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Vasu MM, Sumitha PS, Rahna P, Thanseem I, Anitha A. microRNAs in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 25:4368-4378. [PMID: 31692427 DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666191105120901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efforts to unravel the extensive impact of the non-coding elements of the human genome on cell homeostasis and pathological processes have gained momentum over the last couple of decades. miRNAs refer to short, often 18-25 nucleotides long, non-coding RNA molecules which can regulate gene expression. Each miRNA can regulate several mRNAs. METHODS This article reviews the literature on the roles of miRNAs in autism. RESULTS Considering the fact that ~ 1% of the human DNA encodes different families of miRNAs, their overall impact as critical regulators of gene expression in the mammalian brain should be immense. Though the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are predominantly genetic in nature and several candidate genes are already identified, the highly heterogeneous and multifactorial nature of the disorder makes it difficult to identify common genetic risk factors. Several studies have suggested that the environmental factors may interact with the genetic factors to increase the risk. miRNAs could possibly be one of those factors which explain this link between genetics and the environment. CONCLUSION In the present review, we have summarized our current knowledge on miRNAs and their complex roles in ASD, and also on their therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Mundalil Vasu
- Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Kavalappara, Shoranur, Palakkad - 679 523, Kerala, India
| | - Puthiripadath S Sumitha
- Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Kavalappara, Shoranur, Palakkad - 679 523, Kerala, India
| | - Parakkal Rahna
- Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Kavalappara, Shoranur, Palakkad - 679 523, Kerala, India
| | - Ismail Thanseem
- Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Kavalappara, Shoranur, Palakkad - 679 523, Kerala, India
| | - Ayyappan Anitha
- Department of Neurogenetics, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Kavalappara, Shoranur, Palakkad - 679 523, Kerala, India
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152
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Su LD, Xu FX, Wang XT, Cai XY, Shen Y. Cerebellar Dysfunction, Cerebro-cerebellar Connectivity and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Neuroscience 2020; 462:320-327. [PMID: 32450293 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum has long been conceptualized to control motor learning and motor coordination. However, increasing evidence suggests its roles in cognition and emotion behaviors. In particular, the cerebellum has been recognized as one of key brain regions affected in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To better understand the contribution of the cerebellum in ASD pathogenesis, we here discuss recent behavioral, genetic, and molecular studies from the human and mouse models. In addition, we raise several questions that need to be investigated in future studies from the point view of cerebellar dysfunction, cerebro-cerebellar connectivity and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Da Su
- Neuroscience Care Unit, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Fang-Xiao Xu
- Department of Physiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xin-Tai Wang
- Department of Physiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xin-Yu Cai
- Department of Physiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ying Shen
- Department of Physiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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153
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Carroll L, Braeutigam S, Dawes JM, Krsnik Z, Kostovic I, Coutinho E, Dewing JM, Horton CA, Gomez-Nicola D, Menassa DA. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Multiple Routes to, and Multiple Consequences of, Abnormal Synaptic Function and Connectivity. Neuroscientist 2020; 27:10-29. [PMID: 32441222 PMCID: PMC7804368 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420921378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of
neurodevelopmental disorders of genetic and environmental etiologies.
Some ASD cases are syndromic: associated with clinically defined
patterns of somatic abnormalities and a neurobehavioral phenotype
(e.g., Fragile X syndrome). Many cases, however, are idiopathic or
non-syndromic. Such disorders present themselves during the early
postnatal period when language, speech, and personality start to
develop. ASDs manifest by deficits in social communication and
interaction, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior across
multiple contexts, sensory abnormalities across multiple modalities
and comorbidities, such as epilepsy among many others. ASDs are
disorders of connectivity, as synaptic dysfunction is common to both
syndromic and idiopathic forms. While multiple theories have been
proposed, particularly in idiopathic ASDs, none address why certain
brain areas (e.g., frontotemporal) appear more vulnerable than others
or identify factors that may affect phenotypic specificity. In this
hypothesis article, we identify possible routes leading to, and the
consequences of, altered connectivity and review the evidence of
central and peripheral synaptic dysfunction in ASDs. We postulate that
phenotypic specificity could arise from aberrant experience-dependent
plasticity mechanisms in frontal brain areas and peripheral sensory
networks and propose why the vulnerability of these areas could be
part of a model to unify preexisting pathophysiological theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Carroll
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Sven Braeutigam
- Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - John M Dawes
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Zeljka Krsnik
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Centre of Research Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivica Kostovic
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Centre of Research Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ester Coutinho
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jennifer M Dewing
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
| | - Christopher A Horton
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Diego Gomez-Nicola
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - David A Menassa
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK.,Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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154
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Relationship between Vitamin Deficiencies and Co-Occurring Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 56:medicina56050245. [PMID: 32443822 PMCID: PMC7279218 DOI: 10.3390/medicina56050245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recently, connections have been made between feeding and eating problems and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and between autism pathophysiology and diet issues. These could explain some of the mechanisms which have not yet been discovered or are not sufficiently characterized. Moreover, there is an increased awareness for micronutrients in ASD due to the presence of gastrointestinal (GI) problems that can be related to feeding issues. For example, levels of vitamins B1, B6, B12, A and D are often reported to be low in ASD children. Thus, in the present mini review we focused on describing the impact of some vitamins deficiencies and their relevance in ASD patients.
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155
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Tsugiyama LE, Ida-Eto M, Ohkawara T, Noro Y, Narita M. Altered neuronal activity in the auditory brainstem following sound stimulation in thalidomide-induced autism model rats. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2020; 60:82-86. [PMID: 31373055 DOI: 10.1111/cga.12353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Auditory hypersensitivity in autism is frequently observed in clinics. Dysfunction in the auditory brainstem has been suspected. We have established autism model rats using prenatal thalidomide exposure. Here we investigated whether abnormal response occurs in the brainstem following sound stimulus in autism model rats. Autism model rats were prepared by prenatal exposure to thalidomide on embryonic days 9 and 10 in pregnant rats. Then, the animals were exposed to 16-kHz pure tone auditory stimulus and c-Fos immunostaining was performed to examine the neuronal activity on postnatal day 49 to 51. Following sound stimulus, increased number of c-Fos-positive neurons was observed in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body of autism model rats compared with the control rats. These results suggest that prenatal thalidomide might cause altered processing of auditory stimulus, leading to the characteristics of auditory hypersensitivity in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucila E Tsugiyama
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Mie University, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Michiru Ida-Eto
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Mie University, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ohkawara
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Mie University, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Yuichi Noro
- Department of Physics Engineering, Mie University, Graduate School of Engineering, Mie, Japan
| | - Masaaki Narita
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Mie University, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
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156
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Recent advances in genetic technologies allowed researchers to identify large numbers of candidate risk genes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Both strongly penetrant rare variants and the accumulation of common variants with much weaker penetrance contribute to the cause of ASD. To identify the highly confident candidate genes, software and resources have been applied, and functional evaluation of the variants has provided further insights for ASD pathophysiology. These studies ultimately identify the molecular and circuit alteration underlying the behavioral abnormalities in ASD. In this review, we introduce the recent genetic and genomic findings and functional approaches for ASD variants providing a deeper understanding of the etiology of ASD. RECENT FINDINGS Integrated meta-analysis that recruited a larger number of ASD cases has helped to prioritize ASD candidate genes or genetic loci into highly confidence candidate genes for further investigation. Not only coding but also noncoding variants have been recently implicated to confer the risk of ASD. Functional approaches of genes or variants revealed the disruption of specific molecular pathways. Further studies combining ASD genetics and genomics with recent techniques in engineered mouse models show molecular and circuit mechanisms underlying the behavioral deficits in ASD. SUMMARY Advances in ASD genetics and the following functional studies provide significant insights into ASD pathophysiology at molecular and circuit levels.
