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Gabaldon-Albero A, Mayo S, Martinez F. NR4A2 as a Novel Target Gene for Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy: A Systematic Review of Related Disorders and Therapeutic Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5198. [PMID: 38791237 PMCID: PMC11120677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The NR4A2 gene encodes an orphan transcription factor of the steroid-thyroid hormone-retinoid receptor superfamily. This review focuses on the clinical findings associated with the pathogenic variants so far reported, including three unreported cases. Also, its role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, is examined, as well as a brief exploration on recent proposals to develop novel therapies for these neurological diseases based on small molecules that could modulate NR4A2 transcriptional activity. The main characteristic shared by all patients is mild to severe developmental delay/intellectual disability. Moderate to severe disorder of the expressive and receptive language is present in at least 42%, while neuro-psychiatric issues were reported in 53% of patients. Movement disorders, including dystonia, chorea or ataxia, are described in 37% patients, although probably underestimated because of its frequent onset in late adolescence-young adulthood. Finally, epilepsy was surprisingly present in 42% of patients, being drug-resistant in three of them. The age at onset varied widely, from five months to twenty-six years, as did the classification of epilepsy, which ranged from focal epilepsy to infantile spasms or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Accordingly, we propose that NR4A2 should be considered as a first-tier target gene for the genetic diagnosis of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Gabaldon-Albero
- Translational Research Group in Genetics, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Sonia Mayo
- Genetics and Inheritance Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre, 28041 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Martinez
- Translational Research Group in Genetics, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain;
- Genetics Unit, Hospital Universitario y Politecnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
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Warnier H, Barrea C, Bethlen S, Schrouff I, Harvengt J. Clinical overview and outcome of the Stuve-Wiedemann syndrome: a systematic review. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:174. [PMID: 35461249 PMCID: PMC9034487 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02323-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stuve-Wiedemann syndrome (SWS) is a rare and severe genetic disease characterized by skeletal anomalies and dysautonomic disturbances requiring appropriate care. Peer support is mandatory to fill the lack of clinical recommendations in such rare diseases. We report a new case and provide the first systematic review of all previous published cases. OBJECTIVE To better describe the timeline of SWS and to improve paediatric management. DATA SOURCES SWS English publications available on Pubmed until 31/03/2021. STUDY SELECTION Case description combining typical osteo-articular and dysautonomic involvement (with 2 items by categories required for children < 2 years and 3 items > 2 years). DATA EXTRACTION Demographic, clinical, genetics and outcome data. RESULTS In our cohort of 69 patients, the median age at report was 32 months. Only 46% presented antenatal signs. Mortality rate is higher during the first 2 years (42% < 2 years; 10% > 2 years) mainly due to respiratory failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension appearing to be a poor prognosis factor (mortality rate 63%). After 2 years, orthopaedic symptoms significantly increase including joint mobility restriction (81%), spinal deformations (77%) and fractures (61%). CONCLUSIONS Natural history of SWS is marked by a high mortality rate before 2 years due to dysautonomic disturbances. A specialized multidisciplinary approach is needed to address these early mortality risks and then adapt to the specific, mainly orthopaedic, needs of patients after 2 years of age. Further research is required to provide clinical guidelines and improve pre-natal counselling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christophe Barrea
- Department of Paediatrics, Neuropeadiatrics, CHU of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Sarah Bethlen
- Department of Physical Medicine, CHU of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Julie Harvengt
- Department of Human Genetics, CHU of Liège, Avenue de l'Hôpital 1, Sart-Tilman, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
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3
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Ruiz-Sánchez E, Jiménez-Genchi J, Alcántara-Flores YM, Castañeda-González CJ, Aviña-Cervantes CL, Yescas P, del Socorro González-Valadez M, Martínez-Rodríguez N, Ríos-Ortiz A, González-González M, López-Navarro ME, Rojas P. Working memory deficits in schizophrenia are associated with the rs34884856 variant and expression levels of the NR4A2 gene in a sample Mexican population: a case control study. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:86. [PMID: 33563249 PMCID: PMC7871565 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03081-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive functions represent useful endophenotypes to identify the association between genetic variants and schizophrenia. In this sense, the NR4A2 gene has been implicated in schizophrenia and cognition in different animal models and clinical trials. We hypothesized that the NR4A2 gene is associated with working memory performance in schizophrenia. This study aimed to analyze two variants and the expression levels of the NR4A2 gene with susceptibility to schizophrenia, as well as to evaluate whether possession of NR4A2 variants influence the possible correlation between gene expression and working memory performance in schizophrenia. METHODS The current study included 187 schizophrenia patients and 227 controls genotyped for two of the most studied NR4A2 genetic variants in neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Genotyping was performed using High Resolution Melt and sequencing techniques. In addition, mRNA expression of NR4A2 was performed in peripheral mononuclear cells of 112 patients and 118 controls. A group of these participants, 54 patients and 87 controls, performed the working memory index of the WAIS III test. RESULTS Both genotypic frequencies of the two variants and expression levels of the NR4A2 gene showed no significant difference when in patients versus controls. However, patients homozygous for the rs34884856 promoter variant showed a positive correlation between expression levels and auditory working memory. CONCLUSIONS Our finding suggested that changes in expression levels of the NR4A2 gene could be associated with working memory in schizophrenia depending on patients' genotype in a sample from a Mexican population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Ruiz-Sánchez
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Janet Jiménez-Genchi
- Research Unit, Hospital Psiquiátrico Fray Bernardino Álvarez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yessica M. Alcántara-Flores
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Carlos L. Aviña-Cervantes
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Department of Psychiatry, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Petra Yescas
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Department of Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Nancy Martínez-Rodríguez
- grid.414757.40000 0004 0633 3412Epidemiology, Endocrinology & Nutrition Research Unit, Hospital Infantil de México “Federico Gómez”, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Antonio Ríos-Ortiz
- Research Unit, Hospital Psiquiátrico Fray Bernardino Álvarez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Martha González-González
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Unit of Cognition and Behavior, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - María E. López-Navarro
- grid.419204.a0000 0000 8637 5954Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Patricia Rojas
- Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, "Manuel Velasco Suárez", SS, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, Col. La Fama, C.P. 14269, Mexico City, Mexico.
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4
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Song X, Sun N, Zhang A, Lei L, Li X, Liu Z, Wang Y, Yang C, Zhang K. Association Between NR4A2 Gene Polymorphism and Depressive Symptoms and Antidepressant Effect. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2021; 17:2613-2623. [PMID: 34408421 PMCID: PMC8364372 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s319548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD) is still unclear, studies have shown that the dopaminergic system of depressed patients is defective, and that NR4A2 is an important transcription factor affecting the development and maintenance of dopaminergic neurons. As such, NR4A2 levels affected by NR4A2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may be associated with MDD. This study examined whether NR4A2 SNPs are associated with depressive symptoms and antidepressant efficacy. METHODS A total of 441 patients with first-episode depression were enrolled in this study. We analysed three SNPs of NR4A2, using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and its four factors to obtain scores at baseline and at the end of 6 weeks. UNPHASED software was employed for quantitative character analysis, and SPSS software was adopted for antidepressant efficacy analysis. RESULTS Patients with rs12803-A exhibited higher scores of retardation symptoms. Patients with the rs834834-C allele and rs834834-CC genotype had higher retardation symptom scores. Patients with rs3769340 exhibited greater antidepressant efficacy. CONCLUSION NR4A2 gene polymorphisms are associated with retardation symptoms, somatic symptoms (gastro-intestinal), anxiety-based somatic symptoms, insight, and weight loss in patients with MDD. Additionally, rs3769340 may be a predictor of antidepressant efficacy in patients with major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Song
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Diagnosis and Treatment for Mental Disorder, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Sun
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Diagnosis and Treatment for Mental Disorder, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Mental Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Aixia Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Diagnosis and Treatment for Mental Disorder, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Mental Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinrong Li
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhifen Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Diagnosis and Treatment for Mental Disorder, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Mental Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanfang Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunxia Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence Assisted Diagnosis and Treatment for Mental Disorder, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Mental Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Kerang Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
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Chen X, Gumina G, Virga KG. Recent Advances in Drug Repurposing for Parkinson's Disease. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:5340-5362. [PMID: 30027839 DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180719144850] [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: 12/24/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
As a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mostly affects older people, Parkinson's disease is a growing health threat to our ever-aging population. Despite remarkable advances in our understanding of this disease, all therapeutics currently available only act to improve symptoms but cannot stop the disease progression. Therefore, it is essential that more effective drug discovery methods and approaches are developed, validated, and used for the discovery of disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson's disease. Drug repurposing, also known as drug repositioning, or the process of finding new uses for existing or abandoned pharmaceuticals, has been recognized as a cost-effective and timeefficient way to develop new drugs, being equally promising as de novo drug discovery in the field of neurodegeneration and, more specifically for Parkinson's disease. The availability of several established libraries of clinical drugs and fast evolvement in disease biology, genomics and bioinformatics has stimulated the momentums of both in silico and activity-based drug repurposing. With the successful clinical introduction of several repurposed drugs for Parkinson's disease, drug repurposing has now become a robust alternative approach to the discovery and development of novel drugs for this disease. In this review, recent advances in drug repurposing for Parkinson's disease will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, Clinton, SC 29325, United States
| | - Giuseppe Gumina
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, Clinton, SC 29325, United States
| | - Kristopher G Virga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, William Carey University School of Pharmacy, Biloxi, MS 39532, United States
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6
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Xiao J, Prandovszky E, Kannan G, Pletnikov MV, Dickerson F, Severance EG, Yolken RH. Toxoplasma gondii: Biological Parameters of the Connection to Schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 2018; 44:983-992. [PMID: 29889280 PMCID: PMC6101499 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sby082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
It is increasingly evident that the brain is not truly an immune privileged site and that cells of the central nervous system are sensitive to the inflammation generated when the brain is fighting off infection. Among the many microorganisms that have access to the brain, the apicomplexan protozoan Toxoplasma gondii has been one of the most studied. This parasite has been associated with many neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. This article provides a comprehensive review of the status of Toxoplasma research in schizophrenia. Areas of interest include (1) the limitations and improvements of immune-based assays to detect these infections in humans, (2) recent discoveries concerning the schizophrenia-Toxoplasma association, (3) findings of Toxoplasma neuropathology in animal models related to schizophrenia pathogenesis, (4) interactions of Toxoplasma with the host genome, (5) gastrointestinal effects of Toxoplasma infections, and (6) therapeutic intervention of Toxoplasma infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchun Xiao
