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Croom K, Rumschlag JA, Molinaro G, Erickson MA, Binder DK, Huber KM, Razak KA. Developmental trajectory and sex differences in auditory processing in a PTEN-deletion model of autism spectrum disorders. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 200:106628. [PMID: 39111703 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) encompass a wide array of debilitating symptoms, including severe sensory deficits and abnormal language development. Sensory deficits early in development may lead to broader symptomatology in adolescents and adults. The mechanistic links between ASD risk genes, sensory processing and language impairment are unclear. There is also a sex bias in ASD diagnosis and symptomatology. The current study aims to identify the developmental trajectory and genotype- and sex-dependent differences in auditory sensitivity and temporal processing in a Pten-deletion (phosphatase and tensin homolog missing on chromosome 10) mouse model of ASD. Auditory temporal processing is crucial for speech recognition and language development and deficits will cause language impairments. However, very little is known about the development of temporal processing in ASD animal models, and if there are sex differences. To address this major gap, we recorded epidural electroencephalography (EEG) signals from the frontal (FC) and auditory (AC) cortex in developing and adult Nse-cre PTEN mice, in which Pten is deleted in specific cortical layers (layers III-V) (PTEN conditional knock-out (cKO). We quantified resting EEG spectral power distribution, auditory event related potentials (ERP) and temporal processing from awake and freely moving male and female mice. Temporal processing is measured using a gap-in-noise-ASSR (auditory steady state response) stimulus paradigm. The experimental manipulation of gap duration and modulation depth allows us to measure cortical entrainment to rapid gaps in sounds. Temporal processing was quantified using inter-trial phase clustering (ITPC) values that account for phase consistency across trials. The results show genotype differences in resting power distribution in PTEN cKO mice throughout development. Male and female cKO mice have significantly increased beta power but decreased high frequency oscillations in the AC and FC. Both male and female PTEN cKO mice show diminished ITPC in their gap-ASSR responses in the AC and FC compared to control mice. Overall, deficits become more prominent in adult (p60) mice, with cKO mice having significantly increased sound evoked power and decreased ITPC compared to controls. While both male and female cKO mice demonstrated severe temporal processing deficits across development, female cKO mice showed increased hypersensitivity compared to males, reflected as increased N1 and P2 amplitudes. These data identify a number of novel sensory processing deficits in a PTEN-ASD mouse model that are present from an early age. Abnormal temporal processing and hypersensitive responses may contribute to abnormal development of language function in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katilynne Croom
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey A Rumschlag
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, United States of America
| | - Gemma Molinaro
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Michael A Erickson
- Psychology Department, University of California, Riverside, United States of America
| | - Devin K Binder
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, United States of America; Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, United States of America
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, United States of America; Psychology Department, University of California, Riverside, United States of America.
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2
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Gambini D, Ferrero S, Bulfamante G, Pisani L, Corbo M, Kuhn E. Cerebellar phenotypes in germline PTEN mutation carriers. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2024; 50:e12970. [PMID: 38504418 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12970] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PHTS) comprises different hereditary conditions caused by germline PTEN mutations, predisposing to the development of multiple hamartomas in many body tissues and also increasing the risk of some types of cancer. Cerebellar involvement in PHTS patients has been long known due to the development of a pathognomonic cerebellar hamartoma (known as dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum or Lhermitte-Duclos disease). Recently, a crucial role of the cerebellum has been highlighted in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders, now recognised as a phenotype expressed in a variable percentage of PHTS children. In addition, rare PTEN variants are indeed identified in medulloblastoma as well, even if they are less frequent than other germline gene mutations. The importance of PTEN and its downstream signalling enzymatic pathways, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, has been studied at different levels in both human clinical settings and animal models, not only leading to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of different disorders but, most importantly, to identify potential targets for specific therapies. In particular, PTEN integrity makes an important contribution to the normal development of tissue architecture in the nervous system, including the cerebellum. Thus, in patients with PTEN germline mutations, the cerebellum is an affected organ that is increasingly recognised in different disorders, whereas, in animal models, cerebellar Pten loss causes a variety of functional and histological alterations. In this review, we summarise the range of cerebellar involvement observed in PHTS and its relationships with germline PTEN mutations, along with the phenotypes expressed by murine models with PTEN deficiency in cerebellar tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Gambini
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa di Cura Igea, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Ferrero
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Pathology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Gaetano Bulfamante
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Human Pathology and Molecular Pathology Unit, TOMA Advanced Biomedical Assays, Busto Arsizio, Italy
| | - Luigi Pisani
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa di Cura Igea, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Corbo
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa di Cura Igea, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Kuhn
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Pathology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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3
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Tan Z, Luikart BW. Toward a better understanding of PHTS heterogeneity: commentary on 'Cell-type specific deficits in PTEN-mutant cortical organoids converge on abnormal circuit activity'. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:2771-2772. [PMID: 37540221 PMCID: PMC11007393 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhibing Tan
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Bryan W Luikart
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
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4
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Fernandez A, Sarn N, Eng C, Wright KM. Intrinsic control of DRG sensory neuron diversification by Pten. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.04.552039. [PMID: 37781577 PMCID: PMC10541114 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.04.552039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) modulates intracellular survival and differentiation signaling pathways downstream of neurotrophin receptors in the developing peripheral nervous system (PNS). Although well-studied in the context of brain development, our understanding of the in vivo role of PTEN in the PNS is limited to models of neuropathic pain and nerve injury. Here, we assessed how alterations in PTEN signaling affects the development of peripheral somatosensory circuits. We found that sensory neurons within the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in Pten heterozygous ( Pten Het ) mice exhibit defects in neuronal subtype diversification. Abnormal DRG differentiation in Pten Het mice arises early in development, with subsets of neurons expressing both progenitor and neuronal markers. DRGs in Pten Het mice show dysregulation of both mTOR and GSK-3β signaling pathways downstream of PTEN. Finally, we show that mice with an autism-associated mutation in Pten ( Pten Y68H/+ ) show abnormal DRG development. Thus, we have discovered a crucial role for PTEN signaling in the intrinsic diversification of primary sensory neuron populations in the DRG during development.
