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Carrazana R, Espinoza F, Ávila A. Mechanistic perspective on the actions of vitamin a in autism spectrum disorder etiology. Neuroscience 2024; 554:72-82. [PMID: 39002756 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Vitamin A (VA) has many functions in the body, some of which are key for the development and functioning of the nervous system, while some others might indirectly influence neural function. Both hypovitaminosis and hypervitaminosis A can lead to clinical manifestations of concern for individuals and for general global health. Scientific evidence on the link between VA and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing, with some clinical studies and accumulating results obtained from basic research using cellular and animal models. Remarkably, it has been shown that VA deficiency can exacerbate autistic symptomatology. In turn, VA supplementation has been shown to be able to improve autistic symptomatology in selected groups of individuals with ASD. However, it is important to recognize that ASD is a highly heterogeneous condition. Therefore, it is important to clarify how and when VA supplementation can be of benefit for affected individuals. Here we delve into the relationship between VA and ASD, discussing clinical observations and mechanistic insights obtained from research on selected autistic syndromes and laboratory models to advance in defining how the VA signaling pathway can be exploited for treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Carrazana
- Neurodevelopmental Biology Unit, Biomedical Sciences Research Laboratory, Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Francisca Espinoza
- Neurodevelopmental Biology Unit, Biomedical Sciences Research Laboratory, Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Ariel Ávila
- Neurodevelopmental Biology Unit, Biomedical Sciences Research Laboratory, Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
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Kacimi FE, Didou L, Ed Day S, Azzaoui FZ, Ramchoun M, Berrougui H, Khalki H, Boulbaroud S. Gut microbiota, vitamin A deficiency and autism spectrum disorder: an interconnected trio - a systematic review. Nutr Neurosci 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39137920 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2024.2389498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence proves that children with autism have gastrointestinal problems. However, a significant difference in gut microbiota (GM) exists between autistic and non-autistic children. These changes in the GM may stem from several factors. Recently, researchers focused on nutritional factors, especially vitamin deficiency. Thus, our systematic review investigates the connections among autism, GM alterations, and vitamin A deficiency (VAD), by analyzing studies sourced from PubMed and Embase databases spanning from 2010 to 2022. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we meticulously selected 19 pertinent studies that established links between autism and GM changes or between autism and VAD. Our findings uniformly point to significant alterations in the GM of individuals with autism, indicating these changes as promising biomarkers for the disorder. Despite the consistent association of GM alterations with autism, our analysis revealed no notable differences in GM composition between individuals with autism and those experiencing VAD. This suggests that VAD, especially when encountered early in life, might play a role in the onset of autism. Furthermore, our review underscores a distinct correlation between reduced levels of retinoic acid in children with autism, a disparity that could relate to the severity of autism symptoms. The implications of our findings are twofold: they not only reinforce the significance of GM alterations as potential diagnostic markers but also spotlight the critical need for further research into nutritional interventions. Specifically, vitamin A supplementation emerges as a promising avenue for alleviating autism symptoms, warranting deeper investigation into its therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Ezzahra Kacimi
- Biotechnology and Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Unit, Multidisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
| | - Latifa Didou
- Unit of Neuroscience, Neuroimmunology and Behavior, Laboratory of Biology and Health, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
| | - Soumia Ed Day
- Unit of Neuroscience, Neuroimmunology and Behavior, Laboratory of Biology and Health, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
| | - Fatima Zahra Azzaoui
- Unit of Neuroscience, Neuroimmunology and Behavior, Laboratory of Biology and Health, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
| | - Mhamed Ramchoun
- Biotechnology and Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Unit, Multidisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
| | - Hicham Berrougui
- Biotechnology and Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Unit, Multidisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
| | - Hanane Khalki
- Biotechnology and Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Unit, Multidisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
| | - Samira Boulbaroud
- Biotechnology and Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Unit, Multidisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