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Emese Prandovszky
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Geetha Kannan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mikhail V Pletnikov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Faith Dickerson
- Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD
| | - Emily G Severance
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Robert H Yolken
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287 USA; tel: +1-410-614-0004, fax: +1-410-955-3723, e-mail:
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7
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Ozair MZ, Kirst C, van den Berg BL, Ruzo A, Rito T, Brivanlou AH. hPSC Modeling Reveals that Fate Selection of Cortical Deep Projection Neurons Occurs in the Subplate. Cell Stem Cell 2018; 23:60-73.e6. [PMID: 29937203 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2018.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Cortical deep projection neurons (DPNs) are implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. Although recent findings emphasize post-mitotic programs in projection neuron fate selection, the establishment of primate DPN identity during layer formation is not well understood. The subplate lies underneath the developing cortex and is a post-mitotic compartment that is transiently and disproportionately enlarged in primates in the second trimester. The evolutionary significance of subplate expansion, the molecular identity of its neurons, and its contribution to primate corticogenesis remain open questions. By modeling subplate formation with human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), we show that all classes of cortical DPNs can be specified from subplate neurons (SPNs). Post-mitotic WNT signaling regulates DPN class selection, and DPNs in the caudal fetal cortex appear to exclusively derive from SPNs. Our findings indicate that SPNs have evolved in primates as an important source of DPNs that contribute to cortical lamination prior to their known role in circuit formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Zeeshan Ozair
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Christoph Kirst
- Center for Studies in Physics and Biology and Kavli Neural Systems Institute, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Bastiaan L van den Berg
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Sciencepark 904, 1098XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Albert Ruzo
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tiago Rito
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ali H Brivanlou
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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Oswald F, Klöble P, Ruland A, Rosenkranz D, Hinz B, Butter F, Ramljak S, Zechner U, Herlyn H. The FOXP2-Driven Network in Developmental Disorders and Neurodegeneration. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:212. [PMID: 28798667 PMCID: PMC5526973 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription repressor FOXP2 is a crucial player in nervous system evolution and development of humans and songbirds. In order to provide an additional insight into its functional role we compared target gene expression levels between human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) stably overexpressing FOXP2 cDNA of either humans or the common chimpanzee, Rhesus monkey, and marmoset, respectively. RNA-seq led to identification of 27 genes with differential regulation under the control of human FOXP2, which were previously reported to have FOXP2-driven and/or songbird song-related expression regulation. RT-qPCR and Western blotting indicated differential regulation of additional 13 new target genes in response to overexpression of human FOXP2. These genes may be directly regulated by FOXP2 considering numerous matches of established FOXP2-binding motifs as well as publicly available FOXP2-ChIP-seq reads within their putative promoters. Ontology analysis of the new and reproduced targets, along with their interactors in a network, revealed an enrichment of terms relating to cellular signaling and communication, metabolism and catabolism, cellular migration and differentiation, and expression regulation. Notably, terms including the words "neuron" or "axonogenesis" were also enriched. Complementary literature screening uncovered many connections to human developmental (autism spectrum disease, schizophrenia, Down syndrome, agenesis of corpus callosum, trismus-pseudocamptodactyly, ankyloglossia, facial dysmorphology) and neurodegenerative diseases and disorders (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, Lewy body dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Links to deafness and dyslexia were detected, too. Such relations existed for single proteins (e.g., DCDC2, NURR1, PHOX2B, MYH8, and MYH13) and groups of proteins which conjointly function in mRNA processing, ribosomal recruitment, cell-cell adhesion (e.g., CDH4), cytoskeleton organization, neuro-inflammation, and processing of amyloid precursor protein. Conspicuously, many links pointed to an involvement of the FOXP2-driven network in JAK/STAT signaling and the regulation of the ezrin-radixin-moesin complex. Altogether, the applied phylogenetic perspective substantiated FOXP2's importance for nervous system development, maintenance, and functioning. However, the study also disclosed new regulatory pathways that might prove to be useful for understanding the molecular background of the aforementioned developmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Oswald
- Center for Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Medical Center UlmUlm, Germany
| | - Patricia Klöble
- Center for Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Medical Center UlmUlm, Germany
| | - André Ruland
- Center for Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Medical Center UlmUlm, Germany
| | - David Rosenkranz
- Institut für Organismische und Molekulare Evolutionsbiologie, Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzMainz, Germany
| | - Bastian Hinz
- Institut für Organismische und Molekulare Evolutionsbiologie, Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzMainz, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center MainzMainz, Germany
| | - Falk Butter
- Institute of Molecular BiologyMainz, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Zechner
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center MainzMainz, Germany
- Dr. Senckenbergisches Zentrum für HumangenetikFrankfurt, Germany
| | - Holger Herlyn
- Institut für Organismische und Molekulare Evolutionsbiologie, Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzMainz, Germany
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9
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Shimojima K, Okamoto N, Yamamoto T. Possible genes responsible for developmental delay observed in patients with rare 2q23q24 microdeletion syndrome: Literature review and description of an additional patient. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2017; 57:109-113. [PMID: 27957763 DOI: 10.1111/cga.12205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 11/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cases of 2q23q24 microdeletion syndrome are rare. Patients with chromosomal deletions in this region often show language impairment and/or developmental delay of variable severity. Previous genotype-phenotype correlation study suggested GALNT13 and KCNJ3 as possible candidate genes for such phenotypes. We identified a new overlapping deletion in a patient with severe developmental delay. The identified deletion extended toward the distal 2q24.1 region, and more severe phenotypes in the present patient were considered to be related to the additionally deleted genes including NR4A2 and GPD2. Previously reported chromosomal translocation and the mutation identified in GPD2 suggested that this gene would be responsible for the developmental delay. Re-evaluation for the critical region for behavior abnormalities commonly observed in the patients with overlapping deletions of this region suggested that KCNJ3 rather than GALNT13 may be responsible for abnormal behaviors, although there was phenotypic variability. Combinatory deletions involving KCNJ3 and GPD2 may lead to more severe developmental delay. Further studies would be necessary to establish clearer genotype-phenotype correlation in patients with 2q23q24 microdeletion syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Shimojima
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.,Tokyo Women's Medical University Institute for Integrated Medical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Okamoto
- Department of Medical Genetics, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Yamamoto
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.,Tokyo Women's Medical University Institute for Integrated Medical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
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10
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Corley MJ, Dye C, D'Antoni ML, Byron MM, Yo KLA, Lum-Jones A, Nakamoto B, Valcour V, SahBandar I, Shikuma CM, Ndhlovu LC, Maunakea AK. Comparative DNA Methylation Profiling Reveals an Immunoepigenetic Signature of HIV-related Cognitive Impairment. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33310. [PMID: 27629381 PMCID: PMC5024304 DOI: 10.1038/srep33310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Monocytes/macrophages contribute to the neuropathogenesis of HIV-related cognitive impairment (CI); however, considerable gaps in our understanding of the precise mechanisms driving this relationship remain. Furthermore, whether a distinct biological profile associated with HIV-related CI resides in immune cell populations remains unknown. Here, we profiled DNA methylomes and transcriptomes of monocytes derived from HIV-infected individuals with and without CI using genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression profiling. We identified 1,032 CI-associated differentially methylated loci in monocytes. These loci related to gene networks linked to the central nervous system (CNS) and interactions with HIV. Most (70.6%) of these loci exhibited higher DNA methylation states in the CI group and were preferentially distributed over gene bodies and intergenic regions of the genome. CI-associated DNA methylation states at 12 CpG sites associated with neuropsychological testing performance scores. CI-associated DNA methylation also associated with gene expression differences including CNS genes CSRNP1 (P = 0.017), DISC1 (P = 0.012), and NR4A2 (P = 0.005); and a gene known to relate to HIV viremia, THBS1 (P = 0.003). This discovery cohort data unveils cell type-specific DNA methylation patterns related to HIV-associated CI and provide an immunoepigenetic DNA methylation “signature” potentially useful for corroborating clinical assessments, informing pathogenic mechanisms, and revealing new therapeutic targets against CI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Corley
- Department of Native Hawaiian Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Suite 1016B, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Christian Dye
- Department of Native Hawaiian Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Suite 1016B, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Michelle L D'Antoni
- Department of Tropical Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 651 Ilalo Street, BSB325C, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Mary Margaret Byron
- Department of Tropical Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 651 Ilalo Street, BSB325C, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Kaahukane Leite-Ah Yo
- Department of Native Hawaiian Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Suite 1016B, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Annette Lum-Jones
- Department of Native Hawaiian Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Suite 1016B, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Beau Nakamoto
- Hawaii Center for AIDS, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 651 Ilalo Street, BSB, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
| | - Victor Valcour
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ivo SahBandar
- Department of Tropical Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 651 Ilalo Street, BSB325C, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Cecilia M Shikuma
- Hawaii Center for AIDS, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 651 Ilalo Street, BSB, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
| | - Lishomwa C Ndhlovu
- Department of Tropical Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 651 Ilalo Street, BSB325C, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.,Hawaii Center for AIDS, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 651 Ilalo Street, BSB, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
| | - Alika K Maunakea
- Department of Native Hawaiian Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Suite 1016B, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
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11
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Consistently altered expression of gene sets in postmortem brains of individuals with major psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e890. [PMID: 27622934 PMCID: PMC5048210 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The measurement of gene expression in postmortem brain is an important tool for understanding the pathogenesis of serious psychiatric disorders. We hypothesized that major molecular deficits associated with psychiatric disease would affect the entire brain, and such deficits may be shared across disorders. We performed RNA sequencing and quantified gene expression in the hippocampus of 100 brains in the Stanley Array Collection followed by replication in the orbitofrontal cortex of 57 brains in the Stanley Neuropathology Consortium. We then identified genes and canonical pathway gene sets with significantly altered expression in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the hippocampus and in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression in the orbitofrontal cortex. Although expression of individual genes varied, gene sets were significantly enriched in both of the brain regions, and many of these were consistent across diagnostic groups. Further examination of core gene sets with consistently increased or decreased expression in both of the brain regions and across target disorders revealed that ribosomal genes are overexpressed while genes involved in neuronal processes, GABAergic signaling, endocytosis and antigen processing have predominantly decreased expression in affected individuals compared to controls without a psychiatric disorder. Our results highlight pathways of central importance to psychiatric health and emphasize messenger RNA processing and protein synthesis as potential therapeutic targets for all three of the disorders.
