1
|
Jin M, Xie M, Dong L, Xue F, Li W, Jiang L, Li J, Zhang M, Song H, Lu Q, Yu Q. Exploration of Positive and Negative Schizophrenia Symptom Heterogeneity and Establishment of Symptom-Related miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network: Based on Transcriptome Sequencing Data. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:5992-6012. [PMID: 38267752 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03942-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) symptoms can be classified as positive and negative ones, each of which has distinct traits and possibly differences in gene expression and regulation. The co-expression networks linked to PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) scores were identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) using the expression profiles of miRNA and mRNA in the peripheral blood of first-episode SCZ patients. The heterogeneity between positive and negative symptoms was demonstrated using gene functional enrichment, gene-medication interaction, and immune cell composition analysis. Then, target gene prediction and correlation analysis of miRNA and mRNA constructed a symptom-related miRNA-mRNA regulatory network, screened regulatory pairs, and predicted binding sites. A total of six mRNA co-expression modules, two miRNA co-expression modules, and ten hub genes were screened to be significantly associated with positive symptoms; five mRNA co-expression modules and eight hub genes were correlated with negative symptoms. Positive symptom-related modules were significantly enriched in axon guidance, actin skeleton regulation, and sphingolipid signaling pathway, while negative symptom-related modules were significantly enriched in adaptive immune response, leukocyte migration, dopaminergic synapses, etc. The development of positive symptoms may have been influenced by potential regulatory pairings such as miR-98-5p-EIF3J, miR-98-5p-SOCS4, let-7b-5p-CLUH, miR-454-3p-GTF2H1, and let-7b-5p-SNX17. Additionally, immune cells were substantially connected with several hub genes for symptoms. Positive and negative symptoms in SCZ individuals were heterogeneous to some extent. miRNAs such as let-7b-5p and miR-98-5p might contribute to the incidence of positive symptoms by targeting mRNAs, while the immune system's role in developing negative symptoms may be more nuanced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengdi Jin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Mengtong Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Lin Dong
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Fengyu Xue
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Weizhen Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Lintong Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Junnan Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Haideng Song
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Qingxing Lu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Qiong Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhan N, Sham PC, So HC, Lui SSY. The genetic basis of onset age in schizophrenia: evidence and models. Front Genet 2023; 14:1163361. [PMID: 37441552 PMCID: PMC10333597 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1163361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a heritable neurocognitive disorder affecting about 1% of the population, and usually has an onset age at around 21-25 in males and 25-30 in females. Recent advances in genetics have helped to identify many common and rare variants for the liability to schizophrenia. Earlier evidence appeared to suggest that younger onset age is associated with higher genetic liability to schizophrenia. Clinical longitudinal research also found that early and very-early onset schizophrenia are associated with poor clinical, neurocognitive, and functional profiles. A recent study reported a heritability of 0.33 for schizophrenia onset age, but the genetic basis of this trait in schizophrenia remains elusive. In the pre-Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) era, genetic loci found to be associated with onset age were seldom replicated. In the post-Genome-Wide Association Study era, new conceptual frameworks are needed to clarify the role of onset age in genetic research in schizophrenia, and to identify its genetic basis. In this review, we first discussed the potential of onset age as a characterizing/subtyping feature for psychosis, and as an important phenotypic dimension of schizophrenia. Second, we reviewed the methods, samples, findings and limitations of previous genetic research on onset age in schizophrenia. Third, we discussed a potential conceptual framework for studying the genetic basis of onset age, as well as the concepts of susceptibility, modifier, and "mixed" genes. Fourth, we discussed the limitations of this review. Lastly, we discussed the potential clinical implications for genetic research of onset age of schizophrenia, and how future research can unveil the potential mechanisms for this trait.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Pak C. Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre of PanorOmic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hon-Cheong So
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research of Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
- Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Hong Kong Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Simon S. Y. Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nucifora FC, Woznica E, Lee BJ, Cascella N, Sawa A. Treatment resistant schizophrenia: Clinical, biological, and therapeutic perspectives. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 131:104257. [PMID: 30170114 PMCID: PMC6395548 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS) refers to the significant proportion of schizophrenia patients who continue to have symptoms and poor outcomes despite treatment. While many definitions of TRS include failure of two different antipsychotics as a minimum criterion, the wide variability in inclusion criteria has challenged the consistency and reproducibility of results from studies of TRS. We begin by reviewing the clinical, neuroimaging, and neurobiological characteristics of TRS. We further review the current treatment strategies available, addressing clozapine, the first-line pharmacological agent for TRS, as well as pharmacological and non-pharmacological augmentation of clozapine including medication combinations, electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and psychotherapies. We conclude by highlighting the most recent consensus for defining TRS proposed by the Treatment Response and Resistance in Psychosis Working Group, and provide our overview of future perspectives and directions that could help advance the field of TRS research, including the concept of TRS as a potential subtype of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frederick C Nucifora
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
| | - Edgar Woznica
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Brian J Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Nicola Cascella