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5
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Cheung SKK, Kwok J, Or PMY, Wong CW, Feng B, Choy KW, Chang RCC, Burbach JPH, Cheng ASL, Chan AM. Neuropathological signatures revealed by transcriptomic and proteomic analysis in Pten-deficient mouse models. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6763. [PMID: 37185447 PMCID: PMC10130134 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33869-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome is characterised by mutations in the human PTEN gene. We performed transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of neural tissues and primary cultures from heterozygous and homozygous Pten-knockout mice. The somatosensory cortex of heterozygous Pten-knockout mice was enriched in immune response and oligodendrocyte development Gene Ontology (GO) terms. Parallel proteomic analysis revealed differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) related to dendritic spine development, keratinisation and hamartoma signatures. However, primary astrocytes (ASTs) from heterozygous Pten-knockout mice were enriched in the extracellular matrix GO term, while primary cortical neurons (PCNs) were enriched in immediate-early genes. In ASTs from homozygous Pten-knockout mice, cilium-related activity was enriched, while PCNs exhibited downregulation of forebrain neuron generation and differentiation, implying an altered excitatory/inhibitory balance. By integrating DEPs with pre-filtered differentially expressed genes, we identified the enrichment of traits of intelligence, cognitive function and schizophrenia, while DEPs in ASTs were significantly associated with intelligence and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley K K Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Jacinda Kwok
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Penelope M Y Or
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Chi Wai Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Bo Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Kwong Wai Choy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Raymond C C Chang
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - J Peter H Burbach
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alfred S L Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Andrew M Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4/F, Hui Yeung Shing Building, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
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6
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Mani S, Jindal D, Singh M. Gene Therapy, A Potential Therapeutic Tool for Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Applications, Challenges and Future Perspective. Curr Gene Ther 2023; 23:20-40. [PMID: 35345999 DOI: 10.2174/1566523222666220328142427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders are the main risks for the health care system, exhibiting a huge socioeconomic load. The available range of pharmacotherapeutics mostly provides palliative consequences and fails to treat such conditions. The molecular etiology of various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders is mostly associated with a change in genetic background, which can be inherited/triggered by other environmental factors. To address such conditions, gene therapy is considered a potential approach claiming a permanent cure of the disease primarily by deletion, silencing, or edition of faulty genes and by insertion of healthier genes. In gene therapy, vectors (viral/nonvial) play an important role in delivering the desired gene to a specific region of the brain. Targeted gene therapy has unraveled opportunities for the treatment of many neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. For improved gene delivery, the current techniques mainly focus on designing a precise viral vector, plasmid transfection, nanotechnology, microRNA, and in vivo clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based therapy. These latest techniques have great benefits in treating predominant neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and autism spectrum disorder, as well as rarer diseases. Nevertheless, all these delivery methods have their limitations, including immunogenic reactions, off-target effects, and a deficiency of effective biomarkers to appreciate the effectiveness of therapy. In this review, we present a summary of the current methods in targeted gene delivery, followed by the limitations and future direction of gene therapy for the cure of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Mani
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Emerging Diseases, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, U.P., India
| | - Divya Jindal
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Emerging Diseases, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, U.P., India
| | - Manisha Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Emerging Diseases, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, U.P., India
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7
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Zhou X, Wei J, Li L, Shu Z, You L, Liu Y, Zhao R, Yao J, Wang J, Luo M, Shu Y, Yuan K, Qi H. Microglial Pten safeguards postnatal integrity of the cortex and sociability. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1059364. [PMID: 36591296 PMCID: PMC9795847 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1059364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglial abnormalities may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. PTEN is implicated as a susceptibility gene for autism spectrum disorders and its germline ablation in mice causes behavioral abnormalities. Here we find postnatal PTEN deletion in microglia causes deficits in sociability and novel object recognition test. Mutant mice harbor markedly more activated microglia that manifest enhanced phagocytosis. Interestingly, two-week postponement of microglia PTEN ablation leads to no social interaction defects, even though mutant microglia remain abnormal in adult animals. Disturbed neurodevelopment caused by early PTEN deletion in microglia is characterized by insufficient VGLUT1 protein in synaptosomes, likely a consequence of enhanced removal by microglia. In correlation, in vitro acute slice recordings demonstrate weakened synaptic inputs to layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the developing cortex. Therefore, microglial PTEN safeguards integrity of neural substrates underlying sociability in a developmentally determined manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhou
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiacheng Wei
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Li
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Translational Brain Research, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenfeng Shu
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Translational Brain Research, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling You
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,National Institute of Biological Science, Beijing, China
| | - Ruozhu Zhao
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiacheng Yao
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianbin Wang
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Minmin Luo
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,National Institute of Biological Science, Beijing, China
| | - Yousheng Shu
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Translational Brain Research, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kexin Yuan
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Hai Qi, ; Kexin Yuan,
| | - Hai Qi
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China,Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Beijing Key Laboratory for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Hai Qi, ; Kexin Yuan,
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8
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Smith IN, Dawson JE, Krieger J, Thacker S, Bahar I, Eng C. Structural and Dynamic Effects of PTEN C-Terminal Tail Phosphorylation. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:4175-4190. [PMID: 36001481 PMCID: PMC9472802 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) tumor suppressor gene encodes a tightly regulated dual-specificity phosphatase that serves as the master regulator of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. The carboxy-terminal tail (CTT) is key to regulation and harbors multiple phosphorylation sites (Ser/Thr residues 380-385). CTT phosphorylation suppresses the phosphatase activity by inducing a stable, closed conformation. However, little is known about the mechanisms of phosphorylation-induced CTT-deactivation dynamics. Using explicit solvent microsecond molecular dynamics simulations, we show that CTT phosphorylation leads to a partially collapsed conformation, which alters the secondary structure of PTEN and induces long-range conformational rearrangements that encompass the active site. The active site rearrangements prevent localization of PTEN to the membrane, precluding lipid phosphatase activity. Notably, we have identified phosphorylation-induced allosteric coupling between the interdomain region and a hydrophobic site neighboring the active site in the phosphatase domain. Collectively, the results provide a mechanistic understanding of CTT phosphorylation dynamics and reveal potential druggable allosteric sites in a previously believed clinically undruggable protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris N. Smith
- Genomic
Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States
| | - Jennifer E. Dawson
- Genomic
Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States
| | - James Krieger
- Department
of Computational and Systems Biology, University
of Pittsburgh, 800 Murdoch Building, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Stetson Thacker
- Genomic
Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States
- Cleveland
Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case
Western Reserve University, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United
States
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Department
of Computational and Systems Biology, University
of Pittsburgh, 800 Murdoch Building, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic
Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States
- Cleveland
Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case
Western Reserve University, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United
States
- Case
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western
Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
- Taussig
Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States
- Department
of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western
Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
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9
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Hu L, Jiang GY, Wang YP, Hu ZB, Zhou BY, Zhang L, Song NN, Huang Y, Chai GD, Chen JY, Lang B, Xu L, Liu JL, Li Y, Wang QX, Ding YQ. The role of PTEN in primary sensory neurons in processing itch and thermal information in mice. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110724. [PMID: 35443189 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
PTEN is known as a tumor suppressor and plays essential roles in brain development. Here, we report that PTEN in primary sensory neurons is involved in processing itch and thermal information in adult mice. Deletion of PTEN in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is achieved in adult Drg11-CreER: PTENflox/flox (PTEN CKO) mice with oral administration of tamoxifen, and CKO mice develop pathological itch and elevated itch responses on exposure to various pruritogens. PTEN deletion leads to ectopic expression of TRPV1 and MrgprA3 in IB4+ non-peptidergic DRG neurons, and the TRPV1 is responsive to capsaicin. Importantly, the elevated itch responses are no longer present in Drg11-CreER: PTENflox/flox: TRPV1flox/flox (PTEN: TRPV1 dCKO) mice. In addition, thermal stimulation is enhanced in PTEN CKO mice but blunted in dCKO mice. PTEN-involved regulation of itch-related gene expression in DRG neurons provides insights for understanding molecular mechanism of itch and thermal sensation at the spinal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Hu
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Guan-Yu Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ying-Ping Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Institute of Medical Sciences, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Zhi-Bin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Bing-Yao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ning-Ning Song
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Guo-Dong Chai
- Department of Anesthesiology, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Jia-Yin Chen
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Bing Lang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Laboratory of Learning and Memory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Jun-Ling Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Institute of Medical Sciences, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Institute of Medical Sciences, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qing-Xiu Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China.
| | - Yu-Qiang Ding
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
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10
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Cummings K, Watkins A, Jones C, Dias R, Welham A. Behavioural and psychological features of PTEN mutations: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder characteristics. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:1. [PMID: 34983360 PMCID: PMC8903687 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-021-09406-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is a cancer suppressor gene. Constitutional mutations affecting this gene are associated with several conditions, collectively termed PTEN hamartoma tumour syndromes (PHTS). In addition to hamartomas, PTEN aberrations have been associated with a range of non-tumoural phenotypes such as macrocephaly, and research indicates possibly increased rates of developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for people with germline mutations affecting PTEN. Method A systematic review of literature reporting behavioural and psychological variables for people with constitutional PTEN mutations/PHTS was conducted using four databases. Following in-depth screening, 25 articles met the inclusion criteria and were used in the review. Fourteen papers reported the proportion of people with PTEN mutations/PTHS meeting criteria for or having characteristics of ASD and were thus used in a pooled prevalence meta-analysis. Results Meta-analysis using a random effects model estimated pooled prevalence of ASD characteristics at 25% (95% CI 16–33%), although this should be interpreted cautiously due to possible biases in existing literature. Intellectual disability and developmental delay (global, motor and speech and language) were also reported frequently. Emotional difficulties and impaired cognitive functioning in specific domains were noted but assessed/reported less frequently. Methods of assessment of psychological/behavioural factors varied widely (with retrospective examination of medical records common). Conclusions Existing research suggests approximately 25% of people with constitutional PTEN mutations may meet criteria for or have characteristics of ASD. Studies have also begun to establish a range of possible cognitive impairments in affected individuals, especially when ASD is also reported. However, further large-scale studies are needed to elucidate psychological/behavioural corollaries of this mutation, and how they may relate to physiological/physical characteristics. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11689-021-09406-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Cummings
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 7HA, UK.
| | - Alice Watkins
- Neuropsychology Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, WC1N 3JH, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Chris Jones
- Department of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Renuka Dias
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham Women's, and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, UK, B4 6NH.,Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK, B15 2TT
| | - Alice Welham
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 7HA, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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11
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PTEN mutations in autism spectrum disorder and congenital hydrocephalus: developmental pleiotropy and therapeutic targets. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:961-976. [PMID: 34625286 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The lack of effective treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and congenital hydrocephalus (CH) reflects the limited understanding of the biology underlying these common neurodevelopmental disorders. Although ASD and CH have been extensively studied as independent entities, recent human genomic and preclinical animal studies have uncovered shared molecular pathophysiology. Here, we review and discuss phenotypic, genomic, and molecular similarities between ASD and CH, and identify the PTEN-PI3K-mTOR (phosphatase and tensin homolog-phosphoinositide 3-kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway as a common underlying mechanism that holds diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic promise for individuals with ASD and CH.