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157
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Xu ZX, Kim GH, Tan JW, Riso AE, Sun Y, Xu EY, Liao GY, Xu H, Lee SH, Do NY, Lee CH, Clipperton-Allen AE, Kwon S, Page DT, Lee KJ, Xu B. Elevated protein synthesis in microglia causes autism-like synaptic and behavioral aberrations. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1797. [PMID: 32286273 PMCID: PMC7156673 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15530-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations that inactivate negative translation regulators cause autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which predominantly affect males and exhibit social interaction and communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. However, the cells that cause ASD through elevated protein synthesis resulting from these mutations remain unknown. Here we employ conditional overexpression of translation initiation factor eIF4E to increase protein synthesis in specific brain cells. We show that exaggerated translation in microglia, but not neurons or astrocytes, leads to autism-like behaviors in male mice. Although microglial eIF4E overexpression elevates translation in both sexes, it only increases microglial density and size in males, accompanied by microglial shift from homeostatic to a functional state with enhanced phagocytic capacity but reduced motility and synapse engulfment. Consequently, cortical neurons in the mice have higher synapse density, neuroligins, and excitation-to-inhibition ratio compared to control mice. We propose that functional perturbation of male microglia is an important cause for sex-biased ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Xiang Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Gyu Hyun Kim
- Synaptic Circuit Plasticity Lab, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, 41062, Korea
| | - Ji-Wei Tan
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Anna E Riso
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
- The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Ye Sun
- Integrative Program in Biology and Neuroscience, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Ethan Y Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
- The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Guey-Ying Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Haifei Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Sang-Hoon Lee
- Advanced Neural Imaging Center, Department of Structure & Function of Neural Network, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, 41062, Korea
| | - Na-Young Do
- Synaptic Circuit Plasticity Lab, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, 41062, Korea
| | - Chan Hee Lee
- Synaptic Circuit Plasticity Lab, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, 41062, Korea
| | - Amy E Clipperton-Allen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Soonwook Kwon
- Department of Anatomy, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, 42472, Korea
| | - Damon T Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Kea Joo Lee
- Synaptic Circuit Plasticity Lab, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, 41062, Korea
| | - Baoji Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
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158
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Yoon SH, Choi J, Lee WJ, Do JT. Genetic and Epigenetic Etiology Underlying Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E966. [PMID: 32244359 PMCID: PMC7230567 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9040966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction, language development delays, repeated body movements, and markedly deteriorated activities and interests. Environmental factors, such as viral infection, parental age, and zinc deficiency, can be plausible contributors to ASD susceptibility. As ASD is highly heritable, genetic risk factors involved in neurodevelopment, neural communication, and social interaction provide important clues in explaining the etiology of ASD. Accumulated evidence also shows an important role of epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNA, in ASD etiology. In this review, we compiled the research published to date and described the genetic and epigenetic epidemiology together with environmental risk factors underlying the etiology of the different phenotypes of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jeong Tae Do
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, KU Institute of Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; (S.H.Y.); (J.C.); (W.J.L.)
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159
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Marotta R, Risoleo MC, Messina G, Parisi L, Carotenuto M, Vetri L, Roccella M. The Neurochemistry of Autism. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E163. [PMID: 32182969 PMCID: PMC7139720 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10030163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to complex neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior or interests, and altered sensory processing. Environmental, immunological, genetic, and epigenetic factors are implicated in the pathophysiology of autism and provoke the occurrence of neuroanatomical and neurochemical events relatively early in the development of the central nervous system. Many neurochemical pathways are involved in determining ASD; however, how these complex networks interact and cause the onset of the core symptoms of autism remains unclear. Further studies on neurochemical alterations in autism are necessary to clarify the early neurodevelopmental variations behind the enormous heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder, and therefore lead to new approaches for the treatment and prevention of autism. In this review, we aim to delineate the state-of-the-art main research findings about the neurochemical alterations in autism etiology, and focuses on gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, serotonin, dopamine, N-acetyl aspartate, oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin, melatonin, vitamin D, orexin, endogenous opioids, and acetylcholine. We also aim to suggest a possible related therapeutic approach that could improve the quality of ASD interventions. Over one hundred references were collected through electronic database searching in Medline and EMBASE (Ovid), Scopus (Elsevier), ERIC (Proquest), PubMed, and the Web of Science (ISI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Marotta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro 88100, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.R.)
| | - Maria C. Risoleo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro 88100, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.R.)
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Napoli 80138, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Messina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia 71100, Italy;
| | - Lucia Parisi
- Department of Psychology, Educational and Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo 90128, Italy; (L.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Marco Carotenuto
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Napoli 80138, Italy;
| | - Luigi Vetri
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo 90127, Italy
| | - Michele Roccella
- Department of Psychology, Educational and Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo 90128, Italy; (L.P.); (M.R.)
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160
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Propionic acid induced behavioural effects of relevance to autism spectrum disorder evaluated in the hole board test with rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 97:109794. [PMID: 31639413 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a set of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by abnormal social interactions, impaired language, and stereotypic and repetitive behaviours. Among genetically susceptible subpopulations, gut and dietary influences may play a role in etiology. Propionic acid (PPA), produced by enteric gut bacteria, crosses both the gut-blood and the blood-brain barrier. Previous research has demonstrated that repeated intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of PPA in adult rats produce behavioural and neuropathological changes similar to those seen in ASD patients, including hyperactivity, stereotypy, and repetitive movements. The current study examined dose and time related changes of exploratory and repetitive behaviours with the use of the hole-board task. Adult male Long-Evans rats received ICV infusions twice a day, 4 h apart, of either buffered PPA (low dose 0.052 M or high dose 0.26 M, pH 7.5, 4 μL/infusion) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS, 0.1 M) for 7 consecutive days. Locomotor activity and hole-poke behaviour were recorded daily in an automated open field apparatus (Versamax), equipped with 16 open wells, for 30 min immediately after the second infusion. In a dose dependent manner PPA infused rats displayed significantly more locomotor activity, stereotypic behaviour and nose-pokes than PBS infused rats. Low-dose PPA animals showed locomotor activity levels similar to those of PBS animals at the start of the infusion schedule, but gradually increased to levels comparable to those of high-dose PPA animals by the end of the infusion schedule, demonstrating a dose and time dependent effect of the PPA treatments.
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161
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Hui K, Katayama Y, Nakayama KI, Nomura J, Sakurai T. Characterizing vulnerable brain areas and circuits in mouse models of autism: Towards understanding pathogenesis and new therapeutic approaches. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 110:77-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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162
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous condition affecting >1% of all children, characterized by impaired social interactions, repetitive behavior and a widely variable spectrum of comorbidities. These comorbidities may include developmental delay, gastrointestinal problems, cardiac disorders, immune and autoimmune dysregulation, neurological manifestations (e.g., epilepsy, intellectual disability), and other clinical features. This wide phenotypic heterogeneity is difficult to predict and manifests across a wide range of ages and with a high degree of difference in severity, making disease management and prediction of a successful intervention very difficult. Recently, advances in genomics and other molecular technologies have enabled the study of ASD on a molecular level, illuminating genes and pathways whose perturbations help explain the clinical variability among patients, and whose impairments provide possible opportunities for better treatment options. In fact, there are now >1000 genes that have been linked to ASD through genetic studies of more than 10,000 patients and their families. This chapter discusses these discoveries and in the context of recent developments in genomics and bioinformatics, while also examining the trajectory of gene discovery efforts over the past few decades, as both better ascertainment and global attention have been given to this highly vulnerable patient population.
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163
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Girault JB, Swanson MR, Meera SS, Grzadzinski RL, Shen MD, Burrows CA, Wolff JJ, Pandey J, John TS, Estes A, Zwaigenbaum L, Botteron KN, Hazlett HC, Dager SR, Schultz RT, Constantino JN, Piven J. Quantitative trait variation in ASD probands and toddler sibling outcomes at 24 months. J Neurodev Disord 2020; 12:5. [PMID: 32024459 PMCID: PMC7003330 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-020-9308-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at increased likelihood of receiving an ASD diagnosis and exhibiting other developmental concerns. It is unknown how quantitative variation in ASD traits and broader developmental domains in older siblings with ASD (probands) may inform outcomes in their younger siblings. Methods Participants included 385 pairs of toddler siblings and probands from the Infant Brain Imaging Study. ASD probands (mean age 5.5 years, range 1.7 to 15.5 years) were phenotyped using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition (VABS-II). Siblings were assessed using the ADI-R, VABS-II, Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and received a clinical best estimate diagnosis at 24 months using DSM-IV-TR criteria (n = 89 concordant for ASD; n = 296 discordant). We addressed two aims: (1) to determine whether proband characteristics are predictive of recurrence in siblings and (2) to assess associations between proband traits and sibling dimensional outcomes at 24 months. Results Regarding recurrence risk, proband SCQ scores were found to significantly predict sibling 24-month diagnostic outcome (OR for a 1-point increase in SCQ = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.12). Regarding quantitative trait associations, we found no significant correlations in ASD traits among proband-sibling pairs. However, quantitative variation in proband adaptive behavior, communication, and expressive and receptive language was significantly associated with sibling outcomes in the same domains; proband scores explained 9–18% of the variation in cognition and behavior in siblings with ASD. Receptive language was particularly strongly associated in concordant pairs (ICC = 0.50, p < 0.001). Conclusions Proband ASD symptomology, indexed by the SCQ, is a predictor of familial ASD recurrence risk. While quantitative variation in social communication and restricted and repetitive behavior were not associated among sibling pairs, standardized ratings of proband language and communication explained significant variation in the same domains in the sibling at 24 months, especially among toddlers with an ASD diagnosis. These data suggest that proband characteristics can alert clinicians to areas of developmental concern for young children with familial risk for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica B Girault
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 3376, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Meghan R Swanson
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Shoba S Meera
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 3376, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Rebecca L Grzadzinski
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 3376, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Mark D Shen
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 3376, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Jason J Wolff
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Juhi Pandey
- Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tanya St John
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Annette Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Kelly N Botteron
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Heather C Hazlett
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 3376, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stephen R Dager
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Robert T Schultz
- Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John N Constantino
- Division of Child Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 3376, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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164
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Ghozy S, Tran L, Naveed S, Quynh TTH, Helmy Zayan A, Waqas A, Sayed AKH, Karimzadeh S, Hirayama K, Huy NT. Association of breastfeeding status with risk of autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review, dose-response analysis and meta-analysis. Asian J Psychiatr 2020; 48:101916. [PMID: 31923810 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.101916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Current evidence indicates that nutritional status in newborns, especially the duration of breastfeeding, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder. We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze relevant studies with findings of an association between autism spectrum disorder and breastfeeding patterns, and undertook an extensive dose-response analysis to interpret the results more accurately. Ten electronic databases and manual search of reference lists were used to identify relevant studies in September 2018. Dose-response and conventional meta-analysis were conducted by the random-effects model. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO with CRD42016043128. Seven case-control studies were found in which the association between ever breastfeeding and risk of autism spectrum disorder was investigated. We found a 58 % decrease in the risk of autism spectrum disorder with ever breastfeeding and a 76 % decrease in the risk with exclusive breastfeeding. According to our dose-response meta-analysis, breastfeeding for 6 months was associated with a 54 % reduction in the risk. In the conventional meta-analysis, breastfeeding for 12-24 months was associated with the most significant reduction in the risk of autism spectrum disorder. Our results highlight the importance of breastfeeding to decrease the risk of autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherief Ghozy
- Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org/), Nagasaki, Japan.
