHODS Using longitudinal diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging acquired over 2 to 3 time points between the ages of approximately 2.5 to 7.0 years in 125 autistic children and 69 typically developing control participants, we directly tested the hypothesis that autistic individuals have atypical white matter development across childhood. Additionally, we sought to determine whether changes in white matter diffusion parameters were associated with longitudinal changes in autism severity. RESULTS Autistic children were found to have slower development of fractional anisotropy in the cingulum bundle, superior longitudinal fasciculus, internal capsule, and splenium of the corpus callosum. Furthermore, in the sagittal stratum, autistic individuals who increased in autism severity over time had a slower developmental trajectory of fractional anisotropy compared with individuals whose autism decreased in severity. In the uncinate fasciculus, autistic individuals who decreased in autism symptom severity also had greater increases in fractional anisotropy with age. CONCLUSIONS These longitudinal findings indicate that previously reported differences in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging measures between younger and older autism cohorts are attributable to an atypical developmental trajectory of white matter. Differences in white matter development between individuals whose autism severity increased, remained stable, or decreased suggest that these functional differences are associated with fiber development in the autistic brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Sayre Andrews
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California.
| | - Joshua K Lee
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Danielle Jenine Harvey
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Einat Waizbard-Bartov
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Marjorie Solomon
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Sally J Rogers
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Christine Wu Nordahl
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - David G Amaral
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
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58
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Supernumerary neurons within the cerebral cortical subplate in autism spectrum disorders. Brain Res 2021; 1760:147350. [PMID: 33607045 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) involve alterations to cortical connectivity that manifest as reduced coordinated activity between cortical regions. The neurons of the cortical subplate are a major contributor to establishing thalamocortical, corticothalamic and corticocortical long-range connections and only a subset of this cell population survives into adulthood. Previous reports of an indistinct gray-white matter boundary in subjects with ASD suggest that the adjacent subplate may also show organizational abnormalities. Frozen human postmortem tissue samples from the parietal lobe (BA7) were used to evaluate white-matter neuron densities adjacent to layer VI with an antibody to NeuN. In addition, fixed postmortem tissue samples from frontal (BA9), parietal (BA7) and temporal lobe (BA21) locations, were stained with a Golgi-Kopsch procedure, and used to examine the morphology of these neuronal profiles. Relative to control cases, ASD subjects showed a large average density increase of NeuN-positive profiles of 44.7 percent. The morphologies of these neurons were consistent with subplate cells of the fusiform, polymorphic and pyramidal cell types. Lower ratios of fusiform to other cell types are found early in development and although adult ASD subjects showed consistently lower ratios, these differences were not significant. The increased number of retained subplate profiles, along with cell type ratios redolent of earlier developmental stages, suggests either an abnormal initial population or a partial failure of the apoptosis seen in neurotypical development. These results indicate abnormalities within a neuron population that plays multiple roles in the developing and mature cerebral cortex, including the establishment of long-range cortical connections.
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59
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Dickinson A, Daniel M, Marin A, Gaonkar B, Dapretto M, McDonald NM, Jeste S. Multivariate Neural Connectivity Patterns in Early Infancy Predict Later Autism Symptoms. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021; 6:59-69. [PMID: 32798139 PMCID: PMC7736067 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional brain connectivity is altered in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Functional disruption during infancy could provide earlier markers of ASD, thus providing a crucial opportunity to improve developmental outcomes. Using a whole-brain multivariate approach, we asked whether electroencephalography measures of neural connectivity at 3 months of age predict autism symptoms at 18 months. METHODS Spontaneous electroencephalography data were collected from 65 infants with and without familial risk for ASD at 3 months of age. Neural connectivity patterns were quantified using phase coherence in the alpha range (6-12 Hz). Support vector regression analysis was used to predict ASD symptoms at age 18 months, with ASD symptoms quantified by the Toddler Module of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition. RESULTS Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule scores predicted by support vector regression algorithms trained on 3-month electroencephalography data correlated highly with Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule scores measured at 18 months (r = .76, p = .02, root-mean-square error = 2.38). Specifically, lower frontal connectivity and higher right temporoparietal connectivity at 3 months predicted higher ASD symptoms at 18 months. The support vector regression model did not predict cognitive abilities at 18 months (r = .15, p = .36), suggesting specificity of these brain patterns to ASD. CONCLUSIONS Using a data-driven, unbiased analytic approach, neural connectivity across frontal and temporoparietal regions at 3 months predicted ASD symptoms at 18 months. Identifying early neural differences that precede an ASD diagnosis could promote closer monitoring of infants who show signs of neural risk and provide a crucial opportunity to mediate outcomes through early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Dickinson
- Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Manjari Daniel
- Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Andrew Marin
- Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Bilwaj Gaonkar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Mirella Dapretto
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Nicole M McDonald
- Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Shafali Jeste
- Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
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60
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Yao F, Zhang K, Feng C, Gao Y, Shen L, Liu X, Ni J. Protein Biomarkers of Autism Spectrum Disorder Identified by Computational and Experimental Methods. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:554621. [PMID: 33716802 PMCID: PMC7947305 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.554621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. However, there are currently no reliable biomarkers for ASD diagnosis. Materials and Methods: The strategy of computational prediction combined with experimental verification was used to identify blood protein biomarkers for ASD. First, brain tissue-based transcriptome data of ASD were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus database and analyzed to find ASD-related genes by bioinformatics method of significance analysis of microarrays. Then, a prediction program of blood-secretory proteins was applied on these genes to predict ASD-related proteins in blood. Furthermore, ELISA was used to verify these proteins in plasma samples of ASD patients. Results: A total of 364 genes were identified differentially expressed in brain tissue of ASD, among which 59 genes were predicted to encode ASD-related blood-secretory proteins. After functional analysis and literature survey, six proteins were chosen for experimental verification and five were successfully validated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed that the area under the curve of SLC25A12, LIMK1, and RARS was larger than 0.85, indicating that they are more powerful in discriminating ASD cases from controls. Conclusion: SLC25A12, LIMK1, and RARS might serve as new potential blood protein biomarkers for ASD. Our findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis and diagnosis of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Yao
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kaoyuan Zhang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Dermatology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chengyun Feng
- Department of Child Healthcare, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Baoan, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Department of Child Healthcare, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Baoan, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liming Shen
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xukun Liu
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiazuan Ni
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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61
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Glutamatergic Dysfunction and Synaptic Ultrastructural Alterations in Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from Human and Rodent Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010059. [PMID: 33374598 PMCID: PMC7793137 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The correlation between dysfunction in the glutamatergic system and neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, is undisputed. Both disorders are associated with molecular and ultrastructural alterations that affect synaptic plasticity and thus the molecular and physiological basis of learning and memory. Altered synaptic plasticity, accompanied by changes in protein synthesis and trafficking of postsynaptic proteins, as well as structural modifications of excitatory synapses, are critically involved in the postnatal development of the mammalian nervous system. In this review, we summarize glutamatergic alterations and ultrastructural changes in synapses in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder of genetic or drug-related origin, and briefly comment on the possible reversibility of these neuropsychiatric disorders in the light of findings in regular synaptic physiology.
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62
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Emberti Gialloreti L, Enea R, Di Micco V, Di Giovanni D, Curatolo P. Clustering Analysis Supports the Detection of Biological Processes Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11121476. [PMID: 33316975 PMCID: PMC7763205 DOI: 10.3390/genes11121476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome sequencing has identified a large number of putative autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk genes, revealing possible disrupted biological pathways; however, the genetic and environmental underpinnings of ASD remain mostly unanswered. The presented methodology aimed to identify genetically related clusters of ASD individuals. By using the VariCarta dataset, which contains data retrieved from 13,069 people with ASD, we compared patients pairwise to build “patient similarity matrices”. Hierarchical-agglomerative-clustering and heatmapping were performed, followed by enrichment analysis (EA). We analyzed whole-genome sequencing retrieved from 2062 individuals, and isolated 11,609 genetic variants shared by at least two people. The analysis yielded three clusters, composed, respectively, by 574 (27.8%), 507 (24.6%), and 650 (31.5%) individuals. Overall, 4187 variants (36.1%) were common to the three clusters. The EA revealed that the biological processes related to the shared genetic variants were mainly involved in neuron projection guidance and morphogenesis, cell junctions, synapse assembly, and in observational, imitative, and vocal learning. The study highlighted genetic networks, which were more frequent in a sample of people with ASD, compared to the overall population. We suggest that itemizing not only single variants, but also gene networks, might support ASD etiopathology research. Future work on larger databases will have to ascertain the reproducibility of this methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Emberti Gialloreti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Roberto Enea
- IMME Research Centre, Via Giotto 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy;
| | - Valentina Di Micco
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Systems Medicine Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (V.D.M.); (P.C.)
| | - Daniele Di Giovanni
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Paolo Curatolo
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Systems Medicine Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (V.D.M.); (P.C.)
