1
|
Sun J, Noss S, Banerjee D, Das M, Girirajan S. Strategies for dissecting the complexity of neurodevelopmental disorders. Trends Genet 2024; 40:187-202. [PMID: 37949722 PMCID: PMC10872993 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are associated with a wide range of clinical features, affecting multiple pathways involved in brain development and function. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing have unveiled numerous genetic variants associated with NDDs, which further contribute to disease complexity and make it challenging to infer disease causation and underlying mechanisms. Herein, we review current strategies for dissecting the complexity of NDDs using model organisms, induced pluripotent stem cells, single-cell sequencing technologies, and massively parallel reporter assays. We further highlight single-cell CRISPR-based screening techniques that allow genomic investigation of cellular transcriptomes with high efficiency, accuracy, and throughput. Overall, we provide an integrated review of experimental approaches that can be applicable for investigating a broad range of complex disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiawan Sun
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Serena Noss
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Deepro Banerjee
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Maitreya Das
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Santhosh Girirajan
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nir Sade A, Levy G, Schokoroy Trangle S, Elad Sfadia G, Bar E, Ophir O, Fischer I, Rokach M, Atzmon A, Parnas H, Rosenberg T, Marco A, Elroy Stein O, Barak B. Neuronal Gtf2i deletion alters mitochondrial and autophagic properties. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1269. [PMID: 38097729 PMCID: PMC10721858 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05612-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Gtf2i encodes the general transcription factor II-I (TFII-I), with peak expression during pre-natal and early post-natal brain development stages. Because these stages are critical for proper brain development, we studied at the single-cell level the consequences of Gtf2i's deletion from excitatory neurons, specifically on mitochondria. Here we show that Gtf2i's deletion resulted in abnormal morphology, disrupted mRNA related to mitochondrial fission and fusion, and altered autophagy/mitophagy protein expression. These changes align with elevated reactive oxygen species levels, illuminating Gtf2i's importance in neurons mitochondrial function. Similar mitochondrial issues were demonstrated by Gtf2i heterozygous model, mirroring the human condition in Williams syndrome (WS), and by hemizygous neuronal Gtf2i deletion model, indicating Gtf2i's dosage-sensitive role in mitochondrial regulation. Clinically relevant, we observed altered transcript levels related to mitochondria, hypoxia, and autophagy in frontal cortex tissue from WS individuals. Our study reveals mitochondrial and autophagy-related deficits shedding light on WS and other Gtf2i-related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Nir Sade
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gilad Levy
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sari Schokoroy Trangle
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Galit Elad Sfadia
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ela Bar
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Omer Ophir
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inbar Fischer
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - May Rokach
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Andrea Atzmon
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine & Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hadar Parnas
- Neuro-Epigenetics Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Rosenberg
- Neuro-Epigenetics Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Asaf Marco
- Neuro-Epigenetics Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Orna Elroy Stein
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine & Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Boaz Barak
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Serrano-Juárez CA, Prieto-Corona B, Rodríguez-Camacho M, Sandoval-Lira L, Villalva-Sánchez ÁF, Yáñez-Téllez MG, López MFR. Neuropsychological Genotype-Phenotype in Patients with Williams Syndrome with Atypical Deletions: A Systematic Review. Neuropsychol Rev 2023; 33:891-911. [PMID: 36520254 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-022-09571-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a microdeletion in the q11.23 region of chromosome 7. Recent case series reports and clinical case studies have suggested that the cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social profile in WS could depend on the genes involved in the deletion. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze and synthesize the variability of the cognitive and behavioral profile of WS with atypical deletion and its probable relationship with the affected genes. The medical subject headings searched were "Williams syndrome," "genotype," "phenotype," "cognitive profile," and "atypical deletion." The studies included were in English or Spanish, with children and adults, and published between January 2000 and October 2022. Twenty-three studies are reported. The characteristics of the participants, the genes involved, the neuropsychological domains and instruments, and the prevalence of the WS cognitive profile criteria were used for the genotype-phenotype analysis. The genes with a major impact on the cognitive profile of WS were (a) LIMK1 and those belonging to the GTF2I family, the former with a greater influence on visuospatial abilities; (b) GTF2IRD1 and GTF2I, which have an impact on intellectual capacity as well as on visuospatial and social skills; (c) FZD9, BAZ1B, STX1A, and CLIP2, which influence the cognitive profile if other genes are also effected; and (d) GTF2IRD2, which is related to the severity of the effect on visuospatial and social skills, producing a behavioral phenotype like that of the autism spectrum. The review revealed four neuropsychological phenotypes, depending on the genes involved, and established the need for more comprehensive study of the neuropsychological profile of these patients. Based on the results found, we propose a model for the investigation of and clinical approach to the WS neuropsychological phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alberto Serrano-Juárez
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Belén Prieto-Corona
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México.
| | - Mario Rodríguez-Camacho
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Lucero Sandoval-Lira
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Ángel Fernando Villalva-Sánchez
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Ma Guillermina Yáñez-Téllez
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kippenhan JS, Gregory MD, Nash T, Kohn P, Mervis CB, Eisenberg DP, Garvey MH, Roe K, Morris CA, Kolachana B, Pani AM, Sorcher L, Berman KF. Dorsal visual stream and LIMK1: hemideletion, haplotype, and enduring effects in children with Williams syndrome. J Neurodev Disord 2023; 15:29. [PMID: 37633900 PMCID: PMC10464045 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09493-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Williams syndrome (WS), a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by hemizygous deletion of ~ 25 genes from chromosomal band 7q11.23, affords an exceptional opportunity to study associations between a well-delineated genetic abnormality and a well-characterized neurobehavioral profile. Clinically, WS is typified by increased social drive (often termed "hypersociability") and severe visuospatial construction deficits. Previous studies have linked visuospatial problems in WS with alterations in the dorsal visual processing stream. We investigated the impacts of hemideletion and haplotype variation of LIMK1, a gene hemideleted in WS and linked to neuronal maturation and migration, on the structure and function of the dorsal stream, specifically the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), a region known to be altered in adults with WS. METHODS We tested for IPS structural and functional changes using longitudinal MRI in a developing cohort of children with WS (76 visits from 33 participants, compared to 280 visits from 94 typically developing age- and sex-matched participants) over the age range of 5-22. We also performed MRI studies of 12 individuals with rare, shorter hemideletions at 7q11.23, all of which included LIMK1. Finally, we tested for effects of LIMK1 variation on IPS structure and imputed LIMK1 expression in two independent cohorts of healthy individuals from the general population. RESULTS IPS structural (p < 10-4 FDR corrected) and functional (p < .05 FDR corrected) anomalies previously reported in adults were confirmed in children with WS, and, consistent with an enduring genetic mechanism, were stable from early childhood into adulthood. In the short hemideletion cohort, IPS deficits similar to those in WS were found, although effect sizes were smaller than those found in WS for both structural and functional findings. Finally, in each of the two general population cohorts stratified by LIMK1 haplotype, IPS gray matter volume (pdiscovery < 0.05 SVC, preplication = 0.0015) and imputed LIMK1 expression (pdiscovery = 10-15, preplication = 10-23) varied according to LIMK1 haplotype. CONCLUSIONS This work offers insight into neurobiological and genetic mechanisms responsible for the WS phenotype and also more generally provides a striking example of the mechanisms by which genetic variation, acting by means of molecular effects on a neural intermediary, can influence human cognition and, in some cases, lead to neurocognitive disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Shane Kippenhan
- Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Michael D Gregory
- Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Tiffany Nash
- Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Philip Kohn
- Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Carolyn B Mervis
- Neurodevelopmental Sciences Laboratory, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Daniel P Eisenberg
- Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Madeline H Garvey
- Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Katherine Roe
- Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Colleen A Morris
- Department of Pediatrics, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, Las Vegas, NV, 89102, USA
| | - Bhaskar Kolachana
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Ariel M Pani
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Leah Sorcher
- Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Karen F Berman
- Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ophir O, Levy G, Bar E, Kimchi Feldhorn O, Rokach M, Elad Sfadia G, Barak B. Deletion of Gtf2i via Systemic Administration of AAV-PHP.eB Virus Increases Social Behavior in a Mouse Model of a Neurodevelopmental Disorder. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2273. [PMID: 37626769 PMCID: PMC10452363 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by distinctive cognitive and personality profiles which also impacts various physiological systems. The syndrome arises from the deletion of about 25 genes located on chromosome 7q11.23, including Gtf2i. Prior research indicated a strong association between pre-natal Gtf2i deletion, and the hyper-social phenotypes observed in WS, as well as myelination deficits. As most studies addressed pre-natal Gtf2i deletion in mouse models, post-natal neuronal roles of Gtf2i were unknown. To investigate the impact of post-natal deletion of neuronal Gtf2i on hyper-sociability, we intravenously injected an AAV-PHP.eB virus expressing Cre-recombinase under the control of αCaMKII, a promoter in a mouse model with floxed Gtf2i. This targeted deletion was performed in young mice, allowing for precise and efficient brain-wide infection leading to the exclusive removal of Gtf2i from excitatory neurons. As a result of such gene deletion, the mice displayed hyper-sociability, increased anxiety, impaired cognition, and hyper-mobility, relative to controls. These findings highlight the potential of systemic viral manipulation as a gene-editing technique to modulate behavior-regulating genes during the post-natal stage, thus presenting novel therapeutic approaches for addressing neurodevelopmental dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Omer Ophir
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Gilad Levy
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Ela Bar
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry & Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | | | - May Rokach
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Galit Elad Sfadia
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Boaz Barak
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Torres-Pérez JV, Anagianni S, Mech AM, Havelange W, García-González J, Fraser SE, Vallortigara G, Brennan CH. baz1b loss-of-function in zebrafish produces phenotypic alterations consistent with the domestication syndrome. iScience 2023; 26:105704. [PMID: 36582821 PMCID: PMC9793288 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BAZ1B is a ubiquitously expressed nuclear protein with roles in chromatin remodeling, DNA replication and repair, and transcription. Reduced BAZ1B expression disrupts neuronal and neural crest development. Variation in the activity of BAZ1B has been proposed to underly morphological and behavioral aspects of domestication through disruption of neural crest development. Knockdown of baz1b in Xenopus embryos and Baz1b loss-of-function (LoF) in mice leads to craniofacial defects consistent with this hypothesis. We generated baz1b LoF zebrafish using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to test the hypothesis that baz1b regulates behavioral phenotypes associated with domestication in addition to craniofacial features. Zebrafish with baz1b LoF show mild underdevelopment at larval stages and distinctive craniofacial features later in life. Mutant zebrafish show reduced anxiety-associated phenotypes and an altered ontogeny of social behaviors. Thus, in zebrafish, developmental deficits in baz1b recapitulate both morphological and behavioral phenotypes associated with the domestication syndrome in other species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose V. Torres-Pérez
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Biologia Funcional i Antropologia física, Fac. de CC. Biològiques, Universitat de València, C/ Dr. Moliner 50, Burjassot, València 46100, Spain
| | - Sofia Anagianni
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Aleksandra M. Mech
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - William Havelange
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Judit García-González
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Scott E. Fraser
- Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Caroline H. Brennan