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12
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Schrider DR, Kern AD. Inferring Selective Constraint from Population Genomic Data Suggests Recent Regulatory Turnover in the Human Brain. Genome Biol Evol 2015; 7:3511-28. [PMID: 26590212 PMCID: PMC4700959 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evv228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The comparative genomics revolution of the past decade has enabled the discovery of functional elements in the human genome via sequence comparison. While that is so, an important class of elements, those specific to humans, is entirely missed by searching for sequence conservation across species. Here we present an analysis based on variation data among human genomes that utilizes a supervised machine learning approach for the identification of human-specific purifying selection in the genome. Using only allele frequency information from the complete low-coverage 1000 Genomes Project data set in conjunction with a support vector machine trained from known functional and nonfunctional portions of the genome, we are able to accurately identify portions of the genome constrained by purifying selection. Our method identifies previously known human-specific gains or losses of function and uncovers many novel candidates. Candidate targets for gain and loss of function along the human lineage include numerous putative regulatory regions of genes essential for normal development of the central nervous system, including a significant enrichment of gain of function events near neurotransmitter receptor genes. These results are consistent with regulatory turnover being a key mechanism in the evolution of human-specific characteristics of brain development. Finally, we show that the majority of the genome is unconstrained by natural selection currently, in agreement with what has been estimated from phylogenetic methods but in sharp contrast to estimates based on transcriptomics or other high-throughput functional methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew D Kern
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey
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13
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Association between NR4A2 genetic variation and schizophrenia: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Lett 2015; 598:85-90. [PMID: 25982322 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The homo sapiens nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A (NR4A2) genetic variation has been implicated as a risk factor for schizophrenia (SZ). Nevertheless, the results are inconclusive. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the impact of NR4A2 variation on the risk of SZ. All eligible case-control studies published up to September 2014 were identified by searching PubMed OVID, EBSCO, PsycINFO and ISI web of knowledge. Pooled odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were used to access the strength of association in fixed- or random-effects model. Seven studies that reported 17 variants with a total of 3027 participants were included. Of these variants, five ones (rs143618355, rs199674295, c.366-369 del TAC, c.-469delG and P4) were present only in cases, and three ones (rs35479735, rs3832066 and rs397706674) were available for meta-analysis. Overall, there was no significant association between the three variants and SZ risk under allele model, dominant model and recessive model. The results failed to reveal significant link between NR4A2 polymorphism and SZ risk. However, large-sized and well-designed studies are warranted to validate our findings.
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14
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Eells JB, Varela-Stokes A, Guo-Ross SX, Kummari E, Smith HM, Cox AD, Lindsay DS. Chronic Toxoplasma gondii in Nurr1-null heterozygous mice exacerbates elevated open field activity. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119280. [PMID: 25855987 PMCID: PMC4391871 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Latent infection with Toxoplasma gondii is common in humans (approximately 30% of the global population) and is a significant risk factor for schizophrenia. Since prevalence of T. gondii infection is far greater than prevalence of schizophrenia (0.5-1%), genetic risk factors are likely also necessary to contribute to schizophrenia. To test this concept in an animal model, Nurr1-null heterozygous (+/-) mice and wild-type (+/+) mice were evaluate using an emergence test, activity in an open field and with a novel object, response to bobcat urine and prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response (PPI) prior to and 6 weeks after infection with T. gondii. In the emergence test, T. gondii infection significantly decreased the amount of time spent in the cylinder. Toxoplasma gondii infection significantly elevated open field activity in both +/+ and +/- mice but this increase was significantly exacerbated in +/- mice. T. gondii infection reduced PPI in male +/- mice but this was not statistically significant. Aversion to bobcat urine was abolished by T. gondii infection in +/+ mice. In female +/- mice, aversion to bobcat urine remained after T. gondii infection while the male +/- mice showed no aversion to bobcat urine. Antibody titers of infected mice were a critical variable associated with changes in open field activity, such that an inverted U shaped relationship existed between antibody titers and the percent change in open field activity with a significant increase in activity at low and medium antibody titers but no effect at high antibody titers. These data demonstrate that the Nurr1 +/- genotype predisposes mice to T. gondii-induced alterations in behaviors that involve dopamine neurotransmission and are associated with symptoms of schizophrenia. We propose that these alterations in murine behavior were due to further exacerbation of the altered dopamine neurotransmission in Nurr1 +/- mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey B. Eells
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Andrea Varela-Stokes
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Shirley X. Guo-Ross
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Evangel Kummari
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Holly M. Smith
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Arin D. Cox
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - David S. Lindsay
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology, Virginia–Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
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15
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Guillozet-Bongaarts AL, Hyde TM, Dalley RA, Hawrylycz MJ, Henry A, Hof PR, Hohmann J, Jones AR, Kuan CL, Royall J, Shen E, Swanson B, Zeng H, Kleinman JE. Altered gene expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of individuals with schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2014; 19:478-85. [PMID: 23528911 PMCID: PMC3965839 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2013.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Revised: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The underlying pathology of schizophrenia (SZ) is likely as heterogeneous as its symptomatology. A variety of cortical and subcortical regions, including the prefrontal cortex, have been implicated in its pathology, and a number of genes have been identified as risk factors for disease development. We used in situ hybridization (ISH) to examine the expression of 58 genes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, comprised of Brodmann areas 9 and 46) from 19 individuals with a premorbid diagnosis of SZ and 33 control individuals. Genes were selected based on: (1) previous identification as risk factors for SZ; (2) cell type markers or (3) laminar markers. Cell density and staining intensity were compared in the DLPFC, as well as separately in Brodmann areas 9 and 46. The expression patterns of a variety of genes, many of which are associated with the GABAergic system, were altered in SZ when compared with controls. Additional genes, including C8orf79 and NR4A2, showed alterations in cell density or staining intensity between the groups, highlighting the need for additional studies. Alterations were, with only a few exceptions, limited to Brodmann area 9, suggesting regional specificity of pathology in the DLPFC. Our results agree with previous studies on the GABAergic involvement in SZ, and suggest that areas 9 and 46 may be differentially affected in the disease. This study also highlights additional genes that may be altered in SZ, and indicates that these potentially interesting genes can be identified by ISH and high-throughput image analysis techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Guillozet-Bongaarts
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA,Data Annotations and Analysis, Allen Institute for Brain Science, 551North 34th Street, Seattle, WA 98103, USA. E-mail:
| | - T M Hyde
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA,Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, Genes Cognition and Psychosis Program, Intramural Research Program, NIMH, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - R A Dalley
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - A Henry
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - P R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - J Hohmann
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - A R Jones
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - C L Kuan
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J Royall
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - E Shen
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - B Swanson
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - H Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J E Kleinman
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA,Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, Genes Cognition and Psychosis Program, Intramural Research Program, NIMH, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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16
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Tokuoka H, Hatanaka T, Metzger D, Ichinose H. Nurr1 expression is regulated by voltage-dependent calcium channels and calcineurin in cultured hippocampal neurons. Neurosci Lett 2013; 559:50-5. [PMID: 24291696 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Nurr1 is an orphan nuclear transcription factor expressed in the brain. While Nurr1 is assumed to be an immediate early gene, it is not fully understood how Nurr1 expression is regulated in an activity-dependent manner in the central nervous system. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of Nurr1 expression in cultured hippocampal and cortical neurons. We found that upregulation of neural activity by high KCl and bicuculline enhances Nurr1 levels, while blockade of its activity by tetrodotoxin reduces Nurr1 levels. The induction of Nurr1 expression was mediated by voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs), as shown by cadmium and VDCC-specific inhibitors. Furthermore, calcineurin, but not calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) was critical for the induction. Thus, Nurr1 expression is regulated by VDCC and calcineurin in a cell-autonomous, neural activity-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Tokuoka
- Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takayuki Hatanaka
- Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Daniel Metzger
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch F-67400, France; CNRS UMR7104, Illkirch, France; INSERM U964, Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Hiroshi Ichinose
- Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
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17
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Savitz J, Frank MB, Victor T, Bebak M, Marino JH, Bellgowan PS, McKinney BA, Bodurka J, Teague TK, Drevets WC. Inflammation and neurological disease-related genes are differentially expressed in depressed patients with mood disorders and correlate with morphometric and functional imaging abnormalities. Brain Behav Immun 2013; 31:161-71. [PMID: 23064081 PMCID: PMC3577998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2012] [Revised: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 10/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Depressed patients show evidence of both proinflammatory changes and neurophysiological abnormalities such as increased amygdala reactivity and volumetric decreases of the hippocampus and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). However, very little is known about the relationship between inflammation and neuroimaging abnormalities in mood disorders. A whole genome expression analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells yielded 12 protein-coding genes (ADM, APBB3, CD160, CFD, CITED2, CTSZ, IER5, NFKBIZ, NR4A2, NUCKS1, SERTAD1, TNF) that were differentially expressed between 29 unmedicated depressed patients with a mood disorder (8 bipolar disorder, 21 major depressive disorder) and 24 healthy controls (HCs). Several of these genes have been implicated in neurological disorders and/or apoptosis. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis yielded two genes networks, one centered around TNF with NFKβ, TGFβ, and ERK as connecting hubs, and the second network indicating cell cycle and/or kinase signaling anomalies. fMRI scanning was conducted using a backward-masking task in which subjects were presented with emotionally-valenced faces. Compared with HCs, the depressed subjects displayed a greater hemodynamic response in the right amygdala, left hippocampus, and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex to masked sad versus happy faces. The mRNA levels of several genes were significantly correlated with the hemodynamic response of the amygdala, vmPFC and hippocampus to masked sad versus happy faces. Differentially-expressed transcripts were significantly correlated with thickness of the left subgenual ACC, and volume of the hippocampus and caudate. Our results raise the possibility that molecular-level immune dysfunction can be mapped onto macro-level neuroimaging abnormalities, potentially elucidating a mechanism by which inflammation leads to depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Savitz
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA.