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63
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García-Cabezas MÁ, Hacker JL, Zikopoulos B. A Protocol for Cortical Type Analysis of the Human Neocortex Applied on Histological Samples, the Atlas of Von Economo and Koskinas, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Front Neuroanat 2020; 14:576015. [PMID: 33364924 PMCID: PMC7750391 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2020.576015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The human cerebral cortex is parcellated in hundreds of areas using neuroanatomy and imaging methods. Alternatively, cortical areas can be classified into few cortical types according to their degree of laminar differentiation. Cortical type analysis is based on the gradual and systematic variation of laminar features observed across the entire cerebral cortex in Nissl stained sections and has profound implications for understanding fundamental aspects of evolution, development, connections, function, and pathology of the cerebral cortex. In this protocol paper, we explain the general principles of cortical type analysis and provide tables with the fundamental features of laminar structure that are studied for this analysis. We apply cortical type analysis to the micrographs of the Atlas of the human cerebral cortex of von Economo and Koskinas and provide tables and maps with the areas of this Atlas and their corresponding cortical type. Finally, we correlate the cortical type maps with the T1w/T2w ratio from widely used reference magnetic resonance imaging scans. The analysis, tables and maps of the human cerebral cortex shown in this protocol paper can be used to predict patterns of connections between areas according to the principles of the Structural Model and determine their level in cortical hierarchies. Cortical types can also predict the spreading of abnormal proteins in neurodegenerative diseases to the level of cortical layers. In summary, cortical type analysis provides a theoretical and practical framework for directed studies of connectivity, synaptic plasticity, and selective vulnerability to neurologic and psychiatric diseases in the human neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ángel García-Cabezas
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Julia Liao Hacker
- Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Basilis Zikopoulos
- Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
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64
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Bletsch A, Schäfer T, Mann C, Andrews DS, Daly E, Gudbrandsen M, Ruigrok ANV, Dallyn R, Romero-Garcia R, Lai MC, Lombardo MV, Craig MC, Suckling J, Bullmore ET, Baron-Cohen S, Murphy DGM, Dell'Acqua F, Ecker C. Atypical measures of diffusion at the gray-white matter boundary in autism spectrum disorder in adulthood. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 42:467-484. [PMID: 33094897 PMCID: PMC7775996 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly complex neurodevelopmental condition that is accompanied by neuroanatomical differences on the macroscopic and microscopic level. Findings from histological, genetic, and more recently in vivo neuroimaging studies converge in suggesting that neuroanatomical abnormalities, specifically around the gray‐white matter (GWM) boundary, represent a crucial feature of ASD. However, no research has yet characterized the GWM boundary in ASD based on measures of diffusion. Here, we registered diffusion tensor imaging data to the structural T1‐weighted images of 92 adults with ASD and 92 matched neurotypical controls in order to examine between‐group differences and group‐by‐sex interactions in fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity sampled at the GWM boundary, and at different sampling depths within the superficial white and into the gray matter. As hypothesized, we observed atypical diffusion at and around the GWM boundary in ASD, with between‐group differences and group‐by‐sex interactions depending on tissue class and sampling depth. Furthermore, we identified that altered diffusion at the GWM boundary partially (i.e., ~50%) overlapped with atypical gray‐white matter tissue contrast in ASD. Our study thus replicates and extends previous work highlighting the GWM boundary as a crucial target of neuropathology in ASD, and guides future work elucidating etiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Bletsch
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tim Schäfer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Caroline Mann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Derek S Andrews
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Eileen Daly
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - Maria Gudbrandsen
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - Amber N V Ruigrok
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robert Dallyn
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - Rafael Romero-Garcia
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Laboratory for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Michael C Craig
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK.,National Autism Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, London, UK
| | - John Suckling
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Edward T Bullmore
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Declan G M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - Flavio Dell'Acqua
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - Christine Ecker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
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65
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Liu X, Bautista J, Liu E, Zikopoulos B. Imbalance of laminar-specific excitatory and inhibitory circuits of the orbitofrontal cortex in autism. Mol Autism 2020; 11:83. [PMID: 33081829 PMCID: PMC7574354 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00390-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is involved in assessing the emotional significance of events and stimuli, emotion-based learning, allocation of attentional resources, and social cognition. Little is known about the structure, connectivity and excitatory/inhibitory circuit interactions underlying these diverse functions in human OFC, as well as how the circuit is disrupted in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS We used post-mortem brain tissue from neurotypical adults and individuals with ASD. We examined the morphology and distribution of myelinated axons across cortical layers in OFC, at the single axon level, as a proxy of excitatory pathways. In the same regions, we also examined the laminar distribution of all neurons and neurochemically- and functionally-distinct inhibitory neurons that express the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin (PV), calbindin (CB), and calretinin (CR). RESULTS We found that the density of myelinated axons increased consistently towards layer 6, while the average axon diameter did not change significantly across layers in both groups. However, both the density and diameter of myelinated axons were significantly lower in the ASD group compared with the Control group. The distribution pattern and density of the three major types of inhibitory neurons was comparable between groups, but there was a significant reduction in the density of excitatory neurons across OFC layers in ASD. LIMITATIONS This study is limited by the availability of human post-mortem tissue optimally processed for high-resolution microscopy and immunolabeling, especially from individuals with ASD. CONCLUSIONS The balance between excitation and inhibition in OFC is at the core of its function, assessing and integrating emotional and social cues with internal states and external inputs. Our preliminary results provide evidence for laminar-specific changes in the ratio of excitation/inhibition in OFC of adults with ASD, with an overall weakening and likely disorganization of excitatory signals and a relative strengthening of local inhibition. These changes likely underlie pathology of major OFC communications with limbic or other cortices and the amygdala in individuals with ASD, and may provide the anatomic basis for disrupted transmission of signals for social interactions and emotions in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Liu
- Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave., Room 401D, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Julied Bautista
- Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave., Room 401D, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Edward Liu
- Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave., Room 401D, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Basilis Zikopoulos
- Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave., Room 401D, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. .,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. .,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
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66
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Xu Y, Cao M, Liao X, Xia M, Wang X, Jeon T, Ouyang M, Chalak L, Rollins N, Huang H, He Y. Development and Emergence of Individual Variability in the Functional Connectivity Architecture of the Preterm Human Brain. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:4208-4222. [PMID: 30534949 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual variability in human brain networks underlies individual differences in cognition and behaviors. However, researchers have not conclusively determined when individual variability patterns of the brain networks emerge and how they develop in the early phase. Here, we employed resting-state functional MRI data and whole-brain functional connectivity analyses in 40 neonates aged around 31-42 postmenstrual weeks to characterize the spatial distribution and development modes of individual variability in the functional network architecture. We observed lower individual variability in primary sensorimotor and visual areas and higher variability in association regions at the third trimester, and these patterns are generally similar to those of adult brains. Different functional systems showed dramatic differences in the development of individual variability, with significant decreases in the sensorimotor network; decreasing trends in the visual, subcortical, and dorsal and ventral attention networks, and limited change in the default mode, frontoparietal and limbic networks. The patterns of individual variability were negatively correlated with the short- to middle-range connection strength/number and this distance constraint was significantly strengthened throughout development. Our findings highlight the development and emergence of individual variability in the functional architecture of the prenatal brain, which may lay network foundations for individual behavioral differences later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehua Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China.,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China
| | - Miao Cao
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China.,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China
| | - Xuhong Liao
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China.,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China
| | - Mingrui Xia
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China.,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China
| | - Xindi Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China.,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China
| | - Tina Jeon
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Minhui Ouyang
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lina Chalak
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Nancy Rollins
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Hao Huang
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yong He
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China.,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 China
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67
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Hong SJ, Hyung B, Paquola C, Bernhardt BC. The Superficial White Matter in Autism and Its Role in Connectivity Anomalies and Symptom Severity. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:4415-4425. [PMID: 30566613 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), the majority of neuroimaging studies have focused on the analysis of cortical morphology. White matter changes remain less understood, particularly their association to cortical structure and function. Here, we focused on region that has gained only little attention in ASD neuroimaging: the superficial white matter (SWM) immediately beneath the cortical interface, a compartment playing a prominent role in corticogenesis that incorporates long- and short-range fibers implicated in corticocortical connectivity. Studying a multicentric dataset of ASD and neurotypical controls, we harnessed surface-based techniques to aggregate microstructural SWM diffusion features. Multivariate analysis revealed SWM anomalies in ASD compared with controls in medial parietal and temporoparietal regions. Effects were similar in children and adolescents/adults and consistent across sites. Although SWM anomalies were more confined when correcting for cortical thickness and surface area, findings were overall robust. Diffusion anomalies modulated functional connectivity reductions in ASD and related to symptom severity. Furthermore, mediation models indicated a link between SWM changes, functional connectivity, and symptom load. Analyses targeting the SWM offer a novel perspective on the interplay between structural and functional network perturbations in ASD, highlighting a potentially important neurobiological substrate contributing to its diverse behavioral phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok-Jun Hong
- Multimodal Imaging and Connectome Analysis Laboratory, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.,Center for the Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute, 101 E 56th St, New York, NY 10022, USA
| | - Brian Hyung
- Multimodal Imaging and Connectome Analysis Laboratory, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Casey Paquola
- Multimodal Imaging and Connectome Analysis Laboratory, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Boris C Bernhardt
- Multimodal Imaging and Connectome Analysis Laboratory, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
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68
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Kirilina E, Helbling S, Morawski M, Pine K, Reimann K, Jankuhn S, Dinse J, Deistung A, Reichenbach JR, Trampel R, Geyer S, Müller L, Jakubowski N, Arendt T, Bazin PL, Weiskopf N. Superficial white matter imaging: Contrast mechanisms and whole-brain in vivo mapping. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/41/eaaz9281. [PMID: 33028535 PMCID: PMC7541072 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz9281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Superficial white matter (SWM) contains the most cortico-cortical white matter connections in the human brain encompassing the short U-shaped association fibers. Despite its importance for brain connectivity, very little is known about SWM in humans, mainly due to the lack of noninvasive imaging methods. Here, we lay the groundwork for systematic in vivo SWM mapping using ultrahigh resolution 7 T magnetic resonance imaging. Using biophysical modeling informed by quantitative ion beam microscopy on postmortem brain tissue, we demonstrate that MR contrast in SWM is driven by iron and can be linked to the microscopic iron distribution. Higher SWM iron concentrations were observed in U-fiber-rich frontal, temporal, and parietal areas, potentially reflecting high fiber density or late myelination in these areas. Our SWM mapping approach provides the foundation for systematic studies of interindividual differences, plasticity, and pathologies of this crucial structure for cortico-cortical connectivity in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniya Kirilina