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Davenport CM, Teubner BJW, Han SB, Patton MH, Eom TY, Garic D, Lansdell BJ, Shirinifard A, Chang TC, Klein J, Pruett-Miller SM, Blundon JA, Zakharenko SS. Innate frequency-discrimination hyperacuity in Williams-Beuren syndrome mice. Cell 2022; 185:3877-3895.e21. [PMID: 36152627 PMCID: PMC9588278 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a rare disorder caused by hemizygous microdeletion of ∼27 contiguous genes. Despite neurodevelopmental and cognitive deficits, individuals with WBS have spared or enhanced musical and auditory abilities, potentially offering an insight into the genetic basis of auditory perception. Here, we report that the mouse models of WBS have innately enhanced frequency-discrimination acuity and improved frequency coding in the auditory cortex (ACx). Chemogenetic rescue showed frequency-discrimination hyperacuity is caused by hyperexcitable interneurons in the ACx. Haploinsufficiency of one WBS gene, Gtf2ird1, replicated WBS phenotypes by downregulating the neuropeptide receptor VIPR1. VIPR1 is reduced in the ACx of individuals with WBS and in the cerebral organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells with the WBS microdeletion. Vipr1 deletion or overexpression in ACx interneurons mimicked or reversed, respectively, the cellular and behavioral phenotypes of WBS mice. Thus, the Gtf2ird1-Vipr1 mechanism in ACx interneurons may underlie the superior auditory acuity in WBS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Davenport
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brett J W Teubner
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Seung Baek Han
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Mary H Patton
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Tae-Yeon Eom
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Dusan Garic
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Benjamin J Lansdell
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Abbas Shirinifard
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ti-Cheng Chang
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jonathon Klein
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shondra M Pruett-Miller
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jay A Blundon
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Stanislav S Zakharenko
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Navarro-Romero A, Galera-López L, Ortiz-Romero P, Llorente-Ovejero A, de Los Reyes-Ramírez L, Bengoetxea de Tena I, Garcia-Elias A, Mas-Stachurska A, Reixachs-Solé M, Pastor A, de la Torre R, Maldonado R, Benito B, Eyras E, Rodríguez-Puertas R, Campuzano V, Ozaita A. Cannabinoid signaling modulation through JZL184 restores key phenotypes of a mouse model for Williams-Beuren syndrome. eLife 2022; 11:72560. [PMID: 36217821 PMCID: PMC9553213 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams–Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a rare genetic multisystemic disorder characterized by mild-to-moderate intellectual disability and hypersocial phenotype, while the most life-threatening features are cardiovascular abnormalities. Nowadays, there are no pharmacological treatments to directly ameliorate the main traits of WBS. The endocannabinoid system (ECS), given its relevance for both cognitive and cardiovascular function, could be a potential druggable target in this syndrome. We analyzed the components of the ECS in the complete deletion (CD) mouse model of WBS and assessed the impact of its pharmacological modulation in key phenotypes relevant for WBS. CD mice showed the characteristic hypersociable phenotype with no preference for social novelty and poor short-term object-recognition performance. Brain cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) in CD male mice showed alterations in density and coupling with no detectable change in main endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoid signaling modulation with subchronic (10 days) JZL184, a selective inhibitor of monoacylglycerol lipase, specifically normalized the social and cognitive phenotype of CD mice. Notably, JZL184 treatment improved cardiovascular function and restored gene expression patterns in cardiac tissue. These results reveal the modulation of the ECS as a promising novel therapeutic approach to improve key phenotypic alterations in WBS. Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a rare disorder that causes hyper-social behavior, intellectual disability, memory problems, and life-threatening overgrowth of the heart. Behavioral therapies can help improve the cognitive and social aspects of the syndrome and surgery is sometimes used to treat the effects on the heart, although often with limited success. However, there are currently no medications available to treat WBS. The endocannabinoid system – which consists of cannabis-like chemical messengers that bind to specific cannabinoid receptor proteins – has been shown to influence cognitive and social behaviors, as well as certain functions of the heart. This has led scientists to suspect that the endocannabinoid system may play a role in WBS, and drugs modifying this network of chemical messengers could help treat the rare condition. To investigate, Navarro-Romero, Galera-López et al. studied mice which had the same genetic deletion found in patients with WBS. Similar to humans, the male mice displayed hyper-social behaviors, had memory deficits and enlarged hearts. Navarro-Romero, Galera-López et al. found that these mutant mice also had differences in the function of the receptor protein cannabinoid type-1 (CB1). The genetically modified mice were then treated with an experimental drug called JZL184 that blocks the breakdown of endocannabinoids which bind to the CB1 receptor. This normalized the number and function of receptors in the brains of the WBS mice, and reduced their social and memory symptoms. The treatment also restored the animals’ heart cells to a more normal size, improved the function of their heart tissue, and led to lower blood pressure. Further experiments revealed that the drug caused the mutant mice to activate many genes in their heart muscle cells to the same level as normal, healthy mice. These findings suggest that JZL184 or other drugs targeting the endocannabinoid system may help ease the symptoms associated with WBS. More studies are needed to test the drug’s effectiveness in humans with this syndrome. Furthermore, the dramatic effect JZL184 has on the heart suggests that it might also help treat high blood pressure or conditions that cause the overgrowth of heart cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alba Navarro-Romero
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorena Galera-López
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Ortiz-Romero
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, and centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Llorente-Ovejero
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Lucía de Los Reyes-Ramírez
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iker Bengoetxea de Tena
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Anna Garcia-Elias
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aleksandra Mas-Stachurska
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina Reixachs-Solé
- EMBL Australia Partner Laboratory Network at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.,The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Antoni Pastor
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Rafael Maldonado
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.,Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Benito
- Group of Cardiovascular Experimental and Translational Research (GET-CV), Vascular Biology and Metabolism, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR),, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBER-CV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Eyras
- EMBL Australia Partner Laboratory Network at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.,The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.,Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Rodríguez-Puertas
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.,Neurodegenerative Diseases, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Victoria Campuzano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, and centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andres Ozaita
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Human Brain Models of Intellectual Disability: Experimental Advances and Novelties. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126476. [PMID: 35742919 PMCID: PMC9224308 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) is characterized by deficits in conceptual, social and practical domains. ID can be caused by both genetic defects and environmental factors and is extremely heterogeneous, which complicates the diagnosis as well as the deciphering of the underlying pathways. Multiple scientific breakthroughs during the past decades have enabled the development of novel ID models. The advent of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) enables the study of patient-derived human neurons in 2D or in 3D organoids during development. Gene-editing tools, such as CRISPR/Cas9, provide isogenic controls and opportunities to design personalized gene therapies. In practice this has contributed significantly to the understanding of ID and opened doors to identify novel therapeutic targets. Despite these advances, a number of areas of improvement remain for which novel technologies might entail a solution in the near future. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the existing literature on scientific breakthroughs that have been advancing the way ID can be studied in the human brain. The here described human brain models for ID have the potential to accelerate the identification of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and the development of therapies.
Collapse
|
10
|
Domínguez-García CM, Serrano-Juárez CA, Rodríguez-Camacho M, Moreno-Villagómez J, Araujo Solís MA, Prieto-Corona B. Neuropsychological intervention in attention and visuospatial skills in two patients with Williams syndrome with different types of genetic deletion. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY: CHILD 2022; 12:177-186. [PMID: 35476532 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2022.2063723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Williams Syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a distinctive physical, cognitive, and behavioral profile caused by a microdeletion in the q11.23 region of chromosome 7. The neuropsychological profile of WS is characterized by intellectual disability, hypersociability, and deficits, especially in attention and visuospatial skills. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of a neuropsychological intervention program in attention and visuospatial skills in two patients with WS (aged 7 and 13 years old) with different types of deletion (1.5 and 1.8 Mb). Cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive abilities were evaluated through various neuropsychological tests and scales; the neuropsychological intervention program was subsequently applied, and we assessed its effectiveness. Both patients initially presented significant deficits in attention and visuospatial skills. After the program, we found improvements in attention and visuospatial skills. In addition, both patients had significant clinical advances and changes in adaptive behaviors (social and self-care). These findings suggest that this intervention program could improve attention processes, visuospatial skills, and some aspects of adaptive behavior in patients with WS, regardless of deletion size. Although the sample was small, limiting the generalizability of the results, we believe this program could be a helpful resource for professionals working with individuals with WS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Alberto Serrano-Juárez
- Laboratorio de Neurometría, Grupo de Neurociencias, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, México
| | - Mario Rodríguez-Camacho
- Laboratorio de Neurometría, Grupo de Neurociencias, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, México
| | - Julieta Moreno-Villagómez
- Laboratorio de Neurometría, Grupo de Neurociencias, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, México
| | - María Antonieta Araujo Solís
- Servicio de Genética UMAE Hospital de Pediatría “Dr. Silvestre Frenk Freund”, CMN “Siglo XXI”, IMSS, Tlalnepantla, México
| | - Belén Prieto-Corona
- Laboratorio de Neurometría, Grupo de Neurociencias, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, México
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Grad M, Nir A, Levy G, Trangle SS, Shapira G, Shomron N, Assaf Y, Barak B. Altered White Matter and microRNA Expression in a Murine Model Related to Williams Syndrome Suggests That miR-34b/c Affects Brain Development via Ptpru and Dcx Modulation. Cells 2022; 11:cells11010158. [PMID: 35011720 PMCID: PMC8750756 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a multisystem neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a de novo hemizygous deletion of ~26 genes from chromosome 7q11.23, among them the general transcription factor II-I (GTF2I). By studying a novel murine model for the hypersociability phenotype associated with WS, we previously revealed surprising aberrations in myelination and cell differentiation properties in the cortices of mutant mice compared to controls. These mutant mice had selective deletion of Gtf2i in the excitatory neurons of the forebrain. Here, we applied diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and fiber tracking, which showed a reduction in the number of streamlines in limbic outputs such as the fimbria/fornix fibers and the stria terminalis, as well as the corpus callosum of these mutant mice compared to controls. Furthermore, we utilized next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of cortical small RNAs' expression (RNA-Seq) levels to identify altered expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), including two from the miR-34 cluster, known to be involved in prominent processes in the developing nervous system. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed the direct binding of miR-34c-5p to the 3'UTR of PTPRU-a gene involved in neural development that was elevated in the cortices of mutant mice relative to controls. Moreover, we found an age-dependent variation in the expression levels of doublecortin (Dcx)-a verified miR-34 target. Thus, we demonstrate the substantial effect a single gene deletion can exert on miRNA regulation and brain structure, and advance our understanding and, hopefully, treatment of WS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meitar Grad
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
| | - Ariel Nir
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
| | - Gilad Levy
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
| | - Sari Schokoroy Trangle
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
| | - Guy Shapira
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
- Edmond J. Safra Center for Bioinformatics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Noam Shomron
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
- Edmond J. Safra Center for Bioinformatics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Yaniv Assaf
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry & Biophysics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Boaz Barak
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (M.G.); (A.N.); (G.L.); (N.S.); (Y.A.)