| | - Linh Tran
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Viet Nam.
| | - Sadiq Naveed
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org/), Nagasaki, Japan; Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas 66160, USA.
| | - Tran Thuy Huong Quynh
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org/), Nagasaki, Japan; School of Medicine, Viet Nam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, 70000, Viet Nam.
| | - Ahmad Helmy Zayan
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org/), Nagasaki, Japan; Department of Otolaryngology, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed Waqas
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org/), Nagasaki, Japan; CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry, Lahore Cantt, 54600, Pakistan.
| | - Ahmed Kamal Hamed Sayed
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org/), Nagasaki, Japan; Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt.
| | - Sedighe Karimzadeh
- Online Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org/), Nagasaki, Japan; School of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
| | - Kenji Hirayama
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Leading Graduate School Program, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Nguyen Tien Huy
- Evidence Based Medicine Research Group, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, 70000, Viet Nam; Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, 70000, Viet Nam.
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165
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Samadi SA. Parental Beliefs and Feelings about Autism Spectrum Disorder in Iran. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E828. [PMID: 32013060 PMCID: PMC7038212 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17030828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study provides information on beliefs that parents of children with autism hold in Iran. The main focus is on their beliefs about the cause and the way that this condition is explained based on the first signs that made them be concerned for their children. METHOD To attain the aims of this study, 43 parents of children with ASD (27 mothers and 16 fathers) were recruited and interviewed in two sessions in their home. A mixed method approach was used to understand Iranian parents' reaction to receive diagnosis for their children. RESULTS Based on findings for the identification, description, and treatment of ASD in Iran, it is argued that since Iranian parents had their special justification regarding their experience with ASD, early child development and interventions must be understood within cultural context. Culturally informed research on ASD is vital to boost awareness of the importance of understanding parental concerns and their need for educational and psychological services in countries in which autism is less known, undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or even stigmatized. Understanding the difference in ASD meaning across cultures urges stakeholders such as service providers and policymakers to accept and appreciate cultural and individual diversities in the present century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayyed Ali Samadi
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Ulster University, BT521SA Coleraine, Ireland
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166
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Balasco L, Provenzano G, Bozzi Y. Sensory Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Focus on the Tactile Domain, From Genetic Mouse Models to the Clinic. Front Psychiatry 2020; 10:1016. [PMID: 32047448 PMCID: PMC6997554 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.01016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory abnormalities are commonly recognized as diagnostic criteria in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as reported in the last edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-V). About 90% of ASD individuals have atypical sensory experiences, described as both hyper- and hypo-reactivity, with abnormal responses to tactile stimulation representing a very frequent finding. In this review, we will address the neurobiological bases of sensory processing in ASD, with a specific focus of tactile sensitivity. In the first part, we will review the most relevant sensory abnormalities detected in ASD, and then focus on tactile processing deficits through the discussion of recent clinical and experimental studies. In the search for the neurobiological bases of ASD, several mouse models have been generated with knockout and humanized knockin mutations in many ASD-associated genes. Here, we will therefore give a brief overview of the anatomical structure of the mouse somatosensory system, and describe the somatosensory abnormalities so far reported in different mouse models of ASD. Understanding the neurobiological bases of sensory processing in ASD mouse models may represent an opportunity for a better comprehension of the mechanisms underlying sensory abnormalities, and for the development of novel effective therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Balasco
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Giovanni Provenzano
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Yuri Bozzi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy
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167
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The Value of Twins for Health and Medical Research: A Third of a Century of Progress. Twin Res Hum Genet 2020; 23:8-15. [PMID: 31983355 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2020.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In 1984, Hrubec and Robinette published what was arguably the first review of the role of twins in medical research. The authors acknowledged a growing distinction between two categories of twin studies: those aimed at assessing genetic contributions to disease and those aimed at assessing environmental contributions while controlling for genetic variation. They concluded with a brief section on recently founded twin registries that had begun to provide unprecedented access to twins for medical research. Here we offer an overview of the twin research that, in our estimation, best represents the field has progress since 1984. We start by summarizing what we know about twinning. We then focus on the value of twin study designs to differentiate between genetic and environmental influences on health and on emerging applications of twins in multiple areas of medical research. We finish by describing how twin registries and networks are accelerating twin research worldwide.
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168
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Beighley JS, Hudac CM, Arnett AB, Peterson JL, Gerdts J, Wallace AS, Mefford HC, Hoekzema K, Turner TN, O'Roak BJ, Eichler EE, Bernier RA. Clinical Phenotypes of Carriers of Mutations in CHD8 or Its Conserved Target Genes. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 87:123-131. [PMID: 31526516 PMCID: PMC6925323 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Variants disruptive to CHD8 (which codes for the protein CHD8 [chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 8]) are among the most common mutations revealed by exome sequencing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent work has indicated that CHD8 plays a role in the regulation of other ASD-risk genes. However, it is unclear whether a possible shared genetic ontology extends to the phenotype. METHODS This study (N = 143; 42.7% female participants) investigated clinical and behavioral features of individuals ascertained for the presence of a known disruptive ASD-risk mutation that is 1) CHD8 (CHD8 group) (n = 15), 2) a gene targeted by CHD8 (target group) (n = 22), or 3) a gene without confirmed evidence of being targeted by CHD8 (other gene group) (n = 106). RESULTS Results indicated shared features between the CHD8 and target groups that included less severe adaptive deficits in communication skills, similar functional language, more social motivation challenges in those with ASD, larger head circumference, higher weight, and lower seizure prevalence relative to the other gene group. CONCLUSIONS These similarities suggest broader genetic ontology accounts for aspects of phenotypic heterogeneity. Improved understanding of the relationships between related disruptive gene events may lead us to improved understanding of shared mechanisms and lead to more focused treatments for individuals with known genetic mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S Beighley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
| | - Caitlin M Hudac
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Anne B Arnett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jessica L Peterson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jennifer Gerdts
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Arianne S Wallace
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Heather C Mefford
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kendra Hoekzema
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Tychele N Turner
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Brian J O'Roak
- Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle Children's Autism Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Disabilities, Seattle Children's Autism Center, Seattle, Washington.
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169
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Alzghoul L. Role of Vitamin D in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 25:4357-4367. [DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666191122092215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder with heterogeneous etiology.
Vitamin D can function as a fat-soluble vitamin as well as a hormone, and can exert its effect through both genomic
and non-genomic mechanisms. In the last decades, several studies have examined the relationship between
vitamin D levels and ASD. These studies demonstrated that low vitamin D status in early development has been
hypothesized as an environmental risk factor for ASD. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that
vitamin D deficiency in early life can alter brain development, dysregulates neurotransmitter balance in the brain,
decreases body and brain antioxidant ability, and alters the immune system in ways that resemble pathological
features commonly seen in ASD. In this review, we focused on the association between vitamin D and ASD. In
addition, the above-mentioned mechanisms of action that link vitamin D deficiency with ASD were also discussed.