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do Amaral CC, Nedel F, Ferrúa CP, Garcia TF, Corrêa GP, Giorgi R, Longoni dos Santos A, de Assis AM, de Avila Quevedo L, Ghisleni GC, de Matos MB, Pinheiro KAT, Trettim JP, Pinheiro RT. Maternal hsa-miR-423-5p associated with the cognitive development of babies in pregnant women without mental disorders. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1322820. [PMID: 38487105 PMCID: PMC10937415 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1322820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs capable of regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally. MiRNAs are recognized as key regulators of diverse biological and developmental processes. During the pregnancy-puerperal cycle, numerous changes occur in the female body for the formation, growth, and development of the baby. After birth, there is a critical period in child development, as rapid gains in the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional domains constitute the "building blocks" of children's later growth. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the association between maternal expression of hsa-miR-423-5p during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and neurocognitive development at 90 days of life in infants. Methods: This is a longitudinal study included in a population-based cohort study, carried out in a city in southern Brazil. The Bayley III was used to assess the babies' cognitive development. Blood samples from mothers were obtained for RNA extraction from serum and analysis of miRNA expression by qRT-PCR. Results In total, 87 dyads (mother-baby) were included. The average gestational age was 15.86 weeks (SD ± 5.55). An association of maternal miRNA with infant cognitive development was found; as maternal miR-423-5p increases, infants' cognitive development increases by 2.40 (95% CI 0.37; 4.43, p = 0.021) points at 3 months of age. Conclusion In this context, it is suggested to use this miRNA as a biomarker of child neurocognitive development detectable in the prenatal period, thus allowing the planning of early interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cainá Corrêa do Amaral
- Post-Graduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Nedel
- Anatomy Department, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Camila Perelló Ferrúa
- Post-Graduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Tiago Fernandez Garcia
- Post-Graduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | | | - Roberta Giorgi
- Post-Graduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Mariana Bonati de Matos
- Post-Graduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
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Cui J, Zhai Z, Wang S, Song X, Qiu T, Yu L, Zhai Q, Zhang H. The role and impact of abnormal vitamin levels in autism spectrum disorders. Food Funct 2024; 15:1099-1115. [PMID: 38221882 DOI: 10.1039/d3fo03735e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder with a predominance of social behavioral disorders, has increased dramatically in various countries in recent decades. The interplay between genetic and environmental factors is believed to underlie ASD pathogenesis. Recent analyses have shown that abnormal vitamin levels in early life are associated with an increased risk of autism. As essential substances for growth and development, vitamins have been shown to have significant benefits for the nervous and immune systems. However, it is unknown whether certain vitamin types influence the emergence or manifestation of ASD symptoms. Several studies have focused on vitamin levels in children with autism, and neurotypical children have provided different insights into the types of vitamins and their intake. Here, we review the mechanisms and significance of several vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, and K) that are closely associated with the development of ASD in order to prevent, mitigate, and treat ASD. Efforts have been made to discover and develop new indicators for nutritional assessment of children with ASD to play a greater role in the early detection of ASD and therapeutic remission after diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Cui
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214002, China.
- Department of child health care, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's Hositipal of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214002, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China.
| | - Zidan Zhai
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214002, China.
- Department of child health care, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's Hositipal of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214002, China.
| | - Shumin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China.
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Xiaoyue Song
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University/Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
| | - Ting Qiu
- Department of child health care, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's Hositipal of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214002, China.
| | - Leilei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China.
| | - Qixiao Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China.
| | - Heng Zhang
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214002, China.
- Department of child health care, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Affiliated Women's Hositipal of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214002, China.