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kopp ND, Nygaard KR, Liu Y, McCullough KB, Maloney SE, Gabel HW, Dougherty JD. Functions of Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1 in the developing brain: transcription, DNA binding and long-term behavioral consequences. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:1498-1519. [PMID: 32313931 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gtf2ird1 and Gtf2i are two transcription factors (TFs) among the 28 genes deleted in Williams syndrome, and prior mouse models of each TF show behavioral phenotypes. Here we identify their genomic binding sites in the developing brain and test for additive effects of their mutation on transcription and behavior. GTF2IRD1 binding targets were enriched for transcriptional and chromatin regulators and mediators of ubiquitination. GTF2I targets were enriched for signal transduction proteins, including regulators of phosphorylation and WNT. Both TFs are highly enriched at promoters, strongly overlap CTCF binding and topological associating domain boundaries and moderately overlap each other, suggesting epistatic effects. Shared TF targets are enriched for reactive oxygen species-responsive genes, synaptic proteins and transcription regulators such as chromatin modifiers, including a significant number of highly constrained genes and known ASD genes. We next used single and double mutants to test whether mutating both TFs will modify transcriptional and behavioral phenotypes of single Gtf2ird1 mutants, though with the caveat that our Gtf2ird1 mutants, like others previously reported, do produce low levels of a truncated protein product. Despite little difference in DNA binding and transcriptome-wide expression, homozygous Gtf2ird1 mutation caused balance, marble burying and conditioned fear phenotypes. However, mutating Gtf2i in addition to Gtf2ird1 did not further modify transcriptomic or most behavioral phenotypes, suggesting Gtf2ird1 mutation alone was sufficient for the observed phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D Kopp
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kayla R Nygaard
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yating Liu
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Katherine B McCullough
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Susan E Maloney
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Harrison W Gabel
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joseph D Dougherty
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kozel BA, Barak B, Ae Kim C, Mervis CB, Osborne LR, Porter M, Pober BR. Williams syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2021; 7:42. [PMID: 34140529 PMCID: PMC9437774 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-021-00276-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a relatively rare microdeletion disorder that occurs in as many as 1:7,500 individuals. WS arises due to the mispairing of low-copy DNA repetitive elements at meiosis. The deletion size is similar across most individuals with WS and leads to the loss of one copy of 25-27 genes on chromosome 7q11.23. The resulting unique disorder affects multiple systems, with cardinal features including but not limited to cardiovascular disease (characteristically stenosis of the great arteries and most notably supravalvar aortic stenosis), a distinctive craniofacial appearance, and a specific cognitive and behavioural profile that includes intellectual disability and hypersociability. Genotype-phenotype evidence is strongest for ELN, the gene encoding elastin, which is responsible for the vascular and connective tissue features of WS, and for the transcription factor genes GTF2I and GTF2IRD1, which are known to affect intellectual ability, social functioning and anxiety. Mounting evidence also ascribes phenotypic consequences to the deletion of BAZ1B, LIMK1, STX1A and MLXIPL, but more work is needed to understand the mechanism by which these deletions contribute to clinical outcomes. The age of diagnosis has fallen in regions of the world where technological advances, such as chromosomal microarray, enable clinicians to make the diagnosis of WS without formally suspecting it, allowing earlier intervention by medical and developmental specialists. Phenotypic variability is considerable for all cardinal features of WS but the specific sources of this variability remain unknown. Further investigation to identify the factors responsible for these differences may lead to mechanism-based rather than symptom-based therapies and should therefore be a high research priority.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beth A. Kozel
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Boaz Barak
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience and The School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Chong Ae Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolyn B. Mervis
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Lucy R. Osborne
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melanie Porter
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Barbara R. Pober
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Levy G, Barak B. Postnatal therapeutic approaches in genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:414-422. [PMID: 32985459 PMCID: PMC7996025 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.293133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by abnormal neurophysiological and behavioral phenotypes, affecting individuals worldwide. While the subject has been heavily researched, current treatment options relate mostly to alleviating symptoms, rather than targeting the altered genome itself. In this review, we address the neurogenetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders, genetic tools that are enabling precision research of these disorders in animal models, and postnatal gene-therapy approaches for neurodevelopmental disorders derived from preclinical studies in the laboratory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gilad Levy
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Boaz Barak
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Dai L, Weiss RB, Dunn DM, Ramirez A, Paul S, Korenberg JR. Core transcriptional networks in Williams syndrome: IGF1-PI3K-AKT-mTOR, MAPK and actin signaling at the synapse echo autism. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:411-429. [PMID: 33564861 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene networks for disorders of social behavior provide the mechanisms critical for identifying therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Large behavioral phenotypic effects of small human deletions make the positive sociality of Williams syndrome (WS) ideal for determining transcriptional networks for social dysfunction currently based on DNA variations for disorders such as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCHZ). Consensus on WS networks has been elusive due to the need for larger cohort size, sensitive genome-wide detection and analytic tools. We report a core set of WS network perturbations in a cohort of 58 individuals (34 with typical, 6 atypical deletions and 18 controls). Genome-wide exon-level expression arrays robustly detected changes in differentially expressed gene (DEG) transcripts from WS deleted genes that ranked in the top 11 of 12 122 transcripts, validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR, RNASeq and western blots. WS DEG's were strictly dosed in the full but not the atypical deletions that revealed a breakpoint position effect on non-deleted CLIP2, a caveat for current phenotypic mapping based on copy number variants. Network analyses tested the top WS DEG's role in the dendritic spine, employing GeneMANIA to harmonize WS DEGs with comparable query gene-sets. The results indicate perturbed actin cytoskeletal signaling analogous to the excitatory dendritic spines. Independent protein-protein interaction analyses of top WS DEGs generated a 100-node graph annotated topologically revealing three interacting pathways, MAPK, IGF1-PI3K-AKT-mTOR/insulin and actin signaling at the synapse. The results indicate striking similarity of WS transcriptional networks to genome-wide association study-based ASD and SCHZ risk suggesting common network dysfunction for these disorders of divergent sociality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Dai
- Center for Integrated Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Brain Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Robert B Weiss
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Diane M Dunn
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Anna Ramirez
- Center for Integrated Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Brain Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sharan Paul
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Julie R Korenberg
- Center for Integrated Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Brain Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Gao WJ, Mack NR. From Hyposociability to Hypersociability-The Effects of PSD-95 Deficiency on the Dysfunctional Development of Social Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:618397. [PMID: 33584217 PMCID: PMC7876227 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.618397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal social behavior, including both hypo- and hypersociability, is often observed in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders. However, the mechanisms associated with these two distinct social behavior abnormalities remain unknown. Postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) is a highly abundant scaffolding protein in the excitatory synapses and an essential regulator of synaptic maturation by binding to NMDA and AMPA receptors. The DLG4 gene encodes PSD-95, and it is a risk gene for hypersocial behavior. Interestingly, PSD-95 knockout mice exhibit hyposociability during adolescence but hypersociability in adulthood. The adolescent hyposociability is accompanied with an NMDAR hyperfunction in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), an essential part of the social brain for control of sociability. The maturation of mPFC development is delayed until young adults. However, how PSD-95 deficiency affects the functional maturation of mPFC and its connection with other social brain regions remains uncharacterized. It is especially unknown how PSD-95 knockout drives the switch of social behavior from hypo- to hyper-sociability during adolescent-to-adult development. We propose an NMDAR-dependent developmental switch of hypo- to hyper-sociability. PSD-95 deficiency disrupts NMDAR-mediated synaptic connectivity of mPFC and social brain during development in an age- and pathway-specific manner. By utilizing the PSD-95 deficiency mouse, the mechanisms contributing to both hypo- and hyper-sociability can be studied in the same model. This will allow us to assess both local and long-range connectivity of mPFC and examine how they are involved in the distinct impairments in social behavior and how changes in these connections may mature over time.