Finally, clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation treatment of ASD have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loai Alzghoul
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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170
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Wallentin M. Gender differences in language are small but matter for disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 175:81-102. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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171
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Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM. Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics 2020; 145:peds.2019-3447. [PMID: 31843864 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-3447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 496] [Impact Index Per Article: 124.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with reported prevalence in the United States of 1 in 59 children (approximately 1.7%). Core deficits are identified in 2 domains: social communication/interaction and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior. Children and youth with ASD have service needs in behavioral, educational, health, leisure, family support, and other areas. Standardized screening for ASD at 18 and 24 months of age with ongoing developmental surveillance continues to be recommended in primary care (although it may be performed in other settings), because ASD is common, can be diagnosed as young as 18 months of age, and has evidenced-based interventions that may improve function. More accurate and culturally sensitive screening approaches are needed. Primary care providers should be familiar with the diagnostic criteria for ASD, appropriate etiologic evaluation, and co-occurring medical and behavioral conditions (such as disorders of sleep and feeding, gastrointestinal tract symptoms, obesity, seizures, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and wandering) that affect the child's function and quality of life. There is an increasing evidence base to support behavioral and other interventions to address specific skills and symptoms. Shared decision making calls for collaboration with families in evaluation and choice of interventions. This single clinical report updates the 2007 American Academy of Pediatrics clinical reports on the evaluation and treatment of ASD in one publication with an online table of contents and section view available through the American Academy of Pediatrics Gateway to help the reader identify topic areas within the report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Hyman
- Golisano Children's Hospital, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York;
| | - Susan E Levy
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Scott M Myers
- Geisinger Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Danville, Pennsylvania
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172
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Vartanian C. Overview of Nutritional Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 24:527-534. [PMID: 32006371 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-30402-7_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this chapter is to evaluate the latest research pertinent to nutritional management in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and discuss the effectiveness of dietary interventions, nutritional approaches, and supplementation in ASD. To date, the best conventional treatments for autism have been based on a combination of pharmacotherapy, behavioral treatments, and nutritional/dietary therapy, leading many parents and caregivers to opt for specific dietary interventions in the hope of alleviating the symptoms of their children and helping them cope with this disorder. Thus, the role of a registered dietitian and a nutrition specialist is crucial in planning specific nutritional and dietary interventions tailored to individual needs, to make sure the child's nutritional needs for growth and development are being met. In addition, a careful monitoring of the nutritional status and the positive or negative outcomes pertinent to the planned intervention is a must. Furthermore, numerous studies have also discussed how the maternal diet and specific dietary supplements might affect the behavioral development of children in the first few years of life. A review of the abovementioned nutrition-related key points is discussed in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Vartanian
- Royal Society of Medicine, General Practice with Primary Healthcare Section, London, UK.
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173
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New Horizons for Molecular Genetics Diagnostic and Research in Autism Spectrum Disorder. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 24:43-81. [PMID: 32006356 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-30402-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable, heterogeneous, and complex pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder (PND) characterized by distinctive abnormalities of human cognitive functions, social interaction, and speech development.Nowadays, several genetic changes including chromosome abnormalities, genetic variations, transcriptional epigenetics, and noncoding RNA have been identified in ASD. However, the association between these genetic modifications and ASDs has not been confirmed yet.The aim of this review is to summarize the key findings in ASD from genetic viewpoint that have been identified from the last few decades of genetic and molecular research.
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174
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Kapra O, Rotem R, Gross R. The Association Between Prenatal Exposure to Antidepressants and Autism: Some Research and Public Health Aspects. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:555740. [PMID: 33329095 PMCID: PMC7719777 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.555740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Use of antidepressants (ADs) in general, and in pregnant notwithstanding, has been increasing globally in recent decades. Associations with a wide range of adverse perinatal and childhood outcomes following prenatal ADs exposure have been observed in registry-based studies, with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) frequently reported. Studies using animal models, sibling analyses, and negative control approaches, have linked dysfunctional serotonin metabolism with ASD, but did not convincingly tease apart the role of maternal mental health from that of ADs. As work to decipher the nature of the AD-ASD association continues, this review raises some public health concerns pertinent to a hypothetical conclusion that this association is causal, including the need to identify specific gestation periods with higher risk, the importance of precise assessment of the ASD potential prevention that might be attributed to AD discontinuation, and the estimation of risks associated with prenatal exposure to untreated depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ori Kapra
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ran Rotem
- School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States.,Morris Kahn Maccabi Health Data Science Institute, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Raz Gross
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,Department of Psychiatry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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175
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Schauder KB, Park WJ, Tsank Y, Eckstein MP, Tadin D, Bennetto L. Initial eye gaze to faces and its functional consequence on face identification abilities in autism spectrum disorder. J Neurodev Disord 2019; 11:42. [PMID: 31883518 PMCID: PMC6935487 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-019-9303-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined and diagnosed by core deficits in social communication and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors. Research on face processing suggests deficits in this domain in ASD but includes many mixed findings regarding the nature and extent of these differences. The first eye movement to a face has been shown to be highly informative and sufficient to achieve high performance in face identification in neurotypical adults. The current study focused on this critical moment shown to be essential in the process of face identification. METHODS We applied an established eye-tracking and face identification paradigm to comprehensively characterize the initial eye movement to a face and test its functional consequence on face identification performance in adolescents with and without ASD (n = 21 per group), and in neurotypical adults. Specifically, we presented a series of faces and measured the landing location of the first saccade to each face, while simultaneously measuring their face identification abilities. Then, individuals were guided to look at specific locations on the face, and we measured how face identification performance varied as a function of that location. Adolescent participants also completed a more traditional measure of face identification which allowed us to more fully characterize face identification abilities in ASD. RESULTS Our results indicate that the location of the initial look to faces and face identification performance for briefly presented faces are intact in ASD, ruling out the possibility that deficits in face perception, at least in adolescents with ASD, begin with the initial eye movement to the face. However, individuals with ASD showed impairments on the more traditional measure of face identification. CONCLUSION Together, the observed dissociation between initial, rapid face perception processes, and other measures of face perception offers new insights and hypotheses related to the timing and perceptual complexity of face processing and how these specific aspects of face identification may be disrupted in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly B. Schauder
- Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Meliora Hall, P.O Box 270266, Rochester, NY 14627 USA
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, USA
- Children’s National Medical Center, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, 15245 Shady Grove Road Suite 350, Rockville, MD 20850 USA
| | - Woon Ju Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Guthrie Hall Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Yuliy Tsank
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660 USA
| | - Miguel P. Eckstein
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660 USA
| | - Duje Tadin
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, 310 Meliora Hall, P.O Box 270268, Rochester, NY 14627-0268 USA
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, USA
| | - Loisa Bennetto
- Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Meliora Hall, P.O Box 270266, Rochester, NY 14627 USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, 310 Meliora Hall, P.O Box 270268, Rochester, NY 14627-0268 USA
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176
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Identification of De Novo JAK2 and MAPK7 Mutations Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Whole-Exome Sequencing in a Chinese Child and Adolescent Trio-Based Sample. J Mol Neurosci 2019; 70:219-229. [PMID: 31838722 PMCID: PMC7018782 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-019-01456-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. Whole-exome sequencing studies have shown that de novo single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) play an important role in sporadic ASD. The present study aimed to search for de novo SNVs using whole-exome sequencing in 59 unrelated Chinese ASD sporadic trios, and found 24 genes (including five reported ASD candidate genes CACNA1D, ACHE, YY1, TTN, and FBXO11) with de novo harmful SNVs. Five genes (CACNA1D, JAK2, ACHE, MAPK7, and PRKAG2) classified as “medium-confidence” genes were found to be related to ASD using the Phenolyzer gene analysis tool, which predicts the correlation between the candidate genes and the ASD phenotype. De novo SNVs in JAK2, MAPK7, and PRKAG2 were first found in ASD. Both JAK2 and MAPK7 were involved in the regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Gene co-expression and inter-gene interaction networks were constructed and gene expression data in different brain regions were further extracted, revealing that JAK2 and MAPK7 genes were associated with certain previously reported ASD genes and played an important role in early brain development. The findings of this study suggest that the aforementioned five reported ASD genes and JAK2 and MAPK7 may be related to ASD susceptibility. Further investigations of expression studies in cellular and animal models are needed to explore the mechanism underlying the involvement of JAK2 and MAPK7 in ASD.