| | - Mark Barton Frank
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Teresa Victor
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA
| | - Melissa Bebak
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Julie H. Marino
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Patrick S.F. Bellgowan
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA,Department of Medicine, Tulsa School of Community Medicine at the University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104, USA
| | - Brett A. McKinney
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104, USA
| | - Jerzy Bodurka
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA
| | - T. Kent Teague
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa, OK, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa, OK, USA,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy, Tulsa, OK, USA,Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Wayne C. Drevets
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa, OK, USA
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18
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Ancín I, Cabranes JA, Vázquez-Álvarez B, Santos JL, Sánchez-Morla E, Alaerts M, Del-Favero J, Barabash A. NR4A2: effects of an "orphan" receptor on sustained attention in a schizophrenic population. Schizophr Bull 2013; 39:555-63. [PMID: 22294735 PMCID: PMC3627752 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbr176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
NR4A2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 2) or Nurr1 is a transcription factor implied in the differentiation, maturation, and survival of dopaminergic neurons. It also has a role in the expression of several proteins that are necessary for the synthesis and regulation of dopamine (DA), such as tyrosine hidroxilase, dopamine transporter, vesicular monoamine transporter 2, and cRET. DA is an important neurotransmitter in attentional pathways. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of NR4A2 gene in the performance of schizophrenia (SZ) patients and healthy subjects on a sustained attention task. For this study, we collected 188 SZ subjects (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) and 100 control individuals. We genotyped 5 tag SNPs in NR4A2 gene: rs1150143 (C/G), rs1150144 (A/G), rs834830 (A/G), rs1466408 (T/A), and rs707132 (A/G). We also analyzed the influence of its haplotypes (frequency>5%). To examine sustained attention, all the individuals completed the Degraded Stimulus Continuous Performance Test. We evaluated "hits," "reaction time," "sensibility a," and "false alarms." In the schizophrenic group, recessive genotypes of rs1150143, rs1150144, rs834830, and rs707132 were associated with a worse performance. SZ subjects who carried GGGTG haplotype showed less hits (P<.004), lower sensibility a scores (P<.009), and a higher reaction time (P=.013). We observed a sex effect of the gene: genotype and haplotype associations were only present in the male group. We conclude that NR4A2 gene is involved in attentional deficits of SZ patients, modifying hits, sensibility a, and reaction time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Ancín
- Laboratory of Psychoneuroendocrinology and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - José A. Cabranes
- Deparment of Psychiatry, Clínico San Carlos Hospital, Madrid, Spain,CIBERSAM, Spanish Network for Research on Mental Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Blanca Vázquez-Álvarez
- Laboratory of Psychoneuroendocrinology and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Santos
- Deparment of Psychiatry, Virgen de La Luz Hospital, Cuenca, Spain
| | | | - Maaike Alaerts
- Applied Molecular Genomics Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jurgen Del-Favero
- Applied Molecular Genomics Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ana Barabash
- Laboratory of Psychoneuroendocrinology and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain,CIBERSAM, Spanish Network for Research on Mental Health, Madrid, Spain,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Laboratory of Psychoneuroendocrinology and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Martín Lagos s/n 28040, Madrid, Spain; tel: 00-34-91-330-2456, fax: 00-34-91-330-3140, e-mail:
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19
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O’Roak BJ, Vives L, Fu W, Egertson JD, Stanaway IB, Phelps IG, Carvill G, Kumar A, Lee C, Ankenman K, Munson J, Hiatt JB, Turner EH, Levy R, O’Day DR, Krumm N, Coe BP, Martin BK, Borenstein E, Nickerson DA, Mefford HC, Doherty D, Akey JM, Bernier R, Eichler EE, Shendure J. Multiplex targeted sequencing identifies recurrently mutated genes in autism spectrum disorders. Science 2012; 338:1619-22. [PMID: 23160955 PMCID: PMC3528801 DOI: 10.1126/science.1227764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 935] [Impact Index Per Article: 77.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Exome sequencing studies of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have identified many de novo mutations but few recurrently disrupted genes. We therefore developed a modified molecular inversion probe method enabling ultra-low-cost candidate gene resequencing in very large cohorts. To demonstrate the power of this approach, we captured and sequenced 44 candidate genes in 2446 ASD probands. We discovered 27 de novo events in 16 genes, 59% of which are predicted to truncate proteins or disrupt splicing. We estimate that recurrent disruptive mutations in six genes-CHD8, DYRK1A, GRIN2B, TBR1, PTEN, and TBL1XR1-may contribute to 1% of sporadic ASDs. Our data support associations between specific genes and reciprocal subphenotypes (CHD8-macrocephaly and DYRK1A-microcephaly) and replicate the importance of a β-catenin-chromatin-remodeling network to ASD etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J. O’Roak
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Laura Vives
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Wenqing Fu
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jarrett D. Egertson
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ian B. Stanaway
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ian G. Phelps
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Gemma Carvill
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Akash Kumar
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Choli Lee
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Katy Ankenman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jeff Munson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Joseph B. Hiatt
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Emily H. Turner
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Roie Levy
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Diana R. O’Day
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Niklas Krumm
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Bradley P. Coe
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Beth K. Martin
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Elhanan Borenstein
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
| | - Deborah A. Nickerson
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Heather C. Mefford
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Dan Doherty
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Joshua M. Akey
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Raphael Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Evan E. Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jay Shendure
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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20
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Han YF, Cao GW. Role of nuclear receptor NR4A2 in gastrointestinal inflammation and cancers. World J Gastroenterol 2012; 18:6865-73. [PMID: 23322982 PMCID: PMC3531668 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i47.6865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2012] [Revised: 08/27/2012] [Accepted: 09/12/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
NR4A2 is a transcription factor belonging to the steroid orphan nuclear receptor superfamily. It was originally considered to be essential in the generation and maintenance of dopaminergic neurons, and associated with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Recently, NR4A2 has been found to play a critical role in some inflammatory diseases and cancer. NR4A2 can be efficiently trans-activated by some proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway serves as a principal regulator of inducible NR4A expression in immune cells. NR4A2 can trans-activate Foxp3, a hallmark specifically expressed in regulatory T (Treg) cells, and plays a critical role in the differentiation, maintenance, and function of Treg cells. NR4A2 in T lymphocytes is pivotal for Treg cell induction and suppression of aberrant induction of Th1 under physiological and pathological conditions. High density of Foxp3+ Treg cells is significantly associated with gastrointestinal inflammation, tumor immune escape, and disease progression. NR4A2 is produced at high levels in CD133+ colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells and significantly upregulated by cyclooxygenase-2-derived prostaglandin E2 in a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent manner in CRC cells. The cAMP/PKA signaling pathway is the common pathway of NR4A2-related inflammation and cancer. NR4A2 trans-activates osteopontin, a direct target of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway associated with CRC invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis. Knockdown of endogenous NR4A2 expression attenuates VEGF-induced endothelial cell proliferation, migration and in vivo angiogenesis. Taken together, NR4A2 emerges as an important nuclear factor linking gastrointestinal inflammation and cancer, especially CRC, and should serve as a candidate therapeutic target for inflammation-related gastrointestinal cancer.
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Wei YM, Du YL, Nie YQ, Li YY, Wan YJY. Nur-related receptor 1 gene polymorphisms and alcohol dependence in Mexican Americans. World J Gastroenterol 2012; 18:5276-82. [PMID: 23066323 PMCID: PMC3468861 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i37.5276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2012] [Revised: 05/18/2012] [Accepted: 05/26/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the association of polymorphisms of nur-related receptor 1 (Nurr1) and development of alcohol dependence in Mexican Americans.
METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 374 alcoholic and 346 nonalcoholic Mexican Americans; these two groups were sex- and age-matched. Sample DNA was extracted and genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The -2922(C) 2-3 polymerase chain reaction products were digested with Sau96I, alleles of 1345(G/C), and -1198(C/G) in the regulatory region as well as Ex+132 (G/T/A/C) and Ex+715(T/-) in exon 3 were studied by sequencing.
RESULTS: The C2/C2, C2/C3, C3/C3 genotype distribution of -2922(C) 2-3 was 34.4%, 38.2% and 27.5% in the nonalcoholic group compared to 23.3%, 51.2% and 25.4% in the alcoholic group (P = 0.001). The C/C, C/G, G/G genotype distribution of -1198(C/G) was 23.5%, 46.1% and 30.3% in the nonalcoholic group compared to 13.9%, 50.9% and 35.3% in the alcoholic group (P = 0.007). However, the -1345 (G/C), Ex3+132(G/T/A/C) and Ex3+715(T/-) alleles were not polymorphic in Mexican Americans, and all those studied had G/G, G/G and T/T genotype for these three alleles, respectively. The -2922(C) 2-3 did not show allele level difference between alcoholic and nonalcoholic individuals, but -1198 (C/G) showed a significant allele frequency difference between alcoholic (39.3%) and nonalcoholic (46.6%) populations (P = 0.005). Excluding obese individuals, significant differences were found at both genotypic and allelic levels for the -2922(C) 2-3 polymorphism (P = 0.000 and P = 0.049) and the -1198 (C/G) polymorphism (P = 0.008 and P = 0.032) between nonobese alcoholics and nonobese controls. Excluding smokers, a significant difference was found only at the genotypic level for the -2922(C) 2-3 polymorphism (P = 0.037) between nonsmoking alcoholics and nonsmoking controls, but only at the allelic level for the -1198(C/G) polymorphism (P = 0.034).
CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms in the regulatory region of Nurr1 are implicated in pathogenesis of alcohol dependence and the Nurr1/dopamine signaling pathway might be important for this dependence development in Mexican Americans.
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Rasd1 modulates the coactivator function of NonO in the cyclic AMP pathway. PLoS One 2011; 6:e24401. [PMID: 21915321 PMCID: PMC3168489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 08/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
All living organisms exhibit autonomous daily physiological and behavioural rhythms to help them synchronize with the environment. Entrainment of circadian rhythm is achieved via activation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. NonO (p54nrb) is a multifunctional protein involved in transcriptional activation of the cAMP pathway and is involved in circadian rhythm control. Rasd1 is a monomeric G protein implicated to play a pivotal role in potentiating both photic and nonphotic responses of the circadian rhythm. In this study, we have identified and validated NonO as an interacting partner of Rasd1 via affinity pulldown, co-immunoprecipitation and indirect immunofluorescence studies. The GTP-hydrolysis activity of Rasd1 is required for the functional interaction. Functional interaction of Rasd1-NonO in the cAMP pathway was investigated via reporter gene assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation and gene knockdown. We showed that Rasd1 and NonO interact at the CRE-site of specific target genes. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which the coregulator activity of NonO can be modulated.
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A genome-wide linkage scan for distinct subsets of schizophrenia characterized by age at onset and neurocognitive deficits. PLoS One 2011; 6:e24103. [PMID: 21897869 PMCID: PMC3163684 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2011] [Accepted: 07/30/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As schizophrenia is genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous, targeting genetically informative phenotypes may help identify greater linkage signals. The aim of the study is to evaluate the genetic linkage evidence for schizophrenia in subsets of families with earlier age at onset or greater neurocognitive deficits. METHODS Patients with schizophrenia (n = 1,207) and their first-degree relatives (n = 1,035) from 557 families with schizophrenia were recruited from six data collection field research centers throughout Taiwan. Subjects completed a face-to-face semi-structured interview, the Continuous Performance Test (CPT), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and were genotyped with 386 microsatellite markers across the genome. RESULTS A maximum nonparametric logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 4.17 at 2q22.1 was found in 295 families ranked by increasing age at onset, which had significant increases in the maximum LOD score compared with those obtained in initial linkage analyses using all available families. Based on this subset, a further subsetting by false alarm rate on the undegraded and degraded CPT obtained further increase in the nested subset-based LOD on 2q22.1, with a score of 7.36 in 228 families and 7.71 in 243 families, respectively. CONCLUSION We found possible evidence of linkage on chromosome 2q22.1 in families of schizophrenia patients with more CPT false alarm rates nested within the families with younger age at onset. These results highlight the importance of incorporating genetically informative phenotypes in unraveling the complex genetics of schizophrenia.