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12
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Clipperton-Allen AE, Zhang A, Cohen OS, Page DT. Environmental Enrichment Rescues Social Behavioral Deficits and Synaptic Abnormalities in Pten Haploinsufficient Mice. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1366. [PMID: 34573348 PMCID: PMC8468545 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pten germline haploinsufficient (Pten+/-) mice, which model macrocephaly/autism syndrome, show social and repetitive behavior deficits, early brain overgrowth, and cortical-subcortical hyperconnectivity. Previous work indicated that altered neuronal connectivity may be a substrate for behavioral deficits. We hypothesized that exposing Pten+/- mice to environmental enrichment after brain overgrowth has occurred may facilitate adaptation to abnormal "hard-wired" connectivity through enhancing synaptic plasticity. Thus, we reared Pten+/- mice and their wild-type littermates from weaning under either standard (4-5 mice per standard-sized cage, containing only bedding and nestlet) or enriched (9-10 mice per large-sized cage, containing objects for exploration and a running wheel, plus bedding and nestlet) conditions. Adult mice were tested on social and non-social assays in which Pten+/- mice display deficits. Environmental enrichment rescued sex-specific deficits in social behavior in Pten+/- mice and partially rescued increased repetitive behavior in Pten+/- males. We found that Pten+/- mice show increased excitatory and decreased inhibitory pre-synaptic proteins; this phenotype was also rescued by environmental enrichment. Together, our results indicate that environmental enrichment can rescue social behavioral deficits in Pten+/- mice, possibly through normalizing the excitatory synaptic protein abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Damon Theron Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA; (A.E.C.-A.); (A.Z.); (O.S.C.)
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13
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Chai AP, Chen XF, Xu XS, Zhang N, Li M, Li JN, Zhang L, Zhang D, Zhang X, Mao RR, Ding YQ, Xu L, Zhou QX. A Temporal Activity of CA1 Neurons Underlying Short-Term Memory for Social Recognition Altered in PTEN Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:699315. [PMID: 34335191 PMCID: PMC8319669 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.699315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory-guided social recognition identifies someone from previous encounters or experiences, but the mechanisms of social memory remain unclear. Here, we find that a short-term memory from experiencing a stranger mouse lasting under 30 min interval is essential for subsequent social recognition in mice, but that interval prolonged to hours by replacing the stranger mouse with a familiar littermate. Optogenetic silencing of dorsal CA1 neuronal activity during trials or inter-trial intervals disrupted short-term memory-guided social recognition, without affecting the ability of being sociable or long-term memory-guided social recognition. Postnatal knockdown or knockout of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-associated phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene in dorsal hippocampal CA1 similarly impaired neuronal firing rate in vitro and altered firing pattern during social recognition. These PTEN mice showed deficits in social recognition with stranger mouse rather than littermate and exhibited impairment in T-maze spontaneous alternation task for testing short-term spatial memory. Thus, we suggest that a temporal activity of dorsal CA1 neurons may underlie formation of short-term memory to be critical for organizing subsequent social recognition but that is possibly disrupted in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- An-Ping Chai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xue-Feng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Xiao-Shan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Na Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Meng Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Jin-Nan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dai Zhang
- Institute of Mental Health, The Sixth Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rong-Rong Mao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yu-Qiang Ding
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi-Xin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, and Laboratory of Learning and Memory, and KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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14
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Sharma A, Mehan S. Targeting PI3K-AKT/mTOR signaling in the prevention of autism. Neurochem Int 2021; 147:105067. [PMID: 33992742 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PI3K-AKT/mTOR signaling pathway represents an essential signaling mechanism for mammalian enzyme-related receptors in transducing signals or biological processes such as cell development, differentiation, cell survival, protein synthesis, and metabolism. Upregulation of the PI3K-AKT/mTOR signaling pathway involves many human brain abnormalities, including autism and other neurological dysfunctions. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with behavior and psychiatric illness. This research-based review discusses the functional relationship between the neuropathogenic factors associated with PI3K-AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Ultimately causes autism-like conditions associated with genetic alterations, neuronal apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Therefore, inhibition of the PI3K-AKT/mTOR signaling pathway may have an effective therapeutic value for autism treatment. The current review also summarizes the involvement of PI3K-AKT/mTOR signaling pathway inhibitors in the treatment of autism and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Sharma
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India.
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15
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Shin S, Santi A, Huang S. Conditional Pten knockout in parvalbumin- or somatostatin-positive neurons sufficiently leads to autism-related behavioral phenotypes. Mol Brain 2021; 14:24. [PMID: 33504340 PMCID: PMC7839207 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-021-00731-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Disrupted GABAergic neurons have been extensively described in brain tissues from individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and animal models for ASD. However, the contribution of these aberrant inhibitory neurons to autism-related behavioral phenotypes is not well understood. We examined ASD-related behaviors in mice with conditional Pten knockout in parvalbumin (PV)-expressing or somatostatin (Sst)-expressing neurons, two common subtypes of GABAergic neurons. We found that mice with deletion of Pten in either PV-neurons or Sst-neurons displayed social deficits, repetitive behaviors and impaired motor coordination/learning. In addition, mice with one copy of Pten deletion in PV-neurons exhibited hyperlocomotion in novel open fields and home cages. We also examined anxiety behaviors and found that mice with Pten deletion in Sst-neurons displayed anxiety-like behaviors, while mice with Pten deletion in PV-neurons exhibited anxiolytic-like behaviors. These behavioral assessments demonstrate that Pten knockout in the subtype of inhibitory neurons sufficiently gives rise to ASD-core behaviors, providing evidence that both PV- and Sst-neurons may play a critical role in ASD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangyep Shin
- Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Andrea Santi
- Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Shiyong Huang
- Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
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16
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Li B, Li K, Tian D, Zhou Q, Xie Y, Fang Z, Wang X, Luo T, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Chen Q, Meng Q, Zhao G, Li J. De novo mutation of cancer-related genes associates with particular neurodevelopmental disorders. J Mol Med (Berl) 2020; 98:1701-1712. [PMID: 33047154 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-020-01991-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have shown an increased prevalence of cancer in some patients with neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD); however, the genetic mechanisms regarding how cancer-related genes (CRGs) contribute to NDD remain unclear. We performed bioinformatic analyses on 219 CRGs from OMIM and de novo mutations (DNMs) from 16,498 patients with different NDDs and 3391 controls. Our results showed that autism spectrum disorder, undiagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder, congenital heart disease and intellectual disability, but not epileptic encephalopathy and schizophrenia, harboured significantly more putative functional DNMs in CRGs, compared with controls, providing genetic evidence supporting previous epidemiological surveys. We further detected 26 CRGs with recurrent putative functional DNMs that showed high expression in the human brain during the prenatal stage and in non-brain organs in adults. The proteins coded by the 26 CRGs and known NDD candidate genes formed a functional network that is involved in brain development and tumorigenesis. Overall, we proposed 39 cancer-targeting drugs that could be investigated for treating patients with NDD, which would be potentially cost-effective. In conclusion, DNMs contribute to specific NDDs and there may be a shared genetic basis between NDDs and cancer, highlighting the importance of considering cancer-targeting drugs with potential curative effects in patients with NDDs. KEY MESSAGES: • The contribution of DNMs in NDD is consistent with epidemiological surveys. • We highlighted 26 CRGs, including nine genes with more than five functional DNMs. • Specific expression patterns underlie the genetic mechanism of CRGs in NDD. • Specific functional networks underlie the genetic mechanism of CRGs in NDD. • The shared genetic aetiology suggests potential mutual treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 #, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.,Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Kuokuo Li
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Di Tian
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Qiao Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 #, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.,Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yali Xie
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 #, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.,Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Zhenghuan Fang
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaomeng Wang
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Tengfei Luo
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 #, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 #, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yijing Wang
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Qian Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 #, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Qingtuan Meng
- Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, Guangxi, China
| | - Guihu Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 #, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China. .,Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
| | - Jinchen Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 #, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China. .,Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China. .,Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
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17
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Clipperton-Allen AE, Page DT. Connecting Genotype with Behavioral Phenotype in Mouse Models of Autism Associated with PTEN Mutations. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:cshperspect.a037010. [PMID: 31871231 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a037010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A subset of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and macrocephaly carry mutations in the gene PTEN. Animal models, particularly mice, have been helpful in establishing a causal role for Pten mutations in autism-relevant behavioral deficits. These models are a useful tool for investigating neurobiological mechanisms of these behavioral phenotypes and developing potential therapeutic interventions. Here we provide an overview of various genetic mouse models that have been used to characterize behavioral phenotypes caused by perturbation of Pten We discuss convergent and divergent phenotypes across models with the aim of highlighting a set of behavioral domains that are sensitive to the effects of Pten mutation and that may provide useful readouts for translational and basic neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Damon T Page