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University/Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
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5
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Huang W, Liu Z, Li Z, Meng S, Huang Y, Gao M, Zhong N, Zeng S, Wang L, Zhao W. Identification of Immune Infiltration and Iron Metabolism-Related Subgroups in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Mol Neurosci 2024; 74:12. [PMID: 38236354 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-023-02179-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with a broad spectrum of symptoms and prognoses. Effective therapy requires understanding this variability. ASD children's cognitive and immunological development may depend on iron homoeostasis. This study employs a machine learning model that focuses on iron metabolism hub genes to identify ASD subgroups and describe immune infiltration patterns. A total of 97 control and 148 ASD samples were obtained from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and an iron metabolism gene collection achieved the intersection of 25 genes. Unsupervised cluster analysis determined molecular subgroups in individuals with ASD based on 25 genes related to iron metabolism. We assessed gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, gene set variation analysis (GSVA), and immune infiltration analysis to compare iron metabolism subtype effects. We employed machine learning to identify subtype-predicting hub genes and utilized both training and validation sets to assess gene subtype prediction accuracy. ASD can be classified into two iron-metabolizing molecular clusters. Metabolic enrichment pathways differed between clusters. Immune infiltration showed that clusters differed immunologically. Cluster 2 had better immunological scores and more immune cells, indicating a stronger immune response. Machine learning screening identified SELENBP1 and CAND1 as important genes in ASD's iron metabolism signaling pathway. These genes express in the brain and have AUC values over 0.8, implying significant predictive power. The present study introduces iron metabolism signaling pathway indicators to predict ASD subtypes. ASD is linked to immune cell infiltration and iron metabolism disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Huang
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pedodontics, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510182, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenni Liu
- Department of Pedodontics, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510182, Guangdong, China
| | - Ziling Li
- Department of Pedodontics, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510182, Guangdong, China
| | - Si Meng
- Department of Pedodontics, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510182, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuhang Huang
- Department of Pedodontics, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510182, Guangdong, China
| | - Min Gao
- Department of Pedodontics, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510182, Guangdong, China
| | - Ning Zhong
- Department of Pedodontics, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510182, Guangdong, China
| | - Sujuan Zeng
- Department of Pedodontics, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510182, Guangdong, China
| | - Lijing Wang
- Department of Pedodontics, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou, 510182, Guangdong, China
| | - Wanghong Zhao
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
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6
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Wang X, Sun Z, Yang T, Lin F, Ye S, Yan J, Li T, Chen J. Sodium butyrate facilitates CRHR2 expression to alleviate HPA axis hyperactivity in autism-like rats induced by prenatal lipopolysaccharides through histone deacetylase inhibition. mSystems 2023; 8:e0041523. [PMID: 37358267 PMCID: PMC10469781 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00415-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs, especially butyric acid) have been demonstrated to play a promising role in the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Recently, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is also suggested to increase the risk of ASD. However, the mechanism underlying SCFAs and HPA axis in ASD development remains unknown. Here, we show that children with ASD exhibited lower SCFA concentrations and higher cortisol levels, which were recaptured in prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed rat model of ASD. These offspring also showed decreased SCFA-producing bacteria and histone acetylation activity as well as impaired corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) expression. Sodium butyrate (NaB), which can act as histone deacetylases inhibitors, significantly increased histone acetylation at the CRHR2 promoter in vitro and normalized the corticosterone as well as CRHR2 expression level in vivo. Behavioral assays indicated ameliorative effects of NaB on anxiety and social deficit in LPS-exposed offspring. Our results imply that NaB treatment can improve ASD-like symptoms via epigenetic regulation of the HPA axis in offspring; thus, it may provide new insight into the SCFA treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD. IMPORTANCE Growing evidence suggests that microbiota can affect brain function and behavior through the "microbiome-gut-brain'' axis, but its mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we show that both children with autism and LPS-exposed rat model of autism exhibited lower SCFA concentrations and overactivation of HPA axis. SCFA-producing bacteria, Lactobacillus, might be the key differential microbiota between the control and LPS-exposed offspring. Interestingly, NaB treatment contributed to the regulation of HPA axis (such as corticosterone as well as CRHR2) and improvement of anxiety and social deficit behaviors in LPS-exposed offspring. The potential underlying mechanism of the ameliorative effect of NaB may be mediated via increasing histone acetylation to the CRHR2 promoter. These results enhance our understanding of the relationship between the SCFAs and the HPA axis in the development of ASD. And gut microbiota-derived SCFAs may serve as a potential therapeutic agent to neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhujun Sun
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Ting Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Fang Lin
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Shasha Ye
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Junyan Yan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingyu Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
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7