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience Berlin, Free University Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Saskia Helbling
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Morawski
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Leipzig University, Liebigstr. 19, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kerrin Pine
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katja Reimann
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Leipzig University, Liebigstr. 19, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Steffen Jankuhn
- Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Juliane Dinse
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Deistung
- Medical Physics Group, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Jena University Hospital-Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Department of Radiology University Hospital Halle (Saale), Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Jürgen R Reichenbach
- Medical Physics Group, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Jena University Hospital-Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Robert Trampel
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Geyer
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Larissa Müller
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Norbert Jakubowski
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Spetec GmbH, Berghamer Str. 2, 85435 Erding, Germany
| | - Thomas Arendt
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Leipzig University, Liebigstr. 19, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Pierre-Louis Bazin
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Integrative Model-Based Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, University of Amsterdam, 1001 NK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, 12 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK
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69
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Pfaff D, Barbas H. Mechanisms for the Approach/Avoidance Decision Applied to Autism. Trends Neurosci 2020; 42:448-457. [PMID: 31253250 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
As a neurodevelopmental disorder with serious lifelong consequences, autism has received considerable attention from neuroscientists and geneticists. We present a hypothesis of mechanisms plausibly affected during brain development in autism, based on neural pathways that are associated with social behavior and connect the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to the basal ganglia (BG). We consider failure of social approach in autism as a special case of imbalance in the fundamental dichotomy between behavioral approach and avoidance. Differential combinations of genes mutated, differences in the timing of their impact during development, and graded degrees of hormonal influences may help explain the heterogeneity in symptomatology in autism and predominance in boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald Pfaff
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA.
| | - Helen Barbas
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
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70
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Yang Y, Duan C, Huang L, Xia X, Zhong Z, Wang B, Wang Y, Ding W. Juvenile high-fat diet-induced senescent glial cells in the medial prefrontal cortex drives neuropsychiatric behavioral abnormalities in mice. Behav Brain Res 2020; 395:112838. [PMID: 32750465 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays an important role in regulating anxiety-like phenotypes and social behaviors, and impairments in this brain region has been linked to social deficits in mammals. Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of neuropsychiatric behavioral abnormalities, including attenuated social preference and increased anxiety-like behaviors in adulthood. However, little data are available on the impact of obesity during adolescence on PFC-dependent behaviors. Herein, we use the mice pups to illuminate whether and how high-fat diet (HFD) feeding in adolescence affects medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-dependent behaviors, and what the underlying cellular and molecular mechanism is. We found that juvenile HFD feeding results in the accumulation of senescent astrocytes and microglia in the mPFC of mice. Furthermore, we found a causal link between the accumulation of senescent glial cells and HFD-induced neuropsychiatric behavioral abnormalities. Pharmacological clearance of senescent glial cells in HFD-fed mice enhances neuronal activity and reserves synaptic excitatory/inhibitory balance, thus preserving normal behaviors. Collectively, these results show that senescent glial cells play a significant role in the initiation and progression of juvenile obesity-mediated neuropsychiatric behavioral abnormalities, and suggest that targeting senescent glial cells may provide a therapeutic avenue for the treatment of obesity-related neuropsychiatric disorders in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youjun Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China; State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, 999078, China.
| | - Chengxing Duan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Ling Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Xiuwen Xia
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Zhanqiong Zhong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Baojia Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yili Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Weijun Ding
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
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71
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Allouh MZ, Al Barbarawi MM, Ali HA, Mustafa AG, Alomari SO. Morphometric Analysis of the Corpus Callosum According to Age and Sex in Middle Eastern Arabs: Racial Comparisons and Clinical Correlations to Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Syst Neurosci 2020; 14:30. [PMID: 32655379 PMCID: PMC7324941 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2020.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This study sought to examine the influence of age and sex on morphometric measurements of the corpus callosum (CC) within Middle Eastern Arab population, in order to obtain reference data and conduct racial comparisons with previously reported measurements from other ethnicities. Furthermore, it aimed to investigate CC variations that may occur in children with autism. To this end, magnetic resonance images of normal brains were acquired from three different age groups, consisting of children, younger adults, and older adults. Brain images were also acquired from boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The CC length, area, and thickness were measured. The CC length was smaller in children than in the other age groups, but no difference in CC length was found between younger and older adults. The CC area and thickness were greater in younger adults than in children and older adults, and greater in older adults than in children. With regard to sexual dimorphism, the CC area and forebrain volume were larger in male children than in female children. No sex-related differences in CC area or thickness were found in adults. However, the ratio of CC area to the forebrain volume was greater in adult females than in males, owing to the smaller forebrain volume in females. The absolute length of the CC was greater in older adult males than in their female counterparts. In addition, significant differences in CC measurements were found in comparison to measurements obtained from other ethnicities. Lastly, significant reductions in CC area and thickness were found in boys with ASD compared to their neurotypical peers. In conclusion, age and sex significantly influence morphometric measurements of CC in Middle Eastern Arab population. This study points to the presence of racial differences in CC size. Finally, it reveals that children with ASD display a distinct reduction in CC size compared to neurotypical children of the same ethnicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Z Allouh
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Mohammed M Al Barbarawi
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Heba A Ali
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Ayman G Mustafa
- Basic Medical Science Department, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Safwan O Alomari
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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72
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Hashem S, Nisar S, Bhat AA, Yadav SK, Azeem MW, Bagga P, Fakhro K, Reddy R, Frenneaux MP, Haris M. Genetics of structural and functional brain changes in autism spectrum disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:229. [PMID: 32661244 PMCID: PMC7359361 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-00921-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder characterized by social impairment and restricted interactive and communicative behaviors. It may occur as an isolated disorder or in the context of other neurological, psychiatric, developmental, and genetic disorders. Due to rapid developments in genomics and imaging technologies, imaging genetics studies of ASD have evolved in the last few years. Increased risk for ASD diagnosis is found to be related to many specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and the study of genetic mechanisms and noninvasive imaging has opened various approaches that can help diagnose ASD at the nascent level. Identifying risk genes related to structural and functional changes in the brain of ASD patients provide a better understanding of the disease's neuropsychiatry and can help identify targets for therapeutic intervention that could be useful for the clinical management of ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheema Hashem
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Puneet Bagga
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Optical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Khalid Fakhro
- Department of Human Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ravinder Reddy
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Optical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | | | - Mohammad Haris
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Khundrakpam B, Vainik U, Gong J, Al-Sharif N, Bhutani N, Kiar G, Zeighami Y, Kirschner M, Luo C, Dagher A, Evans A. Neural correlates of polygenic risk score for autism spectrum disorders in general population. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa092. [PMID: 32954337 PMCID: PMC7475696 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a highly prevalent and highly heritable neurodevelopmental condition, but studies have mostly taken traditional categorical diagnosis approach (yes/no for autism spectrum disorder). In contrast, an emerging notion suggests a continuum model of autism spectrum disorder with a normal distribution of autistic tendencies in the general population, where a full diagnosis is at the severe tail of the distribution. We set out to investigate such a viewpoint by investigating the interaction of polygenic risk scores for autism spectrum disorder and Age2 on neuroimaging measures (cortical thickness and white matter connectivity) in a general population (n = 391, with age ranging from 3 to 21 years from the Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition and Genetics study). We observed that children with higher polygenic risk for autism spectrum disorder exhibited greater cortical thickness for a large age span starting from 3 years up to ∼14 years in several cortical regions localized in bilateral precentral gyri and the left hemispheric postcentral gyrus and precuneus. In an independent case–control dataset from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (n = 560), we observed a similar pattern: children with autism spectrum disorder exhibited greater cortical thickness starting from 6 years onwards till ∼14 years in wide-spread cortical regions including (the ones identified using the general population). We also observed statistically significant regional overlap between the two maps, suggesting that some of the cortical abnormalities associated with autism spectrum disorder overlapped with brain changes associated with genetic vulnerability for autism spectrum disorder in healthy individuals. Lastly, we observed that white matter connectivity between the frontal and parietal regions showed significant association with polygenic risk for autism spectrum disorder, indicating that not only the brain structure, but the white matter connectivity might also show a predisposition for the risk of autism spectrum disorder. Our findings showed that the fronto-parietal thickness and connectivity are dimensionally related to genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder in general population and are also part of the cortical abnormalities associated with autism spectrum disorder. This highlights the necessity of considering continuum models in studying the aetiology of autism spectrum disorder using polygenic risk scores and multimodal neuroimaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Budhachandra Khundrakpam
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.,Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Uku Vainik
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.,Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50090, Estonia
| | - Jinnan Gong
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.,Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Ley Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 611731, China
| | - Noor Al-Sharif
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Neha Bhutani
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Gregory Kiar
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Yashar Zeighami
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Matthias Kirschner
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Cheng Luo
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Ley Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 611731, China
| | - Alain Dagher
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Alan Evans
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.,Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
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74
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Evaluación e intervención Neuropsicológica en un caso de trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) severo. REVISTA IBEROAMERICANA DE PSICOLOGÍA 2020. [DOI: 10.33881/2027-1786.rip.13210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
El presente estudio se dedica a la propuesta de evaluación e intervención neuropsicológica en el caso de un niño con características del Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA). El niño fue evaluado por presentar retraso en el lenguaje, conductas estereotipadas, además de dificultades cognoscitivas y motoras. El diagnóstico de la evaluación neuropsicológica permitió precisar los aspectos fuertes y débiles del desarrollo psicológico del niño. La propuesta de programa de intervención fue elaborada de acuerdo con la postura teórico metodológica histórico cultural y la teoría de la actividad, que consideran la localización sistémica y dinámica de los mecanismos cerebrales, así como, las características esenciales de la edad psicológica. El periodo de intervención fue de 24 meses, dividiéndose en 180 sesiones individuales y 160 sesiones grupales de 60 minutos cada una. Después de la intervención se realizó una revaloración neuropsicológica del paciente, encontrando cambios favorables principalmente en el desarrollo de la función reguladora, comprensión del lenguaje oral e integración social.