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
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18
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Lopez G, Conkrite KL, Doepner M, Rathi KS, Modi A, Vaksman Z, Farra LM, Hyson E, Noureddine M, Wei JS, Smith MA, Asgharzadeh S, Seeger RC, Khan J, Auvil JG, Gerhard DS, Maris JM, Diskin SJ. Somatic structural variation targets neurodevelopmental genes and identifies SHANK2 as a tumor suppressor in neuroblastoma. Genome Res 2020; 30:1228-1242. [PMID: 32796005 PMCID: PMC7545140 DOI: 10.1101/gr.252106.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a malignancy of the developing sympathetic nervous system that accounts for 12% of childhood cancer deaths. Like many childhood cancers, neuroblastoma shows a relative paucity of somatic single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and small insertions and deletions (indels) compared to adult cancers. Here, we assessed the contribution of somatic structural variation (SV) in neuroblastoma using a combination of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of tumor-normal pairs (n = 135) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of primary tumors (n = 914). Our study design allowed for orthogonal validation and replication across platforms. SV frequency, type, and localization varied significantly among high-risk tumors. MYCN nonamplified high-risk tumors harbored an increased SV burden overall, including a significant excess of tandem duplication events across the genome. Genes disrupted by SV breakpoints were enriched in neuronal lineages and associated with phenotypes such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The postsynaptic adapter protein-coding gene, SHANK2, located on Chromosome 11q13, was disrupted by SVs in 14% of MYCN nonamplified high-risk tumors based on WGS and 10% in the SNP array cohort. Expression of SHANK2 was low across human-derived neuroblastoma cell lines and high-risk neuroblastoma tumors. Forced expression of SHANK2 in neuroblastoma cells resulted in significant growth inhibition (P = 2.6 × 10-2 to 3.4 × 10-5) and accelerated neuronal differentiation following treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (P = 3.1 × 10-13 to 2.4 × 10-30). These data further define the complex landscape of somatic structural variation in neuroblastoma and suggest that events leading to deregulation of neurodevelopmental processes, such as inactivation of SHANK2, are key mediators of tumorigenesis in this childhood cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Lopez
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Karina L Conkrite
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Miriam Doepner
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Komal S Rathi
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Apexa Modi
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Genomics and Computational Biology, Biomedical Graduate Studies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Zalman Vaksman
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Lance M Farra
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Eric Hyson
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Moataz Noureddine
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Jun S Wei
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Malcolm A Smith
- Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Shahab Asgharzadeh
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA
| | - Robert C Seeger
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Jaime Guidry Auvil
- Office of Cancer Genomics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Daniela S Gerhard
- Office of Cancer Genomics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - John M Maris
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Sharon J Diskin
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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19
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Hooshmandi M, Wong C, Khoutorsky A. Dysregulation of translational control signaling in autism spectrum disorders. Cell Signal 2020; 75:109746. [PMID: 32858122 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Deviations from the optimal level of mRNA translation are linked to disorders with high rates of autism. Loss of function mutations in genes encoding translational repressors such as PTEN, TSC1, TSC2, and FMRP are associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in humans and their deletion in animals recapitulates many ASD-like phenotypes. Importantly, the activity of key translational control signaling pathways such as PI3K-mTORC1 and ERK is frequently dysregulated in autistic patients and animal models and their normalization rescues many abnormal phenotypes, suggesting a causal relationship. Mutations in several genes encoding proteins not directly involved in translational control have also been shown to mediate ASD phenotypes via altered signaling upstream of translation. This raises the possibility that the dysregulation of translational control signaling is a converging mechanism not only in familiar but also in sporadic forms of autism. Here, we overview the current knowledge on translational signaling in ASD and highlight how correcting the activity of key pathways upstream of translation reverses distinct ASD-like phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Hooshmandi
- Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Calvin Wong
- Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Arkady Khoutorsky
- Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada.
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20
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White AR, Tiwari D, MacLeod MC, Danzer SC, Gross C. PI3K isoform-selective inhibition in neuron-specific PTEN-deficient mice rescues molecular defects and reduces epilepsy-associated phenotypes. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 144:105026. [PMID: 32712265 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy affects all ages, races, genders, and socioeconomic groups. In about one third of patients, epilepsy is uncontrolled with current medications, leaving a vast need for improved therapies. The causes of epilepsy are diverse and not always known but one gene mutated in a small subpopulation of patients is phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). Moreover, focal cortical dysplasia, which constitutes a large fraction of refractory epilepsies, has been associated with signaling defects downstream of PTEN. So far, most preclinical attempts to reverse PTEN deficiency-associated neurological deficits have focused on mTOR, a signaling hub several steps downstream of PTEN. Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), by contrast, are the direct enzymatic counteractors of PTEN, and thus may be alternative treatment targets. PI3K activity is mediated by four different PI3K catalytic isoforms. Studies in cancer, where PTEN is commonly mutated, have demonstrated that inhibition of only one isoform, p110β, reduces progression of PTEN-deficient tumors. Importantly, inhibition of a single PI3K isoform leaves critical functions of general PI3K signaling throughout the body intact. Here, we show that this disease mechanism-targeted strategy borrowed from cancer research rescues or ameliorates neuronal phenotypes in male and female mice with neuron-specific PTEN deficiency. These phenotypes include cell signaling defects, protein synthesis aberrations, seizures, and cortical dysplasia. Of note, p110β is also dysregulated and a promising treatment target in the intellectual disability Fragile X syndrome, pointing towards a shared biological mechanism that is therapeutically targetable in neurodevelopmental disorders of different etiologies. Overall, this work advocates for further assessment of p110β inhibition not only in PTEN deficiency-associated neurodevelopmental diseases but also other brain disorders characterized by defects in the PI3K/mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela R White
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Durgesh Tiwari
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45229, USA
| | - Molly C MacLeod
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Steve C Danzer
- Department of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45229, USA
| | - Christina Gross
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45229, USA.
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21
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Hashem S, Nisar S, Bhat AA, Yadav SK, Azeem MW, Bagga P, Fakhro K, Reddy R, Frenneaux MP, Haris M. Genetics of structural and functional brain changes in autism spectrum disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:229. [PMID: 32661244 PMCID: PMC7359361 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-00921-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder characterized by social impairment and restricted interactive and communicative behaviors. It may occur as an isolated disorder or in the context of other neurological, psychiatric, developmental, and genetic disorders. Due to rapid developments in genomics and imaging technologies, imaging genetics studies of ASD have evolved in the last few years. Increased risk for ASD diagnosis is found to be related to many specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and the study of genetic mechanisms and noninvasive imaging has opened various approaches that can help diagnose ASD at the nascent level. Identifying risk genes related to structural and functional changes in the brain of ASD patients provide a better understanding of the disease's neuropsychiatry and can help identify targets for therapeutic intervention that could be useful for the clinical management of ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheema Hashem
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Puneet Bagga
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Optical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Khalid Fakhro
- Department of Human Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ravinder Reddy
- Center for Magnetic Resonance and Optical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | | | - Mohammad Haris
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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22
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Modeling Neurodevelopmental Deficits in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex with Stem Cell Derived Neural Precursors and Neurons. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2020. [PMID: 32578142 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-45493-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic disorder that is caused by mutations in TSC1 or TSC2. TSC is a multi-organ disorder characterized by development of non-malignant cellular overgrowths, called hamartomas, in different organs of the body. TSC is also characterized as a neurodevelopmental disorder presenting with epilepsy and autism, and formation of cortical malformations ("tubers"), subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs), and subependymal nodules (SENs) in the patient's brain. In this chapter, we are going to give an overview of neural stem cell and neuronal development in TSC. In addition, we will also describe previously developed animal models of TSC that display seizures, autistic-like behaviors, and neuronal cell abnormalities in vivo, and we will compare them to disease phenotypes detected with human stem cell derived neuronal cells in vitro. We will describe the effects of TSC-mutations in different neural cell subtypes, and discuss the mitochondrial function, autophagy, and synaptic development and functional deficits in the neurons. Finally, we will review utilization of these human TSC-patient derived neuronal models for drug screening to develop new treatment options for the neurological phenotypes seen in TSC patients.