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Akira Sawa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xavier RM, Vorderstrasse A. Genetic Basis of Positive and Negative Symptom Domains in Schizophrenia. Biol Res Nurs 2017; 19:559-575. [PMID: 28691507 DOI: 10.1177/1099800417715907] [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] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a highly heritable disorder, the genetic etiology of which has been well established. Yet despite significant advances in genetics research, the pathophysiological mechanisms of this disorder largely remain unknown. This gap has been attributed to the complexity of the polygenic disorder, which has a heterogeneous clinical profile. Examining the genetic basis of schizophrenia subphenotypes, such as those based on particular symptoms, is thus a useful strategy for decoding the underlying mechanisms. This review of literature examines the recent advances (from 2011) in genetic exploration of positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. We searched electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature using key words schizophrenia, symptoms, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, cognition, genetics, genes, genetic predisposition, and genotype in various combinations. We identified 115 articles, which are included in the review. Evidence from these studies, most of which are genetic association studies, identifies shared and unique gene associations for the symptom domains. Genes associated with neurotransmitter systems and neuronal development/maintenance primarily constitute the shared associations. Needed are studies that examine the genetic basis of specific symptoms within the broader domains in addition to functional mechanisms. Such investigations are critical to developing precision treatment and care for individuals afflicted with schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Allison Vorderstrasse
- 2 Duke Center for Applied Genomics and Precision Medicine, Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Walter EE, Fernandez F, Snelling M, Barkus E. Genetic Consideration of Schizotypal Traits: A Review. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1769. [PMID: 27895608 PMCID: PMC5108787 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizotypal traits are of interest and importance in their own right and also have theoretical and clinical associations with schizophrenia. These traits comprise attenuated psychotic symptoms, social withdrawal, reduced cognitive capacity, and affective dysregulation. The link between schizotypal traits and psychotic disorders has long since been debated. The status of knowledge at this point is such schizotypal traits are a risk for psychotic disorders, but in and of themselves only confer liability, with other risk factors needing to be present before a transition to psychosis occurs. Investigation of schizotypal traits also has the possibility to inform clinical and research pursuits concerning those who do not make a transition to psychotic disorders. A growing body of literature has investigated the genetic underpinnings of schizotypal traits. Here, we review association, family studies and describe genetic disorders where the expression of schizotypal traits has been investigated. We conducted a thorough review of the existing literature, with multiple search engines, references, and linked articles being searched for relevance to the current review. All articles and book chapters in English were sourced and reviewed for inclusion. Family studies demonstrate that schizotypal traits are elevated with increasing genetic proximity to schizophrenia and some chromosomal regions have been associated with schizotypy. Genes associated with schizophrenia have provided the initial start point for the investigation of candidate genes for schizotypal traits; neurobiological pathways of significance have guided selection of genes of interest. Given the chromosomal regions associated with schizophrenia, some genetic disorders have also considered the expression of schizotypal traits. Genetic disorders considered all comprise a profile of cognitive deficits and over representation of psychotic disorders compared to the general population. We conclude that genetic variations associated with schizotypal traits require further investigation, perhaps with targeted phenotypes narrowed to assist in refining the clinical end point of significance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma E. Walter
- School of Psychology, University of WollongongWollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Francesca Fernandez
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of WollongongWollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Mollie Snelling
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of WollongongWollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma Barkus
- School of Psychology, University of WollongongWollongong, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Selvaratnam JS, Robaire B. Effects of Aging and Oxidative Stress on Spermatozoa of Superoxide-Dismutase 1- and Catalase-Null Mice. Biol Reprod 2016; 95:60. [PMID: 27465136 PMCID: PMC5333935 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.141671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced paternal age is linked to complications in pregnancy and genetic diseases in offspring. Aging results in excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage in spermatozoa; this damage can be transmitted to progeny with detrimental consequences. Although there is a loss of antioxidants with aging, the impact on aging male germ cells of the complete absence of either catalase (CAT) or superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) has not been investigated. We used CAT-null (Cat(-/-)) and SOD1-null (Sod(-/-)) mice to determine whether loss of these antioxidants increases germ cell susceptibility to redox dysfunction with aging. Aging reduced fertility and the numbers of Sertoli and germ cells in all mice. Aged Sod(-/-) mice displayed an increased loss of fertility compared to aged wild-type mice. Treatment with the pro-oxidant SIN-10 increased ROS in spermatocytes of aged wild-type and Sod(-/-) mice, while aged Cat(-/-) mice were able to neutralize this ROS. The antioxidant peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1) increased with age in wild-type and Cat(-/-) mice but was consistently low in young and aged Sod(-/-) mice. DNA damage and repair markers (γ-H2AX and 53BP1) were reduced with aging and lower in young Sod(-/-) and Cat(-/-) mice. Colocalization of γ-H2AX and 53BP1 suggested active repair in young wild-type mice but reduced in young Cat(-/-) and in Sod(-/-) mice and with age. Oxidative DNA damage (8-oxodG) increased in young Sod(-/-) mice and with age in all mice. These studies show that aged Sod(-/-) mice display severe redox dysfunction, while wild-type and Cat(-/-) mice have compensatory mechanisms to partially alleviate oxidative stress and reduce age-related DNA damage in spermatozoa. Thus, SOD1 but not CAT is critical to the maintenance of germ cell quality with aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna S Selvaratnam
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Bernard Robaire
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND A significant number of patients with schizophrenia fail to respond to antipsychotic medication. Although several studies have investigated associated patient characteristics, the emerging findings from genetic studies offer further scope for study. METHOD In 612 schizophrenia patients with detailed clinical information, common genetic variants indexed by polygenic risk scores, and rare variants indexed by deletion and duplication burden genomewide, we explored potential genetic predictors alongside other established risk factors for treatment resistance. Clinical outcomes of treatment resistance were also calculated using lifetime measures of positive, negative/disorganized and mood symptoms as well as number of hospitalizations and suicide attempts. RESULTS Logistic regression models identified a significant relationship between treatment resistance and total duplication burden genomewide, years of formal schooling and age at onset. Clinically, treatment-resistant patients were characterized by greater negative/disorganized and positive symptoms and greater number of hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these findings suggest genetic information, specifically the genomewide burden of rare copy number variants, may increase our understanding and clinical management of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A K Martin
- Queensland Brain Institute,University of Queensland,St Lucia,Brisbane 4072,Australia
| | - B Mowry
- Queensland Brain Institute,University of Queensland,St Lucia,Brisbane 4072,Australia
| |
Collapse
|