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Hawk JD, Abel T. The role of NR4A transcription factors in memory formation. Brain Res Bull 2011; 85:21-9. [PMID: 21316423 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2010] [Revised: 01/27/2011] [Accepted: 02/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In various physiological contexts, Nr4a genes are transcribed in response to external stimuli as part of an immediate early response that initiates a cascade of gene expression ultimately leading to distinct physiological outcomes in each of these contexts. The signaling pathway that initiates Nr4a gene expression in most of these contexts consists of elevated intracellular cAMP activating PKA, which in turn leads to phosphorylation of CREB and new gene synthesis. This cAMP-PKA-CREB pathway is a central molecular pathway in the formation of a long-term memory. Indeed, learning induces Nr4a family gene expression, and long-term memory formation requires at least two waves of transcription after learning, suggesting that NR4A nuclear receptors may contribute to the second of these waves of gene expression. In this article, we review insights gained in other physiological contexts regarding Nr4a function and regulation, and highlight how these lessons can be applied to the study of memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh D Hawk
- University of Pennsylvania, Neuroscience Graduate Group, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Inamoto T, Czerniak BA, Dinney CP, Kamat AM. Cytoplasmic mislocalization of the orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 is a prognostic factor in bladder cancer. Cancer 2010; 116:340-6. [PMID: 19908257 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.24737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nurr1 belongs to a novel class of orphan nuclear receptors (the NR4A family). The authors have previously shown that Nurr1 is important in carcinogenesis. In the current study, they examined the clinicopathologic relevance of expression patterns of Nurr1 in bladder tumors. METHODS Nurr1 expression was determined using immunohistochemical staining in a bladder cancer tissue array (145 tumors). Tumors were classified according to Nurr1 protein levels in both cytoplasm and nucleus. Disease-specific survival and recurrence-free survival were investigated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards analysis in multivariate models and correlated with variables such as tumor stage, growth pattern, and clinical outcome (recurrence and survival). In vitro, Nurr1 was examined for its role in bladder cancer cell proliferation and migration using small interfering RNA silencing. RESULTS Nurr1 expression in tumor cells correlated with increasing tumor stage and invasive growth pattern. Disease-specific survival was significantly shorter in patients whose tumors demonstrated a high level of cytoplasmic Nurr1 compared with those with lower levels of cytoplasmic Nurr1 expression. Furthermore, cytoplasmic Nurr1 expression level was found to be an independent predictor of disease-specific survival (odds ratio, 4.894; P < .001). In vitro, silencing of endogenous Nurr1 attenuated the migration of bladder cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS The expression of Nurr1 in the cytoplasm correlates with adverse outcome and is an independent prognostic marker for tumor progression and survival in patients with bladder cancer. This might represent a novel target in bladder cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruo Inamoto
- Department of Urology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Kardys I, van Tiel CM, de Vries CJ, Pannekoek H, Uitterlinden AG, Hofman A, Witteman JC, de Maat MP. Haplotypes of theNR4A2/NURR1gene and cardiovascular disease: The Rotterdam Study. Hum Mutat 2009; 30:417-23. [DOI: 10.1002/humu.20902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Inamoto T, Papineni S, Chintharlapalli S, Cho SD, Safe S, Kamat AM. 1,1-Bis(3'-indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl)methane activates the orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 and inhibits bladder cancer growth. Mol Cancer Ther 2009; 7:3825-33. [PMID: 19074857 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-08-0730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Nurr1 is an orphan nuclear receptor and a member of the nerve growth factor I-B subfamily of transcription factors with no known endogenous ligand or stimulator. We show, for the first time, evidence that Nurr1 is expressed in a panel of 11 human bladder cancer cell lines. A new class of methylene-substituted diindolylmethanes (C-DIM) were screened and 1,1-bis(3'-indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl)methane (DIM-C-pPhCl) activated the ligand-binding domain of Nurr1. Treatment of bladder cancer cells with Nurr1-active C-DIM resulted in decreased cell survival (MTT assay) and induction of cell death pathways, resulting in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and DNA fragmentation. The specificity of the Nurr1-active compound was shown using RNA interference in 253J B-V cells, whereby small interfering RNA against Nurr1 attenuated ligand-dependent activation of Nurr1 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Furthermore, activation of Nurr1 resulted in stimulation of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand and small interfering RNA experiments attenuated tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand production. In an orthotopic model of human bladder tumors established in nude mice, administration of a Nurr1-active C-DIM suppressed bladder cancer growth. These results identify Nurr1 as a potential target for bladder cancer therapy and also identify a novel agent for activating Nurr1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruo Inamoto
- Department of Urology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 1373, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Choi KH, Elashoff M, Higgs BW, Song J, Kim S, Sabunciyan S, Diglisic S, Yolken RH, Knable MB, Torrey EF, Webster MJ. Putative psychosis genes in the prefrontal cortex: combined analysis of gene expression microarrays. BMC Psychiatry 2008; 8:87. [PMID: 18992145 PMCID: PMC2585075 DOI: 10.1186/1471-244x-8-87] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2008] [Accepted: 11/07/2008] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown similarities between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in phenotypes and in genotypes, and those studies have contributed to an ongoing re-evaluation of the traditional dichotomy between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder with psychotic features may be closely related to schizophrenia and therefore, psychosis may be an alternative phenotype compared to the traditional diagnosis categories. METHODS We performed a cross-study analysis of 7 gene expression microarrays that include both psychosis and non-psychosis subjects. These studies include over 400 microarray samples (163 individual subjects) on 3 different Affymetrix microarray platforms. RESULTS We found that 110 transcripts are differentially regulated (p < 0.001) in psychosis after adjusting for confounding variables with a multiple regression model. Using a quantitative PCR, we validated a set of genes such as up-regulated metallothioneins (MT1E, MT1F, MT1H, MT1K, MT1X, MT2A and MT3) and down-regulated neuropeptides (SST, TAC1 and NPY) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of psychosis patients. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the advantages of cross-study analysis in detecting consensus changes in gene expression across multiple microarray studies. Differential gene expression between individuals with and without psychosis suggests that psychosis may be a useful phenotypic variable to complement the traditional diagnosis categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang Ho Choi
- Stanley Laboratory of Brain Research, 9800 Medical Center Dr. Bldg 2C, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
| | | | | | - Jonathan Song
- Stanley Laboratory of Brain Research, 9800 Medical Center Dr. Bldg 2C, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Sanghyeon Kim
- Stanley Laboratory of Brain Research, 9800 Medical Center Dr. Bldg 2C, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Sarven Sabunciyan
- Stanley Laboratory of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Blalock 1105, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Suad Diglisic
- Stanley Laboratory of Brain Research, 9800 Medical Center Dr. Bldg 2C, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Robert H Yolken
- Stanley Laboratory of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Blalock 1105, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Michael B Knable
- Stanley Medical Research Institute, 8401 Connecticut Ave, Suite 200, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - E Fuller Torrey
- Stanley Medical Research Institute, 8401 Connecticut Ave, Suite 200, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Maree J Webster
- Stanley Laboratory of Brain Research, 9800 Medical Center Dr. Bldg 2C, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
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Moore TM, Brown T, Cade M, Eells JB. Alterations in amphetamine-stimulated dopamine overflow due to the Nurr1-null heterozygous genotype and postweaning isolation. Synapse 2008; 62:764-74. [DOI: 10.1002/syn.20550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Kumar RA, McGhee KA, Leach S, Bonaguro R, Maclean A, Aguirre-Hernandez R, Abrahams BS, Coccaro EF, Hodgins S, Turecki G, Condon A, Muir WJ, Brooks-Wilson AR, Blackwood DH, Simpson EM. Initial association of NR2E1 with bipolar disorder and identification of candidate mutations in bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and aggression through resequencing. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2008; 147B:880-9. [PMID: 18205168 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear receptor 2E1 gene (NR2E1) resides within a 6q21-22 locus for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Mice deleted for Nr2e1 show altered neurogenesis, cortical and limbic abnormalities, aggression, hyperexcitability, and cognitive impairment. NR2E1 is therefore a positional and functional candidate for involvement in mental illness. We performed association analyses in 394 patients with bipolar disorder, 396 with schizophrenia, and 479 controls using six common markers and haplotypes. We also performed a comprehensive mutation screen of NR2E1, resequencing its entire coding region, complete 5' and 3' untranslated regions, consensus splice-sites, and evolutionarily conserved regions in 126 humans with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or aggressive disorders. NR2E1 was associated with bipolar disorder I and II [odds ratio (OR = 0.77, P = 0.013), bipolar disorder I (OR = 0.77, P = 0.015), bipolar disorder in females (OR = 0.72, P = 0.009), and with age at onset < or = 25 years (OR = 0.67, P = 0.006)], all of which remained significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. We identified eight novel candidate mutations that were absent in 325 controls; four of these were predicted to alter known neural transcription factor binding sites. Analyses of NR2E1 mRNA in human brain revealed forebrain-specific transcription. The data presented support the hypothesis that genetic variation at NR2E1 may be associated with susceptibility to brain-behavior disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinesh A Kumar
- Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics and Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Pan T, Zhu W, Zhao H, Deng H, Xie W, Jankovic J, Le W. Nurr1 deficiency predisposes to lactacystin-induced dopaminergic neuron injury in vitro and in vivo. Brain Res 2008; 1222:222-9. [PMID: 18579122 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2007] [Revised: 05/09/2008] [Accepted: 05/09/2008] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) has been proposed to result from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure. Dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been implicated in neuron degeneration and in pathogenesis of PD. Nurr1, a member of nuclear receptor superfamily, is a potential susceptibility gene for PD. In this in vitro and in vivo study, we investigated whether Nurr1 deficiency may predispose to environmental proteasome inhibitors-induced neuron injury. We found that lactacystin, an irreversible proteasome inhibitor, caused greater injury to SH-SY5Y cells that Nurr1 expression has been suppressed by small interference RNA (siRNA). On the contrary, the Nurr1 overexpressed SH-SY5Y cells by Nurr1 expression vector transfection rescued the lactacystin-induced injury. In vivo, stereotactic microinjection with lactacystin into right median forebrain bundle (MFB) of mice caused significant inhibition of the proteasome activity in both Nurr1 knock out heterozygous (Nurr1 +/-) mice and their littermate wild-type (Nurr1 +/+) mice. At same time, we found that there was a severer loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons in substantia nigra (SN) and greater reduction of striatal dopamine (DA) levels in Nurr1 +/- mice as compared with that in Nurr1 +/+ mice. Furthermore, lactacystin-induced increase of cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase3 and p53 and decrease of bcl-2 in SN was significantly enhanced in Nurr1 +/- mice. These findings suggest that reduction in Nurr1 expression increases susceptibility to DAergic neuron injury induced by UPS impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhong Pan
- Parkinson's Disease Research Laboratory, Baylor College of Medicine, 6501 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Abstract
The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia (SZ) has motivated a large number of genetic association studies but few if any dopaminergic (DA) polymorphisms are accepted as credible risk factors at present. To evaluate whether dopamine-related genes have been investigated adequately, we surveyed public genetic databases and published SZ association studies with regard to 14 conventional DA genes and 7 selected dopamine-interacting proteins. We estimate that 325 polymorphisms would be required to evaluate the impact of common variation on SZ risk among Caucasian samples. To date, 98 polymorphisms have been analyzed in published association studies. We estimate that only 19 of these variations have been evaluated in samples with at least 50% power to detect an association of the effect size commonly found in genetically complex disorders. While it is possible that DA genes do not harbor genetic risk factors for SZ, our review suggests that satisfactory conclusions for most genes cannot be drawn at present. Whole-genome association studies have begun to fill this void, but additional analyses are likely to be needed. Recommendations for future association studies include analysis of adequately powered samples, judiciously selected polymorphisms, multiple ethnic groups, and concurrent evaluation of function at associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Talkowski
- Department of Human Genetics, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Chen CM, Chen IC, Chang KH, Chen YC, Lyu RK, Liu YT, Hu FJ, Chao CY, Lee-Chen GJ, Wu YR. Nuclear receptor NR4A2 IVS6 +18insG and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) V66M polymorphisms and risk of Taiwanese Parkinson's disease. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2007; 144B:458-62. [PMID: 17427185 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Both of environmental and genetic factors confer vulnerability to Parkinson's disease (PD). NR4A2 (Nurr1), a member of the steroid/thyroid hormone nuclear receptor superfamily, is essential for the neurogenesis and differentiation of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of PD, as the surviving dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons have reduced levels of BDNF. This study examines whether BDNF V66M (c.196 G --> A) or NR4A2 IVS6 +18insG polymorphism is associated with the risk of Taiwanese PD and the age of onset using a case-control study. The genotype or allele frequency distribution of both BDNF V66M and NR4A2 IVS6 +18insG polymorphisms was not significantly different between the cases and the controls. Neither BDNF nor NR4A2 polymorphism influences PD onset age. Notably, after stratification by sex, female individuals carrying the NR4A2 2G/2G genotype demonstrated a trend toward significant decrease in risk of developing PD (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.25-0.96, P = 0.039). These results suggest that the NR4A2 IVS6 +18insG polymorphism may play a minor role in PD susceptibility among Taiwanese women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiung-Mei Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang-Gung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
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Volpicelli F, Caiazzo M, Greco D, Consales C, Leone L, Perrone-Capano C, Colucci D'Amato L, di Porzio U. Bdnf gene is a downstream target of Nurr1 transcription factor in rat midbrain neurons in vitro. J Neurochem 2007; 102:441-53. [PMID: 17506860 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04494.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor Nurr1 is essential for the generation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDA). Only a few Nurr1-regulated genes have so far been identified and it remains unclear how Nurr1 influences the development and function of dopaminergic neurons. To identify novel Nurr1 target genes we have used genome-wide expression profiling in rat midbrain primary cultures, enriched in dopaminergic neurons, following up-regulation of Nurr1 expression by depolarization. In this study we demonstrate that following depolarization the hyperexpression of Nurr1 and the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are phospholipase C- and protein kinase C-dependent. We show that Bdnf, which encodes a neurotrophin involved also in the phenotypic maturation of mDA neurons, is a novel Nurr1 target gene. By RNA interference experiments we show that a decreased Nurr1 expression is followed by tyrosine hydroxylase and BDNF mRNA and protein down-regulation. Reporter gene assay experiments performed on midbrain primary cultures using four Bdnf promoter constructs show that Bdnf is a direct target gene of Nurr1. Taken together, our findings suggest that Nurr1 might also influence the development and the function of midbrain dopaminergic neurons via direct regulation of Bdnf expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floriana Volpicelli
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics A. Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, Developmental Neurobiology, Naples, Italy.