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75
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Janickova L, Rechberger KF, Wey L, Schwaller B. Absence of parvalbumin increases mitochondria volume and branching of dendrites in inhibitory Pvalb neurons in vivo: a point of convergence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk gene phenotypes. Mol Autism 2020; 11:47. [PMID: 32517751 PMCID: PMC7285523 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00323-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In fast firing, parvalbumin (PV)-expressing (Pvalb) interneurons, PV acts as an intracellular Ca2+ signal modulator with slow-onset kinetics. In Purkinje cells of PV−/− mice, adaptive/homeostatic mechanisms lead to an increase in mitochondria, organelles equally capable of delayed Ca2+ sequestering/buffering. An inverse regulation of PV and mitochondria likewise operates in cell model systems in vitro including myotubes, epithelial cells, and oligodendrocyte-like cells overexpressing PV. Whether such opposite regulation pertains to all Pvalb neurons is currently unknown. In oligodendrocyte-like cells, PV additionally decreases growth and branching of processes in a cell-autonomous manner. Methods The in vivo effects of absence of PV were investigated in inhibitory Pvalb neurons expressing EGFP, present in the somatosensory and medial prefrontal cortex, striatum, thalamic reticular nucleus, hippocampal regions DG, CA3, and CA1 and cerebellum of mice either wild-type or knockout (PV−/−) for the Pvalb gene. Changes in Pvalb neuron morphology and PV concentrations were determined using immunofluorescence, followed by 3D-reconstruction and quantitative image analyses. Results PV deficiency led to an increase in mitochondria volume and density in the soma; the magnitude of the effect was positively correlated with the estimated PV concentrations in the various Pvalb neuron subpopulations in wild-type neurons. The increase in dendrite length and branching, as well as thickness of proximal dendrites of selected PV−/− Pvalb neurons is likely the result of the observed increased density and length of mitochondria in these PV−/− Pvalb neuron dendrites. The increased branching and soma size directly linked to the absence of PV is assumed to contribute to the increased volume of the neocortex present in juvenile PV−/− mice. The extended dendritic branching is in line with the hypothesis of local hyperconnectivity in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ASD mouse models including PV−/− mice, which display all ASD core symptoms and several comorbidities including cortical macrocephaly at juvenile age. Conclusion PV is involved in most proposed mechanisms implicated in ASD etiology: alterations in Ca2+ signaling affecting E/I balance, changes in mitochondria structure/function, and increased dendritic length and branching, possibly resulting in local hyperconnectivity, all in a likely cell autonomous way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Janickova
- Anatomy, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Route Albert-Gockel 1, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Karin Farah Rechberger
- Anatomy, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Route Albert-Gockel 1, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Lucas Wey
- Anatomy, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Route Albert-Gockel 1, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Beat Schwaller
- Anatomy, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Route Albert-Gockel 1, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
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76
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Dimond D, Schuetze M, Smith RE, Dhollander T, Cho I, Vinette S, Ten Eycke K, Lebel C, McCrimmon A, Dewey D, Connelly A, Bray S. Reduced White Matter Fiber Density in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:1778-1788. [PMID: 30668849 PMCID: PMC6418389 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in brain networks and underlying white matter abnormalities have been suggested to underlie symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, robustly characterizing microstructural white matter differences has been challenging. In the present study, we applied an analytic technique that calculates structural metrics specific to differently-oriented fiber bundles within a voxel, termed "fixels". Fixel-based analyses were used to compare diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data from 25 individuals with ASD (mean age = 16.8 years) and 27 typically developing age-matched controls (mean age = 16.9 years). Group comparisons of fiber density (FD) and bundle morphology were run on a fixel-wise, tract-wise, and global white matter (GWM) basis. We found that individuals with ASD had reduced FD, suggestive of decreased axonal count, in several major white matter tracts, including the corpus callosum (CC), bilateral inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus, right arcuate fasciculus, and right uncinate fasciculus, as well as a GWM reduction. Secondary analyses assessed associations with social impairment in participants with ASD, and showed that lower FD in the splenium of the CC was associated with greater social impairment. Our findings suggest that reduced FD could be the primary microstructural white matter abnormality in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Dimond
- Department of Neuroscience, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Manuela Schuetze
- Department of Neuroscience, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Robert E Smith
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne VIC, Australia.,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Thijs Dhollander
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne VIC, Australia.,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Ivy Cho
- Department of Psychological Clinical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Vinette
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Kayla Ten Eycke
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Adam McCrimmon
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Alan Connelly
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne VIC, Australia.,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Signe Bray
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
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77
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Drakulic D, Djurovic S, Syed YA, Trattaro S, Caporale N, Falk A, Ofir R, Heine VM, Chawner SJRA, Rodriguez-Moreno A, van den Bree MBM, Testa G, Petrakis S, Harwood AJ. Copy number variants (CNVs): a powerful tool for iPSC-based modelling of ASD. Mol Autism 2020; 11:42. [PMID: 32487215 PMCID: PMC7268297 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00343-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with chromosome microdeletions or duplications, known as copy number variants (CNVs), present a unique opportunity to investigate the relationship between patient genotype and cell phenotype. CNVs have high genetic penetrance and give a good correlation between gene locus and patient clinical phenotype. This is especially effective for the study of patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), including those falling within the autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A key question is whether this correlation between genetics and clinical presentation at the level of the patient can be translated to the cell phenotypes arising from the neurodevelopment of patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).Here, we examine how iPSCs derived from ASD patients with an associated CNV inform our understanding of the genetic and biological mechanisms underlying the aetiology of ASD. We consider selection of genetically characterised patient iPSCs; use of appropriate control lines; aspects of human neurocellular biology that can capture in vitro the patient clinical phenotype; and current limitations of patient iPSC-based studies. Finally, we consider how future research may be enhanced to maximise the utility of CNV patients for research of pathological mechanisms or therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danijela Drakulic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11042 Belgrade, 152, Serbia
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, 0424, Oslo, Norway
- NORMENT, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5007, Bergen, Norway
| | - Yasir Ahmed Syed
- Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Sebastiano Trattaro
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, 20146, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicolò Caporale
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, 20146, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Falk
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rivka Ofir
- BGU-iPSC Core Facility, The Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Vivi M Heine
- Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Child and Youth Psychiatry, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Samuel J R A Chawner
- Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Antonio Rodriguez-Moreno
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Pablo de Olavide, Ctra. de Utrera, Km 1, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Marianne B M van den Bree
- Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Giuseppe Testa
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, 20146, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
- Human Technopole, Via Cristina Belgioioso 171, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Spyros Petrakis
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Adrian J Harwood
- Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
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Sciara AN, Beasley B, Crawford JD, Anderson EP, Carrasco T, Zheng S, Ordway GA, Chandley MJ. Neuroinflammatory Gene Expression Alterations in Anterior Cingulate Cortical White and Gray Matter of Males With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2020; 13:870-884. [PMID: 32129578 PMCID: PMC7540672 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Evidence for putative pathophysiological mechanisms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including peripheral inflammation, blood-brain barrier disruption, white matter alterations, and abnormal synaptic overgrowth, indicate a possible involvement of neuroinflammation in the disorder. Neuroinflammation plays a role in the development and maintenance of the dendritic spines involved in glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, and also influences blood-brain permeability. Cytokines released from microglia can impact the length, location or organization of dendritic spines on excitatory and inhibitory cells as well as recruit and impact glial cell function around the neurons. In this study, gene expression levels of anti- and pro-inflammatory signaling molecules, as well as oligodendrocyte and astrocyte marker proteins, were measured in both gray and white matter tissue in the anterior cingulate cortex from ASD and age-matched typically developing (TD) control brain donors, ranging from ages 4 to 37 years. Expression levels of the pro-inflammatory gene, HLA-DR, were significantly reduced in gray matter and expression levels of the anti-inflammatory gene MRC1 were significantly elevated in white matter from ASD donors as compared to TD donors, but neither retained statistical significance after correction for multiple comparisons. Modest trends toward differences in expression levels were also observed for the pro-inflammatory (CD68, IL1β) and anti-inflammatory genes (IGF1, IGF1R) comparing ASD donors to TD donors. The direction of gene expression changes comparing ASD to TD donors did not reveal consistent findings implicating an elevated pro- or anti-inflammatory state in ASD. However, altered expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory gene expression indicates some involvement of neuroinflammation in ASD. Autism Res 2020, 13: 870-884. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: The anterior cingulate cortex is an integral brain region in modulating social behaviors including nonverbal communication. The study found that inflammatory gene expression levels were altered in this brain region. We hypothesize that the inflammatory changes in this area could impact neuronal function. The finding has future implications in using these molecular markers to identify potential environmental exposures and distinct cell differences in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aubrey N. Sciara