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Chen L, Li J, Liu X, Zhao Z, Jin Y, Fu Y, Zhou A, Wang C, Zhou Y. Vitamin B6 Deficiency Induces Autism-Like Behaviors in Rats by Regulating mTOR-Mediated Autophagy in the Hippocampus. Behav Neurol 2023; 2023:6991826. [PMID: 37200987 PMCID: PMC10188270 DOI: 10.1155/2023/6991826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitamin B6 (VB6) exhibits therapeutic effects towards autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but its specific mechanism is poorly understood. Rat dams were treated with VB6 standard, VB6 deficiency, or VB6 supplementary diet, and the same treatment was provided to their offspring, with their body weights monitored. Three-chambered social test and open field test were employed to evaluate the effect of VB6 on autism-like behaviors. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) generation and synaptic inhibition of neurons in the hippocampus of rat were detected via immunofluorescence staining, followed by the measurement of GABA concentration through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The role of VB6 in the autophagy and apoptosis of cells was determined via Western blot and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). In order to conduct rescue experiments, the inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) or the activation of GABA was achieved by drug administration to the offspring rats with VB6 deficiency. As a result, no evident difference in weight was observed in the offspring with varied VB6 treatments. VB6 deficiency impaired social interaction; aggravated self-grooming and bowel frequency; decreased GABA concentration, VIAAT, GAD67, vGAT expressions, and LC3 II/LC3 I ratio; increased p62 level and p-mTOR/mTOR ratio; and promoted cell apoptosis. Inhibition of mTOR reversed the effect of VB6 deficiency on cell autophagy. GABA activation or mTOR inhibition offset the role of VB6 deficiency in autism-like behaviors and hippocampal GABA expression. Collectively, VB6 deficiency induces autism-like behaviors in rats by regulating mTOR-mediated autophagy in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Chen
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Li
- Children's Health Department, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinglian Liu
- Children's Health Department, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhao
- Children's Health Department, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Jin
- Children's Health Department, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Yikun Fu
- Children's Health Department, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Aiqin Zhou
- Children's Health Department, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengqun Wang
- Children's Health Department, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Mass Spectrometry Center, Wuhan KingMed Diagnostics Group Co., Ltd, Wuhan, China
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8
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Boktor JC, Adame MD, Rose DR, Schumann CM, Murray KD, Bauman MD, Careaga M, Mazmanian SK, Ashwood P, Needham BD. Global metabolic profiles in a non-human primate model of maternal immune activation: implications for neurodevelopmental disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:4959-4973. [PMID: 36028571 PMCID: PMC9772216 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01752-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence implicates severe maternal infections as risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ASD and schizophrenia. Accordingly, animal models mimicking infection during pregnancy, including the maternal immune activation (MIA) model, result in offspring with neurobiological, behavioral, and metabolic phenotypes relevant to human neurodevelopmental disorders. Most of these studies have been performed in rodents. We sought to better understand the molecular signatures characterizing the MIA model in an organism more closely related to humans, rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), by evaluating changes in global metabolic profiles in MIA-exposed offspring. Herein, we present the global metabolome in six peripheral tissues (plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, three regions of intestinal mucosa scrapings, and feces) from 13 MIA and 10 control offspring that were confirmed to display atypical neurodevelopment, elevated immune profiles, and neuropathology. Differences in lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism discriminated these MIA and control samples, with correlations of specific metabolites to behavior scores as well as to cytokine levels in plasma, intestinal, and brain tissues. We also observed modest changes in fecal and intestinal microbial profiles, and identify differential metabolomic profiles within males and females. These findings support a connection between maternal immune activation and the metabolism, microbiota, and behavioral traits of offspring, and may further the translational applications of the MIA model and the advancement of biomarkers for neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD or schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph C Boktor
- Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Mark D Adame
- Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Destanie R Rose
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Cynthia M Schumann
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Karl D Murray
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Melissa D Bauman
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Milo Careaga
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Sarkis K Mazmanian
- Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Paul Ashwood
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Brittany D Needham
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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9
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Guo X, Wang H, Xu J, Hua H. Impacts of vitamin A deficiency on biological rhythms: Insights from the literature. Front Nutr 2022; 9:886244. [PMID: 36466383 PMCID: PMC9718491 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.886244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Vitamin A is essential for brain function, in addition to its important roles in vision, immunity, and reproduction. Previous studies have shown that retinoic acid (RA), the bioactive form of vitamin A, is involved in the regulation of various intracellular responses related to biological rhythms. RA is reported to affect the circadian rhythm by binding to RA receptors, such as receptors in the circadian feedback loops in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus. However, evidence of the impacts of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) on biological rhythms is limited, and most of the related studies were conducted on animals. In this review, we described the physiological functions of biological rhythms and physiological pathways/molecular mechanisms regulating the biological rhythms. We then discussed the current understanding of the associations of VAD with biological rhythm disorders/diseases (sleep disorders, impairments in learning/memory, emotional disorders, and other immune or metabolism diseases) and summarized the currently proposed mechanisms (mainly by retinoid nuclear receptors and related proteins) for the associations. This review may help recognize the role of VAD in biological rhythm disorders and stimulate clinical or epidemiological studies to confirm the findings of related animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangrong Guo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Wang