Collapse
|
17
|
Ji C, Yao D, Li MY, Chen WJ, Lin SL, Zhao ZY. A study on facial features of children with Williams syndrome in China based on three-dimensional anthropometric measurement technology. Am J Med Genet A 2020; 182:2102-2109. [PMID: 32706523 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
To describe special facial features of children with Williams syndrome in China by using method of three-dimensional craniofacial anthropometry. Using three-dimensional stereo photogrammetric device, 14 craniofacial anthropometric measurements were performed and five indices were calculated in 52 children with Williams syndrome and 208 age and sex matched controls of Han Chinese ethnicity. Except intercanthal width, mouth breadth, morphological face height, nasal height-breadth index, nasal breadth-depth index, morphological ear index, the Williams syndrome group under 3 years old were smaller than the control group in the other 12 variables. Compared with the control group, the Williams syndrome group aged 3-5 years old had smaller biocular breadth, nasal length, nasorostral angle, bitragal breadth, ear width, morphological ear index and face depth. The Williams syndrome group aged above 6 years old had smaller biocular breadth, nasal breadth, bitragal breadth, ear width, ear length and face depth than the control group. The craniofacial variability index of the Williams syndrome group was greater than the control group. Greater variation was found among children with Williams syndrome than normal in China, specifically at eye, nose, ear and face shape, which demonstrate the usefulness of three-dimensional stereo photogrammetric analysis in supporting accurate diagnose of the patient with Williams syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chai Ji
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Health, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dan Yao
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Health, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ming-Yan Li
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Health, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Jun Chen
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Health, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sheng-Liang Lin
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Health, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zheng-Yan Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Health, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
López-Tobón A, Trattaro S, Testa G. The sociability spectrum: evidence from reciprocal genetic copy number variations. Mol Autism 2020; 11:50. [PMID: 32546261 PMCID: PMC7298749 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00347-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Sociability entails some of the most complex behaviors processed by the central nervous system. It includes the detection, integration, and interpretation of social cues and elaboration of context-specific responses that are quintessentially species-specific. There is an ever-growing accumulation of molecular associations to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), from causative genes to endophenotypes across multiple functional layers; these however, have rarely been put in context with the opposite manifestation featured in hypersociability syndromes. Genetic copy number variations (CNVs) allow to investigate the relationships between gene dosage and its corresponding phenotypes. In particular, CNVs of the 7q11.23 locus, which manifest diametrically opposite social behaviors, offer a privileged window to look into the molecular substrates underlying the developmental trajectories of the social brain. As by definition sociability is studied in humans postnatally, the developmental fluctuations causing social impairments have thus far remained a black box. Here, we review key evidence of molecular players involved at both ends of the sociability spectrum, focusing on genetic and functional associations of neuroendocrine regulators and synaptic transmission pathways. We then proceed to propose the existence of a molecular axis centered around the paradigmatic dosage imbalances at the 7q11.23 locus, regulating networks responsible for the development of social behavior in humans and highlight the key role that neurodevelopmental models from reprogrammed pluripotent cells will play for its understanding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro López-Tobón
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Sebastiano Trattaro
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Testa
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Epigenetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
- Human Technopole, Via Cristina Belgioioso 171, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Kopp N, McCullough K, Maloney SE, Dougherty JD. Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1 mutation do not account for the full phenotypic effect of the Williams syndrome critical region in mouse models. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3443-3465. [PMID: 31418010 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a 1.5-1.8 Mbp deletion on chromosome 7q11.23, affecting the copy number of 26-28 genes. Phenotypes of WS include cardiovascular problems, craniofacial dysmorphology, deficits in visual-spatial cognition and a characteristic hypersocial personality. There are still no genes in the region that have been consistently linked to the cognitive and behavioral phenotypes, although human studies and mouse models have led to the current hypothesis that the general transcription factor 2 I family of genes, GTF2I and GTF2IRD1, are responsible. Here we test the hypothesis that these two transcription factors are sufficient to reproduce the phenotypes that are caused by deletion of the WS critical region (WSCR). We compare a new mouse model with loss of function mutations in both Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1 to an established mouse model lacking the complete WSCR. We show that the complete deletion (CD) model has deficits across several behavioral domains including social communication, motor functioning and conditioned fear that are not explained by loss of function mutations in Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1. Furthermore, transcriptome profiling of the hippocampus shows changes in synaptic genes in the CD model that are not seen in the double mutants. Thus, we have thoroughly defined a set of molecular and behavioral consequences of complete WSCR deletion and shown that genes or combinations of genes beyond Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1 are necessary to produce these phenotypic effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Kopp
- Department of Genetics.,Department of Psychiatry
| | | | - Susan E Maloney
- Department of Psychiatry.,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joseph D Dougherty
- Department of Genetics.,Department of Psychiatry.,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
A comparative study of the neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive phenotype in two microdeletion syndromes: Velocardiofacial (22q11.2 deletion) and Williams (7q11.23 deletion) syndromes. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 29:203-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2013.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Revised: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractPurpose:22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) and Williams syndrome (WS) are common neurogenetic microdeletion syndromes. The aim of the present study was to compare the neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive phenotypes of 22q11.2DS and WS.Methods:Forty-five individuals with 22q11.2DS, 24 with WS, 22 with idiopathic developmental disability (DD) and 22 typically developing (TD) controls were compared for the rates of psychiatric disorders as well as cognitive executive and visuospatial functions.Results:We found that while anxiety, mood and disruptive disorders had an equally high prevalence among individuals with 22q11.2DS, WS and DDs, the 22q11.2DS group had the highest rates of psychotic disorders and the WS group had the highest rates of specific phobia. We also found that the WS group demonstrated more severe impairments in both executive and visuospatial functions than the other groups. WS and 22q11.2DS subjects had worse Performance-IQ than Verbal-IQ, a feature typical of non-verbal learning disorders.Conclusion:These findings offer a wide perspective on unique versus common phenotypes in 22q11.2DS and WS.
Collapse
|
21
|
Kinnear C, Agrawal R, Loo C, Pahnke A, Rodrigues DC, Thompson T, Akinrinade O, Ahadian S, Keeley F, Radisic M, Mital S, Ellis J. Everolimus Rescues the Phenotype of Elastin Insufficiency in Patient Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020; 40:1325-1339. [PMID: 32212852 PMCID: PMC7176340 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.119.313936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objective: Elastin gene deletion or mutation leads to arterial stenoses due to vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation. Human induced pluripotent stem cells–derived SMCs can model the elastin insufficiency phenotype in vitro but show only partial rescue with rapamycin. Our objective was to identify drug candidates with superior efficacy in rescuing the SMC phenotype in elastin insufficiency patients. Approach and Results: SMCs generated from induced pluripotent stem cells from 5 elastin insufficiency patients with severe recurrent vascular stenoses (3 Williams syndrome and 2 elastin mutations) were phenotypically immature, hyperproliferative, poorly responsive to endothelin, and exerted reduced tension in 3-dimensional smooth muscle biowires. Elastin mRNA and protein were reduced in SMCs from patients compared to healthy control SMCs. Fourteen drug candidates were tested on patient SMCs. Of the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors studied, everolimus restored differentiation, rescued proliferation, and improved endothelin-induced calcium flux in all patient SMCs except one Williams syndrome. Of the calcium channel blockers, verapamil increased SMC differentiation and reduced proliferation in Williams syndrome patient cells but not in elastin mutation patients and had no effect on endothelin response. Combination treatment with everolimus and verapamil was not superior to everolimus alone. Other drug candidates had limited efficacy. Conclusions: Everolimus caused the most consistent improvement in SMC differentiation, proliferation and in SMC function in patients with both syndromic and nonsyndromic elastin insufficiency, and offers the best candidate for drug repurposing for treatment of elastin insufficiency associated vasculopathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Kinnear
- From the Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.K., R.A., O.A., S.M.)
| | - Rahul Agrawal
- From the Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.K., R.A., O.A., S.M.)
| | - Caitlin Loo
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L., D.C.R., T.T., J.E.).,Department of Molecular Genetics (C.L., J.E.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aric Pahnke
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (A.P., S.A., M.R.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry (A.P., S.A., M.R.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Deivid Carvalho Rodrigues
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L., D.C.R., T.T., J.E.)
| | - Tadeo Thompson
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L., D.C.R., T.T., J.E.)
| | - Oyediran Akinrinade
- From the Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.K., R.A., O.A., S.M.)
| | - Samad Ahadian
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (A.P., S.A., M.R.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry (A.P., S.A., M.R.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fred Keeley
- Department of Biochemistry (F.K.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.K.)
| | - Milica Radisic
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (A.P., S.A., M.R.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry (A.P., S.A., M.R.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Seema Mital
- From the Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.K., R.A., O.A., S.M.).,Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children (S.M.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Ellis
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L., D.C.R., T.T., J.E.).,Department of Molecular Genetics (C.L., J.E.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Kimura R, Swarup V, Tomiwa K, Gandal MJ, Parikshak NN, Funabiki Y, Nakata M, Awaya T, Kato T, Iida K, Okazaki S, Matsushima K, Kato T, Murai T, Heike T, Geschwind DH, Hagiwara M. Integrative network analysis reveals biological pathways associated with Williams syndrome. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2019; 60:585-598. [PMID: 30362171 PMCID: PMC7379192 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has been attributed to heterozygous deletions in chromosome 7q11.23 and exhibits a variety of physical, cognitive, and behavioral features. However, the genetic basis of this phenotypic variability is unclear. In this study, we identified genetic clues underlying these complex phenotypes. METHODS Neurobehavioral function was assessed in WS patients and healthy controls. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood and subjected to microarray analysis, RNA-sequencing, and qRT-PCR. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed to identify specific alterations related to intermediate disease phenotypes. To functionally interpret each WS-related module, gene ontology and disease-related gene enrichment were examined. We also investigated the micro (mi)RNA expression profiles and miRNA co-expression networks to better explain the regulation of the transcriptome in WS. RESULTS Our analysis identified four significant co-expression modules related to intermediate WS phenotypes. Notably, the three upregulated WS-related modules were composed exclusively of genes located outside the 7q11.23 region. They were significantly enriched in genes related to B-cell activation, RNA processing, and RNA transport. BCL11A, which is known for its association with speech disorders and intellectual disabilities, was identified as one of the hub genes in the top WS-related module. Finally, these key upregulated mRNA co-expression modules appear to be inversely correlated with a specific downregulated WS-related miRNA co-expression module. CONCLUSIONS Dysregulation of the mRNA/miRNA network involving genes outside of the 7q11.23 region is likely related to the complex phenotypes observed in WS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Kimura
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental BiologyGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Vivek Swarup