- Department of Biological SciencesEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTennessee
| | - Brooke Beasley
- Department of Health SciencesEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTN
| | - Jessica D. Crawford
- Department of Biomedical SciencesEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTN
| | - Emma P. Anderson
- Department of Health SciencesEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTN
| | - Tiffani Carrasco
- Department of Health SciencesEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTN
| | - Shimin Zheng
- Department of Biostatistics and EpidemiologyEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTN
| | - Gregory A. Ordway
- Department of Biomedical SciencesEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTN
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesEast Tennessee State University, Johnson CityJohnson CityTN
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Abstract
Since the initial psychological report by Leo Kanner in 1943, relatively little formal biochemical/neurological research on the cause of autism, other than peripheral searches for genomic mutations, had been carried until the end of the 20th century. As a result of studies on twin sets and the conclusion that autism was largely a hereditary defect, numerous investigations have sought various genetic faults in particular. However, such studies were able to reveal a plausible etiology for this malady in only a small percentage of instances. Key bio-molecular characteristics of this syndrome have been uncovered when the potential roles of the glia were studied in depth. Findings related to biochemical deficiencies appearing early in the newborn, such as depressed IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor #1) in neurogenesis/myelination, are becoming emphasized in many laboratories. Progress leading to timely diagnoses and subsequent prevention of central nervous system dysconnectivity now seems plausible. The tendency for an infant to develop autism may currently be determinable and preventable before irreversible psychosocial disturbances become established. These discussions about glial function will be inter-spersed with comments about their apparent relevance to autism. The concluding portion of this presentation will be a detailed review and summation of this diagnosis and prevention proposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Steinman
- Visiting Researcher, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hadassah Hospital-Hebrew University, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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80
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A myelin-related transcriptomic profile is shared by Pitt-Hopkins syndrome models and human autism spectrum disorder. Nat Neurosci 2020; 23:375-385. [PMID: 32015540 PMCID: PMC7065955 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0578-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is genetically heterogeneous with convergent symptomatology, suggesting common dysregulated pathways. We analyzed brain transcriptional changes in five mouse models of Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS), a syndromic form of ASD caused by mutations in TCF4 (transcription factor 4, not TCF7L2 / T-Cell Factor 4). Analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) highlighted oligodendrocyte (OL) dysregulation, which we confirmed in two additional mouse models of syndromic ASD (Ptenm3m4/m3m4 and Mecp2tm1.1Bird). The PTHS mouse models showed cell-autonomous reductions in OL numbers and myelination, functionally confirming OL transcriptional signatures. Next, we integrated PTHS mouse model DEGs with human idiopathic ASD postmortem brain RNA-seq data, and found significant enrichment of overlapping DEGs and common myelination-associated pathways. Importantly, DEGs from syndromic ASD mouse models, and reduced deconvoluted OL numbers, distinguished human idiopathic ASD cases from controls across three postmortem brain datasets. These results implicate disruptions in OL biology as a cellular mechanism in ASD pathology.
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81
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Castelijns B, Baak ML, Timpanaro IS, Wiggers CRM, Vermunt MW, Shang P, Kondova I, Geeven G, Bianchi V, de Laat W, Geijsen N, Creyghton MP. Hominin-specific regulatory elements selectively emerged in oligodendrocytes and are disrupted in autism patients. Nat Commun 2020; 11:301. [PMID: 31949148 PMCID: PMC6965079 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-14269-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Speciation is associated with substantial rewiring of the regulatory circuitry underlying the expression of genes. Determining which changes are relevant and underlie the emergence of the human brain or its unique susceptibility to neural disease has been challenging. Here we annotate changes to gene regulatory elements (GREs) at cell type resolution in the brains of multiple primate species spanning most of primate evolution. We identify a unique set of regulatory elements that emerged in hominins prior to the separation of humans and chimpanzees. We demonstrate that these hominin gains perferentially affect oligodendrocyte function postnatally and are preferentially affected in the brains of autism patients. This preference is also observed for human-specific GREs suggesting this system is under continued selective pressure. Our data provide a roadmap of regulatory rewiring across primate evolution providing insight into the genomic changes that underlie the emergence of the brain and its susceptibility to neural disease. The understanding of the changes regulating gene expression relevant for the emergence of the human brain and its susceptibility to disease is limited. Here, the authors identified a set of regulatory elements that evolved in hominins affecting oligodendrocyte function, and link these to autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bas Castelijns
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mirna L Baak
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ilia S Timpanaro
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline R M Wiggers
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Division of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 XC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marit W Vermunt
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Peng Shang
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ivanela Kondova
- Biomedical Primate Research Center, Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288 GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Geert Geeven
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Valerio Bianchi
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter de Laat
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Niels Geijsen
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Menno P Creyghton
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands. .,Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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82
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O'Neill J, Bansal R, Goh S, Rodie M, Sawardekar S, Peterson BS. Parsing the Heterogeneity of Brain Metabolic Disturbances in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 87:174-184. [PMID: 31427037 PMCID: PMC6925333 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its brain bases remain uncertain. Abnormal levels of N-acetyl compounds, glutamate+glutamine, creatine+phosphocreatine, or choline compounds measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy suggest that neuron or glial density, mitochondrial energetic metabolism, and/or inflammation contribute to ASD neuropathology. The neuroanatomic distribution of these metabolites could help evaluate leading theories of ASD. However, most prior magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies had small samples (all <60, most <20), interrogated only a small fraction of the brain, and avoided assessing effects of age, sex, and IQ. METHODS We acquired near-whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy of N-acetyl compounds, glutamate+glutamine, creatine+phosphocreatine, and choline compounds in 78 children and adults with ASD and 96 typically developing children and adults, rigorously evaluating effects of diagnosis and severity on metabolites, as moderated by age, sex, and IQ. RESULTS Effects of ASD and its severity included reduced levels of multiple metabolites in white matter and the perisylvian cortex and elevated levels in the posterior cingulate, consistent with white matter and social-brain theories of ASD. Regionally, both slower and faster decreases of metabolites with age were observed in ASD versus TD. Male-female metabolite differences were widely smaller in ASD than typically developing children and adults. ASD-specific decreases in metabolites with decreasing IQ occurred in several brain areas. CONCLUSIONS Results support multifocal abnormal neuron or glial density, mitochondrial energetics, or neuroinflammation in ASD, alongside widespread starkly atypical moderating effects of age, sex, and IQ. These findings help parse the neurometabolic signature for ASD by phenotypic heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph O'Neill
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Ravi Bansal
- Institute for the Developing Mind, the Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Suzanne Goh
- Division of Child Neurology, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Martina Rodie
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Siddhant Sawardekar
- Institute for the Developing Mind, the Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Bradley S Peterson
- Institute for the Developing Mind, the Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
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83
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Chun H, Leung C, Wen SW, McDonald J, Shin HH. Maternal exposure to air pollution and risk of autism in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 256:113307. [PMID: 31733973 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been increasing. Previous studies suggested potential association between pregnancy air pollution exposure and ASD. This systematic review and meta-analysis is intended to summarize the association between maternal exposure to outdoor air pollution and ASD in children by trimester based on recent studies. METHODS A systematic literature search in 3 databases (Medline, Embase, and Web of Science) was performed using subject headings related to ASD and air pollution since 2007. Eligible studies were screened and evaluated based on predetermined criteria. For meta-analyses, the studies were grouped by air pollutant and exposure time (prenatal period and trimesters). Within-group studies were standardized by log odds ratio (OR) and then combined by three meta-analysis methods: frequentist fixed and random effects models, and Bayesian random effects model. RESULTS Initial search identified 1564 papers, of which 25 studies remained for final analysis after duplicates and ineligible studies were removed. Of the 25 studies, 13, 14, 12, and 7 studies investigated ASD in children associated with PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and ozone, respectively. The frequentist and Bayesian random effects models resulted in different statistical significance. For prenatal period, frequentist meta-analysis returned significant pooled ORs with 95% confidence intervals, 1.06(1.01,1.11) for PM2.5 and 1.02(1.01,1.04) for NO2, whereas Bayesian meta-analysis showed similar ORs with wider 95% posterior intervals, 1.06(1.00,1.13) for PM2.5 and 1.02(1.00,1.05) for NO2. Third trimester appeared to have higher pooled ORs for PM2.5, PM10, and ozone, but patterns in the time-varying associations over the trimester were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS For positive association between maternal exposure to ambient air pollution and ASD in children, there is some evidence for PM2.5, weak evidence for NO2 and little evidence for PM10 and ozone. However, patterns in associations over trimesters were inconsistent among studies and among air pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- HeeKyoung Chun
- Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, GA, USA
| | - Cheryl Leung
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Newborn Care, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Shi Wu Wen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Newborn Care, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa, ON, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Judy McDonald
- McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hwashin H Shin
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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84
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Andrews DS, Lee JK, Solomon M, Rogers SJ, Amaral DG, Nordahl CW. A diffusion-weighted imaging tract-based spatial statistics study of autism spectrum disorder in preschool-aged children. J Neurodev Disord 2019; 11:32. [PMID: 31839001 PMCID: PMC6913008 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-019-9291-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are widely theorized to result from altered brain connectivity. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) has been a versatile method for investigating underlying microstructural properties of white matter (WM) in ASD. Despite phenotypic and etiological heterogeneity, DWI studies in majority male samples of older children, adolescents, and adults with ASD have largely reported findings of decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) across several commissural, projection, and association fiber tracts. However, studies in preschool-aged children (i.e., < 30-40 months) suggest individuals with ASD have increased measures of WM FA earlier in development. METHODS We analyzed 127 individuals with ASD (85♂, 42♀) and 54 typically developing (TD) controls (42♂, 26♀), aged 25.1-49.6 months. Voxel-wise effects of ASD diagnosis, sex, age, and their interaction on DWI measures of FA, mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), and axial diffusivity (AD) were investigated using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) while controlling mean absolute and relative motion. RESULTS Compared to TD controls, males and females with ASD had significantly increased measures of FA in eight clusters (threshold-free cluster enhancement p < 0.05) that incorporated several WM tracts including regions of the genu, body, and splenium of the corpus callosum, inferior frontal-occipital fasciculi, inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi, middle and superior cerebellar peduncles, and corticospinal tract. A diagnosis by sex interaction was observed in measures of AD across six significant clusters incorporating areas of the body, genu, and splenium of the corpus collosum. In these tracts, females with ASD showed increased AD compared to TD females, while males with ASD showed decreased AD compared to TD males. CONCLUSIONS The current findings support growing evidence that preschool-aged children with ASD have atypical measures of WM microstructure that appear to differ in directionality from alterations observed in older individuals with the condition. To our knowledge, this study represents the largest sample of preschool-aged females with ASD to be evaluated using DWI. Microstructural differences associated with ASD largely overlapped between sexes. However, differential relationships of AD measures indicate that sex likely modulates ASD neuroanatomical phenotypes. Further longitudinal study is needed to confirm and quantify the developmental relationship of WM structure in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Sayre Andrews
- The Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Joshua K. Lee
- The Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Marjorie Solomon
- The Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Sally J. Rogers
- The Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - David G. Amaral
- The Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Christine Wu Nordahl
- The Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA USA
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85
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Levy DR, Tamir T, Kaufman M, Parabucki A, Weissbrod A, Schneidman E, Yizhar O. Dynamics of social representation in the mouse prefrontal cortex. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:2013-2022. [PMID: 31768051 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0531-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays an important role in regulating social functions in mammals, and its dysfunction has been linked to social deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet little is known of how the PFC encodes social information and how social representations may be altered in such disorders. Here, we show that neurons in the medial PFC of freely behaving male mice preferentially respond to socially relevant olfactory cues. Population activity patterns in this region differed between social and nonsocial stimuli and underwent experience-dependent refinement. In mice lacking the autism-associated gene Cntnap2, both the categorization of sensory stimuli and the refinement of social representations were impaired. Noise levels in spontaneous population activity were higher in Cntnap2 knockouts and correlated with the degree to which social representations were disrupted. Our findings elucidate the encoding of social sensory cues in the medial PFC and provide a link between altered prefrontal dynamics and autism-associated social dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Rubi Levy
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tal Tamir
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Maya Kaufman
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ana Parabucki
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Aharon Weissbrod
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Elad Schneidman
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ofer Yizhar
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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86
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Douglas PS. Pre-emptive Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Theoretical Foundations and Clinical Translation. Front Integr Neurosci 2019; 13:66. [PMID: 31798425 PMCID: PMC6877903 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2019.00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are an emergent public health problem, placing significant burden upon the individual, family and health system. ASD are polygenetic spectrum disorders of neural connectome development, in which one or more feedback loops amplify small genetic, structural, or functional variations in the very early development of motor and sensory-motor pathways. These perturbations trigger a 'butterfly effect' of unpredictable cascades of structural and functional imbalances in the global neuronal workspace, resulting in atypical behaviors, social communication, and cognition long-term. The first 100 days post-term are critically neuroplastic and comprise an injury-sensitive developmental window, characterized by a neural biomarker, the persistence of the cortical subplate, and a behavioral biomarker, the crying diathesis. By the time potential diagnostic signs are identified, from 6 months of age, ASD neuropathy is already entrenched. The International Society for Autism Research Special Interest Group has called for pre-emptive intervention, based upon rigorous theoretical frames, and real world translation and evaluation. This paper responds to that call. It synthesizes heterogenous evidence concerning ASD etiologies from both psychosocial and biological research literatures with complexity science and evolutionary biology, to propose a theoretical framework for pre-emptive intervention. This paper hypothesizes that environmental factors resulting from a mismatch between environment of evolutionary adaptedness and culture initiate or perpetuate early motor and sensory-motor lesions, triggering a butterfly effect of multi-directional cascades of atypical developmental in the complex adaptive system of the parent and ASD-susceptible infant. Chronic sympathetic nervous system/hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperarousal and disrupted parent-infant biobehavioral synchrony are the key biologic and behavioral mechanisms perpetuating these atypical developmental cascades. A clinical translation of this evidence is proposed, for application antenatally and in the first 6 months of life, as pre-emptive intervention for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela S. Douglas
- Transforming Maternity Care Collaborative, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Discipline of General Practice, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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87
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Girault JB, Piven J. The Neurodevelopment of Autism from Infancy Through Toddlerhood. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 2019; 30:97-114. [PMID: 31759576 DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2019.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) emerges during early childhood and is marked by a relatively narrow window in which infants transition from exhibiting normative behavioral profiles to displaying the defining features of the ASD phenotype in toddlerhood. Prospective brain imaging studies in infants at high familial risk for autism have revealed important insights into the neurobiology and developmental unfolding of ASD. In this article, we review neuroimaging studies of brain development in ASD from birth through toddlerhood, relate these findings to candidate neurobiological mechanisms, and discuss implications for future research and translation to clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica B Girault
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 101 Renee Lynne Court, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 101 Renee Lynne Court, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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88
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been hypothesized to be a result of altered connectivity in the brain. Recent imaging studies suggest accelerated maturation of the white matter in young children with ASD, with underlying mechanisms unknown. Myelin is an integral part of the white matter and critical for connectivity; however, its role in ASD remains largely unclear. Here, we investigated myelin development in a model of idiopathic ASD, the BTBR mice. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that fiber tracts in the frontal brain of the BTBR mice had increased volume at postnatal day 6, but the difference reduced over time, reminiscent of the findings in young patients. We further identified that myelination in the frontal brain of both male and female neonatal BTBR mice was increased, associated with elevated levels of myelin basic protein. However, myelin pattern was unaltered in adult BTBR mice, revealing accelerated developmental trajectory of myelination. Consistently, we found that signaling of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) was reduced in the frontal brain of neonatal BTBR mice. However, levels of microRNA species known to regulate PDGFRα signaling and myelination were unaltered. Together, these results suggest that precocious myelination could potentially contribute to increased volume and connectivity of the white matter observed in young children with ASD.