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Le-Niculescu H, Balaraman Y, Patel S, Tan J, Sidhu K, Jerome RE, Edenberg HJ, Kuczenski R, Geyer MA, Nurnberger JI, Faraone SV, Tsuang MT, Niculescu AB. Towards understanding the schizophrenia code: an expanded convergent functional genomics approach. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2007; 144B:129-58. [PMID: 17266109 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Identifying genes for schizophrenia through classical genetic approaches has proven arduous. Here, we present a comprehensive convergent analysis that translationally integrates brain gene expression data from a relevant pharmacogenomic mouse model (involving treatments with a psychomimetic agent - phencyclidine (PCP), and an anti-psychotic - clozapine), with human genetic linkage data and human postmortem brain data, as a Bayesian strategy of cross validating findings. Topping the list of candidate genes, we have three genes involved in GABA neurotransmission (GABRA1, GABBR1, and GAD2), one gene involved in glutamate neurotransmission (GRIA2), one gene involved in neuropeptide signaling (TAC1), two genes involved in synaptic function (SYN2 and KCNJ4), six genes involved in myelin/glial function (CNP, MAL, MBP, PLP1, MOBP and GFAP), and one gene involved in lipid metabolism (LPL). These data suggest that schizophrenia is primarily a disorder of brain functional and structural connectivity, with GABA neurotransmission playing a prominent role. These findings may explain the EEG gamma band abnormalities detected in schizophrenia. The analysis also revealed other high probability candidates genes (neurotransmitter signaling, other structural proteins, ion channels, signal transduction, regulatory enzymes, neuronal migration/neurite outgrowth, clock genes, transcription factors, RNA regulatory genes), pathways and mechanisms of likely importance in pathophysiology. Some of the pathways identified suggest possible avenues for augmentation pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia with other existing agents, such as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants and lipid modulating agents. Other pathways are new potential targets for drug development. Lastly, a comparison with our earlier work on bipolar disorder illuminates the significant molecular overlap between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Le-Niculescu
- Laboratory of Neurophenomics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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Kumar RA, Leach S, Bonaguro R, Chen J, Yokom DW, Abrahams BS, Seaver L, Schwartz CE, Dobyns W, Brooks-Wilson A, Simpson EM. Mutation and evolutionary analyses identify NR2E1-candidate-regulatory mutations in humans with severe cortical malformations. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2006; 6:503-16. [PMID: 17054721 PMCID: PMC2040186 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2006.00277.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear receptor 2E1 (NR2E1) is expressed in human fetal and adult brains; however, its role in human brain–behavior development is unknown. Previously, we have corrected the cortical hypoplasia and behavioral abnormalities in Nr2e1−/− mice using a genomic clone spanning human NR2E1, which bolsters the hypothesis that NR2E1 may similarly play a role in human cortical and behavioral development. To test the hypothesis that humans with abnormal brain–behavior development may have null or hypomorphic NR2E1 mutations, we undertook the first candidate mutation screen of NR2E1 by sequencing its entire coding region, untranslated, splice site, proximal promoter and evolutionarily conserved non-coding regions in 56 unrelated patients with cortical disorders, namely microcephaly. We then genotyped the candidate mutations in 325 unrelated control subjects and 15 relatives. We did not detect any coding region changes in NR2E1; however, we identified seven novel candidate regulatory mutations that were absent from control subjects. We used in silico tools to predict the effects of these candidate mutations on neural transcription factor binding sites (TFBS). Four candidate mutations were predicted to alter TFBS. To facilitate the present and future studies of NR2E1, we also elucidated its molecular evolution, genetic diversity, haplotype structure and linkage disequilibrium by sequencing an additional 94 unaffected humans representing Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania, as well as great apes and monkeys. We detected strong purifying selection, low genetic diversity, 21 novel polymorphisms and five common haplotypes at NR2E1. We conclude that protein-coding changes in NR2E1 do not contribute to cortical and behavioral abnormalities in the patients examined here, but that regulatory mutations may play a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Kumar
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics and Child & Family Research InstituteVancouver, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British ColumbiaVancouver, Canada
| | - S Leach
- Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer AgencyVancouver, Canada
| | - R Bonaguro
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics and Child & Family Research InstituteVancouver, Canada
| | - J Chen
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics and Child & Family Research InstituteVancouver, Canada
| | - D W Yokom
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics and Child & Family Research InstituteVancouver, Canada
| | - B S Abrahams
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics and Child & Family Research InstituteVancouver, Canada
| | - L Seaver
- Center for Molecular Studies, J.C. Self Research Institute, Greenwood Genetic CenterGreenwood, SC, USA
| | - C E Schwartz
- Center for Molecular Studies, J.C. Self Research Institute, Greenwood Genetic CenterGreenwood, SC, USA
| | - W Dobyns
- University of ChicagoChicago, IL, USA
| | - A Brooks-Wilson
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British ColumbiaVancouver, Canada
- Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer AgencyVancouver, Canada
| | - E M Simpson
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics and Child & Family Research InstituteVancouver, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British ColumbiaVancouver, Canada
- Corresponding author: Elizabeth M. Simpson, 3020 980 West 28 Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4H4. E-mail:
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Colón-Cesario WI, Martínez-Montemayor MM, Morales S, Félix J, Cruz J, Adorno M, Pereira L, Colón N, Maldonado-Vlaar CS, Peña de Ortiz S. Knockdown of Nurr1 in the rat hippocampus: implications to spatial discrimination learning and memory. Learn Mem 2006; 13:734-44. [PMID: 17142303 PMCID: PMC1783627 DOI: 10.1101/lm.407706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2006] [Accepted: 09/01/2006] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Nurr1 expression is up-regulated in the brain following associative learning experiences, but its relevance to cognitive processes remains unclear. In these studies, rats initially received bilateral hippocampal infusions of control or antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) 1 h prior to training in a holeboard spatial discrimination task. Such pre-training infusions of nurr1 antisense ODNs caused a moderate effect in learning the task and also impaired LTM tested 7 d later. In a second experiment, ODN infusions were given immediately after the animals had received two sessions of training, during which all animals showed normal learning. Although antisense treated rats were significantly impaired during the post-infusion stages of acquisition of the task, no group differences were observed during the LTM test given 7 d later. These animals were subjected 3 d later to reversal training in the same maze in the absence of any additional treatments. Remarkably, rats previously treated with antisense ODNs displayed perseveration: The animals were fixated with the previously learned pattern of baited holes, causing them to be significantly impaired in the extinction of acquired spatial preferences and future learning. We postulate that Nurr1 function in the hippocampus is important for normal cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sohaira Morales
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | - Jahaira Félix
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | - Juan Cruz
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | - Monique Adorno
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | - Lixmar Pereira
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | - Nydia Colón
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Sandra Peña de Ortiz
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
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38
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Schmidt-Kastner R, van Os J, W M Steinbusch H, Schmitz C. Gene regulation by hypoxia and the neurodevelopmental origin of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2006; 84:253-71. [PMID: 16632332 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2006.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2005] [Revised: 02/27/2006] [Accepted: 02/28/2006] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental changes may underlie the brain dysfunction seen in schizophrenia. While advances have been made in our understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia, little is known about how non-genetic factors interact with genes for schizophrenia. The present analysis of genes potentially associated with schizophrenia is based on the observation that hypoxia prevails in the embryonic and fetal brain, and that interactions between neuronal genes, molecular regulators of hypoxia, such as hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), and intrinsic hypoxia occur in the developing brain and may create the conditions for complex changes in neurodevelopment. Consequently, we searched the literature for currently hypothesized candidate genes for susceptibility to schizophrenia that may be subject to ischemia-hypoxia regulation and/or associated with vascular expression. Genes were considered when at least two independent reports of a significant association with schizophrenia had appeared in the literature. The analysis showed that more than 50% of these genes, particularly AKT1, BDNF, CAPON, CCKAR, CHRNA7, CNR1, COMT, DNTBP1, GAD1, GRM3, IL10, MLC1, NOTCH4, NRG1, NR4A2/NURR1, PRODH, RELN, RGS4, RTN4/NOGO and TNF, are subject to regulation by hypoxia and/or are expressed in the vasculature. Future studies of genes proposed as candidates for susceptibility to schizophrenia should include their possible regulation by physiological or pathological hypoxia during development as well as their potential role in cerebral vascular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainald Schmidt-Kastner
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Division of Cellular Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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39