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177
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Peterson JL, Earl R, Fox EA, Ma R, Haidar G, Pepper M, Berliner L, Wallace A, Bernier R. Trauma and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Review, Proposed Treatment Adaptations and Future Directions. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2019; 12:529-547. [PMID: 31819782 PMCID: PMC6901292 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-019-00253-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Empirical investigations of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are lacking despite indications of increased risk for exposure to potentially traumatic events in this population. Research on the treatment of traumatic stress psychopathology in ASD is even more limited and suggests a critical need for guidance in the area of ASD-specific treatment adaptations. The current paper provides preliminary recommendations for adapting current evidenced-based, trauma-specific interventions, specifically trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), for individuals with ASD based on well-established and evidence-based practices for working with this population. These adaptations highlight the need to incorporate treatment goals related to ASD core symptoms and associated characteristics during treatment targeting traumatic stress symptoms. Future directions are discussed, including the development of instruments measuring trauma reactions in ASD, empirical investigations of modified trauma interventions for children with ASD to evaluate effectiveness, and collaboration between professionals specializing in ASD and trauma/PTSD to advance research and facilitate effective care for this community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Peterson
- Seattle Children's Autism Center, , 4909 25th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105, M/S CAC, PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145-5005
| | - Rachel Earl
- University of Washington, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences / Seattle Children's Hospital
| | - Emily A Fox
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA / Seattle Children's Hospital, M/S CAC PO Box 5371, 508.851.0996
| | - Ruqian Ma
- University of Washington College of Education and Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, CHDD Box 357920, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Ghina Haidar
- University of Washington College of Education & Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, CHDD Box 357920, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Micah Pepper
- University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, CHDD Box 357920, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Lucy Berliner
- University of Washington Medicine, Mailing Address: 325 Ninth Avenue, MS 359947 Seattle, WA 98104, 206 744-1600 (main line)
| | - Arianne Wallace
- University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, CHDD Box 357920, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Raphael Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, ,
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178
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Pharmacological, non-pharmacological and stem cell therapies for the management of autism spectrum disorders: A focus on human studies. Pharmacol Res 2019; 152:104579. [PMID: 31790820 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has dramatically escalated worldwide. Currently available drugs mainly target some co-occurring symptoms of ASD, but are not effective on the core symptoms, namely impairments in communication and social interaction, and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors. On the other hand, transplantation of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells in ASD children has been shown promising to stimulate the recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation of tissue-residing native stem cells, reducing inflammation, and improving some ASD symptoms. Moreover, several comorbidities have also been associated with ASD, such as immune dysregulation, gastrointestinal issues and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Non-pharmacological approaches, such as dietary supplementations with certain vitamins, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, probiotics, some phytochemicals (e.g., luteolin and sulforaphane), or overall diet interventions (e.g., gluten free and casein free diets) have been considered for the reduction of such comorbidities and the management of ASD. Here, interventional studies describing pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments in ASD children and adolescents, along with stem cell-based therapies, are reviewed.
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179
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Zhang SF, Gao J, Liu CM. The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Genet 2019; 10:1033. [PMID: 31824553 PMCID: PMC6882276 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs, a group of ribonucleic acids that are ubiquitous in the body and do not encode proteins, emerge as important regulatory factors in almost all biological processes in the brain. Extensive studies have suggested the involvement of non-coding RNAs in brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders, and dysregulation of non-coding RNAs is associated with abnormal brain development and the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we provide an overview of the roles and working mechanisms of non-coding RNAs, and discuss potential clinical applications of non-coding RNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers and as therapeutic targets in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jun Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medicine Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chang-Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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180
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Ma X, Qiu S. Control of cortical synapse development and plasticity by MET receptor tyrosine kinase, a genetic risk factor for autism. J Neurosci Res 2019; 98:2115-2129. [PMID: 31746037 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The key developmental milestone events of the human brain, such as neurogenesis, synapse formation, maturation, and plasticity, are determined by a myriad of molecular signaling events, including those mediated by a number of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and their cognate ligands. Aberrant or mistimed brain development and plasticity can lead to maladaptive changes, such as dysregulated synaptic connectivity and breakdown of circuit functions necessary for cognition and adaptive behaviors, which are hypothesized pathophysiologies of many neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we review recent literature that supports autism spectrum disorder as a likely result of aberrant synapse development due to mistimed maturation and plasticity. We focus on MET RTK, a prominent genetic risk factor for autism, and discuss how a pleiotropic molecular signaling system engaged by MET exemplifies a genetic program that controls cortical circuit development and plasticity by modulating the anatomical and functional connectivity of cortical circuits, thus conferring genetic risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokuang Ma
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Shenfeng Qiu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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181
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Tejada MI, Villate O, Ibarluzea N, de la Hoz AB, Martínez-Bouzas C, Beristain E, Martínez F, Friez MJ, Sobrino B, Barros F. Molecular and Clinical Characterization of a Novel Nonsense Variant in Exon 1 of the UPF3B Gene Found in a Large Spanish Basque Family (MRX82). Front Genet 2019; 10:1074. [PMID: 31737052 PMCID: PMC6836624 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
X-linked intellectual disability (XLID) is known to explain up to 10% of the intellectual disability in males. A large number of families in which intellectual disability is the only clinically consistent manifestation have been described. While linkage analysis and candidate gene testing were the initial approaches to find genes and variants, next generation sequencing (NGS) has accelerated the discovery of more and more XLID genes. Using NGS, we resolved the genetic cause of MRX82 (OMIM number 300518), a large Spanish Basque family with five affected males with intellectual disability and a wide phenotypic variability among them despite having the same pathogenic variant. Although the previous linkage study had mapped the locus to an interval of 7.6Mb in Xq24–Xq25 of the X chromosome, this region contained too many candidate genes to be analysed using conventional approaches. NGS revealed a novel nonsense variant: c.118C > T; p.Gln40* in UPF3B, a gene previously implicated in XLID that encodes a protein involved in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Further molecular studies showed that the mRNA transcript was not completely degraded by NMD. However, UPF3B protein was not detected by conventional Western Blot analysis at least downstream of the 40 residue demonstrating that the phenotype could be due to the loss of functional protein. This is the first report of a premature termination codon before the three functional domains of the UPF3B protein and these results directly implicate the absence of these domains with XLID, autism and some dysmorphic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Isabel Tejada
- Genetics Service, Cruces University Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo, Spain.,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Olatz Villate
- Genetics Service, Cruces University Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo, Spain.,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Nekane Ibarluzea
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Belén de la Hoz
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Cristina Martínez-Bouzas
- Genetics Service, Cruces University Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo, Spain.,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Elena Beristain
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Araba University Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Francisco Martínez
- Servicio de Genética, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Beatriz Sobrino
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain.,Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica, Grupo de Medicina Xenómica (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Francisco Barros
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain.,Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica, Grupo de Medicina Xenómica (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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182
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Yang G, Shcheglovitov A. Probing disrupted neurodevelopment in autism using human stem cell-derived neurons and organoids: An outlook into future diagnostics and drug development. Dev Dyn 2019; 249:6-33. [PMID: 31398277 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) represent a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction, repetitive or restrictive behaviors, and problems with speech. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 68 children in the US is diagnosed with ASDs. Although ASD-related diagnostics and the knowledge of ASD-associated genetic abnormalities have improved in recent years, our understanding of the cellular and molecular pathways disrupted in ASD remains very limited. As a result, no specific therapies or medications are available for individuals with ASDs. In this review, we describe the neurodevelopmental processes that are likely affected in the brains of individuals with ASDs and discuss how patient-specific stem cell-derived neurons and organoids can be used for investigating these processes at the cellular and molecular levels. Finally, we propose a discovery pipeline to be used in the future for identifying the cellular and molecular deficits and developing novel personalized therapies for individuals with idiopathic ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Yang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Alex Shcheglovitov
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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183
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Green CC, Brown NJ, Yap VMZ, Scheffer IE, Wilson SJ. Cognitive processes predicting advanced theory of mind in the broader autism phenotype. Autism Res 2019; 13:921-934. [PMID: 31566923 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about executive functions (EFs) associated with advanced theory of mind (ToM) abilities. We aimed to determine if advanced ToM abilities were reduced in individuals with subclinical traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), known as the "Broader Autism Phenotype" (BAP), and identify the EFs that predicted unimpaired performance on an advanced ToM task, the faux pas test. We assessed 29 participants (13 males) with the BAP who were relatives of children with ASD. Thirteen participants showed reduced ability to understand a faux pas. A discriminant function analysis correctly classified 79% of cases as impaired or unimpaired, with high sensitivity (80%) and specificity (77%), which was best predicted by language-mediated EFs, including verbal generativity, working memory, cognitive inhibition, and flexibility. Autism Res 2020, 13: 921-934. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Little is known about the complex cognitive processes that enable accurate interpretation of another person's thoughts and emotions, known as "theory of mind." In relatives of individuals with autism, who had mild traits of autism themselves, approximately half had difficulty interpreting situations involving a social faux pas. Cognitive inhibition and flexibility, working memory, and verbal generativity were related to, and appeared to be protective for, unimpaired understanding of a faux pas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie C Green