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89
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Rothman J, Bartky EJ, Halas FP. Effect of L1-79 on Core Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Series. Clin Ther 2019; 41:1972-1981. [PMID: 31492568 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2019.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study examines the effects of the tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor L1-79, a racemic formulation of α-methylparatyrosine, in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a prospective case series. The l-isomer formulation of α-methylparatyrosine, metyrosine, is approved for the management of patients with pheochromocytoma. METHODS Six male and 2 female patients aged 2.75 to 24 years with ASD were treated for 8 weeks at L1-79 doses ranging from 90 to 400 mg thrice daily. Assessments at weekly intervals included the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C), Connor's Parent Rating Scale (CPRS), and Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) was administered at baseline and week 10. FINDINGS The ABC-C and CPRS scores improved between baseline and end of study for 7 of 8 participants; most participants' assessment scores decreased. At week 8, the CGI efficacy index was 05 for 6 of 8 participants, indicating modest improvement with at least partial resolution of symptoms and no medication adverse effects, and 09 for 2 participants, indicating minimal improvement and no change in status or care needs, without adverse effects. The mean ADOS scores improved by ≥31% for 4 of the 6 participants tested, with 1 patient experiencing a 47% improvement. Seven of the 8 participants previously taking psychotropic medications were stable without their legacy medications while receiving L1-79, and 1 patient resumed a single legacy medication at a lower dose. Three adverse events were reported; symptoms were mild and resolved without change in therapy. IMPLICATIONS These results suggest L1-79 may be a tolerable and effective treatment for the core symptoms of ASD, which must be confirmed with double-blind studies.
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White matter alterations in adult with autism spectrum disorder evaluated using diffusion kurtosis imaging. Neuroradiology 2019; 61:1343-1353. [PMID: 31209529 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-019-02238-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is related to impairment in various white matter (WM) pathways. Utility of the recently developed two-compartment model of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) to analyse axial diffusivity of WM is restricted by several limitations. The present study aims to validate the utility of model-free DKI in the evaluation of WM alterations in ASD and analyse the potential relationship between DKI-evident WM alterations and personality scales. METHODS Overall, 15 participants with ASD and 15 neurotypical (NT) controls were scanned on a 3 T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, and scores for autism quotient (AQ), systemising quotient (SQ) and empathising quotient (EQ) were obtained for both groups. Multishell diffusion-weighted MR data were acquired using two b-values (1000 and 2000 s/mm2). Differences in mean kurtosis (MK), radial kurtosis (RK) and axial kurtosis (AK) between the groups were evaluated using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). Finally, the relationships between the kurtosis indices and personality quotients were examined. RESULTS The ASD group demonstrated significantly lower AK in the body and splenium of corpus callosum than the NT group; however, no other significant differences were identified. Negative correlations were found between AK and AQ or SQ, predominantly in WM areas related to social-emotional processing such as uncinate fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi. CONCLUSIONS Model-free DKI and its indices may represent a novel, objective method for detecting the disease severity and WM alterations in patients with ASD.
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91
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Steinman G, Mankuta D. Molecular biology of autism's etiology - An alternative mechanism. Med Hypotheses 2019; 130:109272. [PMID: 31383342 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Autism is a neuropathologic condition believed to be the consequence of cerebral dysconnectivity. Hypomyelination of axons in brain nerve pathways parallels behavioral abnormalities characteristic of autism. The present discussion will examine the functional association of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) to neo-neuron myelination, especially in autistic children. These structural defects apparently correlate with a reduced level of circulating IGF. In addition, the potential connection of single nucleotide polymorphism to the etiology of autism is considered. Pharmaceutical and nutritional supplements that may enhance IGF1 to reduce the incidence of autism are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Steinman
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hadassah Hospital/Hebrew University, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem 12000, Israel.
| | - David Mankuta
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hadassah Hospital/Hebrew University, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem 12000, Israel
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92
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Liang S, Yin N, Faiola F. Human Pluripotent Stem Cells as Tools for Predicting Developmental Neural Toxicity of Chemicals: Strategies, Applications, and Challenges. Stem Cells Dev 2019; 28:755-768. [PMID: 30990109 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2019.0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The human central nervous system (CNS) is very sensitive to perturbations, since it performs sophisticated biological processes and requires cooperation from multiple neural cell types. Subtle interference from exogenous chemicals, such as environmental pollutants, industrial chemicals, drug components, food additives, and cosmetic constituents, may initiate severe developmental neural toxicity (DNT). Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-based neural differentiation assays provide effective and promising tools to help evaluate potential DNT caused by those toxicants. In fact, the specification of neural lineages in vitro recapitulates critical CNS developmental processes, such as patterning, differentiation, neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, and myelination. Hence, the established protocols to generate a repertoire of neural derivatives from hPSCs greatly benefit the in vitro evaluation of DNT. In this review, we first dissect the various differentiation protocols inducing neural cells from hPSCs, with an emphasis on the signaling pathways and endpoint markers defining each differentiation stage. We then highlight the studies with hPSC-based protocols predicting developmental neural toxicants, and discuss remaining challenges. We hope this review can provide insights for the further progress of DNT studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengxian Liang
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,2 College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nuoya Yin
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,2 College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Francesco Faiola
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,2 College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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93
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay A Osso
- UCSF Weill Neuroscience Graduate Program and Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonah R Chan
- UCSF Weill Neuroscience Graduate Program and Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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94
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Kulikov V, Guo SM, Stone M, Goodman A, Carpenter A, Bathe M, Lempitsky V. DoGNet: A deep architecture for synapse detection in multiplexed fluorescence images. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1007012. [PMID: 31083649 PMCID: PMC6533009 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal synapses transmit electrochemical signals between cells through the coordinated action of presynaptic vesicles, ion channels, scaffolding and adapter proteins, and membrane receptors. In situ structural characterization of numerous synaptic proteins simultaneously through multiplexed imaging facilitates a bottom-up approach to synapse classification and phenotypic description. Objective automation of efficient and reliable synapse detection within these datasets is essential for the high-throughput investigation of synaptic features. Convolutional neural networks can solve this generalized problem of synapse detection, however, these architectures require large numbers of training examples to optimize their thousands of parameters. We propose DoGNet, a neural network architecture that closes the gap between classical computer vision blob detectors, such as Difference of Gaussians (DoG) filters, and modern convolutional networks. DoGNet is optimized to analyze highly multiplexed microscopy data. Its small number of training parameters allows DoGNet to be trained with few examples, which facilitates its application to new datasets without overfitting. We evaluate the method on multiplexed fluorescence imaging data from both primary mouse neuronal cultures and mouse cortex tissue slices. We show that DoGNet outperforms convolutional networks with a low-to-moderate number of training examples, and DoGNet is efficiently transferred between datasets collected from separate research groups. DoGNet synapse localizations can then be used to guide the segmentation of individual synaptic protein locations and spatial extents, revealing their spatial organization and relative abundances within individual synapses. The source code is publicly available: https://github.com/kulikovv/dognet.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Syuan-Ming Guo
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Matthew Stone
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Allen Goodman
- Imaging Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anne Carpenter
- Imaging Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mark Bathe
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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95
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Hau J, Aljawad S, Baggett N, Fishman I, Carper RA, Müller RA. The cingulum and cingulate U-fibers in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:3153-3164. [PMID: 30941791 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The cingulum is the major fiber system connecting the cingulate and surrounding medial cortex and medial temporal lobe internally and with other brain areas. It is important for social and emotional functions related to core symptomatology in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). While the cingulum has been examined in autism, the extensive system of cingulate U-fibers has not been studied. Using probabilistic tractography, we investigated white matter fibers of the cingulate cortex by distinguishing its deep intra-cingulate bundle (cingulum proper) and short rostral anterior, caudal anterior, posterior, and isthmus cingulate U-fibers in 61 ASD and 54 typically developing children and adolescents. Increased mean and radial diffusivity of the left cingulum proper was observed in the ASD group, replicating previous findings on the cingulum. For cingulate U-fibers, an atypical age-related decline in right posterior cingulate U-fiber volume was found in the ASD group, which appeared to be driven by an abnormally large volume in younger children. History of repetitive and restrictive behavior was negatively associated with right caudal anterior cingulate U-fiber volume, linking cingulate motor areas with neighboring gyri. Aberrant development in U-fiber volume of the right posterior cingulate gyrus may underlie functional abnormalities found in this region, such as in the default mode network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice Hau
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Saba Aljawad
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Nicole Baggett
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Inna Fishman
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Ruth A Carper
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
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96
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The Structural Model: a theory linking connections, plasticity, pathology, development and evolution of the cerebral cortex. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:985-1008. [PMID: 30739157 PMCID: PMC6500485 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01841-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The classical theory of cortical systematic variation has been independently described in reptiles, monotremes, marsupials and placental mammals, including primates, suggesting a common bauplan in the evolution of the cortex. The Structural Model is based on the systematic variation of the cortex and is a platform for advancing testable hypotheses about cortical organization and function across species, including humans. The Structural Model captures the overall laminar structure of areas by dividing the cortical architectonic continuum into discrete categories (cortical types), which can be used to test hypotheses about cortical organization. By type, the phylogenetically ancient limbic cortices-which form a ring at the base of the cerebral hemisphere-are agranular if they lack layer IV, or dysgranular if they have an incipient granular layer IV. Beyond the dysgranular areas, eulaminate type cortices have six layers. The number and laminar elaboration of eulaminate areas differ depending on species or cortical system within a species. The construct of cortical type retains the topology of the systematic variation of the cortex and forms the basis for a predictive Structural Model, which has successfully linked cortical variation to the laminar pattern and strength of cortical connections, the continuum of plasticity and stability of areas, the regularities in the distribution of classical and novel markers, and the preferential vulnerability of limbic areas to neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. The origin of cortical types has been recently traced to cortical development, and helps explain the variability of diseases with an onset in ontogeny.
