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Zhang D, Li H, Ding K, Zhang Z, Luo S, Li G. Polymorphisms in MicroRNA Genes Associated with Schizophrenia Susceptibility but Not with Effectiveness of MECT. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2021; 2021:1959172. [PMID: 34938351 PMCID: PMC8687787 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1959172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a common and complex psychiatric disease associated with hereditary and environmental risk factors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules that endogenously regulate gene expression. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in related miRNA genes are associated with susceptibility of the disorder. We wonder if the SNPs have influence on the effectiveness of modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) for SCZ. rs1625579 within miR-137, rs6577555 within miR-34, and rs2296616 within miR-107 were sequenced in 150 cases and 150 controls to check the potential association between the SNPs and SCZ. Our results showed that allele G in rs1625579 (p = 0.005, adjusted OR = 1.379, 95%CI = 1.108 - 1.634), allele A in rs6577555 (p = 0.014, adjusted OR = 1.246, 95%CI = 1.045 - 1.463), allele G in rs2296616 (p < 0.001, adjusted OR = 1.646, 95%CI = 1.374 - 1.879) are positively associated with the disorder risk. MECT courses did significantly decrease the level of the miRNAs, except for the variant of rs2296616 with the AA genotype. Schizophrenic phenotypes assessed by the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) were improved after MECT, and there was no significant relevance observed between the effectiveness of MECT and the variants of these loci. Thus, our findings indicate that polymorphisms within the loci may be involved in the pathogenesis of SCZ, and MECT is effective and unbiased for patients harboring different genotypes of the loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danwei Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Zhenjiang Mental Health Center, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Huihua Li
- Department of Psychology, Zhenjiang Mental Health Center, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Kaimo Ding
- Department of Psychology, Zhenjiang Mental Health Center, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Zhenjiang Mental Health Center, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Si Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, Zhenjiang Mental Health Center, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Guohai Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Zhenjiang Mental Health Center, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
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2
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Rs1625579 polymorphism in the MIR137 gene is associated with the risk of schizophrenia: updated meta-analysis. Neurosci Lett 2019; 713:134535. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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3
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Vogel BO, Lett TA, Erk S, Mohnke S, Wackerhagen C, Brandl EJ, Romanczuk-Seiferth N, Otto K, Schweiger JI, Tost H, Nöthen MM, Rietschel M, Degenhardt F, Witt SH, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Heinz A, Walter H. The influence of MIR137 on white matter fractional anisotropy and cortical surface area in individuals with familial risk for psychosis. Schizophr Res 2018; 195:190-196. [PMID: 28958479 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The rs1625579 variant near the microRNA-137 (MIR137) gene is one of the best-supported schizophrenia variants in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and microRNA-137 functionally regulates other GWAS identified schizophrenia risk variants. Schizophrenia patients with the MIR137 rs1625579 risk genotype (homozygous for the schizophrenia risk variant) also have aberrant brain structure. It is unclear if the effect of MIR137 among schizophrenia patients is due to potential epistasis with genetic risk for schizophrenia or other factors of the disorder. Here, we investigated the effect of MIR137 genotype on white matter fractional anisotropy (FA), cortical thickness (CT), and surface area (SA) in a sample comprising healthy control subjects, and individuals with familial risk for psychosis (first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder; N=426). In voxel-wise analyses of FA, we observed a significant genotype-by-group interaction (PFWE<0.05). The familial risk group with risk genotype had lower FA (PFWE<0.05), but there was no genetic association in controls. In vertex-wise analyses of SA, we also observed a significant genotype-by-group interaction (PFWE<0.05). Relatives with MIR137 risk genotype had lower SA, however the risk genotype was associated with higher SA in the controls (all PFWE<0.05). These results show that MIR137 risk genotype is associated with lower FA in psychosis relatives that is similar to previous imaging-genetics findings in patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, MIR137 genotype may also be a risk factor in a subclinical population with wide reductions in white matter FA and cortical SA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bob O Vogel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Tristram A Lett
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Susanne Erk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Mohnke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Carolin Wackerhagen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Eva J Brandl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 2, 10178 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Nina Romanczuk-Seiferth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Kristina Otto
- Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Janina I Schweiger
- Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Heike Tost
- Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Markus M Nöthen
- Department of Genomics, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Franziska Degenhardt
- Department of Genomics, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Stephanie H Witt
- Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | | | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Henrik Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
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Gibbons A, Udawela M, Dean B. Non-Coding RNA as Novel Players in the Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia. Noncoding RNA 2018; 4:E11. [PMID: 29657307 PMCID: PMC6027250 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna4020011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is associated with diverse changes in the brain's transcriptome and proteome. Underlying these changes is the complex dysregulation of gene expression and protein production that varies both spatially across brain regions and temporally with the progression of the illness. The growing body of literature showing changes in non-coding RNA in individuals with schizophrenia offers new insights into the mechanisms causing this dysregulation. A large number of studies have reported that the expression of microRNA (miRNA) is altered in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia. This evidence is complemented by findings that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA host gene sequences can confer an increased risk of developing the disorder. Additionally, recent evidence suggests the expression of other non-coding RNAs, such as small nucleolar RNA and long non-coding RNA, may also be affected in schizophrenia. Understanding how these changes in non-coding RNAs contribute to the development and progression of schizophrenia offers potential avenues for the better treatment and diagnosis of the disorder. This review will focus on the evidence supporting the involvement of non-coding RNA in schizophrenia and its therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Gibbons
- The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
- The Department of Psychiatry, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Madhara Udawela
- The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
| | - Brian Dean
- The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
- The Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.
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5
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Cosgrove D, Mothersill DO, Whitton L, Harold D, Kelly S, Holleran L, Holland J, Anney R, Richards A, Mantripragada K, Owen M, O'Donovan MC, Gill M, Corvin A, Morris DW, Donohoe G. Effects of MiR-137 genetic risk score on brain volume and cortical measures in patients with schizophrenia and controls. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2018; 177:369-376. [PMID: 29418072 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Multiple genome-wide association studies of schizophrenia have implicated genetic variants within the gene encoding microRNA-137. As risk variants within or regulated by MIR137 have been implicated in memory performance, we investigated the additive effects of schizophrenia-associated risk variants in genes empirically regulated by MIR137 on brain regions associated with memory function. A polygenic risk score (PRS) was calculated (at a p = 0.05 threshold), using this empirically regulated MIR137 gene set, to investigate associations between this PRS and structural brain measures. These measures included total brain volume, cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and hippocampal volume, in a sample of 216 individuals consisting of healthy participants (n = 171) and patients with psychosis (n = 45). We did not observe a significant association between MIR137 PRS and these cortical thickness, surface area or hippocampal volume measures linked to memory function; a significant association between increasing PRS and decreasing total brain volume, independent of diagnosis status (R2 = 0.008, Beta = -0.09, p = 0.029), was observed. This did not survive correction for multiple testing. In conclusion, our study yielded only suggestive evidence that risk variants interacting with MIR137 impacts on cortical structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna Cosgrove
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - David O Mothersill
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Laura Whitton
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Denise Harold
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sinead Kelly
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Laurena Holleran
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Jessica Holland
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Richard Anney
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Alex Richards
- MRC Center for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Kiran Mantripragada
- MRC Center for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Michael Owen
- MRC Center for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Michael C O'Donovan
- MRC Center for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Michael Gill
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aiden Corvin
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Derek W Morris
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Gary Donohoe
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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6