- Department of Medicine-Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Natasha J Brown
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, MCRI, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia.,Child Health Research Unit, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
| | - Valerie M Z Yap
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Department of Medicine-Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah J Wilson
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia
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184
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Lange-Küttner C, Korte MA, Stamouli C. Parents' Autistic Personality Traits and Sex-Biased Family Ratio Determine the Amount of Technical Toy Choice. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2101. [PMID: 31616336 PMCID: PMC6764165 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effect of parents' autism quotient (AQ), their sex and the sex of their children on their toy preference. In a computerized forced-choice shopping task, adults selected from cuddly and social role-playing toys (social toys), academic, music and sports toys (educational toys) and construction sets as well as cars (technical toys). A sex-balanced high and low AQ sample of 160 adults consisted of groups of parents of sons only, daughters only, sons and daughters, as well as of a group of adults without children (non-parents). The standard toy preference was social toys < educational toys < technical toys. Low AQ women were the only group to make a significantly higher amount of educational and a lower amount of technical toy choices. The mere presence of just sons increased technical toy choice in this experiment, while the mere presence of just daughters reduced technical toy choice both in men and high AQ individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Lange-Küttner
- School of Social Sciences, London Metropolitan University, London, United Kingdom
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185
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Hansen SN, Schendel DE, Francis RW, Windham GC, Bresnahan M, Levine SZ, Reichenberg A, Gissler M, Kodesh A, Bai D, Yip BHK, Leonard H, Sandin S, Buxbaum JD, Hultman C, Sourander A, Glasson EJ, Wong K, Öberg R, Parner ET. Recurrence Risk of Autism in Siblings and Cousins: A Multinational, Population-Based Study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2019; 58:866-875. [PMID: 30851399 PMCID: PMC6708733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Familial recurrence risk is an important population-level measure of the combined genetic and shared familial liability of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Objectives were to estimate ASD recurrence risk among siblings and cousins by varying degree of relatedness and by sex. METHOD This is a population-based cohort study of livebirths from 1998 to 2007 in California, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Sweden and Western Australia followed through 2011 to 2015. Subjects were monitored for an ASD diagnosis in their older siblings or cousins (exposure) and for their ASD diagnosis (outcome). The relative recurrence risk was estimated for different sibling and cousin pairs, for each site separately and combined, and by sex. RESULTS During follow-up, 29,998 cases of ASD were observed among the 2,551,918 births used to estimate recurrence in ASD and 33,769 cases of childhood autism (CA) were observed among the 6,110,942 births used to estimate CA recurrence. Compared with the risk in unaffected families, there was an 8.4-fold increase in the risk of ASD following an older sibling with ASD and a 17.4-fold increase in the risk of CA following an older sibling with CA. A 2-fold increase in the risk for cousin recurrence was observed for the 2 disorders. There also was a significant difference in sibling ASD recurrence risk by sex. CONCLUSION The present estimates of relative recurrence risks for ASD and CA will assist clinicians and families in understanding autism risk in the context of other families in their population. The observed variation by sex underlines the need to deepen the understanding of factors influencing ASD familial risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana E Schendel
- Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus University
| | - Richard W Francis
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Gayle C Windham
- Environmental Health Investigations Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA
| | - Michaeline Bresnahan
- Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
| | | | - Abraham Reichenberg
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Mika Gissler
- Division of Family Medicine, Karolinska Institutet; the University of Turku, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, Turku, Finland; THL National Institute for Health and Welfare, Information Services Department, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Arad Kodesh
- University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; Meuhedet Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dan Bai
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Jockey Club of School of Public Health and Primary Care, Division of Family Medicine, Hong Kong
| | - Benjamin Hon Kei Yip
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Jockey Club of School of Public Health and Primary Care, Division of Family Medicine, Hong Kong
| | - Helen Leonard
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Sven Sandin
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | | | - Emma J Glasson
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Kingsley Wong
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
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186
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Giannopoulou I, Lazaratou H, Economou M, Dikeos D. Converging Psychoanalytic and Neurobiological Understanding of Autism: Promise for Integrative Therapeutic Approaches. Psychodyn Psychiatry 2019; 47:275-290. [PMID: 31448985 DOI: 10.1521/pdps.2019.47.3.275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of heterogeneous neu-rodevelopmental conditions characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities. For many years, psychoanalysis and neurobiology have been in opposite camps regarding the understanding of autism in terms of causation and treatment. This paper aims to highlight converging points between neurobiological and psychodynamic understanding of autism, which could be useful in designing more effective early interventions. For this purpose, we give a brief overview of the psychoanalytic conceptualization of autism since its first description as well as present the most pertinent neurobiological findings underlying the disorder; both these approaches are pointing to a dysfunction in caregiver-child interactions. In the last few decades, the convergence of the psychoanalytical with the neurobiological perspectives of the disorder enhances further our understanding of the dynamic interplay among biological and psychological processes in autism. This integrative approach, grounded in both theoretical perspectives, could inform future research focusing on interpersonal neurobiology, but also provide a base for developing multi-level and multi-component early interventions, which should start as early as possible, most appropriately during infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Giannopoulou
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital
| | - Helen Lazaratou
- First Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Vasilisis Sofias St 72-74, Athens, Greece
| | - Marina Economou
- First Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Vasilisis Sofias St 72-74, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Dikeos
- First Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Vasilisis Sofias St 72-74, Athens, Greece
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187
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Rylaarsdam L, Guemez-Gamboa A. Genetic Causes and Modifiers of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:385. [PMID: 31481879 PMCID: PMC6710438 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders, affecting an estimated 1 in 59 children. ASD is highly genetically heterogeneous and may be caused by both inheritable and de novo gene variations. In the past decade, hundreds of genes have been identified that contribute to the serious deficits in communication, social cognition, and behavior that patients often experience. However, these only account for 10-20% of ASD cases, and patients with similar pathogenic variants may be diagnosed on very different levels of the spectrum. In this review, we will describe the genetic landscape of ASD and discuss how genetic modifiers such as copy number variation, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and epigenetic alterations likely play a key role in modulating the phenotypic spectrum of ASD patients. We also consider how genetic modifiers can alter convergent signaling pathways and lead to impaired neural circuitry formation. Lastly, we review sex-linked modifiers and clinical implications. Further understanding of these mechanisms is crucial for both comprehending ASD and for developing novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alicia Guemez-Gamboa
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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188
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Hu VW, Devlin CA, Debski JJ. ASD Phenotype-Genotype Associations in Concordant and Discordant Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins Stratified by Severity of Autistic Traits. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20153804. [PMID: 31382655 PMCID: PMC6696087 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social communication coupled with stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests. Despite the high concordance rate for diagnosis, there is little information on the magnitude of genetic contributions to specific ASD behaviors. Using behavioral/trait severity scores from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) diagnostic instrument, we compared the phenotypic profiles of mono- and dizygotic twins where both co-twins were diagnosed with ASD or only one twin had a diagnosis. The trait distribution profiles across the respective twin populations were first used for quantitative trait association analyses using publicly available genome-wide genotyping data. Trait-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were then used for case-control association analyses, in which cases were defined as individuals in the lowest (Q1) and highest (Q4) quartiles of the severity distribution curves for each trait. While all of the ASD-diagnosed twins exhibited similar trait severity profiles, the non-autistic dizygotic twins exhibited significantly lower ADI-R item scores than the non-autistic monozygotic twins. Case-control association analyses of twins stratified by trait severity revealed statistically significant SNPs with odds ratios that clearly distinguished individuals in Q4 from those in Q1. While the level of shared genomic variation is a strong determinant of the severity of autistic traits in the discordant non-autistic twins, the similarity of trait profiles in the concordantly autistic dizygotic twins also suggests a role for environmental influences. Stratification of cases by trait severity resulted in the identification of statistically significant SNPs located near genes over-represented within autism gene datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie W Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
| | - Christine A Devlin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Jessica J Debski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
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189
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Li Z, Jagadapillai R, Gozal E, Barnes G. Deletion of Semaphorin 3F in Interneurons Is Associated with Decreased GABAergic Neurons, Autism-like Behavior, and Increased Oxidative Stress Cascades. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:5520-5538. [PMID: 30635860 PMCID: PMC6614133 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1450-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autism and epilepsy are diseases which have complex genetic inheritance. Genome-wide association and other genetic studies have implicated at least 500+ genes associated with the occurrence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) including the human semaphorin 3F (Sema 3F) and neuropilin 2 (NRP2) genes. However, the genetic basis of the comorbid occurrence of autism and epilepsy is unknown. The aberrant development of GABAergic circuitry is a possible risk factor in autism and epilepsy. Molecular biological approaches were used to test the hypothesis that cell-specific genetic variation in mouse homologs affects the formation and function of GABAergic circuitry. The empirical analysis with mice homozygous null for one of these genes, Sema 3F, in GABAergic neurons substantiated these predictions. Notably, deletion of Sema 3F in interneurons but not excitatory neurons during early development decreased the number of interneurons/neurites and mRNAs for cell-specific GABAergic markers and increased epileptogenesis and autistic behaviors. Studies of interneuron cell-specific knockout of Sema 3F signaling suggest that deficient Sema 3F signaling may lead to neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Further studies of mouse KO models of ASD genes such as Sema 3F or NRP2 may be informative to clinical phenotypes contributing to the pathogenesis in autism and epilepsy patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Li
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Rekha Jagadapillai
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Evelyne Gozal
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Gregory Barnes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA.
- Pediatric Research Institute, University of Louisville Autism Center, 1405 East Burnett Ave, Louisville, KY, 40217, USA.