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23
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Lee J, Ha S, Lee ST, Park SG, Shin S, Choi JR, Cheon KA. Next-Generation Sequencing in Korean Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Comorbid Epilepsy. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:585. [PMID: 32477112 PMCID: PMC7240034 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests. Identifying the genetic background may be one of the key features for the future diagnosis and treatment of ASD. With the tremendous development in genetic diagnosis techniques, next-generation sequencing (NGS) can be used to analyze multiple genes simultaneously with a single test in laboratory and clinical settings and is well suited for investigating autism genetics. According to previous studies, there are two types of genetic variants in ASD, rare variants and common variants, and both are important in explaining pathogenesis. In this study, NGS data from 137 participants with ASD were reviewed retrospectively with consideration for comorbid epilepsy. Diagnostic yield was 17.51% (24/137), and pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were seen more frequently in female participants. Fourteen participants were diagnosed with comorbid epilepsy, six of them had pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants (43%). Genes with variants of unknown significance (VOUS) which have one or more evidence of pathogenicity following the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) criteria were also reviewed in both ASD and ASD with comorbid epilepsy groups. We found that most frequently found VOUS genes have previously been reported as genes related to ASD or other developmental disorders. These results suggest that when interpreting the NGS results in the clinical setting, careful observation of VOUS with some pathological evidence might contribute to the discovery of genetic pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junghan Lee
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Severance Hospital, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sungji Ha
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung-Tae Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung-Gyun Park
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Saeam Shin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong Rak Choi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Keun-Ah Cheon
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Severance Hospital, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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24
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Skelton PD, Stan RV, Luikart BW. The Role of PTEN in Neurodevelopment. MOLECULAR NEUROPSYCHIATRY 2020; 5:60-71. [PMID: 32399470 PMCID: PMC7206585 DOI: 10.1159/000504782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PTEN is a lipid and protein phosphatase that regulates cell growth and survival. Mutations to PTEN are highly penetrant for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we briefly review the evidence linking PTEN mutations to ASD and the mouse models that have been used to study the role of PTEN in neurodevelopment. We then focus on the cellular phenotypes associated with PTEN loss in neurons, highlighting the role PTEN plays in neuronal proliferation, migration, survival, morphology, and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick D. Skelton
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Radu V. Stan
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Bryan W. Luikart
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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25
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Missig G, McDougle CJ, Carlezon WA. Sleep as a translationally-relevant endpoint in studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:90-103. [PMID: 31060044 PMCID: PMC6879602 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0409-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sleep has numerous advantages for aligning clinical and preclinical (basic neuroscience) studies of neuropsychiatric illness. Sleep has high translational relevance, because the same endpoints can be studied in humans and laboratory animals. In addition, sleep experiments are conducive to continuous data collection over long periods (hours/days/weeks) and can be based on highly objective neurophysiological measures. Here, we provide a translationally-oriented review on what is currently known about sleep in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including ASD-related conditions, thought to have genetic, environmental, or mixed etiologies. In humans, ASD is frequently associated with comorbid medical conditions including sleep disorders. Animal models used in the study of ASD frequently recapitulate dysregulation of sleep and biological (diurnal, circadian) rhythms, suggesting common pathophysiologies across species. As our understanding of the neurobiology of ASD and sleep each become more refined, it is conceivable that sleep-derived metrics may offer more powerful biomarkers of altered neurophysiology in ASD than the behavioral tests currently used in humans or lab animals. As such, the study of sleep in animal models for ASD may enable fundamentally new insights on the condition and represent a basis for strategies that enable the development of more effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galen Missig
- 0000 0000 8795 072Xgrid.240206.2Basic Neuroscience Division, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA USA
| | - Christopher J. McDougle
- 0000 0004 0386 9924grid.32224.35Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lexington, MA USA ,000000041936754Xgrid.38142.3cDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - William A. Carlezon
- 0000 0000 8795 072Xgrid.240206.2Basic Neuroscience Division, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA USA
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26
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El-kott AF, Bin-Meferij MM, Eleawa SM, Alshehri MM. Kaempferol Protects Against Cadmium Chloride-Induced Memory Loss and Hippocampal Apoptosis by Increased Intracellular Glutathione Stores and Activation of PTEN/AMPK Induced Inhibition of Akt/mTOR Signaling. Neurochem Res 2019; 45:295-309. [DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02911-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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27
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Rademacher S, Eickholt BJ. PTEN in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2019; 9:cshperspect.a036780. [PMID: 31427284 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a036780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a classical tumor suppressor that antagonizes phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling. Although there is a strong association of PTEN germline mutations with cancer syndromes, they have also been described in a subset of patients with autism spectrum disorders with macrocephaly characterized by impairments in social interactions and communication, repetitive behavior and, occasionally, epilepsy. To investigate PTEN's role during neurodevelopment and its implication for autism, several conditional Pten knockout mouse models have been generated. These models are valuable tools to understand PTEN's spatiotemporal roles during neurodevelopment. In this review, we will highlight the anatomical and phenotypic results from animal studies and link them to cellular and molecular findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Rademacher
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Britta J Eickholt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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28
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Macken WL, Tischkowitz M, Lachlan KL. PTEN Hamartoma tumor syndrome in childhood: A review of the clinical literature. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2019; 181:591-610. [PMID: 31609537 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) is a highly variable autosomal dominant condition associated with intellectual disability, overgrowth, and tumor predisposition phenotypes, which often overlap. PHTS incorporates a number of historical clinical presentations including Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, Cowden syndrome, and a macrocephaly-autism/developmental delay syndrome. Many reviews in the literature focus on PHTS as an adult hamartoma and malignancy predisposition condition. Here, we review the current literature with a focus on pediatric presentations. The review starts with a summary of the main conditions encompassed within PHTS. We then discuss PHTS diagnostic criteria, and clinical features. We briefly address rarer PTEN associations, and the possible role of mTOR inhibitors in treatment. We acknowledge the limited understanding of the natural history of childhood-onset PHTS as a cancer predisposition syndrome and present a summary of important management considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- William L Macken
- Wessex Clinical Genetics Service, University Hospitals Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Tischkowitz
- Department of Clinical Genetics, East Anglian Medical Genetics Service, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine L Lachlan
- Wessex Clinical Genetics Service, University Hospitals Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom.,Human Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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29
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Frazier TW. Autism Spectrum Disorder Associated with Germline Heterozygous PTEN Mutations. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2019; 9:a037002. [PMID: 31307976 PMCID: PMC6771360 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a037002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
This review examines our current understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its prevalence, impact, behavioral treatment, and outcomes. Building on this knowledge, ASD associated with PTEN mutations is introduced and recent human studies of neurobehavioral and neuroimaging findings in patients with PTEN mutations with and without ASD are reviewed. In doing so, we present evidence supporting a model of PTEN loss leading to neurobehavioral deficits, including ASD and intellectual disability. Next, we describe the neurobehavioral spectrum observed across PTEN mutation cases, adding specificity where possible, based on data from recent studies of child and adult PTEN patients. Finally, we end with a discussion of potential clinical recommendations for improving interventions and supports for people with PTEN-ASD and future research avenues for understanding and treating the functional and cognitive deficits in PTEN-ASD.