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Sakamoto K, Crowley JJ. A comprehensive review of the genetic and biological evidence supports a role for MicroRNA-137 in the etiology of schizophrenia. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2018; 177:242-256. [PMID: 29442441 PMCID: PMC5815396 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Since it was first associated with schizophrenia (SCZ) in a 2011 genome-wide association study (GWAS), there have been over 100 publications focused on MIR137, the gene encoding microRNA-137. These studies have examined everything from its fundamental role in the development of mice, flies, and fish to the intriguing enrichment of its target gene network in SCZ. Indeed, much of the excitement surrounding MIR137 is due to the distinct possibility that it could regulate a gene network involved in SCZ etiology, a disease which we now recognize is highly polygenic. Here we comprehensively review, to the best of our ability, all published genetic and biological evidence that could support or refute a role for MIR137 in the etiology of SCZ. Through a careful consideration of the literature, we conclude that the data gathered to date continues to strongly support the involvement of MIR137 and its target gene network in neuropsychiatric traits, including SCZ risk. There remain, however, more unanswered than answered questions regarding the mechanisms linking MIR137 genetic variation with behavior. These questions need answers before we can determine whether there are opportunities for diagnostic or therapeutic interventions based on MIR137. We conclude with a number of suggestions for future research on MIR137 that could help to provide answers and hope for a greater understanding of this devastating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kensuke Sakamoto
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - James J. Crowley
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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7
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Abstract
Imaging genetics is a research methodology studying the effect of genetic variation on brain structure, function, behavior, and risk for psychopathology. Since the early 2000s, imaging genetics has been increasingly used in the research of schizophrenia (SZ). SZ is a severe mental disorder with no precise knowledge of its underlying neurobiology, however, new genetic and neurobiological data generate a climate for new avenues. The accumulating data of genome wide association studies (GWAS) continuously decode SZ risk genes. Global neuroimaging consortia produce collections of brain phenotypes from tens of thousands of people. In this context, imaging genetics will be strategically important both for the validation and discovery of SZ related findings. Thus, the study of GWAS supported risk variants as candidate genes to validate by neuroimaging is one trend. The study of epigenetic differences in relation to variations of brain phenotypes and the study of large scale multivariate analysis of genome wide and brain wide associations are other trends. While these studies hold a big potential for understanding the neurobiology of SZ, the problem of reproducibility appears as a major challenge, which requires standardizations in study designs and compensations of methodological limitations such as sensitivity and specificity. On the other hand, advancements of neuroimaging, optical and electron microscopy along with the use of genetically encoded fluorescent probes and robust statistical approaches will not only catalyze integrative methodologies but also will help better design the imaging genetics studies. In this invited paper, I will discuss the current perspective of imaging genetics and emerging opportunities of SZ research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayla Arslan
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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8
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Fatima A, Farooq M, Abdullah U, Tariq M, Mustafa T, Iqbal M, Tommerup N, Mahmood Baig S. Genome-Wide Supported Risk Variants in MIR137, CACNA1C, CSMD1, DRD2, and GRM3 Contribute to Schizophrenia Susceptibility in Pakistani Population. Psychiatry Investig 2017; 14:687-692. [PMID: 29042896 PMCID: PMC5639139 DOI: 10.4306/pi.2017.14.5.687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Schizophrenia is a chronic neuropsychiatric disease afflicting around 1.1% of the population worldwide. Recently, MIR137, CACNA1C, CSMD1, DRD2, and GRM3 have been reported as the most robustly emerging candidates involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. In this case control study, we performed an association analysis of rs1625579 (MIR137), rs1006737, rs4765905 (CACNA1C), rs10503253 (CSMD1), rs1076560 (DRD2), rs12704290, rs6465084, and rs148754219 (GRM3) in Pakistani population. METHODS Schizophrenia was diagnosed on the basis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th ed (DSM-IV). Detailed clinical information, family history of all patients and healthy controls were collected. RFLP based case control association study was performed in a Pakistani cohort of 508 schizophrenia patients and 300 healthy control subjects. Alleles and genotype frequencies were calculated using SPSS. RESULTS A significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies for rs4765905, rs1076560 and rs6465084 were found between the patients and controls (p=0.000). CONCLUSION This study provides substantial evidence supporting the role of CACNA1C, GRM3 and DRD2 as schizophrenia susceptibility genes in Pakistani population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambrin Fatima
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), PIEAS, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Farooq
- Wilhelm Johannsen Centre for Functional Genome Research, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Uzma Abdullah
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), PIEAS, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tariq
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), PIEAS, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Tanveer Mustafa
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), PIEAS, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Niels Tommerup