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Eells JB, Misler JA, Nikodem VM. Reduced tyrosine hydroxylase and GTP cyclohydrolase mRNA expression, tyrosine hydroxylase activity, and associated neurochemical alterations in Nurr1-null heterozygous mice. Brain Res Bull 2006; 70:186-95. [PMID: 16782508 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2006.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2006] [Revised: 05/05/2006] [Accepted: 05/06/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear receptor Nurr1 is essential for the development of midbrain dopamine neurons and appears to be an important regulator of dopamine levels as adult Nurr1-null heterozygous (+/-) mice have reduced mesolimbic/mesocortical dopamine levels. The mechanism(s) through which reduced Nurr1 expression affects dopamine levels has not been determined. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed a significant reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and GTP cyclohydrolase (GTPCH) mRNA in ventral midbrain of +/- mice as compared to wild-type mice (+/+). The effect on TH expression was only observed at birth, while reduced GTP cyclohydrolase was also observed in the adult ventral tegemental area. No differences in dopamine transporter, vesicular monoamine transporter, dopamine D2 receptor or aromatic amino acid decarboxylase were observed. Since TH and GTPCH are both involved in dopamine synthesis, regulation of in vivo TH activity was measured in these mice. In vivo TH activity was reduced in nucleus accumbens and striatum of the +/- mice (24.7% and 15.7% reduction, respectively). In the striatum, gamma-butyrolactone exacerbated differences on +/- striatal TH activity (29.8% reduction) while haloperidol equalized TH activity between the +/+ and +/-. TH activity in the nucleus accumbens was significantly reduced in all conditions measured. Furthermore, dopamine levels in the striatum of +/- mice were significantly reduced after inhibition of dopamine synthesis or after haloperidol treatment but not under basal conditions while dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens were reduced under basal conditions. Based on these data the +/- genotype results in changes in gene expression and impairs dopamine synthesis which can affect the maintenance of dopamine levels, although with differential effects between mesolimbic/mesocortical and nigrostriatal dopamine neurons. Together, these data suggest that Nurr1 may function to modify TH and GTPCH expression and dopamine synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey B Eells
- National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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40
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Eells JB, Misler JA, Nikodem VM. Early postnatal isolation reduces dopamine levels, elevates dopamine turnover and specifically disrupts prepulse inhibition in Nurr1-null heterozygous mice. Neuroscience 2006; 140:1117-26. [PMID: 16690213 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.12.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2005] [Revised: 11/28/2005] [Accepted: 12/07/2005] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Sensorimotor gating is a phenomenon that is linked with dopamine neurotransmission in limbic and cortical areas, and disruption of sensorimotor gating has been consistently demonstrated in schizophrenia patients. The nuclear receptor Nurr1 is essential for development of dopamine neurons and, using Nurr1-null heterozygous mice, has been found to be important for normal dopamine neurotransmission as null heterozygous mice have reduced limbic and cortical dopamine levels and elevated open-field locomotor activity. The current investigation compared sensorimotor gating, as measured by prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response, in Nurr1 wild-type and null heterozygous mice. When mice were weaned between 19 and 21 days of age either into isolation or groups of three to five and tested 12 weeks later, prepulse inhibition was elevated in group-raised null heterozygous mice and significantly disrupted in isolated null heterozygous mice as compared with isolation-raised wild-type mice and group-raised null heterozygous mice. Isolation had no effect on prepulse inhibition in wild-type mice. Isolation reduced tissue dopamine levels and elevated dopamine turnover in the nucleus accumbens and striatum in both wild-type and null heterozygous mice. In the prefrontal cortex, isolation reduced dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels in null heterozygous as compared with isolation-raised wild-type mice, whereas no differences were observed between group-raised wild-type and null heterozygous mice. Neither the null heterozygous genotype nor isolation had any effect on basal or stress-induced corticosterone levels. These data suggest that the Nurr1 null heterozygous genotype predisposes these mice to isolation-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition that may be related to the interactions between intrinsic deficiencies in dopamine neurotransmission as a result of the null heterozygous genotype and isolation-induced changes in dopamine neurotransmission. Post-weaning isolation of Nurr1 null heterozygous mice provides a model to explore the interactions of genetic predisposition and environment/neurodevelopment on dopamine function that has important relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Eells
- National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 900 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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41
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Holla VR, Mann JR, Shi Q, DuBois RN. Prostaglandin E2 regulates the nuclear receptor NR4A2 in colorectal cancer. J Biol Chem 2005; 281:2676-82. [PMID: 16293616 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m507752200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Many lines of research implicate cyclooxygenase 2-derived prostaglandins in tumor growth and metastasis. More specifically, we have shown that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) promotes cell proliferation and invasion through transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor, initiates immune evasion through induction of decay accelerating factor, and transactivates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta, leading to increased polyp size and multiplicity. We continue to identify novel PGE2 target genes in colorectal carcinoma cells and report here that an immediate early gene, nuclear factor NR4A2 (Nurr1), is induced by PGE2 that in turn regulates cell death. Originally described as a critical dopaminergic neuron growth factor receptor, NR4A2 expression is rapidly but transiently induced by PGE2 in a cAMP/protein kinase A-dependent manner. NR4A2 binds to the cognate NBRE response element and enhances transcription of a reporter construct in colorectal carcinoma cells. Furthermore, NR4A2 expression is elevated in Apc-/+ mouse adenomas and its levels were further increased following PGE2 treatment. Human colorectal cancers relative to matched normal mucosa showed increased NR4A2 expression. Although not previously described in epithelial tissues, NR4A2 protein localizes to proliferating crypts of Apc-/+ mouse intestine. Finally, functional studies reveal that PGE2-mediated protection from apoptosis is completely inhibited by a dominant-negative NR4A2 construct. Building on previous reports from our group on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor family of nuclear receptors, these most recent data suggest that NR4A2, a member of another family of nuclear receptors can stimulate progression of colorectal cancer downstream from cyclooxygenase 2-derived PGE2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijaykumar R Holla
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-6838, USA
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42
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Abrahams BS, Kwok MCH, Trinh E, Budaghzadeh S, Hossain SM, Simpson EM. Pathological aggression in "fierce" mice corrected by human nuclear receptor 2E1. J Neurosci 2005; 25:6263-70. [PMID: 16000615 PMCID: PMC6725287 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4757-04.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2004] [Revised: 05/20/2005] [Accepted: 05/22/2005] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
"Fierce" mice, homozygous for the deletion of nuclear receptor 2E1 (NR2E1), show abnormal brain-eye development and pathological aggression. To evaluate functional equivalency between mouse and human NR2E1, we generated mice transgenic for a genomic clone spanning the human NR2E1 locus and bred these animals to fierce mice deleted for the corresponding mouse gene. In fierce mutants carrying human NR2E1, structural brain defects were eliminated and eye abnormalities ameliorated. Excitingly, behavior in these "rescue" mice was indistinguishable from controls. Because no artificial promoter was used to drive transgene expression, promoter and regulatory elements within the human NR2E1 clone are functional in mouse. Normal behavior in rescue animals suggests that mechanisms underlying the behavioral abnormalities in fierce mice may also be conserved in humans. Our data support the hypothesis that variation at NR2E1 may contribute to human behavioral disorders. Use of this rescue paradigm with other genes will permit the direct evaluation of human genes hypothesized to play a causal role in psychiatric disease but for which evidence is lacking or equivocal.
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MESH Headings
- Aggression/physiology
- Agonistic Behavior/physiology
- Animals
- Brain/abnormalities
- Brain/embryology
- Cerebral Cortex/abnormalities
- Congenital Abnormalities/embryology
- Congenital Abnormalities/genetics
- Congenital Abnormalities/therapy
- Crosses, Genetic
- Exploratory Behavior/physiology
- Eye Abnormalities/embryology
- Eye Abnormalities/genetics
- Eye Abnormalities/therapy
- Female
- Genotype
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Transgenic
- Olfactory Bulb/abnormalities
- Orphan Nuclear Receptors
- Phenotype
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/chemistry
- Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/deficiency
- Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/genetics
- Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/physiology
- Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
- Retina/abnormalities
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Species Specificity
- Territoriality
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett S Abrahams
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, British Columbia Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4H4, Canada
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43
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Smith KM, Bauer L, Fischer M, Barkley R, Navia BA. Identification and characterization of human NR4A2 polymorphisms in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2005; 133B:57-63. [PMID: 15635701 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable and common disorder thought to arise, in part, from alterations in dopamine function. NR4A2, or Nurr1, is an orphan nuclear receptor implicated in the development of dopaminergic cells of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the substantia nigra (SN). Dopaminergic cells of the VTA provide innervation to the prefrontal cortex, believed to be of major importance in the etiology of ADHD, suggesting that NR4A2 is a potential candidate gene for ADHD susceptibility. This study aimed to identify polymorphisms in NR4A2 and test their association to ADHD. Database analysis revealed a CA repeat polymorphism in the 3' UTR of NR4A2 that was confirmed by PCR. SSCP screening revealed a common DeltaC polymorphism, 254 bp 5' to the transcriptional start site. These polymorphisms were tested for an association with ADHD in both a case control study of individuals from the Milwaukee Longitudinal Study of ADHD (103 cases and 66 controls), and in 35 families composed of trios or affected sib pairs (ASP) with ADHD. Functional effects of the promoter polymorphism were tested in vitro. The non-deleted allele was significantly more active in undifferentiated SK-N-MC cells compared to differentiated SK-N-MC and HeLa cells while a trend for increased activity for the DeltaC allele was observed in undifferentiated SK-N-MC cells. Identification of these polymorphisms may aid future candidate gene studies in disorders with altered dopamine signaling, such as schizophrenia Parkinson's disease and ADHD.