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30
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Abstract
PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene that classically dampens the PI3K/AKT/mTOR growth-promoting signaling cascade. PTEN dysfunction causes dysregulation of this and other pathways, resulting in overgrowth. Cowden syndrome, a hereditary cancer predisposition and overgrowth disorder, was the first Mendelian condition associated with germline PTEN mutations. Since then, significant advances by the research and medical communities have elucidated how clinical phenotypic manifestations result from the underlying germline PTEN mutations. With time, it became evident that PTEN mutations can result in a broad phenotypic spectrum, causing seemingly disparate disorders from cancer to autism. Hence, the umbrella term of PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) was coined. Timely diagnosis and understanding the natural history of PHTS are vital because early recognition enables gene-informed management, particularly as related to high-risk cancer surveillance and addressing the neurodevelopmental symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamis Yehia
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA; , ,
| | - Emma Keel
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA; , ,
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA; , , .,Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.,Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.,Germline High Risk Cancer Focus Group, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
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31
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Zahedi Abghari F, Moradi Y, Akouchekian M. PTEN gene mutations in patients with macrocephaly and classic autism: A systematic review. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2019; 33:10. [PMID: 31086789 PMCID: PMC6504940 DOI: 10.34171/mjiri.33.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder characterized by massive damage in various fields of development. Impaired social interaction and communication skills, unusual behavior or interests, and repetitive activities are considerably disabling in these patients. There are several challenges in diagnosis of ASD patients such as co-existing epilepsy, difference in clinician attitudes and possibly multifactorial etiology of autistic behavior among children and adults. Research in recent years has emphasized a possible connection between mutations in PTEN and macrocephaly (head circumference > 97th centile). Methods: Articles in English Language were searched from international databases including Medline (PubMed), Google Scholar, Scopus, and CINHAL from January 1998 to January 2016. Results: The results showed that among 2940 patients with behavioral disorders, 2755 individuals had ASD, and 35 cases with macrocephaly had mutations in PTEN. About 77% of the articles (7/9) analyzed mutations in PTEN in patients with head circumference more than 2SD away from the mean, but did not check mutations in this gene in other ASD patients without macrocephaly. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first systematic review on human PTEN mutations and classical autistic behavior. Conclusion: We conclude that the presence of macrocephaly may not be sufficient to examine the PTEN mutation in this group; however, surveying this gene in all cases of macrocephaly seems to be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fateme Zahedi Abghari
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yousef Moradi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Mansoureh Akouchekian
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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32
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Gabrielli AP, Manzardo AM, Butler MG. GeneAnalytics Pathways and Profiling of Shared Autism and Cancer Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20051166. [PMID: 30866437 PMCID: PMC6429377 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20051166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research revealed that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and cancer may share common genetic architecture, with evidence first reported with the PTEN gene. There are approximately 800 autism genes and 3500 genes associated with cancer. The VarElect phenotype program was chosen to identify genes jointly associated with both conditions based on genomic information stored in GeneCards. In total, 138 overlapping genes were then profiled with GeneAnalytics, an analysis pathway enrichment tool utilizing existing gene datasets to identify shared pathways, mechanisms, and phenotypes. Profiling the shared gene data identified seven significantly associated diseases of 2310 matched disease entities with factors implicated in shared pathology of ASD and cancer. These included 371 super-pathways of 455 matched entities reflecting major cell-signaling pathways and metabolic disturbances (e.g., CREB, AKT, GPCR); 153 gene ontology (GO) biological processes of 226 matched processes; 41 GO molecular functions of 78 matched functions; and 145 phenotypes of 232 matched phenotypes. The entries were scored and ranked using a matching algorithm that takes into consideration genomic expression, sequencing, and microarray datasets with cell or tissue specificity. Shared mechanisms may lead to the identification of a common pathology and a better understanding of causation with potential treatment options to lessen the severity of ASD-related symptoms in those affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander P Gabrielli
- Departments of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences & Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - Ann M Manzardo
- Departments of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences & Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - Merlin G Butler
- Departments of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences & Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
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33
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Yehia L, Ngeow J, Eng C. PTEN-opathies: from biological insights to evidence-based precision medicine. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:452-464. [PMID: 30614812 DOI: 10.1172/jci121277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) classically counteracts the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling cascade. Germline pathogenic PTEN mutations cause PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS), featuring various benign and malignant tumors, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder. Germline and somatic mosaic mutations in genes encoding components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway downstream of PTEN predispose to syndromes with partially overlapping clinical features, termed the "PTEN-opathies." Experimental models of PTEN pathway disruption uncover the molecular and cellular processes influencing clinical phenotypic manifestations. Such insights not only teach us about biological mechanisms in states of health and disease, but also enable more accurate gene-informed cancer risk assessment, medical management, and targeted therapeutics. Hence, the PTEN-opathies serve as a prototype for bedside to bench, and back to the bedside, practice of evidence-based precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamis Yehia
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Joanne Ngeow
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.,Cancer Genetics Service, Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore.,Oncology Academic Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Germline High Risk Cancer Focus Group, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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34
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Gruhl SL, Sharma P, Han TS. A family with PTEN mutations with malignancy and an unusually high number of offspring with autism spectrum disorder: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2018; 12:353. [PMID: 30482242 PMCID: PMC6260738 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-018-1863-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cowden’s syndrome (OMIM:158350), a rare genetic disorder (incidence ~ 1:250,000), is caused by mutations of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN. In this report, we describe clinical manifestations of a 56-year-old patient diagnosed with Cowden’s syndrome and his family with PTEN mutations. The family has an unusually high number of offspring with autism spectrum disorder. Case presentation Except for his 80-year-old Caucasian father, all of our index case’s living Caucasian kindred (three children, brother, and nephew) had PTEN mutations and macrocephaly. Prior to genetic testing, his mother and sister died of breast cancer at 42 and 38 years old, respectively. After PTEN mutation was identified, our patient underwent complete thyroidectomy (histology showing micropapillary carcinoma) and right nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. All of his three children (13-year-old son, 11- and 8-year-old daughters) have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. His son and brother underwent total thyroidectomy. His nephew had thyroid nodules. Management of Cowden’s syndrome requires clinical examinations and investigations every 6 to 12 months from 18 years old or 5 years before the family’s earliest age of cancer diagnosis and should focus on all clinical manifestations associated with PTEN mutations to identify early abnormal changes in skin, breasts, thyroid, endometrium, gut, and kidneys. Input from specialists across different disciplines is necessary. Conclusions We describe a man and his family with PTEN mutations who have increased risk of cancers and an unusually high number of offspring with autism spectrum disorder. Early recognition and close surveillance are vital in order to provide treatment and early screening for asymptomatic at-risk relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina L Gruhl
- St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, London, SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Pankaj Sharma
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Imperial College London NHS Trust, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Thang S Han
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK. .,Department of Endocrinology, Ashford and St Peter's NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, KT16 0PZ, UK.
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35
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Fernandez BA, Scherer SW. Syndromic autism spectrum disorders: moving from a clinically defined to a molecularly defined approach. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2018. [PMID: 29398931 PMCID: PMC5789213 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2017.19.4/sscherer] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a group of neurodevelopmental conditions diagnosed solely on the basis of behavioral assessments that reveal social deficits. Progress has been made in understanding its genetic underpinnings, but most ASD-associated genetic variants, which include copy number variants (CNVs) and mutations in ASD-risk genes, account for no more than 1 % of ASD cases. This high level of genetic heterogeneity leads to challenges obtaining and interpreting genetic testing in clinical settings. The traditional definition of syndromic ASD is a disorder with a clinically defined pattern of somatic abnormalities and a neurobehavioral phenotype that may include ASD. Most have a known genetic cause. Examples include fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. We propose dividing syndromic autism into the following two groups: (i) ASD that occurs in the context of a clinically defined syndrome-recognizing these disorders depends on the familiarity of the clinician with the features of the syndrome, and the diagnosis is typically confirmed by targeted genetic testing (eg, mutation screening of FMR1); (ii) ASD that occurs as a feature of a molecularly defined syndrome-for this group of patients, ASD-associated variants are identified by genome-wide testing that is not hypothesis driven (eg, microarray, whole exome sequencing). These ASD groups cannot be easily clinically defined because patients with a given variant have variable somatic abnormalities (dysmorphism and birth defects). In this article, we review common diagnoses from the above categories and suggest a testing strategy for patients, guided by determining whether the individual has essential or complex ASD; patients in the latter group have multiple morphologic anomalies on physical examination. Finally, we recommend that the syndromic versus nonsyndromic designation ultimately be replaced by classification of ASD according to its genetic etiology, which will inform about the associated spectrum and penetrance of neurobehavioral and somatic manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget A Fernandez
- Disciplines of Genetics and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL Canada
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- The Center for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genomic Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; McLaughlin Center and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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36
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Yehia L, Eng C. 65 YEARS OF THE DOUBLE HELIX: One gene, many endocrine and metabolic syndromes: PTEN-opathies and precision medicine. Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:T121-T140. [PMID: 29792313 DOI: 10.1530/erc-18-0162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
An average of 10% of all cancers (range 1-40%) are caused by heritable mutations and over the years have become powerful models for precision medicine practice. Furthermore, such cancer predisposition genes for seemingly rare syndromes have turned out to help explain mechanisms of sporadic carcinogenesis and often inform normal development. The tumor suppressor PTEN encodes a ubiquitously expressed phosphatase that counteracts the PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascade - one of the most critical growth-promoting signaling pathways. Clinically, individuals with germline PTEN mutations have diverse phenotypes and fall under the umbrella term PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS). PHTS encompasses four clinically distinct allelic overgrowth syndromes, namely Cowden, Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba, Proteus and Proteus-like syndromes. Relatedly, mutations in other genes encoding components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway downstream of PTEN also predispose patients to partially overlapping clinical manifestations, with similar effects as PTEN malfunction. We refer to these syndromes as 'PTEN-opathies.' As a tumor suppressor and key regulator of normal development, PTEN dysfunction can cause a spectrum of phenotypes including benign overgrowths, malignancies, metabolic and neurodevelopmental disorders. Relevant to clinical practice, the identification of PTEN mutations in patients not only establishes a PHTS molecular diagnosis, but also informs on more accurate cancer risk assessment and medical management of those patients and affected family members. Importantly, timely diagnosis is key, as early recognition allows for preventative measures such as high-risk screening and surveillance even prior to cancer onset. This review highlights the translational impact that the discovery of PTEN has had on the diagnosis, management and treatment of PHTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamis Yehia