- Wilhelm Johannsen Centre for Functional Genome Research, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shahid Mahmood Baig
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), PIEAS, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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9
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Zhuo C, Hou W, Hu L, Lin C, Chen C, Lin X. Genomic Editing of Non-Coding RNA Genes with CRISPR/Cas9 Ushers in a Potential Novel Approach to Study and Treat Schizophrenia. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:28. [PMID: 28217082 PMCID: PMC5289958 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a genetically related mental illness, in which the majority of genetic alterations occur in the non-coding regions of the human genome. In the past decade, a growing number of regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to be strongly associated with schizophrenia. However, the studies of these ncRNAs in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the reverting of their genetic defects in restoration of the normal phenotype have been hampered by insufficient technology to manipulate these ncRNA genes effectively as well as a lack of appropriate animal models. Most recently, a revolutionary gene editing technology known as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9; CRISPR/Cas9) has been developed that enable researchers to overcome these challenges. In this review article, we mainly focus on the schizophrenia-related ncRNAs and the use of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing on the non-coding regions of the genomic DNA in proving causal relationship between the genetic defects and the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We subsequently discuss the potential of translating this advanced technology into a clinical therapy for schizophrenia, although the CRISPR/Cas9 technology is currently still in its infancy and immature to put into use in the treatment of diseases. Furthermore, we suggest strategies to accelerate the pace from the bench to the bedside. This review describes the application of the powerful and feasible CRISPR/Cas9 technology to manipulate schizophrenia-associated ncRNA genes. This technology could help researchers tackle this complex health problem and perhaps other genetically related mental disorders due to the overlapping genetic alterations of schizophrenia with other mental illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's HospitalWenzhou, China; Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Mental Health Center, Tianjin Anding HospitalTianjin, China; Department of Psychiatry, Tianjin Anning HospitalTianjin, China
| | - Weihong Hou
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Lirong Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital Wenzhou, China
| | - Chongguang Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital Wenzhou, China
| | - Ce Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital Wenzhou, China
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10
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Cosgrove D, Harold D, Mothersill O, Anney R, Hill MJ, Bray NJ, Blokland G, Petryshen T, Richards A, Mantripragada K, Owen M, O'Donovan MC, Gill M, Corvin A, Morris DW, Donohoe G. MiR-137-derived polygenic risk: effects on cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia and controls. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1012. [PMID: 28117840 PMCID: PMC5545742 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Variants at microRNA-137 (MIR137), one of the most strongly associated schizophrenia risk loci identified to date, have been associated with poorer cognitive performance. As microRNA-137 is known to regulate the expression of ~1900 other genes, including several that are independently associated with schizophrenia, we tested whether this gene set was also associated with variation in cognitive performance. Our analysis was based on an empirically derived list of genes whose expression was altered by manipulation of MIR137 expression. This list was cross-referenced with genome-wide schizophrenia association data to construct individual polygenic scores. We then tested, in a sample of 808 patients and 192 controls, whether these risk scores were associated with altered performance on cognitive functions known to be affected in schizophrenia. A subgroup of healthy participants also underwent functional imaging during memory (n=108) and face processing tasks (n=83). Increased polygenic risk within the empirically derived miR-137 regulated gene score was associated with significantly lower performance on intelligence quotient, working memory and episodic memory. These effects were observed most clearly at a polygenic threshold of P=0.05, although significant results were observed at all three thresholds analyzed. This association was found independently for the gene set as a whole, excluding the schizophrenia-associated MIR137 SNP itself. Analysis of the spatial working memory fMRI task further suggested that increased risk score (thresholded at P=10-5) was significantly associated with increased activation of the right inferior occipital gyrus. In conclusion, these data are consistent with emerging evidence that MIR137 associated risk for schizophrenia may relate to its broader downstream genetic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Cosgrove
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - D Harold
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - O Mothersill
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - R Anney
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - M J Hill
- Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - N J Bray
- Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - G Blokland
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - T Petryshen
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - A Richards