- Program in NeurogeneticsDepartment of NeurologyDavid Geffen School of MedicineUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Kiyotaka Tomiwa
- Department of PediatricsGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan,Department of Child NeurologyOsaka City General HospitalOsakaJapan,Todaiji Ryoiku Hospital for ChildrenNaraJapan
| | - Michael J. Gandal
- Program in NeurogeneticsDepartment of NeurologyDavid Geffen School of MedicineUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Neelroop N. Parikshak
- Program in NeurogeneticsDepartment of NeurologyDavid Geffen School of MedicineUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Yasuko Funabiki
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral ScienceGraduate School of Human and Environmental StudiesKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan,Department of PsychiatryGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Masatoshi Nakata
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental BiologyGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Tomonari Awaya
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental BiologyGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan,Department of PediatricsGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Takeo Kato
- Department of PediatricsGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Kei Iida
- Medical Research Support CenterGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Shin Okazaki
- Department of Child NeurologyOsaka City General HospitalOsakaJapan
| | - Kanae Matsushima
- Department of Human Health ScienceGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Toshihiro Kato
- Department of Human Health ScienceGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Toshiya Murai
- Department of PsychiatryGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Toshio Heike
- Department of PediatricsGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Daniel H. Geschwind
- Program in NeurogeneticsDepartment of NeurologyDavid Geffen School of MedicineUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Masatoshi Hagiwara
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental BiologyGraduate School of MedicineKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Barak B, Zhang Z, Liu Y, Nir A, Trangle SS, Ennis M, Levandowski KM, Wang D, Quast K, Boulting GL, Li Y, Bayarsaihan D, He Z, Feng G. Neuronal deletion of Gtf2i, associated with Williams syndrome, causes behavioral and myelin alterations rescuable by a remyelinating drug. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:700-708. [PMID: 31011227 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0380-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS), caused by a heterozygous microdeletion on chromosome 7q11.23, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hypersociability and neurocognitive abnormalities. Of the deleted genes, general transcription factor IIi (Gtf2i) has been linked to hypersociability in WS, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We show that selective deletion of Gtf2i in the excitatory neurons of the forebrain caused neuroanatomical defects, fine motor deficits, increased sociability and anxiety. Unexpectedly, 70% of the genes with significantly decreased messenger RNA levels in the mutant mouse cortex are involved in myelination, and mutant mice had reduced mature oligodendrocyte cell numbers, reduced myelin thickness and impaired axonal conductivity. Restoring myelination properties with clemastine or increasing axonal conductivity rescued the behavioral deficits. The frontal cortex from patients with WS similarly showed reduced myelin thickness, mature oligodendrocyte cell numbers and mRNA levels of myelination-related genes. Our study provides molecular and cellular evidence for myelination deficits in WS linked to neuronal deletion of Gtf2i.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Boaz Barak
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Zicong Zhang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ariel Nir
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sari S Trangle
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Michaela Ennis
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kirsten M Levandowski
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dongqing Wang
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kathleen Quast
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Yi Li
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dashzeveg Bayarsaihan
- Department of Reconstructive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Zhigang He
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Guoping Feng
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Julian JB, Kamps FS, Epstein RA, Dilks DD. Dissociable spatial memory systems revealed by typical and atypical human development. Dev Sci 2019; 22:e12737. [PMID: 30176106 PMCID: PMC6391167 DOI: 10.1111/desc.12737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Rodent lesion studies have revealed the existence of two causally dissociable spatial memory systems, localized to the hippocampus and striatum that are preferentially sensitive to environmental boundaries and landmark objects, respectively. Here we test whether these two memory systems are causally dissociable in humans by examining boundary- and landmark-based memory in typical and atypical development. Adults with Williams syndrome (WS)-a developmental disorder with known hippocampal abnormalities-and typical children and adults, performed a navigation task that involved learning locations relative to a boundary or a landmark object. We found that boundary-based memory was severely impaired in WS compared to typically-developing mental-age matched (MA) children and chronological-age matched (CA) adults, whereas landmark-based memory was similar in all groups. Furthermore, landmark-based memory matured earlier in typical development than boundary-based memory, consistent with the idea that the WS cognitive phenotype arises from developmental arrest of late maturing cognitive systems. Together, these findings provide causal and developmental evidence for dissociable spatial memory systems in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua B. Julian
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Centre for Neural Computation, The Egil and Pauline Braathen and Fred Kavli Centre for Cortical Microcircuits, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Cognitive, Behavioral, and Adaptive Profiles in Williams Syndrome With and Without Loss of GTF2IRD2. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2018; 24:896-904. [PMID: 30375319 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617718000711] [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] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results from a heterozygous microdeletion on chromosome 7q11.23. Most of the time, the affected region contains ~1.5 Mb of sequence encoding approximately 24 genes. Some 5-8% of patients with WS have a deletion exceeding 1.8 Mb, thereby affecting two additional genes, including GTF2IRD2. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the implications of GTF2IRD2 loss for the neuropsychological phenotype of WS patients. OBJECTIVES The present study aimed to identify the role of GTF2IRD2 in the cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive profile of WS patients. METHODS Twelve patients diagnosed with WS participated, four with GTF2IRD2 deletion (atypical WS group), and eight without this deletion (typical WS group). The age range of both groups was 7-18 years old. Each patient's 7q11.23 deletion scope was determined by chromosomal microarray analysis. Cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive abilities were assessed with a battery of neuropsychological tests. RESULTS Compared with the typical WS group, the atypical WS patients with GTF2IRD2 deletion had more impaired visuospatial abilities and more significant behavioral problems, mainly related to the construct of social cognition. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide new evidence regarding the influence of the GTF2IRD2 gene on the severity of behavioral symptoms of WS related to social cognition and certain visuospatial abilities. (JINS, 2018, 24, 896-904).
Collapse
|
26
|
Linda K, Fiuza C, Nadif Kasri N. The promise of induced pluripotent stem cells for neurodevelopmental disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:382-391. [PMID: 29128445 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A major challenge in clinical genetics and medicine is represented by genetically and phenotypically highly diverse neurodevelopmental disorders, like for example intellectual disability and autism. Intellectual disability is characterized by substantial limitations in cognitive function and adaptive behaviour. At the cellular level, this is reflected by deficits in synaptic structure and plasticity and therefore has been coined as a synaptic disorder or "synaptopathy". In this review, we summarize the findings from recent studies in which iPSCs have been used to model specific neurodevelopmental syndromes, including Fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, Williams-Beuren syndrome and Phelan-McDermid syndrome. We discuss what we have learned from these studies and what key issues need to be addressed to move the field forward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Linda
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Carol Fiuza
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nael Nadif Kasri
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Neuroscience, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Abstract
West syndrome (WS) is an early life epileptic encephalopathy associated with infantile spasms, interictal electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities including high amplitude, disorganized background with multifocal epileptic spikes (hypsarrhythmia), and often neurodevelopmental impairments. Approximately 64% of the patients have structural, metabolic, genetic, or infectious etiologies and, in the rest, the etiology is unknown. Here we review the contribution of etiologies due to various metabolic disorders in the pathology of WS. These may include metabolic errors in organic molecules involved in amino acid and glucose metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, metal metabolism, pyridoxine deficiency or dependency, or acidurias in organelles such as mitochondria and lysosomes. We discuss the biochemical, clinical, and EEG features of these disorders as well as the evidence of how they may be implicated in the pathogenesis and treatment of WS. The early recognition of these etiologies in some cases may permit early interventions that may improve the course of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seda Salar
- Laboratory of Developmental EpilepsySaul R. Korey Department of NeurologyMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
| | - Solomon L. Moshé
- Laboratory of Developmental EpilepsySaul R. Korey Department of NeurologyMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of NeuroscienceMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
- Department of PediatricsMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
| | - Aristea S. Galanopoulou
- Laboratory of Developmental EpilepsySaul R. Korey Department of NeurologyMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of NeuroscienceMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Meyza KZ, Bartal IBA, Monfils MH, Panksepp JB, Knapska E. The roots of empathy: Through the lens of rodent models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 76:216-234. [PMID: 27825924 PMCID: PMC5418107 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Empathy is a phenomenon often considered dependent on higher-order emotional control and an ability to relate to the emotional state of others. It is, by many, attributed only to species having well-developed cortical circuits capable of performing such complex tasks. However, over the years, a wealth of data has been accumulated showing that rodents are capable not only of sharing emotional states of their conspecifics, but also of prosocial behavior driven by such shared experiences. The study of rodent empathic behaviors is only now becoming an independent research field. Relevant animal models allow precise manipulation of neural networks, thereby offering insight into the foundations of empathy in the mammalian brains. Here we review the data on empathic behaviors in rat and mouse models, their neurobiological and neurophysiological correlates, and the factors influencing these behaviors. We discuss how simple rodent models of empathy enhance our understanding of how brain controls empathic behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Z Meyza
- Laboratory of Emotions' Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - I Ben-Ami Bartal
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - M H Monfils
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - J B Panksepp
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - E Knapska
- Laboratory of Emotions' Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Lee SA, Tucci V, Vallortigara G. Spatial Impairment and Memory in Genetic Disorders: Insights from Mouse Models. Brain Sci 2017; 7:E17. [PMID: 28208764 PMCID: PMC5332960 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci7020017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Research across the cognitive and brain sciences has begun to elucidate some of the processes that guide navigation and spatial memory. Boundary geometry and featural landmarks are two distinct classes of environmental cues that have dissociable neural correlates in spatial representation and follow different patterns of learning. Consequently, spatial navigation depends both on the type of cue available and on the type of learning provided. We investigated this interaction between spatial representation and memory by administering two different tasks (working memory, reference memory) using two different environmental cues (rectangular geometry, striped landmark) in mouse models of human genetic disorders: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWScrm+/p- mice, n = 12) and Beta-catenin mutation (Thr653Lys-substituted mice, n = 12). This exploratory study provides suggestive evidence that these models exhibit different abilities and impairments in navigating by boundary geometry and featural landmarks, depending on the type of memory task administered. We discuss these data in light of the specific deficits in cognitive and brain function in these human syndromes and their animal model counterparts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sang Ah Lee
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto 38068, Italy.
| | - Valter Tucci
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova 16163, Italy.