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97
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Peterson BS, Zargarian A, Peterson JB, Goh S, Sawardekar S, Williams SCR, Lythgoe DJ, Zelaya FO, Bansal R. Hyperperfusion of Frontal White and Subcortical Gray Matter in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 85:584-595. [PMID: 30711191 PMCID: PMC6420395 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our aim was to assess resting cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS We acquired pulsed arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging data in 44 generally high-functioning participants with ASD simplex and 66 typically developing control subjects with comparable mean full-scale IQs. We compared rCBF values voxelwise across diagnostic groups and assessed correlations with symptom scores. We also assessed the moderating influences of participant age, sex, and IQ on our findings and the correlations of rCBF with N-acetylaspartate metabolite levels. RESULTS We detected significantly higher rCBF values throughout frontal white matter and subcortical gray matter in participants with ASD. rCBF correlated positively with socialization deficits in participants with ASD in regions where hyperperfusion was greatest. rCBF declined with increasing IQ in the typically developing group, a correlation that was absent in participants with ASD, whose rCBF values were elevated across all IQ levels. rCBF in the ASD group correlated inversely with N-acetylaspartate metabolite levels throughout the frontal white matter, with greater rCBF accompanying lower and increasingly abnormal N-acetylaspartate levels relative to those of typically developing control subjects. CONCLUSIONS These findings taken together suggest the presence of altered metabolism, likely of mitochondrial origin, and dysfunctional maintenance processes that support axonal functioning in ASD. These disturbances in turn likely reduce neural efficiency for cognitive and social functioning and trigger compensatory responses from supporting glial cells, which subsequently increase rCBF to affected white matter. These findings, if confirmed, suggest cellular and molecular targets for novel therapeutics that address axonal pathology and bolster glial compensatory responses in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley S Peterson
- Institute for the Developing Mind, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Ariana Zargarian
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jarod B Peterson
- Institute for the Developing Mind, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Siddhant Sawardekar
- Institute for the Developing Mind, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Steven C R Williams
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David J Lythgoe
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fernando O Zelaya
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ravi Bansal
- Institute for the Developing Mind, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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98
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Postnatal development and maturation of layer 1 in the lateral prefrontal cortex and its disruption in autism. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:40. [PMID: 30867066 PMCID: PMC6417186 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0684-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental connectivity disorder characterized by cortical network disorganization and imbalance in excitation/inhibition. However, little is known about the development of autism pathology and the disruption of laminar-specific excitatory and inhibitory cortical circuits. To begin to address these issues, we examined layer 1 of the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC), an area with prolonged development and maturation that is affected in autism. We focused on layer 1 because it contains a distinctive, diverse population of interneurons and glia, receives input from feedback and neuromodulatory pathways, and plays a critical role in the development, maturation, and function of the cortex. We used unbiased quantitative methods at high resolution to study the morphology, neurochemistry, distribution, and density of neurons and myelinated axons in post-mortem brain tissue from children and adults with and without autism. We cross-validated our findings through comparisons with neighboring anterior cingulate cortices and optimally-fixed non-human primate tissue. In neurotypical controls we found an increase in the density of myelinated axons from childhood to adulthood. Neuron density overall declined with age, paralleled by decreased density of inhibitory interneurons labeled by calretinin (CR), calbindin (CB), and parvalbumin (PV). Importantly, we found PV neurons in layer 1 of typically developing children, previously detected only perinatally. In autism there was disorganization of cortical networks within layer 1: children with autism had increased variability in the trajectories and thickness of myelinated axons in layer 1, while adults with autism had a reduction in the relative proportion of thin axons. Neurotypical postnatal changes in layer 1 of LPFC likely underlie refinement of cortical activity during maturation of cortical networks involved in cognition. Our findings suggest that disruption of the maturation of feedback pathways, rather than interneurons in layer 1, has a key role in the development of imbalance between excitation and inhibition in autism.
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99
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Holiga Š, Hipp JF, Chatham CH, Garces P, Spooren W, D’Ardhuy XL, Bertolino A, Bouquet C, Buitelaar JK, Bours C, Rausch A, Oldehinkel M, Bouvard M, Amestoy A, Caralp M, Gueguen S, Ly-Le Moal M, Houenou J, Beckmann CF, Loth E, Murphy D, Charman T, Tillmann J, Laidi C, Delorme R, Beggiato A, Gaman A, Scheid I, Leboyer M, d’Albis MA, Sevigny J, Czech C, Bolognani F, Honey GD, Dukart J. Patients with autism spectrum disorders display reproducible functional connectivity alterations. Sci Transl Med 2019. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aat9223 order by 39635--] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Štefan Holiga
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joerg F. Hipp
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christopher H. Chatham
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pilar Garces
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Will Spooren
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Liogier D’Ardhuy
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Céline Bouquet
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan K. Buitelaar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical center, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Netherlands
| | - Carsten Bours
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical center, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Netherlands
| | - Annika Rausch
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical center, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Netherlands
| | - Marianne Oldehinkel
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical center, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Netherlands
- Brain & Mental Health Laboratory, Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Manuel Bouvard
- Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Hôpital Charles Perrens Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Anouck Amestoy
- Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Hôpital Charles Perrens Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Mireille Caralp
- INSERM, National Biobank Infrastructure, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Sonia Gueguen
- INSERM, Clinical Research Department, 75014 Paris, France
| | | | - Josselin Houenou
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
- NeuroSpin, UNIACT Lab, Psychiatry Team, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Christian F. Beckmann
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical center, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Netherlands
| | - Eva Loth
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Declan Murphy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Tony Charman
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Julian Tillmann
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
- Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement, and Intervention, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Charles Laidi
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
| | - Richard Delorme
- APHP, Robert Debré Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Paris, France
- Pasteur Institute, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Anita Beggiato
- APHP, Robert Debré Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Paris, France
- Pasteur Institute, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Alexandru Gaman
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
| | - Isabelle Scheid
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
| | - Marc-Antoine d’Albis
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
- NeuroSpin, UNIACT Lab, Psychiatry Team, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jeff Sevigny
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Czech
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Federico Bolognani
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
- Therachon AG, Aeschenvorstadt 36, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Garry D. Honey
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Juergen Dukart
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
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100
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Holiga Š, Hipp JF, Chatham CH, Garces P, Spooren W, D’Ardhuy XL, Bertolino A, Bouquet C, Buitelaar JK, Bours C, Rausch A, Oldehinkel M, Bouvard M, Amestoy A, Caralp M, Gueguen S, Ly-Le Moal M, Houenou J, Beckmann CF, Loth E, Murphy D, Charman T, Tillmann J, Laidi C, Delorme R, Beggiato A, Gaman A, Scheid I, Leboyer M, d’Albis MA, Sevigny J, Czech C, Bolognani F, Honey GD, Dukart J. Patients with autism spectrum disorders display reproducible functional connectivity alterations. Sci Transl Med 2019; 11:11/481/eaat9223. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aat9223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Despite the high clinical burden, little is known about pathophysiology underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) studies have found atypical synchronization of brain activity in ASD. However, no consensus has been reached on the nature and clinical relevance of these alterations. Here, we addressed these questions in four large ASD cohorts. Using rs-fMRI, we identified functional connectivity alterations associated with ASD. We tested for associations of these imaging phenotypes with clinical and demographic factors such as age, sex, medication status, and clinical symptom severity. Our results showed reproducible patterns of ASD-associated functional hyper- and hypoconnectivity. Hypoconnectivity was primarily restricted to sensory-motor regions, whereas hyperconnectivity hubs were predominately located in prefrontal and parietal cortices. Shifts in cortico-cortical between-network connectivity from outside to within the identified regions were shown to be a key driver of these abnormalities. This reproducible pathophysiological phenotype was partially associated with core ASD symptoms related to communication and daily living skills and was not affected by age, sex, or medication status. Although the large effect sizes in standardized cohorts are encouraging with respect to potential application as a treatment and for patient stratification, the moderate link to clinical symptoms and the large overlap with healthy controls currently limit the usability of identified alterations as diagnostic or efficacy readout.
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