- Genomic Medicine InstituteLerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine InstituteLerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Taussig Cancer InstituteCleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genome SciencesCase Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Germline High Risk Cancer Focus GroupCASE Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Tordjman S, Cohen D, Anderson G, Botbol M, Canitano R, Coulon N, Roubertoux P. Repint of “Reframing autism as a behavioral syndrome and not a specific mental disorder: Implications of genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity”. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 89:132-150. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 12/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Okur V, Chung WK. The impact of hereditary cancer gene panels on clinical care and lessons learned. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2017; 3:mcs.a002154. [PMID: 29162654 PMCID: PMC5701305 DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a002154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in hereditary cancer syndromes account for a modest fraction of all cancers; however, identifying patients with these germline mutations offers tremendous health benefits to both patients and their family members. There are about 60 genes that confer a high lifetime risk of specific cancers, and this information can be used to tailor prevention, surveillance, and treatment. With advances in next-generation sequencing technologies and the elimination of gene patents for evaluating genetic information, we are now able to analyze multiple genes simultaneously, leading to the widespread clinical use of gene panels for germline cancer testing. Over the last 4 years since these panels were introduced, we have learned about the diagnostic yield of testing, the expanded phenotypes of the patients with mutations, and the clinical utility of genetic testing in patients with cancer and/or without cancer but with a family history of cancer. We have also experienced challenges including the large number of variants of unknown significance (VUSs), identification of somatic mutations and need to differentiate these from germline mutations, technical issues with particular genes and mutations, insurance coverage and reimbursement issues, lack of access to data, and lack of clinical management guidelines for newer and, especially, moderate and low-penetrance genes. The lessons learned from cancer genetic testing panels are applicable to other clinical areas as well and highlight the problems to be solved as we advance genomic medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volkan Okur
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Wendy K Chung
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA; .,Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
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Gilbert J, Man HY. Fundamental Elements in Autism: From Neurogenesis and Neurite Growth to Synaptic Plasticity. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:359. [PMID: 29209173 PMCID: PMC5701944 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of neurodevelopmental disorders with a high prevalence and impact on society. ASDs are characterized by deficits in both social behavior and cognitive function. There is a strong genetic basis underlying ASDs that is highly heterogeneous; however, multiple studies have highlighted the involvement of key processes, including neurogenesis, neurite growth, synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review article, we focus on the major genes and signaling pathways implicated in ASD and discuss the cellular, molecular and functional studies that have shed light on common dysregulated pathways using in vitro, in vivo and human evidence. HighlightsAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a prevalence of 1 in 68 children in the United States. ASDs are highly heterogeneous in their genetic basis. ASDs share common features at the cellular and molecular levels in the brain. Most ASD genes are implicated in neurogenesis, structural maturation, synaptogenesis and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Gilbert
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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40
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Abstract
Trophic factors control cellular physiology by activating specific receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). While the over activation of RTK signaling pathways is associated with cell growth and cancer, recent findings support the concept that impaired down-regulation or deactivation of RTKs may also be a mechanism involved in tumor formation. Under this perspective, the molecular determinants of RTK signaling inhibition may act as tumor-suppressor genes and have a potential role as tumor markers to monitor and predict disease progression. Here, we review the current understanding of the physiological mechanisms that attenuate RTK signaling and discuss evidence that implicates deregulation of these events in cancer.
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Yao Y, Jones E, Inoki K. Lysosomal Regulation of mTORC1 by Amino Acids in Mammalian Cells. Biomolecules 2017; 7:biom7030051. [PMID: 28686218 PMCID: PMC5618232 DOI: 10.3390/biom7030051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a master regulator of cell growth in eukaryotic cells. The active mTORC1 promotes cellular anabolic processes including protein, pyrimidine, and lipid biosynthesis, and inhibits catabolic processes such as autophagy. Consistent with its growth-promoting functions, hyper-activation of mTORC1 signaling is one of the important pathomechanisms underlying major human health problems including diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. The mTORC1 receives multiple upstream signals such as an abundance of amino acids and growth factors, thus it regulates a wide range of downstream events relevant to cell growth and proliferation control. The regulation of mTORC1 by amino acids is a fast-evolving field with its detailed mechanisms currently being revealed as the precise picture emerges. In this review, we summarize recent progress with respect to biochemical and biological findings in the regulation of mTORC1 signaling on the lysosomal membrane by amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Yao
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, 210 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Edith Jones
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, 210 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1137 East Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Ken Inoki
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, 210 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1137 East Catherine Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 1500 East Medical enter Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Ngeow J, Sesock K, Eng C. Clinical Implications for Germline PTEN Spectrum Disorders. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2017; 46:503-517. [PMID: 28476234 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecl.2017.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Patients with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) may present to a variety of different subspecialties with benign and malignant clinical features. They have increased lifetime risks of breast, endometrial, thyroid, renal, and colon cancers, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder. Patients and affected family members can be offered gene-directed surveillance and management. Patients who are unaffected can be spared unnecessary investigations. With longitudinal follow-up, we are likely to identify other non-cancer manifestations associated with PHTS such as metabolic, immunologic, and neurologic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Ngeow
- Cancer Genetics Service, Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610, Singapore; Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kaitlin Sesock
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE-50, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Germline High Risk Focus Group, CASE Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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43
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Powell SK, Gregory J, Akbarian S, Brennand KJ. Application of CRISPR/Cas9 to the study of brain development and neuropsychiatric disease. Mol Cell Neurosci 2017; 82:157-166. [PMID: 28549865 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2017.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 technology has transformed our ability to manipulate the genome and epigenome, from efficient genomic editing to targeted localization of effectors to specific loci. Through the manipulation of DNA- and histone-modifying enzyme activities, activation or repression of gene expression, and targeting of transcriptional regulators, the role of gene-regulatory and epigenetic pathways in basic biology and disease processes can be directly queried. Here, we discuss emerging CRISPR-based methodologies, with specific consideration of neurobiological applications of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-based models.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Powell
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - J Gregory
- Instructional Technology Group, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - S Akbarian
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - K J Brennand
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States.
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Liu X, Li Z, Fan C, Zhang D, Chen J. Genetics implicate common mechanisms in autism and schizophrenia: synaptic activity and immunity. J Med Genet 2017; 54:511-520. [PMID: 28314733 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2016-104487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The diagnosis of debilitating psychiatric disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCHZ) is on the rise. These are severe conditions that lead to social isolation and require lifelong professional care. Improved diagnosis of ASD and SCHZ provides early access to medication and therapy, but the reality is that the mechanisms and the cellular pathology underlying these conditions are mostly unknown at this time. Although both ASD and SCHZ have strong inherited components, genetic risk seems to be distributed in hundreds of variants, each conferring low risk. The poor understanding of the genetics of ASD and SCHZ is a significant hurdle to developing effective treatments for these costly conditions. The recent implementation of next-generation sequencing technologies and the creation of large consortia have started to reveal the genetic bases of ASD and SCHZ. Alterations in gene expression regulation, synaptic architecture and activity and immunity seem to be the main cellular mechanisms contributing to both ASD and SCHZ, a surprising overlap given the distinct phenotypes and onset of these conditions. These diverse pathways seem to converge in aberrant synaptic plasticity and remodelling, which leads to altered connectivity between relevant brain regions. Continuous efforts to understand the genetic basis of ASD and SCHZ will soon lead to significant progress in the mechanistic understanding of these prominent psychiatric disorders and enable the development of disease-modifying therapies for these devastating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhengwei Li
- Department of Pediatric surgery, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Conghai Fan
- Department of Neurology, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dongli Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
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45
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Robert C, Pasquier L, Cohen D, Fradin M, Canitano R, Damaj L, Odent S, Tordjman S. Role of Genetics in the Etiology of Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Towards a Hierarchical Diagnostic Strategy. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E618. [PMID: 28287497 PMCID: PMC5372633 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18030618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Progress in epidemiological, molecular and clinical genetics with the development of new techniques has improved knowledge on genetic syndromes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The objective of this article is to show the diversity of genetic disorders associated with ASD (based on an extensive review of single-gene disorders, copy number variants, and other chromosomal disorders), and consequently to propose a hierarchical diagnostic strategy with a stepwise evaluation, helping general practitioners/pediatricians and child psychiatrists to collaborate with geneticists and neuropediatricians, in order to search for genetic disorders associated with ASD. The first step is a clinical investigation involving: (i) a child psychiatric and psychological evaluation confirming autism diagnosis from different observational sources and assessing autism severity; (ii) a neuropediatric evaluation examining neurological symptoms and developmental milestones; and (iii) a genetic evaluation searching for dysmorphic features and malformations. The second step involves laboratory and if necessary neuroimaging and EEG studies oriented by clinical results based on clinical genetic and neuropediatric examinations. The identification of genetic disorders associated with ASD has practical implications for diagnostic strategies, early detection or prevention of co-morbidity, specific treatment and follow up, and genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrille Robert
- Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent (PHUPEA), University of Rennes 1 and Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier, 35200 Rennes, France.