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MESH Headings
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/genetics
- Base Sequence
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- DNA/chemistry
- DNA/genetics
- DNA Mutational Analysis
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- Gene Expression
- Genotype
- Haplotypes
- HeLa Cells
- Humans
- Linkage Disequilibrium
- Luciferases/genetics
- Luciferases/metabolism
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Transfection
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Müller Smith
- Genetics Program, Sackler School of GBS, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Ruano D, Macedo A, Dourado A, Soares MJ, Valente J, Coelho I, Santos V, Azevedo MH, Goodman A, Hutz MH, Gama C, Lobato MI, Belmonte-de-Abreu P, Palha JA. NR4A2 and schizophrenia: lack of association in a Portuguese/Brazilian study. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2004; 128B:41-5. [PMID: 15211629 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigates the association of mutations in the nuclear receptor NR4A2 in schizophrenic patients. The human Nur-related receptor 1, NR4A2, is an orphan nuclear receptor that can be constitutively active as a transcription factor and for which no natural ligand has yet been identified. Alone or with retinoid X receptor, RXR, NR4A2 influences the expression of several genes important for human brain development and regulation. In the absence of Nurr1 (the mouse homologue to human NR4A2), ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic mouse neurons evidence severe developmental failure, a condition that is lethal soon after birth. Nurr1 involvement in the dopaminergic system makes it a good candidate for study in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and Parkinson disease. Evidence by others support this hypothesis (1) mapping of the NR4A2 gene to chromosome 2q22-23, a region with suggestive linkage to schizophrenia and (2) identification of mutations in patients with schizophrenia (c.366-369delTAC, c.308A > G, c.-469delG), manic depression (c.289A > G), and familial Parkinson's disease (c.-291delT, c.-245T > G). To further extend these observations, we searched for all these mutations in 176 Caucasian Portuguese and 82 Caucasian Brazilian subjects with lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia. The study failed to identify any of the described mutations in patients or controls. Nevertheless, these negative results do not exclude altered expression of nuclear receptors in schizophrenia or the presence of other mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Ruano
- Health Sciences School, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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Sonntag KC, Simantov R, Kim KS, Isacson O. Temporally induced Nurr1 can induce a non-neuronal dopaminergic cell type in embryonic stem cell differentiation. Eur J Neurosci 2004; 19:1141-52. [PMID: 15016073 PMCID: PMC2614072 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03204.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear transcription factor Nurr1 is involved in the development and maintenance of the midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neuronal phenotype. We analysed the cellular and biological effects of Nurr1 during embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation using the ROSA26-engineered Tet-inducible ES cell line J1-rtTA that does not express transgenes in mature neurons. Induction of Nurr1 at nestin-positive precursor and later stages of ES cell differentiation produced a non-neuronal DA cell type including functional DA transporters. In these cells, we found a clear correlation between Nurr1 and TH gene expression and specific midbrain DA cellular markers such as AADC, AHD2 and calbindin. Nurr1 did not alter gene expression of non-DA neuronal phenotypes and did not influence other midbrain developmental transcription factors, such as Otx1, Otx2, En-1, GBX2, Pitx3 and lmx1b. In addition, Nurr1 expression was required for maintenance of the DA phenotype and mediated up-regulation of the tyrosine kinase Ret and associated trophic factor GDNF-family receptors alpha 1, 2, and 4. This demonstrates that Nurr1 is sufficient to induce and maintain a midbrain-like DA biochemical and functional cellular phenotype independent of neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Christian Sonntag
- Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center of Excellence, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478
- Neuroregeneration Laboratories, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478
| | - Rabi Simantov
- Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center of Excellence, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478
- Neuroregeneration Laboratories, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478
| | - Kwang-Soo Kim
- Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center of Excellence, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478
| | - Ole Isacson
- Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center of Excellence, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478
- Neuroregeneration Laboratories, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478
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46
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Volpicelli F, Perrone-Capano C, Da Pozzo P, Colucci-D'Amato L, di Porzio U. Modulation of nurr1 gene expression in mesencephalic dopaminergic neurones. J Neurochem 2004; 88:1283-94. [PMID: 15009684 DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.02254.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor/nuclear receptor Nurr1 is essential for the differentiation of midbrain dopaminergic neurones. Here we demonstrate that, during the ontogeny of rat ventral mesencephalon, nurr1 gene expression is developmentally regulated and its levels show a sharp peak between embryonic day E13 and E15, when most dopaminergic neurones differentiate. In addition, in primary cultures from embryonic rat mesencephalon, nurr1 gene follows a temporal pattern of expression comparable to that observed in vivo. We also report that exposure of embryonic mesencephalic cultures to depolarizing stimuli leads to a robust increase in nurr1 mRNA and protein. The depolarizing effect is also detected in mesencephalic cultures enriched in dopaminergic neurones by using a combination of bFGF and Sonic hedgehog. The latter further increases the number of dopaminergic neurones in these 'expanded' cultures, an effect abolished in the presence of anti-Sonic hedgehog antibodies. Our data show that nurr1 gene is highly expressed in midbrain dopaminergic neurones in a sharp temporal window and that its expression is plastic, both in vivo and in vitro. In addition we show that Sonic hedgehog can direct dopaminergic differentiation in proliferating dopaminergic neuroblasts in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floriana Volpicelli
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Developmental Neurobiology, Naples, Italy
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Tan EK, Chung H, Zhao Y, Shen H, Chandran VR, Tan C, Teoh ML, Yih Y, Pavanni R, Wong MC. Genetic analysis of Nurr1 haplotypes in Parkinson's disease. Neurosci Lett 2003; 347:139-42. [PMID: 12875905 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00539-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Nurr1 gene plays an important role in the development of the mesencephalic dopaminergic system. Genetic variability of Nurr1 gene may be associated with risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). We found three polymorphic loci (c.-2922(C)2-3, IVS6+18insG and EX8+657 (9-10CA)) of the Nurr1 gene in our PD patients and a novel intron 7+33 C-->T variant in one PD patient. We proceeded to perform a haplotype analysis in a case control study. A total of 202 PD patients (mean age 65.04+/-9.44 years, 55.4% men) and 202 age, gender and race matched controls (mean age 64.33+/-10.12 years, 54.0% men) were studied. The intron 7+33 C-->T variant was present in only one of the PD patients (0.5%) but in none of the controls. The Nurr1 mRNA levels in the lymphocytes did not significantly differ between the affected patient and controls. We found complete linkage disequilibrium between c.-2922(C)2-3 and IVS6+18insG polymorphic loci (D=0.25). Analysis of the three loci haplotype frequencies did not demonstrate any significant difference between PD and controls. There were also no significant differences in the haplotype frequencies between young and late onset PD patients. In conclusion, we demonstrated a large common haplotype block spanning the Nurr1 gene in our population. The intron 7+33 C-->T variant most likely represents either a non-functional mutation or a rare polymorphism in our study population. Our study suggests that Nurr1 variability is unlikely to play a major role in the majority of our PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eng-King Tan
- Division of Research, SingHealth, Singapore, Singapore.
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Wansa KDSA, Harris JM, Yan G, Ordentlich P, Muscat GEO. The AF-1 domain of the orphan nuclear receptor NOR-1 mediates trans-activation, coactivator recruitment, and activation by the purine anti-metabolite 6-mercaptopurine. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:24776-90. [PMID: 12709428 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m300088200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
NOR-1/NR4A3 is an "orphan member" of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. NOR-1 and its close relatives Nurr1 and Nur77 are members of the NR4A subgroup of nuclear receptors. Members of the NR4A subgroup are induced through multiple signal transduction pathways. They have been implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation, T-cell apoptosis, chondrosarcomas, neurological disorders, inflammation, and atherogenesis. However, the mechanism of transcriptional activation, coactivator recruitment, and agonist-mediated activation remain obscure. Hence, we examined the molecular basis of NOR-1-mediated activation. We observed that NOR-1 trans-activates gene expression in a cell- and target-specific manner; moreover, it operates in an activation function (AF)-1-dependent manner. The N-terminal AF-1 domain delimited to between amino acids 1 and 112, preferentially recruits the steroid receptor coactivator (SRC). Furthermore, SRC-2 modulates the activity of the AF-1 domain but not the C-terminal ligand binding domain (LBD). Homology modeling indicated that the NOR-1 LBD was substantially different from that of hRORbeta, a closely related AF-2-dependent receptor. In particular, the hydrophobic cleft characteristic of nuclear receptors was replaced with a very hydrophilic surface with a distinct topology. This observation may account for the inability of this nuclear receptor LBD to efficiently mediate cofactor recruitment and transcriptional activation. In contrast, the N-terminal AF-1 is necessary for cofactor recruitment and can independently conscript coactivators. Finally, we demonstrate that the purine anti-metabolite 6-mercaptopurine, a widely used antineoplastic and anti-inflammatory drug, activates NOR-1 in an AF-1-dependent manner. Additional 6-mercaptopurine analogs all efficiently activated NOR-1, suggesting that the signaling pathways that modulate proliferation via inhibition of de novo purine and/or nucleic acid biosynthesis are involved in the regulation NR4A activity. We hypothesize that the NR4A subgroup mediates the genotoxic stress response and suggest that this subgroup may function as sensors that respond to genotoxicity.
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Iwayama-Shigeno Y, Yamada K, Toyota T, Shimizu H, Hattori E, Yoshitsugu K, Fujisawa T, Yoshida Y, Kobayashi T, Toru M, Kurumaji A, Detera-Wadleigh S, Yoshikawa T. Distribution of haplotypes derived from three common variants of the NR4A2 gene in Japanese patients with schizophrenia. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2003; 118B:20-4. [PMID: 12627459 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.10053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation in dopaminergic neurotransmission might play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, and therefore genetic components of the dopamine (DA) pathway may confer risk. The NR4A2 (Nurr1) gene is essential for the development and maintenance of mesencephalic DA-synthesizing neurons. Moreover, Nurr1 forms a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor and disturbances in the retinoid-signaling cascade may be involved in susceptibility to schizophrenia. To investigate the potential genetic contribution of NR4A2, we performed a case-control association study using three common variants in the gene [-2922(C)2-3, IVS6 + 17 approximately +18insG, EX8 + 657(CA)9-10] that were in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other. We did not detect a significant allelic or genotypic association. Haplotypes derived from all three polymorphisms generated similar results. These data do not support the notion that the NR4A2 gene plays a major role in risk for schizophrenia among Japanese individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshimi Iwayama-Shigeno
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-city, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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Le WD, Xu P, Jankovic J, Jiang H, Appel SH, Smith RG, Vassilatis DK. Mutations in NR4A2 associated with familial Parkinson disease. Nat Genet 2003; 33:85-9. [PMID: 12496759 DOI: 10.1038/ng1066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 336] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2002] [Accepted: 11/05/2002] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
NR4A2, encoding a member of nuclear receptor superfamily, is essential for the differentiation of the nigral dopaminergic neurons. To determine whether NR4A2 is a susceptibility gene for Parkinson disease, we carried out genetic analyses in 201 individuals affected with Parkinson disease and 221 age-matched unaffected controls. We identified two mutations in NR4A2 associated with Parkinson disease (-291Tdel and -245T-->G), which map to the first exon of NR4A2 and affect one allele in 10 of 107 individuals with familial Parkinson disease but not in any individuals with sporadic Parkinson disease (n = 94) or in unaffected controls (n = 221). The age at onset of disease and clinical features of these ten individuals were not different from those of individuals with typical Parkinson disease. The mutations resulted in a marked decrease in NR4A2 mRNA levels in transfected cell lines and in lymphocytes of affected individuals. Additionally, mutations in NR4A2 affect transcription of the gene encoding tyrosine hydroxylase. These data suggest that mutations in NR4A2 can cause dopaminergic dysfunction, associated with Parkinson disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Dong Le
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
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