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190
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Patel SP, Kim JH, Larson CR, Losh M. Mechanisms of voice control related to prosody in autism spectrum disorder and first-degree relatives. Autism Res 2019; 12:1192-1210. [PMID: 31187944 PMCID: PMC6771711 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Differences in prosody (e.g., intonation, rhythm) are among the most obvious language-related impairments in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and significantly impact communication. Subtle prosodic differences have also been identified in a subset of clinically unaffected first-degree relatives of individuals with ASD, and may reflect genetic liability to ASD. This study investigated the neural basis of prosodic differences in ASD and first-degree relatives through analysis of feedforward and feedback control involved in the planning, production, self-monitoring, and self-correction of speech by using a pitch-perturbed auditory feedback paradigm during sustained vowel and speech production. Results revealed larger vocal response magnitudes to pitch-perturbed auditory feedback across tasks in ASD and ASD parent groups, with differences in sustained vowel production driven by parents who displayed subclinical personality and language features associated with ASD (i.e., broad autism phenotype). Both ASD and ASD parent groups exhibited increased response onset latencies during sustained vowel production, while the ASD parent group exhibited decreased response onset latencies during speech production. Vocal response magnitudes across tasks were associated with prosodic atypicalities in both individuals with ASD and their parents. Exploratory event-related potential (ERP) analyses in a subgroup of participants during the sustained vowel task revealed reduced P1 ERP amplitudes in the ASD group, with similar trends observed in parents. Overall, results suggest underdeveloped feedforward systems and neural attenuation in detecting audio-vocal feedback may contribute to ASD-related prosodic atypicalities. Importantly, results implicate atypical audio-vocal integration as a marker of genetic risk to ASD, evident in ASD and among clinically unaffected relatives. Autism Res 2019, 12: 1192-1210. © 2019 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Previous research has identified atypicalities in prosody (e.g., intonation) in individuals with ASD and a subset of their first-degree relatives. In order to better understand the mechanisms underlying prosodic differences in ASD, this study examined how individuals with ASD and their parents responded to unexpected differences in what they heard themselves say to modify control of their voice (i.e., audio-vocal integration). Results suggest that disruptions to audio-vocal integration in individuals with ASD contribute to ASD-related prosodic atypicalities, and the more subtle differences observed in parents could reflect underlying genetic liability to ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani P. Patel
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and DisordersNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinois
| | - Jason H. Kim
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and DisordersNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinois
| | - Charles R. Larson
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and DisordersNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinois
| | - Molly Losh
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and DisordersNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinois
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191
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Johnstone M, Hillary RF, St Clair D. Stem Cells to Inform the Neurobiology of Mental Illness. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2019; 40:13-43. [PMID: 30030769 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2018_57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The inception of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSCs) technology has provided an exciting platform upon which the modelling and treatment of human neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders may be expedited. Although the genetic architecture of these disorders is far more complex than previously imagined, many key loci have at last been identified. This has allowed in vivo and in vitro technologies to be refined to model specific high-penetrant genetic loci involved in both disorders. Animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders, show limitations in recapitulating the full complexity and heterogeneity of human neurodevelopmental disease states. Indeed, patient-derived hiPSCs offer distinct advantages over classical animal models in the study of human neuropathologies. Here we have discussed the current, relative translational merit of hiPSCs in investigating human neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders with a specific emphasis on the utility of such systems to aid in the identification of biomarkers. We have highlighted the promises and pitfalls of reprogramming cell fate for the study of these disorders and provide recommendations for future directions in this field in order to overcome current limitations. Ultimately, this will aid in the development of effective clinical strategies for diverse patient populations affected by these disorders with the aim of also leading to biomarker identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Johnstone
- Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
| | - Robert F Hillary
- Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - David St Clair
- Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
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192
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Replication of previous GWAS hits suggests the association between rs4307059 near MSNP1AS and autism in a Chinese Han population. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 92:194-198. [PMID: 30610940 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 12/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with high heritability. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) demonstrated that some single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were significantly associated with autism, while other studies focusing on these GWAS hits showed inconsistent results. Besides, the association between these variants and autism in the Chinese Han population remains unclear. Therefore, this family-based association study was performed in 640 Chinese Han autism trios to investigate the association between autism and 7 SNPs with genome-wide significance in previous GWAS (rs4307059 near MSNP1AS, rs4141463 in MACROD2, rs2535629 in ITIH3, rs11191454 in AS3MT, rs1625579 in MIR137HG, rs11191580 in NT5C2, and rs1409313 in CUEDC2). The results showed a nominal association between the T allele of rs4307059 and autism under both additive model (T>C, Z = 2.250, P = .024) and recessive model (T>C, Z = 2.109, P = .035). The findings provided evidence that rs4307059 near MSNP1AS might be a susceptibility variant for autism in the Chinese Han population.
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193
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Garel N, Garel P. Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adolescents with Complex Clinical Presentations: A Montreal Case Series. ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/2210676609666181204125951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Despite increased attention and recognition of autism spectrum
disorders, many patients suffering from these disorders remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed
late due to their subtle clinical presentation. The challenge for clinicians working in the field
of mental health is not in screening and diagnosing young children showing typical signs of
autism spectrum disorders, but rather in identifying patients at the high-functioning end of
the spectrum whose intellectual abilities mask their social deficits.
Objective:
Because therapeutic interventions differ radically once the diagnosis of ASD has
been made, it is important to understand the trajectory of those adolescents and identify clues
that could help raise the diagnosis of ASD earlier.
Methods:
Records of eight adolescents with a late diagnosis of ASD were retrospectively
reviewed to identify relevant clinical features that were overlooked in childhood and early
adolescence.
Results:
The patients were previously misdiagnosed with multiple mental health disorders.
These cases showed striking similarities in terms of developmental history, reasons for
misdiagnosis, and the clinical picture at the time of ASD recognition. The cases were
characterized by complex and fluctuating symptomatology, including depression, anxiety,
behavioural problems, self-injurious behaviour and suicidal thoughts. Their Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD) went previously undiagnosed due to the individual’s intelligence
and learning abilities, which masked their social deficits and developmental irregularities.
Signs of ASD were continuously present since childhood in all the eight cases. Once the
developmental histories and the psychiatric evaluation of these adolescents were done by
psychiatrists with appropriate knowledge of autism, the diagnosis of ASD was made.
Conclusion:
The ASD hypothesis should be raised in the presence of confusing symptoms
that do not respond to usual treatment and are accompanied by an irregular developmental
background. It is indeed a difficult diagnosis to make; however, the focused clinician can
note subtle signs of ASD despite the intellectual learning of social codes. Family history,
developmental irregularities, rigidity, difficulty in spontaneously understanding emotions,
discomfort in groups and the need to be alone are significant indicators to recognize. Once
the diagnosis has been considered, it must be confirmed or rejected by an experienced
multidisciplinary team. The challenge for clinicians working in the field of mental health is
not in screening and diagnosing young children showing typical signs of ASD, but rather in
identifying patients who are at high-functioning end of the spectrum whose intellectual
abilities mask their social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patricia Garel
- Sainte-Justine University Health Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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194
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Lapp HE, Hunter RG. Early life exposures, neurodevelopmental disorders, and transposable elements. Neurobiol Stress 2019; 11:100174. [PMID: 31193573 PMCID: PMC6536887 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2019.100174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements make up a much larger portion of the genome than protein-coding genes, yet we know relatively little about their function in the human genome. However, we are beginning to more fully understand their role in brain development, neuroinflammation, and adaptation to environmental insults such as stress. For instance, glucocorticoid receptor activation regulates transposable elements in the brain following acute stress. Early life is a period of substantial brain development during which transposable elements play a role. Environmental exposures and experiences during early life that promote abnormal regulation of transposable elements may lead to a cascade of events that ultimately increase susceptibility to disorders later in life. Recent attention to transposable elements in psychiatric illness has begun to clarify associations indicative of dysregulation of different classes of transposable elements in stress-related and neurodevelopmental illness. Though individual susceptibility or resiliency to psychiatric illness has not been explained by traditional genetic studies, the wide inter-individual variability in transposable element composition in the human genome make TEs attractive candidates to elucidate this differential susceptibility. In this review, we discuss evidence that regulation of transposable elements in the brain are stage-specific, sensitive to environmental factors, and may be impacted by early life perturbations. We further present evidence of associations with stress-related and neurodevelopmental psychiatric illness from a developmental perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Lapp
- University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Richard G Hunter
- University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd Boston, MA, 02125, USA
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195