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - K Mantripragada
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - M Owen
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - M C O'Donovan
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - M Gill
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - A Corvin
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - D W Morris
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - G Donohoe
- The Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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Warburton A, Breen G, Bubb VJ, Quinn JP. A GWAS SNP for Schizophrenia Is Linked to the Internal MIR137 Promoter and Supports Differential Allele-Specific Expression. Schizophr Bull 2016; 42:1003-8. [PMID: 26429811 PMCID: PMC4903043 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbv144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MIR137 gene locus have been shown to confer risk for schizophrenia through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The expression levels of microRNA-137 (miR-137) and its validated gene targets have also been shown to be disrupted in several neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia. Regulation of miR-137 expression is thus imperative for normal neuronal functioning. We previously characterized an internal promoter domain within the MIR137 gene that contained a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism and could alter the in vitro levels of miR-137 in a stimulus-induced and allele-specific manner. We now demonstrate that haplotype tagging-SNP analysis linked the rs1625579 GWAS SNP for schizophrenia to this internal MIR137 promoter through a proxy SNP rs2660304 located at this domain. We postulated that the rs2660304 promoter SNP may act as predisposing factor for schizophrenia through altering the levels of miR-137 expression in a genotype-dependent manner. Reporter gene analysis of the internal MIR137 promoter containing the common VNTR variant demonstrated genotype-dependent differences in promoter activity with respect to rs2660304. In line with previous reports, the major allele of the rs2660304 proxy SNP, which has previously been linked with schizophrenia risk through genetic association, resulted in downregulation of reporter gene expression in a tissue culture model. The genetic influence of the rs2660304 proxy SNP on the transcriptional activity of the internal MIR137 promoter, and thus the levels of miR-137 expression, therefore offers a distinct regulatory mechanism to explain the functional significance of the rs1625579 GWAS SNP for schizophrenia risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alix Warburton
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Gerome Breen
- MRC Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, UK;,Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Vivien J. Bubb
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - John P. Quinn
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK;,*To whom correspondence should be addressed; Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK; tel: 0151-794-5498, fax: 0151-794-5517, e-mail:
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Kuswanto CN, Sum MY, Qiu A, Sitoh YY, Liu J, Sim K. The impact of genome wide supported microRNA-137 (MIR137) risk variants on frontal and striatal white matter integrity, neurocognitive functioning, and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2015; 168B:317-26. [PMID: 25921703 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Although genome wide association studies have highlighted MicroRNA 137 (MIR137) as a novel susceptibility gene for schizophrenia, the mechanisms by which MIR137 risk variants mediate the neurobiology of schizophrenia are not clear. Based on extant data linking MIR 137 gene with structural brain anomalies and functional brain activations in schizophrenia, we hypothesized that MIR137 risk variants rs1625579 and rs1198588 would be associated with reduced fractional anisotropy in frontostriatal brain regions, impaired neurocognitive functioning and worse psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia patients compared with healthy controls. A total of 147 Chinese participants (84 patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia (SCZ) and 63 healthy controls (HC)) were genotyped using blood samples and underwent diffusion tensor imaging. Neurocognitive domains and psychotic symptoms were assessed using The Brief Assessment of Cognition Battery for Schizophrenia and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale respectively. We found significant diagnosis-genotype interactions in the right orbitofrontal regions (rs1625579: F = 5.44, P = 0.021; rs1198599: F = 7.55, P = 0.005), left striatum (rs1625579: F = 8.09, P=0.007; rs1198599: F=9.56, P = 0.002), and negative symptoms (rs1625579: t = 2.45, P = 0.016; rs1198588: t = 2.29, P = 0.024). Specifically, SCZ carrying the risk TT genotype had worse negative symptoms and decreased FA in the fronto-striatal regions compared to G and A allele carriers for rs1625579 and rs1198588 respectively, and worse attention and processing speed compared with G-allele for rs1625579. Our findings suggested that the MI137 risk variants were associated with decreased fronto-striatal brain white matter integrity which may underlie poorer attention, processing speed, and greater negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Min Yi Sum
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | - Anqi Qiu
- Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yih-Yian Sitoh
- Department of Neuroradiology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore
| | - Jianjun Liu
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Kang Sim
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.,Department of General Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