- MOE-Shanghai Key Lab of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Hua
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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10
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李 莉, 张 倩, 刘 欢, 吴 琼, 杨 亭, 陈 洁, 李 廷. Involvement of retinoic acid receptor α in the autistic-like behavior of rats with vitamin A deficiency by regulating neurexin 1 in the visual cortex: a mechanism study. ZHONGGUO DANG DAI ER KE ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PEDIATRICS 2022; 24:928-935. [PMID: 36036133 PMCID: PMC9425865 DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2204016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study the mechanism of retinoic acid receptor α (RARα) signal change to regulate neurexin 1 (NRXN1) in the visual cortex and participate in the autistic-like behavior in rats with vitamin A deficiency (VAD). METHODS The models of vitamin A normal (VAN) and VAD pregnant rats were established, and some VAD maternal and offspring rats were given vitamin A supplement (VAS) in the early postnatal period. Behavioral tests were performed on 20 offspring rats in each group at the age of 6 weeks. The three-chamber test and the open-field test were used to observe social behavior and repetitive stereotyped behavior. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure the serum level of retinol in the offspring rats in each group. Electrophysiological experiments were used to measure the long-term potentiation (LTP) level of the visual cortex in the offspring rats. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the expression levels of RARα, NRXN1, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 (NMDAR1). Chromatin co-immunoprecipitation was used to measure the enrichment of RARα transcription factor in the promoter region of the NRXN1 gene. RESULTS The offspring rats in the VAD group had autistic-like behaviors such as impaired social interactions and repetitive stereotypical behaviors, and VAS started immediately after birth improved most of the behavioral deficits in offspring rats. The offspring rats in the VAD group had a significantly lower serum level of retinol than those in the VAN and VAS groups (P<0.05). Compared with the offspring rats in the VAN and VAS groups, the offspring rats in the VAD group had significant reductions in the mRNA and protein expression levels of NMDAR1, RARα, and NRXN1 and the LTP level of the visual cortex (P<0.05). The offspring rats in the VAD group had a significant reduction in the enrichment of RARα transcription factor in the promoter region of the NRXN1 gene in the visual cortex compared with those in the VAN and VAS groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS RARα affects the synaptic plasticity of the visual cortex in VAD rats by regulating NRXN1, thereby participating in the formation of autistic-like behaviors in VAD rats.
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Liu Z, Wang J, Xu Q, Wu Z, You L, Hong Q, Zhu J, Chi X. Vitamin A supplementation ameliorates prenatal valproic acid-induced autism-like behaviors in rats. Neurotoxicology 2022; 91:155-165. [PMID: 35594946 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social deficits and repetitive stereotyped behaviors. Prenatal exposure to the anticonvulsant drug valproic acid (VPA) is reported to induce ASD in human and ASD-like phenotypes in rodents. Unfortunately, the etiology and pathogenesis of ASD remains unclear. METHODS Pregnant rats received an intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg VPA on E12.5 to construct the ASD rat model in offspring. The different expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA profiles in the hippocampus were determined by RNA sequencing to investigate potential mechanisms of VPA-induced ASD. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis were performed to predict the function of dysregulated lncRNAs. Co-expression network and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis were conducted to validate the potential regulatory lncRNA-mRNA network. RESULTS VPA increased the total distance, time spent in the central zone and self-grooming (open field test) in rats. Meanwhile, VPA induced social impairment (three-chamber sociability test) and repetitive behaviors (marble burying test). A total of 238 lncRNAs and 354 mRNAs were differentially expressed in the VPA group. In addition, the dysregulated lncRNAs were involved in neural function and developmental processes of ASD. 5 lncRNAs and 7 mRNAs were differently expressed and included in the lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network. RT-PCR confirmed the upregulation of 4 lncRNAs and 6 mRNAs, and identified a potential regulatory network of NONRATT021475.2 (lncRNA) and Desert hedgehog (Dhh). Moreover, VPA decreased the serum vitamin A (VA) levels in offspring rats on postnatal day (PND) 21 and 49. Importantly, VA supplementation significantly restored VPA-induced autism-related behaviors and upregulation of NONRATT021475.2 and Dhh in the hippocampus of ASD rats. CONCLUSION This study not only contributed to understand the importance of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the progression of ASD, but also identified VA as a potential therapy for the condition. DATA AVAILABILITY The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author with reasonable request.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghui Liu
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Tianfei Alley, Mochou Road, Nanjing 210004, PR China; Institute of Pediatrics, Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210008, PR China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Tianfei Alley, Mochou Road, Nanjing 210004, PR China; Institute of Pediatrics, Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210008, PR China
| | - Qu Xu
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Tianfei Alley, Mochou Road, Nanjing 210004, PR China
| | - Zhenggang Wu
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Tianfei Alley, Mochou Road, Nanjing 210004, PR China
| | - Lianghui You
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Tianfei Alley, Mochou Road, Nanjing 210004, PR China
| | - Qin Hong
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Tianfei Alley, Mochou Road, Nanjing 210004, PR China
| | - Jiansheng Zhu
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Tianfei Alley, Mochou Road, Nanjing 210004, PR China.