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Wenhart T, Bethlehem RAI, Baron-Cohen S, Altenmüller E. Autistic traits, resting-state connectivity, and absolute pitch in professional musicians: shared and distinct neural features. Mol Autism 2019; 10:20. [PMID: 31073395 PMCID: PMC6498518 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0272-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent studies indicate increased autistic traits in musicians with absolute pitch and a higher proportion of absolute pitch in people with autism. Theoretical accounts connect both of these with shared neural principles of local hyper- and global hypoconnectivity, enhanced perceptual functioning, and a detail-focused cognitive style. This is the first study to investigate absolute pitch proficiency, autistic traits, and brain correlates in the same study. Sample and methods Graph theoretical analysis was conducted on resting-state (eyes closed and eyes open) EEG connectivity (wPLI, weighted phase lag index) matrices obtained from 31 absolute pitch (AP) and 33 relative pitch (RP) professional musicians. Small-worldness, global clustering coefficient, and average path length were related to autistic traits, passive (tone identification) and active (pitch adjustment) absolute pitch proficiency, and onset of musical training using Welch two-sample tests, correlations, and general linear models. Results Analyses revealed increased path length (delta 2–4 Hz), reduced clustering (beta 13–18 Hz), reduced small-worldness (gamma 30–60 Hz), and increased autistic traits for AP compared to RP. Only clustering values (beta 13–18 Hz) were predicted by both AP proficiency and autistic traits. Post hoc single connection permutation tests among raw wPLI matrices in the beta band (13–18 Hz) revealed widely reduced interhemispheric connectivity between bilateral auditory-related electrode positions along with higher connectivity between F7–F8 and F8–P9 for AP. Pitch-naming ability and pitch adjustment ability were predicted by path length, clustering, autistic traits, and onset of musical training (for pitch adjustment) explaining 44% and 38% of variance, respectively. Conclusions Results show both shared and distinct neural features between AP and autistic traits. Differences in the beta range were associated with higher autistic traits in the same population. In general, AP musicians exhibit a widely underconnected brain with reduced functional integration and reduced small-world property during resting state. This might be partly related to autism-specific brain connectivity, while differences in path length and small-worldness reflect other ability-specific influences. This is further evidenced for different pathways in the acquisition and development of absolute pitch, likely influenced by both genetic and environmental factors and their interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Wenhart
- Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine, University for Music, Drama and Media, Hannover, Germany.,2Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - R A I Bethlehem
- 3Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - S Baron-Cohen
- 3Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - E Altenmüller
- Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine, University for Music, Drama and Media, Hannover, Germany.,2Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
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196
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Leembruggen AJL, Balasuriya GK, Zhang J, Schokman S, Swiderski K, Bornstein JC, Nithianantharajah J, Hill-Yardin EL. Colonic dilation and altered ex vivo gastrointestinal motility in the neuroligin-3 knockout mouse. Autism Res 2019; 13:691-701. [PMID: 31002480 PMCID: PMC7317711 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction is commonly reported by people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; autism) but the cause is unknown. Mutations in genes encoding synaptic proteins including Neuroligin‐3 are associated with autism. Mice lacking Neuroligin‐3 (Nlgn3−/−) have altered brain function, but whether the enteric nervous system (ENS) is altered remains unknown. We assessed for changes in GI structure and function in Nlgn3−/− mice. We found no significant morphological differences in villus height or crypt depth in the jejunum or colon between wildtype (WT) and Nlgn3−/− mice. To determine whether deletion of Nlgn3 affects enteric neurons, we stained for neural markers in the myenteric plexus. Nlgn3−/− mice had similar numbers of neurons expressing the pan‐neuronal marker Hu in the jejunum, proximal mid, and distal colon regions. We also found no differences in the number of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS+) or calretinin (CalR+) motor neurons and interneurons between WT and Nlgn3−/− mice. We used ex vivo video imaging analysis to assess colonic motility under baseline conditions and observed faster colonic migrating motor complexes (CMMCs) and an increased colonic diameter in Nlgn3−/− mice, although CMMC frequency was unchanged. At baseline, CMMCs were faster in Nlgn3−/− mice compared to WT. Although the numbers of neuronal subsets are conserved in Nlgn3−/− mice, these findings suggest that Neuroligin‐3 modulates inhibitory neural pathways in the ENS and may contribute to mechanisms underlying GI disorders in autism. Autism Res 2020, 13: 691–701. © 2019 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research published byWiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary People with autism commonly experience gut problems. Many gene mutations associated with autism affect neuronal activity. We studied mice in which the autism‐associated Neuroligin‐3 gene is deleted to determine whether this impacts gut neuronal numbers or motility. We found that although mutant mice had similar gut structure and numbers of neurons in all gut regions examined, they had distended colons and faster colonic muscle contractions. Further work is needed to understand how Neuroligin‐3 affects neuron connectivity in the gastrointestinal tract.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gayathri K Balasuriya
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jinghong Zhang
- Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shana Schokman
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kristy Swiderski
- Centre for Muscle Research, Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joel C Bornstein
- Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Elisa L Hill-Yardin
- Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
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197
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Márquez C, Nicolini H, Crowley MJ, Solís-Vivanco R. Early processing (N170) of infant faces in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder and its association with maternal sensitivity. Autism Res 2019; 12:744-758. [PMID: 30973210 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit impaired adult facial processing, as shown by the N170 event-related potential. However, few studies explore such processing in mothers of children with ASD, and none has assessed the early processing of infant faces in these women. Moreover, whether processing of infant facial expressions in mothers of children with ASD is related to their response to their child's needs (maternal sensitivity [MS]) remains unknown. This study explored the N170 related to infant faces in a group of mothers of children with ASD (MA) and a reference group of mothers of children without ASD. For both emotional (crying, smiling) and neutral expressions, the MA group exhibited larger amplitudes of N170 in the right hemisphere, while the reference group showed similar interhemispheric amplitudes. This lateralization effect within the MA group was not present for nonfaces and was stronger in the mothers with higher MS. We propose that mothers of ASD children use specialized perceptual resources to process infant faces, and this specialization is mediated by MS. Our findings suggest that having an ASD child modulates mothers' early neurophysiological responsiveness to infant cues. Whether this modulation represents a biological marker or a response given by experience remains to be explored. Autism Research 2019, 12: 744-758. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: When mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) see baby faces expressing emotions, they show a right-sided electrical response in the brain. This lateralization was stronger in mothers who were more sensitive to their children's needs. We conclude that having a child with ASD and being more attuned to their behavior generates a specialized pattern of brain activity when processing infant faces. Whether this pattern is biological or given by experience remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Márquez
- School of Psychology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Neuropsychology Department, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico City, Mexico.,Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Humberto Nicolini
- Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Rodolfo Solís-Vivanco
- School of Psychology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Neuropsychology Department, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico City, Mexico
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198
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Zhai Q, Cen S, Jiang J, Zhao J, Zhang H, Chen W. Disturbance of trace element and gut microbiota profiles as indicators of autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study of Chinese children. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 171:501-509. [PMID: 30743242 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that is characterized by impairments of reciprocal social interaction and restricted stereotyped repetitive behavior. The goal of the present study was to investigate the trace element and gut microbiota profiles of Chinese autistic children and screen out potential metallic or microbial indicators of the disease. One hundred and thirty-six children (78 with ASD and 58 healthy controls) aged from 3 to 7 years were enrolled. The levels of lead, cadmium, arsenic, copper, zinc, iron, mercury, calcium and magnesium in hair samples from the children were analyzed. Fecal samples were also collected and the children's gut microbiota profiles were characterized by 16s rRNA sequencing. Concentrations of lead, arsenic, copper, zinc, mercury, calcium and magnesium were significantly higher in the ASD group than in the control group. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis indicated that the relative abundance of nine genera was increased in the autistic children. Redundancy analysis showed that arsenic and mercury were significantly associated with Parabacteroides and Oscillospira in the gut. A random forest model was trained with high accuracy (84.00%) and the metallic and microbial biomarkers of ASD were established. Our results indicate significant alterations in the trace element and gut microbiota profiles of Chinese children with ASD and reveal the potential pathogenesis of this disease in terms of metal metabolism and gut microecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qixiao Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Probiotics at Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PRChina
| | - Shi Cen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China
| | - Jinchi Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China
| | - Jianxin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; (Yangzhou) Institute of Food Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Yangzhou 225004, PR China
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; (Yangzhou) Institute of Food Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Yangzhou 225004, PR China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; Beijing Innovation Centre of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), Beijing 100048, PR China.
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199
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Alagoz M, Kherad N, Gavaz M, Yuksel A. New Genetic Approaches for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40489-019-00167-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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200
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Ayhan F, Konopka G. Regulatory genes and pathways disrupted in autism spectrum disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:57-64. [PMID: 30165121 PMCID: PMC6249101 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent and complex genetic disorder. The complex genetic make-up of ASD has been extensively studied and both common and rare genetic variants in up to 1000 genes have been linked to increased ASD risk. While these studies highlight the genetic complexity and begin to provide a window for delineating pathways at risk in ASD, the pathogenicity and specific contribution of many mutations to the disorder are poorly understood. Defining the convergent pathways disrupted by this large number of ASD-associated genetic variants will help to understand disease pathogenesis and direct future therapeutic efforts for the groups of patients with distinct etiologies. Here, we review some of the common regulatory pathways including chromatin remodeling, transcription, and alternative splicing that have emerged as common features from genetic and transcriptomic profiling of ASD. For each category, we focus on one gene (CHD8, FOXP1, and RBFOX1) that is significantly linked to ASD and functionally characterized in recent years. Finally, we discuss genetic and transcriptomic overlap between ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Ayhan
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390-9111, USA
| | - Genevieve Konopka
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390-9111, USA.
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