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Patel VS, Kelly S, Wright C, Gupta CN, Arias-Vasquez A, Perrone-Bizzozero N, Ehrlich S, Wang L, Bustillo JR, Morris D, Corvin A, Cannon DM, McDonald C, Donohoe G, Calhoun VD, Turner JA. MIR137HG risk variant rs1625579 genotype is related to corpus callosum volume in schizophrenia. Neurosci Lett 2015; 602:44-9. [PMID: 26123324 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.06.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies implicate the MIR137HG risk variant rs1625579 (MIR137HGrv) within the host gene for microRNA-137 as a potential regulator of schizophrenia susceptibility. We examined the influence of MIR137HGrv genotype on 17 subcortical and callosal volumes in a large sample of individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls (n=841). Although the volumes were overall reduced relative to healthy controls, for individuals with schizophrenia the homozygous MIR137HGrv risk genotype was associated with attenuated reduction of mid-posterior corpus callosum volume (p=0.001), along with trend-level effects in the adjacent central and posterior corpus callosum. These findings are unique in the literature and remain robust after analysis in ethnically homogenous and single-scanner subsets of the larger sample. Thus, our study suggests that the mechanisms whereby MIR137HGrv works to increase schizophrenia risk are not those that generate the corpus callosum volume reductions commonly found in the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veena S Patel
- The Mind Research Network and Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA.
| | - Sinead Kelly
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, and Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Carrie Wright
- The Mind Research Network and Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
| | - Cota Navin Gupta
- The Mind Research Network and Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA.
| | - Alejandro Arias-Vasquez
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Nora Perrone-Bizzozero
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
| | - Stefan Ehrlich
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Lei Wang
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60614, USA.
| | - Juan R Bustillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
| | - Derek Morris
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, and Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory and Cognitive Genetics group, Departments of Psychiatry, Anatomy, Biochemistry and School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Aiden Corvin
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, and Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Dara M Cannon
- Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory and Cognitive Genetics group, Departments of Psychiatry, Anatomy, Biochemistry and School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Colm McDonald
- Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory and Cognitive Genetics group, Departments of Psychiatry, Anatomy, Biochemistry and School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Gary Donohoe
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, and Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory and Cognitive Genetics group, Departments of Psychiatry, Anatomy, Biochemistry and School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- The Mind Research Network and Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
| | - Jessica A Turner
- The Mind Research Network and Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA; Departments of Psychology and Neurosciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA.
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Hommers LG, Domschke K, Deckert J. Heterogeneity and individuality: microRNAs in mental disorders. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2014; 122:79-97. [PMID: 25395183 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-014-1338-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are about 22 nucleotide long single-stranded RNA molecules, negatively regulating gene expression of a single gene or a gene network. In neural tissues, they have been implicated in developmental and neuroplasticity-related processes, such as neurogenesis, differentiation, apoptosis and long-term potentiation. Their molecular mode of action is reminiscent of findings of genome-wide association studies in mental disorders, unable to attribute the risk of disease to a specific gene, but rather to multiple genes, gene-networks and gene-environment interaction. As such, microRNAs are an attractive target for research. Here, we review clinical studies conducted in humans on microRNAs in mental disorders with a particular focus on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders. The majority of clinical studies have focused on schizophrenia. The most robust finding has been reported for rs1625579 located in MIR137HG, which was associated with schizophrenia on a genome-wide level. Concerning bipolar disorder, major depression and anxiety disorders, promising results have been published, but only a considerably smaller number of clinical studies is available and genome-wide association studies did not suggest a direct link to microRNAs so far. Expression of microRNAs as biomarkers of mental disorders and treatment response is currently emerging with preliminary results. Larger-scaled genetic and functional studies along with translational research are needed to enhance our understanding of microRNAs in mental disorders. These studies will aid in disentangling the complex genetic nature of these disorders and possibly contribute to the development of novel, individualized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leif G Hommers
- Center of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Würzburg, Füchsleinstrasse 15, 97080, Würzburg, Germany,
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