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Lalli MA, Jang J, Park JHC, Wang Y, Guzman E, Zhou H, Audouard M, Bridges D, Tovar KR, Papuc SM, Tutulan-Cunita AC, Huang Y, Budisteanu M, Arghir A, Kosik KS. Haploinsufficiency of BAZ1B contributes to Williams syndrome through transcriptional dysregulation of neurodevelopmental pathways. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:1294-306. [PMID: 26755828 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a genomic deletion of ∼28 genes that results in a cognitive and behavioral profile marked by overall intellectual impairment with relative strength in expressive language and hypersocial behavior. Advancements in protocols for neuron differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells allowed us to elucidate the molecular circuitry underpinning the ontogeny of WS. In patient-derived stem cells and neurons, we determined the expression profile of the Williams-Beuren syndrome critical region-deleted genes and the genome-wide transcriptional consequences of the hemizygous genomic microdeletion at chromosome 7q11.23. Derived neurons displayed disease-relevant hallmarks and indicated novel aberrant pathways in WS neurons including over-activated Wnt signaling accompanying an incomplete neurogenic commitment. We show that haploinsufficiency of the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler, BAZ1B, which is deleted in WS, significantly contributes to this differentiation defect. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP-seq) revealed BAZ1B target gene functions are enriched for neurogenesis, neuron differentiation and disease-relevant phenotypes. BAZ1B haploinsufficiency caused widespread gene expression changes in neural progenitor cells, and together with BAZ1B ChIP-seq target genes, explained 42% of the transcriptional dysregulation in WS neurons. BAZ1B contributes to regulating the balance between neural precursor self-renewal and differentiation and the differentiation defect caused by BAZ1B haploinsufficiency can be rescued by mitigating over-active Wnt signaling in neural stem cells. Altogether, these results reveal a pivotal role for BAZ1B in neurodevelopment and implicate its haploinsufficiency as a likely contributor to the neurological phenotypes in WS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Lalli
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program
| | - Jiwon Jang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Joo-Hye C Park
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Yidi Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Elmer Guzman
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Hongjun Zhou
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Morgane Audouard
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Daniel Bridges
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth R Tovar
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Sorina M Papuc
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Clinical Cytogenetics, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Yadong Huang
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA and
| | - Magdalena Budisteanu
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Clinical Cytogenetics, Bucharest, Romania, Alexandru Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, Neuropediatric Pathology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Aurora Arghir
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Clinical Cytogenetics, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Kenneth S Kosik
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program,
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Khattak S, Brimble E, Zhang W, Zaslavsky K, Strong E, Ross PJ, Hendry J, Mital S, Salter MW, Osborne LR, Ellis J. Human induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons as a model for Williams-Beuren syndrome. Mol Brain 2015; 8:77. [PMID: 26603386 PMCID: PMC4657290 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-015-0168-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS) is caused by the microdeletion of approximately 25 genes on chromosome 7q11.23, and is characterized by a spectrum of cognitive and behavioural features. Results We generated cortical neurons from a WBS individual and unaffected (WT) control by directed differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Single cell mRNA analyses and immunostaining demonstrated very efficient production of differentiated cells expressing markers of mature neurons of mixed subtypes and from multiple cortical layers. We found that there was a profound alteration in action potentials, with significantly prolonged WBS repolarization times and a WBS deficit in voltage-activated K+ currents. Miniature excitatory synaptic currents were normal, indicating that unitary excitatory synaptic transmission was not altered. Gene expression profiling identified 136 negatively enriched gene sets in WBS compared to WT neurons including gene sets involved in neurotransmitter receptor activity, synaptic assembly, and potassium channel complexes. Conclusions Our findings provide insight into gene dysregulation and electrophysiological defects in WBS patient neurons. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13041-015-0168-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shahryar Khattak
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Elise Brimble
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Kirill Zaslavsky
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Emma Strong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - P Joel Ross
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Jason Hendry
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Seema Mital
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Michael W Salter
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Lucy R Osborne
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - James Ellis
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, 686 Bay St, 16th Floor - Room 9705, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Carmona-Mora P, Widagdo J, Tomasetig F, Canales CP, Cha Y, Lee W, Alshawaf A, Dottori M, Whan RM, Hardeman EC, Palmer SJ. The nuclear localization pattern and interaction partners of GTF2IRD1 demonstrate a role in chromatin regulation. Hum Genet 2015; 134:1099-115. [PMID: 26275350 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-015-1591-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
GTF2IRD1 is one of the three members of the GTF2I gene family, clustered on chromosome 7 within a 1.8 Mb region that is prone to duplications and deletions in humans. Hemizygous deletions cause Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) and duplications cause WBS duplication syndrome. These copy number variations disturb a variety of developmental systems and neurological functions. Human mapping data and analyses of knockout mice show that GTF2IRD1 and GTF2I underpin the craniofacial abnormalities, mental retardation, visuospatial deficits and hypersociability of WBS. However, the cellular role of the GTF2IRD1 protein is poorly understood due to its very low abundance and a paucity of reagents. Here, for the first time, we show that endogenous GTF2IRD1 has a punctate pattern in the nuclei of cultured human cell lines and neurons. To probe the functional relationships of GTF2IRD1 in an unbiased manner, yeast two-hybrid libraries were screened, isolating 38 novel interaction partners, which were validated in mammalian cell lines. These relationships illustrate GTF2IRD1 function, as the isolated partners are mostly involved in chromatin modification and transcriptional regulation, whilst others indicate an unexpected role in connection with the primary cilium. Mapping of the sites of protein interaction also indicates key features regarding the evolution of the GTF2IRD1 protein. These data provide a visual and molecular basis for GTF2IRD1 nuclear function that will lead to an understanding of its role in brain, behaviour and human disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Carmona-Mora
- Cellular and Genetic Medicine Unit, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Widagdo
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Florence Tomasetig
- Cellular and Genetic Medicine Unit, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Cesar P Canales
- Cellular and Genetic Medicine Unit, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Yeojoon Cha
- Cellular and Genetic Medicine Unit, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Wei Lee
- Cellular and Genetic Medicine Unit, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Abdullah Alshawaf
- Centre for Neural Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Mirella Dottori
- Centre for Neural Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Renee M Whan
- Biomedical Imaging Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Edna C Hardeman
- Cellular and Genetic Medicine Unit, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Stephen J Palmer
- Cellular and Genetic Medicine Unit, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Karsdal MA, Manon-Jensen T, Genovese F, Kristensen JH, Nielsen MJ, Sand JMB, Hansen NUB, Bay-Jensen AC, Bager CL, Krag A, Blanchard A, Krarup H, Leeming DJ, Schuppan D. Novel insights into the function and dynamics of extracellular matrix in liver fibrosis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2015; 308:G807-30. [PMID: 25767261 PMCID: PMC4437019 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00447.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that altered components and posttranslational modifications of proteins in the extracellular matrix (ECM) may both initiate and drive disease progression. The ECM is a complex grid consisting of multiple proteins, most of which play a vital role in containing the essential information needed for maintenance of a sophisticated structure anchoring the cells and sustaining normal function of tissues. Therefore, the matrix itself may be considered as a paracrine/endocrine entity, with more complex functions than previously appreciated. The aims of this review are to 1) explore key structural and functional components of the ECM as exemplified by monogenetic disorders leading to severe pathologies, 2) discuss selected pathological posttranslational modifications of ECM proteins resulting in altered functional (signaling) properties from the original structural proteins, and 3) discuss how these findings support the novel concept that an increasing number of components of the ECM harbor signaling functions that can modulate fibrotic liver disease. The ECM entails functions in addition to anchoring cells and modulating their migratory behavior. Key ECM components and their posttranslational modifications often harbor multiple domains with different signaling potential, in particular when modified during inflammation or wound healing. This signaling by the ECM should be considered a paracrine/endocrine function, as it affects cell phenotype, function, fate, and finally tissue homeostasis. These properties should be exploited to establish novel biochemical markers and antifibrotic treatment strategies for liver fibrosis as well as other fibrotic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morten A. Karsdal
- 1Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev Hovedgade, Herlev, Denmark; ,2University of Southern Denmark, SDU, Odense, Denmark;
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Aleksander Krag
- 3Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark;
| | - Andy Blanchard
- 4GlaxoSmithKline, Medicines Research Centre, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom;
| | - Henrik Krarup
- 5Section of Molecular Biology, Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark;
| | | | - Detlef Schuppan
- 6Institute of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immunotherapy, University of Mainz Medical Center, Mainz, Germany; ,7Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
7q11.23 dosage-dependent dysregulation in human pluripotent stem cells affects transcriptional programs in disease-relevant lineages. Nat Genet 2014; 47:132-41. [PMID: 25501393 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cell reprogramming promises to make characterization of the impact of human genetic variation on health and disease experimentally tractable by enabling the bridging of genotypes to phenotypes in developmentally relevant human cell lineages. Here we apply this paradigm to two disorders caused by symmetrical copy number variations of 7q11.23, which display a striking combination of shared and symmetrically opposite phenotypes--Williams-Beuren syndrome and 7q-microduplication syndrome. Through analysis of transgene-free patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated derivatives, we find that 7q11.23 dosage imbalance disrupts transcriptional circuits in disease-relevant pathways beginning in the pluripotent state. These alterations are then selectively amplified upon differentiation of the pluripotent cells into disease-relevant lineages. A considerable proportion of this transcriptional dysregulation is specifically caused by dosage imbalances in GTF2I, which encodes a key transcription factor at 7q11.23 that is associated with the LSD1 repressive chromatin complex and silences its dosage-sensitive targets.
Collapse
|
35
|
Nikitina EA, Medvedeva AV, Zakharov GA, Savvateeva-Popova EV. Williams syndrome as a model for elucidation of the pathway genes - the brain - cognitive functions: genetics and epigenetics. Acta Naturae 2014; 6:9-22. [PMID: 24772323 PMCID: PMC3999462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic diseases or syndromes with multiple manifestations arise spontaneously and unpredictably as a result of contiguous deletions and duplications generated by unequal recombination in chromosomal regions with a specific architecture. The Williams syndrome is believed to be one of the most attractive models for linking genes, the brain, behavior and cognitive functions. It is a neurogenetic disorder resulting from a 1.5 Mb deletion at 7q11.23 which covers more than 20 genes; the hemizigosity of these genes leads to multiple manifestations, with the behavioral ones comprising three distinct domains: 1) visuo-spatial orientation; 2) verbal and linguistic defect; and 3) hypersocialisation. The shortest observed deletion leads to hemizigosity in only two genes: eln and limk1. Therefore, the first gene is supposed to be responsible for cardiovascular pathology; and the second one, for cognitive pathology. Since cognitive pathology diminishes with a patient's age, the original idea of the crucial role of genes straightforwardly determining the brain's morphology and behavior was substituted by ideas of the brain's plasticity and the necessity of finding epigenetic factors that affect brain development and the functions manifested as behavioral changes. Recently, non-coding microRNAs (miRs) began to be considered as the main players in these epigenetic events. This review tackles the following problems: is it possible to develop relatively simple model systems to analyze the contribution of both a single gene and the consequences of its epigenetic regulation in the formation of the Williams syndrome's cognitive phenotype? Is it possible to use Drosophila as a simple model system?