- Service de Génétique Clinique, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares Anomalies du Développement (Centre Labellisé pour les Anomalies du Développement de l'Ouest: CLAD Ouest), Hôpital Sud, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, 35200 Rennes, France.
| | - Laurent Pasquier
- Service de Génétique Clinique, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares Anomalies du Développement (Centre Labellisé pour les Anomalies du Développement de l'Ouest: CLAD Ouest), Hôpital Sud, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, 35200 Rennes, France.
| | - David Cohen
- Hospital-University Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital, Paris 6 University, 75013 Paris, France.
| | - Mélanie Fradin
- Service de Génétique Clinique, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares Anomalies du Développement (Centre Labellisé pour les Anomalies du Développement de l'Ouest: CLAD Ouest), Hôpital Sud, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, 35200 Rennes, France.
| | - Roberto Canitano
- Division of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Léna Damaj
- Service de Génétique Clinique, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares Anomalies du Développement (Centre Labellisé pour les Anomalies du Développement de l'Ouest: CLAD Ouest), Hôpital Sud, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, 35200 Rennes, France.
| | - Sylvie Odent
- Service de Génétique Clinique, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares Anomalies du Développement (Centre Labellisé pour les Anomalies du Développement de l'Ouest: CLAD Ouest), Hôpital Sud, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, 35200 Rennes, France.
| | - Sylvie Tordjman
- Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent (PHUPEA), University of Rennes 1 and Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier, 35200 Rennes, France.
- Laboratory of Psychology of Perception, University Paris Descartes, 75270 Paris, France.
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46
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Tordjman S, Cohen D, Coulon N, Anderson GM, Botbol M, Canitano R, Roubertoux PL. Reframing autism as a behavioral syndrome and not a specific mental disorder: Implications of genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 80:210. [PMID: 28153685 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 12/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Clinical and molecular genetics have advanced current knowledge on genetic disorders associated with autism. A review of diverse genetic disorders associated with autism is presented and for the first time discussed extensively with regard to possible common underlying mechanisms leading to a similar cognitive-behavioral phenotype of autism. The possible role of interactions between genetic and environmental factors, including epigenetic mechanisms, is in particular examined. Finally, the pertinence of distinguishing non-syndromic autism (isolated autism) from syndromic autism (autism associated with genetic disorders) will be reconsidered. Given the high genetic and etiological heterogeneity of autism, autism can be viewed as a behavioral syndrome related to known genetic disorders (syndromic autism) or currently unknown disorders (apparent non-syndromic autism), rather than a specific categorical mental disorder. It highlights the need to study autism phenotype and developmental trajectory through a multidimensional, non-categorical approach with multivariate analyses within autism spectrum disorder but also across mental disorders, and to conduct systematically clinical genetic examination searching for genetic disorders in all individuals (children but also adults) with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Tordjman
- Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier, 154 rue de Châtillon, 35200 Rennes, France; Laboratoire Psychologie de la Perception, Université Paris Descartes and CNRS UMR 8158, Paris, France.
| | - D Cohen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, AP-HP, GH Pitié-Salpétrière, CNRS FRE 2987, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - N Coulon
- Laboratoire Psychologie de la Perception, Université Paris Descartes and CNRS UMR 8158, Paris, France
| | - G M Anderson
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - M Botbol
- Departement Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France
| | - R Canitano
- Division of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - P L Roubertoux
- Aix Marseille Université, GMGF, Inserm, UMR_S 910, 13385, Marseille, France
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Faus-Garriga J, Novoa I, Ozaita A. mTOR signaling in proteostasis and its relevance to autism spectrum disorders. AIMS BIOPHYSICS 2017. [DOI: 10.3934/biophy.2017.1.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Keppler-Noreuil KM, Parker VE, Darling TN, Martinez-Agosto JA. Somatic overgrowth disorders of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway & therapeutic strategies. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS. PART C, SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2016; 172:402-421. [PMID: 27860216 PMCID: PMC5592089 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway plays an essential role in regulation of normal cell growth, metabolism, and survival. Somatic activating mutations in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway are among the most common mutations identified in cancer, and have been shown to cause a spectrum of overgrowth syndromes including PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Spectrum, Proteus syndrome, and brain overgrowth conditions. Clinical findings in these disorders may be isolated or multiple, including sporadic or mosaic overgrowth (adipose, skeletal, muscle, brain, vascular, or lymphatic), and skin abnormalities (including epidermal nevi, hyper-, and hypopigmented lesions), and have the potential risk of tumorigenesis. Key negative regulators of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway include PTEN and TSC1/TSC2 and germline loss-of function mutations of these genes are established to cause PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Mosaic forms of these conditions lead to increased activation of PI3K and mTOR at affected sites and there is phenotypic overlap between these conditions. All are associated with significant morbidity with limited options for treatment other than symptomatic therapies and surgeries. As dysregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway has been implicated in cancer, several small molecule inhibitors targeting different components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway are under clinical investigation. The development of these therapies brings closer the prospect of targeting treatment for somatic PI3K/AKT/mTOR-related overgrowth syndromes. This review describes the clinical findings, gene function and pathogenesis of these mosaic overgrowth syndromes, and presents existing and future treatment strategies to reduce or prevent associated complications of these disorders. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M. Keppler-Noreuil
- National Human Genome Research institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Victoria E.R. Parker
- The University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas N. Darling
- Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Julian A. Martinez-Agosto
- Department of Human Genetics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
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Lin YC, Frei JA, Kilander MBC, Shen W, Blatt GJ. A Subset of Autism-Associated Genes Regulate the Structural Stability of Neurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:263. [PMID: 27909399 PMCID: PMC5112273 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a range of neurological conditions that affect individuals’ ability to communicate and interact with others. People with ASD often exhibit marked qualitative difficulties in social interaction, communication, and behavior. Alterations in neurite arborization and dendritic spine morphology, including size, shape, and number, are hallmarks of almost all neurological conditions, including ASD. As experimental evidence emerges in recent years, it becomes clear that although there is broad heterogeneity of identified autism risk genes, many of them converge into similar cellular pathways, including those regulating neurite outgrowth, synapse formation and spine stability, and synaptic plasticity. These mechanisms together regulate the structural stability of neurons and are vulnerable targets in ASD. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of those autism risk genes that affect the structural connectivity of neurons. We sub-categorize them into (1) cytoskeletal regulators, e.g., motors and small RhoGTPase regulators; (2) adhesion molecules, e.g., cadherins, NCAM, and neurexin superfamily; (3) cell surface receptors, e.g., glutamatergic receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases; (4) signaling molecules, e.g., protein kinases and phosphatases; and (5) synaptic proteins, e.g., vesicle and scaffolding proteins. Although the roles of some of these genes in maintaining neuronal structural stability are well studied, how mutations contribute to the autism phenotype is still largely unknown. Investigating whether and how the neuronal structure and function are affected when these genes are mutated will provide insights toward developing effective interventions aimed at improving the lives of people with autism and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chih Lin
- Laboratory of Neuronal Connectivity, Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore MD, USA
| | - Jeannine A Frei
- Laboratory of Neuronal Connectivity, Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore MD, USA
| | - Michaela B C Kilander
- Laboratory of Neuronal Connectivity, Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore MD, USA
| | - Wenjuan Shen
- Laboratory of Neuronal Connectivity, Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore MD, USA
| | - Gene J Blatt
- Laboratory of Autism Neurocircuitry, Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore MD, USA
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50
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Yeh E, Weiss LA. If genetic variation could talk: What genomic data may teach us about the importance of gene expression regulation in the genetics of autism. Mol Cell Probes 2016; 30:346-356. [PMID: 27751841 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2016.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been long known to have substantial genetic etiology. Much research has attempted to identify specific genes contributing to ASD risk with the goal of tying gene function to a molecular pathological explanation for ASD. A unifying molecular pathology would potentially increase understanding of what is going wrong during development, and could lead to diagnostic biomarkers or targeted preventative or therapeutic directions. We review past and current genetic mapping approaches and discuss major results, leading to the hypothesis that global dysregulation of gene or protein expression may be implicated in ASD rather than disturbance of brain-specific functions. If substantiated, this hypothesis might indicate the need for novel experimental and analytical approaches in order to understand this neurodevelopmental disorder, develop biomarkers, or consider treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Yeh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Lauren A Weiss
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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