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E. A. Nikitina
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Makarova, 6, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Herzen State Pedagogical University, nab. r. Moyki, 48, 191186, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A. V. Medvedeva
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Makarova, 6, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 8-9, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - G. A. Zakharov
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Makarova, 6, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 8-9, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - E. V. Savvateeva-Popova
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Makarova, 6, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 8-9, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Lavin MF. The appropriateness of the mouse model for ataxia-telangiectasia: neurological defects but no neurodegeneration. DNA Repair (Amst) 2013; 12:612-9. [PMID: 23731731 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2013.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) are characterised by genome instability, cancer predisposition and a progressive neurodegeneration. A number of model systems have been developed for A-T but none recapitulate all the phenotype. The majority of these models have been generated in mice. While Atm deficient mouse models exhibit much of the phenotype described in patients with A-T, the broad consensus is that they do not display the most debilitating aspect of A-T, i.e. neurodegeneration. Cerebellar atrophy is one of the neuronal characteristics of A-T patients due to defects in neuronal development and progressive loss of Purkinje and granule cells. This is not evident in Atm-deficient mutants but there are multiple reports on neurological abnormalities in these mice. The focus of this review is to evaluate the appropriateness of Atm mutant mouse models for A-T, particularly with reference to neurological abnormalities and how they might relate to neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin F Lavin
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Radiation Biology and Oncology, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Haas BW, Barnea-Goraly N, Sheau KE, Yamagata B, Ullas S, Reiss AL. Altered microstructure within social-cognitive brain networks during childhood in Williams syndrome. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 24:2796-806. [PMID: 23709644 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bht135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental condition caused by a hemizygous deletion of ∼26-28 genes on chromosome 7q11.23. WS is associated with a distinctive pattern of social cognition. Accordingly, neuroimaging studies show that WS is associated with structural alterations of key brain regions involved in social cognition during adulthood. However, very little is currently known regarding the neuroanatomical structure of social cognitive brain networks during childhood in WS. This study used diffusion tensor imaging to investigate the structural integrity of a specific set of white matter pathways (inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus [IFOF] and uncinate fasciculus [UF]) and associated brain regions [fusiform gyrus (FG), amygdala, hippocampus, medial orbitofrontal gyrus (MOG)] known to be involved in social cognition in children with WS and a typically developing (TD) control group. Children with WS exhibited higher fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity values and lower radial diffusivity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values within the IFOF and UF, higher FA values within the FG, amygdala, and hippocampus and lower ADC values within the FG and MOG compared to controls. These findings provide evidence that the WS genetic deletion affects the development of key white matter pathways and brain regions important for social cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian W Haas
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Naama Barnea-Goraly
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kristen E Sheau
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Bun Yamagata
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Shruti Ullas
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Allan L Reiss
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR), Department of Radiology, and Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94305-5795, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Bayarsaihan D, Makeyev AV, Enkhmandakh B. Epigenetic modulation by TFII-I during embryonic stem cell differentiation. J Cell Biochem 2013; 113:3056-60. [PMID: 22628223 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
TFII-I transcription factors play an essential role during early vertebrate embryogenesis. Genome-wide mapping studies by ChIP-seq and ChIP-chip revealed that TFII-I primes multiple genomic loci in mouse embryonic stem cells and embryonic tissues. Moreover, many TFII-I-bound regions co-localize with H3K4me3/K27me3 bivalent chromatin within the promoters of lineage-specific genes. This minireview provides a summary of current knowledge regarding the function of TFII-I in epigenetic control of stem cell differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dashzeveg Bayarsaihan
- Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development, Department of Reconstructive Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Kinnear C, Chang WY, Khattak S, Hinek A, Thompson T, de Carvalho Rodrigues D, Kennedy K, Mahmut N, Pasceri P, Stanford WL, Ellis J, Mital S. Modeling and rescue of the vascular phenotype of Williams-Beuren syndrome in patient induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cells Transl Med 2012; 2:2-15. [PMID: 23283491 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2012-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin haploinsufficiency in Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) leads to increased vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and stenoses. Our objective was to generate a human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cell model for in vitro assessment of the WBS phenotype and to test the ability of candidate agents to rescue the phenotype. hiPS cells were reprogrammed from skin fibroblasts of a WBS patient with aortic and pulmonary stenosis and healthy control BJ fibroblasts using four-factor retrovirus reprogramming and were differentiated into SMCs. Differentiated SMCs were treated with synthetic elastin-binding protein ligand 2 (EBPL2) (20 μg/ml) or the antiproliferative drug rapamycin (100 nM) for 5 days. We generated four WBS induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines that expressed pluripotency genes and differentiated into all three germ layers. Directed differentiation of BJ iPS cells yielded an 85%-92% pure SMC population that expressed differentiated SMC markers, were functionally contractile, and formed tube-like structures on three-dimensional gel assay. Unlike BJ iPS cells, WBS iPS cells generated immature SMCs that were highly proliferative, showed lower expression of differentiated SMC markers, reduced response to the vasoactive agonists, carbachol and endothelin-1, impaired vascular tube formation, and reduced calcium flux. EBPL2 partially rescued and rapamycin fully rescued the abnormal SMC phenotype by decreasing the smooth muscle proliferation rate and enhancing differentiation and tube formation. WBS iPS cell-derived SMCs demonstrate an immature proliferative phenotype with reduced functional and contractile properties, thereby recapitulating the human disease phenotype. The ability of rapamycin to rescue the phenotype provides an attractive therapeutic candidate for patients with WBS and vascular stenoses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Kinnear
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Barnett C, Yazgan O, Kuo HC, Malakar S, Thomas T, Fitzgerald A, Harbour W, Henry JJ, Krebs JE. Williams Syndrome Transcription Factor is critical for neural crest cell function in Xenopus laevis. Mech Dev 2012; 129:324-38. [PMID: 22691402 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2012.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2012] [Revised: 05/31/2012] [Accepted: 06/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Williams Syndrome Transcription Factor (WSTF) is one of ∼25 haplodeficient genes in patients with the complex developmental disorder Williams Syndrome (WS). WS results in visual/spatial processing defects, cognitive impairment, unique behavioral phenotypes, characteristic "elfin" facial features, low muscle tone and heart defects. WSTF exists in several chromatin remodeling complexes and has roles in transcription, replication, and repair. Chromatin remodeling is essential during embryogenesis, but WSTF's role in vertebrate development is poorly characterized. To investigate the developmental role of WSTF, we knocked down WSTF in Xenopus laevis embryos using a morpholino that targets WSTF mRNA. BMP4 shows markedly increased and spatially aberrant expression in WSTF-deficient embryos, while SHH, MRF4, PAX2, EPHA4 and SOX2 expression are severely reduced, coupled with defects in a number of developing embryonic structures and organs. WSTF-deficient embryos display defects in anterior neural development. Induction of the neural crest, measured by expression of the neural crest-specific genes SNAIL and SLUG, is unaffected by WSTF depletion. However, at subsequent stages WSTF knockdown results in a severe defect in neural crest migration and/or maintenance. Consistent with a maintenance defect, WSTF knockdowns display a specific pattern of increased apoptosis at the tailbud stage in regions corresponding to the path of cranial neural crest migration. Our work is the first to describe a role for WSTF in proper neural crest function, and suggests that neural crest defects resulting from WSTF haploinsufficiency may be a major contributor to the pathoembryology of WS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Barnett
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3101 Science Circle, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Haas BW, Reiss AL. Social brain development in williams syndrome: the current status and directions for future research. Front Psychol 2012; 3:186. [PMID: 22701108 PMCID: PMC3370330 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental condition that occurs as a result of a contiguous deletion of ∼26–28 genes on chromosome 7q11.23. WS is often associated with a distinctive social phenotype characterized by an increased affinity toward processing faces, reduced sensitivity to fear related social stimuli and a reduced ability to form concrete social relationships. Understanding the biological mechanisms that underlie the social phenotype in WS may elucidate genetic and neural factors influencing the typical development of the social brain. In this article, we review available studies investigating the social phenotype of WS throughout development and neuroimaging studies investigating brain structure and function as related to social and emotional functioning in this condition. This review makes an important contribution by highlighting several neuro-behavioral mechanisms that may be a cause or a consequence of atypical social development in WS. In particular, we discuss how distinctive social behaviors in WS may be associated with alterations or delays in the cortical representation of faces, connectivity within the ventral stream, structure and function of the amygdala and how long- and short-range connections develop within the brain. We integrate research on typical brain development and from existing behavioral and neuroimaging research on WS. We conclude with a discussion of how genetic and environmental factors might interact to influence social brain development in WS and how future neuroimaging and behavioral research can further elucidate social brain development in WS. Lastly, we describe how ongoing studies may translate to improved social developmental outcomes for individuals with WS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian W Haas
- Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia Athens, GA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Vandeweyer G, Van der Aa N, Reyniers E, Kooy RF. The contribution of CLIP2 haploinsufficiency to the clinical manifestations of the Williams-Beuren syndrome. Am J Hum Genet 2012; 90:1071-8. [PMID: 22608712 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2011] [Revised: 03/16/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams-Beuren syndrome is a rare contiguous gene syndrome, characterized by intellectual disability, facial dysmorphisms, connective-tissue abnormalities, cardiac defects, structural brain abnormalities, and transient infantile hypercalcemia. Genes lying telomeric to RFC2, including CLIP2, GTF2I and GTF2IRD1, are currently thought to be the most likely major contributors to the typical Williams syndrome cognitive profile, characterized by a better-than-expected auditory rote-memory ability, a relative sparing of language capabilities, and a severe visual-spatial constructive impairment. Atypical deletions in the region have helped to establish genotype-phenotype correlations. So far, however, hardly any deletions affecting only a single gene in the disease region have been described. We present here two healthy siblings with a pure, hemizygous deletion of CLIP2. A putative role in the cognitive and behavioral abnormalities seen in Williams-Beuren patients has been suggested for this gene on the basis of observations in a knock-out mouse model. The presented siblings did not show any of the clinical features associated with the syndrome. Cognitive testing showed an average IQ for both and no indication of the Williams syndrome cognitive profile. This shows that CLIP2 haploinsufficiency by itself does not lead to the physical or cognitive characteristics of the Williams-Beuren syndrome, nor does it lead to the Williams syndrome cognitive profile. Although contribution of CLIP2 to the phenotype cannot be excluded when it is deleted in combination with other genes, our results support the hypothesis that GTF2IRD1 and GTF2I are the main genes causing the cognitive defects associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geert Vandeweyer
- Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital of Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Karmiloff-Smith A, Broadbent H, Farran EK, Longhi E, D’Souza D, Metcalfe K, Tassabehji M, Wu R, Senju A, Happé F, Turnpenny P, Sansbury F. Social cognition in williams syndrome: genotype/phenotype insights from partial deletion patients. Front Psychol 2012; 3:168. [PMID: 22661963 PMCID: PMC3362742 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Accepted: 05/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying genotype/phenotype relations in human social cognition has been enhanced by the study of Williams syndrome (WS). Indeed, individuals with WS present with a particularly strong social drive, and researchers have sought to link deleted genes in the WS critical region (WSCR) of chromosome 7q11.23 to this unusual social profile. In this paper, we provide details of two case studies of children with partial genetic deletions in the WSCR: an 11-year-old female with a deletion of 24 of the 28 WS genes, and a 14-year-old male who presents with the opposite profile, i.e., the deletion of only four genes at the telomeric end of the WSCR. We tested these two children on a large battery of standardized and experimental social perception and social cognition tasks - both implicit and explicit - as well as standardized social questionnaires and general psychometric measures. Our findings reveal a partial WS socio-cognitive profile in the female, contrasted with a more autistic-like profile in the male. We discuss the implications of these findings for genotype/phenotype relations, as well as the advantages and limitations of animal models and of case study approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Elena Longhi
- Psychology Department, Milan-Bicocca University and Oxford UniversityMilan, Italy
| | - Dean D’Souza
- Birkbeck Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, University of LondonLondon, UK
| | - Kay Metcalfe
- Genetic Medicine, St. Mary’s HospitalManchester, UK
| | | | - Rachel Wu
- Birkbeck Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, University of LondonLondon, UK
| | - Atsushi Senju
- Birkbeck Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, University of LondonLondon, UK
| | | | - Peter Turnpenny
- Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation TrustExeter, UK
- Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Universities of Exeter and PlymouthExeter, UK
| | - Francis Sansbury
- Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation TrustExeter, UK
- Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Universities of Exeter and PlymouthExeter, UK
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Capossela S, Muzio L, Bertolo A, Bianchi V, Dati G, Chaabane L, Godi C, Politi LS, Biffo S, D'Adamo P, Mallamaci A, Pannese M. Growth defects and impaired cognitive-behavioral abilities in mice with knockout for Eif4h, a gene located in the mouse homolog of the Williams-Beuren syndrome critical region. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2012; 180:1121-1135. [PMID: 22234171 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2011] [Revised: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/02/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Protein synthesis is a tightly regulated, energy-consuming process. The control of mRNA translation into protein is fundamentally important for the fine-tuning of gene expression; additionally, precise translational control plays a critical role in many cellular processes, including development, cellular growth, proliferation, differentiation, synaptic plasticity, memory, and learning. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4h (Eif4h) encodes a protein involved in the process of protein synthesis, at the level of initiation phase. Its human homolog, WBSCR1, maps on 7q11.23, inside the 1.6 Mb region that is commonly deleted in patients affected by the Williams-Beuren syndrome, which is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cardiovascular defects, cerebral dysplasias and a peculiar cognitive-behavioral profile. In this study, we generated knockout mice deficient in Eif4h. These mice displayed growth retardation with a significant reduction of body weight that began from the first week of postnatal development. Neuroanatomical profiling results generated by magnetic resonance imaging analysis revealed a smaller brain volume in null mice compared with controls as well as altered brain morphology, where anterior and posterior brain regions were differentially affected. The inactivation of Eif4h also led to a reduction in both the number and complexity of neurons. Behavioral studies revealed severe impairments of fear-related associative learning and memory formation. These alterations suggest that Eif4h might contribute to certain deficits associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Capossela
- Gene Expression Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Muzio
- Neuroimmunology Unit - INSPE, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bertolo
- Gene Expression Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Bianchi
- Molecular Genetics of Mental Retardation Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Dulbecco Telethon Institute, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele Dati
- INSPE, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Linda Chaabane
- INSPE, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Godi
- Neuroradiology Research Group, Center for Imaging, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Letterio S Politi
- Neuroradiology Research Group, Center for Imaging, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Biffo
- Molecular Histology and Cell Growth Unit, Division of Molecular Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Department of Science of Environment and Life (DISAV), University of Eastern Piedmont, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Patrizia D'Adamo
- Molecular Genetics of Mental Retardation Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Dulbecco Telethon Institute, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Maria Pannese
- Gene Expression Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
O'Leary J, Osborne LR. Global analysis of gene expression in the developing brain of Gtf2ird1 knockout mice. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23868. [PMID: 21909369 PMCID: PMC3166129 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2011] [Accepted: 07/27/2011] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a hemizygous deletion of a 1.5 Mb region on chromosome 7q11.23 encompassing 26 genes. One of these genes, GTF2IRD1, codes for a putative transcription factor that is expressed throughout the brain during development. Genotype-phenotype studies in patients with atypical deletions of 7q11.23 implicate this gene in the neurological features of WBS, and Gtf2ird1 knockout mice show reduced innate fear and increased sociability, consistent with features of WBS. Multiple studies have identified in vitro target genes of GTF2IRD1, but we sought to identify in vivo targets in the mouse brain. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed the first in vivo microarray screen for transcriptional targets of Gtf2ird1 in brain tissue from Gtf2ird1 knockout and wildtype mice at embryonic day 15.5 and at birth. Changes in gene expression in the mutant mice were moderate (0.5 to 2.5 fold) and of candidate genes with altered expression verified using real-time PCR, most were located on chromosome 5, within 10 Mb of Gtf2ird1. siRNA knock-down of Gtf2ird1 in two mouse neuronal cell lines failed to identify changes in expression of any of the genes identified from the microarray and subsequent analysis showed that differences in expression of genes on chromosome 5 were the result of retention of that chromosome region from the targeted embryonic stem cell line, and so were dependent upon strain rather than Gtf2ird1 genotype. In addition, specific analysis of genes previously identified as direct in vitro targets of GTF2IRD1 failed to show altered expression. Conclusions/Significance We have been unable to identify any in vivo neuronal targets of GTF2IRD1 through genome-wide expression analysis, despite widespread and robust expression of this protein in the developing rodent brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer O'Leary
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lucy R. Osborne
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Liu Y, Xiao A. Epigenetic regulation in neural crest development. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 91:788-96. [PMID: 21618405 DOI: 10.1002/bdra.20797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2010] [Revised: 12/16/2010] [Accepted: 02/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest (NC) is a multipotent, migratory cell population that arises from the developing dorsal neural fold of vertebrate embryos. Once their fates are specified, neural crest cells (NCCs) migrate along defined routes and differentiate into a variety of tissues, including bone and cartilage of the craniofacial skeleton, peripheral neurons, glia, pigment cells, endocrine cells, and mesenchymal precursor cells (Santagati and Rijli,2003; Dupin et al.,2006; Hall,2009). Abnormal development of NCCs causes a number of human diseases, including ear abnormalities (including deafness), heart anomalies, neuroblastomas, and mandibulofacial dysostosis (Hall,2009). For more than a century, NCCs have attracted the attention of geneticists and developmental biologists for their stem cell-like properties, including self-renewal and multipotent differentiation potential. However, we have only begun to understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for their formation and behavior. Recent studies have demonstrated that epigenetic regulation plays important roles in NC development. In this review, we focused on some of the most recent findings on chromatin-mediated mechanisms for vertebrate NCC development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Liu
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Gaspard N, Vanderhaeghen P. From stem cells to neural networks: recent advances and perspectives for neurodevelopmental disorders. Dev Med Child Neurol 2011; 53:13-7. [PMID: 21087236 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2010.03827.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells, available in mouse and human, have emerged as powerful tools to address complex questions in neurobiology. This review focuses on major advances relating to brain development and developmental disorders. Stem cells can differentiate into many different neuronal subtypes using in vitro models mimicking relevant in vivo developmental processes, and the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. Disease-specific human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are now available and allow for the study in vitro of the pathophysiology of degenerative and neurodevelopmental hereditary and sporadic disorders, including in the near future those of the human cortex. Finally, some recent studies have shown that stem cell-derived neural progenitors and neurons could help to rebuild damaged brain circuitry, opening the possibility of cell therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Gaspard
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Sakurai T, Dorr NP, Takahashi N, McInnes LA, Elder GA, Buxbaum JD. Haploinsufficiency of Gtf2i, a gene deleted in Williams Syndrome, leads to increases in social interactions. Autism Res 2010; 4:28-39. [DOI: 10.1002/aur.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2010] [Accepted: 10/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
49
|
Proulx É, Young EJ, Osborne LR, Lambe EK. Enhanced prefrontal serotonin 5-HT(1A) currents in a mouse model of Williams-Beuren syndrome with low innate anxiety. J Neurodev Disord 2010; 2:99-108. [PMID: 20585377 PMCID: PMC2882561 DOI: 10.1007/s11689-010-9044-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2009] [Accepted: 02/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the hemizygous deletion of 28 genes on chromosome 7, including the general transcription factor GTF2IRD1. Mice either hemizygously (Gtf2ird1(+/-)) or homozygously (Gtf2ird1(-/-)) deleted for this transcription factor exhibit low innate anxiety, low aggression and increased social interaction, a phenotype that shares similarities to the high sociability and disinhibition seen in individuals with WBS. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effects of serotonin (5-HT) on the major output neurons of the prefrontal cortex in Gtf2ird1(-/-) mice and their wildtype (WT) siblings. Prefrontal 5-HT receptors are known to modulate anxiety-like behaviors, and the Gtf2ird1(-/-) mice have altered 5-HT metabolism in prefrontal cortex. Using whole cell recording from layer V neurons in acute brain slices of prefrontal cortex, we found that 5-HT elicited significantly larger inhibitory, outward currents in Gtf2ird1(-/-) mice than in WT controls. In both genotypes, these currents were resistant to action potential blockade with TTX and were suppressed by the selective 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist WAY-100635, suggesting that they are mediated directly by 5-HT(1A) receptors on the recorded neurons. Control experiments suggest a degree of layer and receptor specificity in this enhancement since 5-HT(1A) receptor-mediated responses in layer II/III pyramidal neurons were unchanged as were responses mediated by two other inhibitory receptors in layer V pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, we demonstrate GTF2IRD1 protein expression by neurons in layer V of the prefrontal cortex. Our finding that 5-HT(1A)-mediated responses are selectively enhanced in layer V pyramidal neurons of Gtf2ird1(-/-) mice gives insight into the cellular mechanisms that underlie reduced innate anxiety and increased sociability in these mice, and may be relevant to the low social anxiety and disinhibition in patients with WBS and their sensitivity to serotonergic medicines. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11689-010-9044-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Éliane Proulx
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Room 3358, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
| | - Edwin J. Young
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Lucy R. Osborne
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Evelyn K. Lambe
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Room 3358, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| |
Collapse
|