| | - Xia Chi
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Tianfei Alley, Mochou Road, Nanjing 210004, PR China; Institute of Pediatrics, Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210008, PR China.
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Yang T, Chen L, Dai Y, Jia F, Hao Y, Li L, Zhang J, Wu L, Ke X, Yi M, Hong Q, Chen J, Fang S, Wang Y, Wang Q, Jin C, Chen J, Li T. Vitamin A Status Is More Commonly Associated With Symptoms and Neurodevelopment in Boys With Autism Spectrum Disorders-A Multicenter Study in China. Front Nutr 2022; 9:851980. [PMID: 35495950 PMCID: PMC9038535 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.851980] [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: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and show a striking male bias in prevalence. Vitamin A (VA) is essential for brain development, and abnormalities in its metabolite retinoic acid are associated with the pathophysiology of ASD. This national multicenter study was conducted to investigate the relationship between serum VA level and core symptoms in ASD children and whether there are still sex differences. Method A total of 1,300 children with ASD and 1,252 typically-developing (TD) controls aged 2-7 years old from 13 cities in China were enrolled in this study. The symptoms of children with ASD were evaluated by the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Childhood autism rating scale (CARS). The neurodevelopmental level of the children was evaluated with the revised Children Neuropsychological and Behavior Scale (CNBS-R2016). The serum level of VA was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results The serum VA level in children with ASD was significantly lower than that in TD children, especially in boys with ASD. Furthermore, VA levels in male children with ASD were lower than those in female children with ASD. In addition, we found that serum VA level was negatively correlated the SRS, CARS and communication warming behavior of CBNS-R2016 scores in boys with ASD. In terms of developmental quotients, serum VA level was positively associated with the general quotient, language quotient, gross motor quotient and personal-social quotient of boys with ASD, but no difference was found in girls with ASD. Conclusions ASD children, especially boys, have lower serum VA levels than TD children. Moreover, serum VA status is more commonly associated with clinical symptoms and neurodevelopment in boys with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Chen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Dai
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Feiyong Jia
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yan Hao
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Children Rehabilitation, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Haikou, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Children Health Care Center, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Lijie Wu
- Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ke
- Child Mental Health Research Center of Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingji Yi
- Department of Child Health Care, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qi Hong
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Baoan, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinjin Chen
- Department of Child Healthcare, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuanfeng Fang
- Children's Hospital Affiliated of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yichao Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defect for Research and Prevention, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Deyang Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Deyang, Sichuan, China
| | - Chunhua Jin
- Department of Children Health Care, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingyu Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
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13
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Dong HY, Feng JY, Li HH, Yue XJ, Jia FY. Non-parental caregivers, low maternal education, gastrointestinal problems and high blood lead level: predictors related to the severity of autism spectrum disorder in Northeast China. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22:11. [PMID: 34980074 PMCID: PMC8722278 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-021-03086-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased rapidly in recent years. Environmental factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ASD. These factors may include socioeconomic factors, nutritional factors, heavy metal exposure, air pollution, etc. Our aim is to analyze possible environmental factors associated with the severity of ASD. Methods All participating children were divided into two groups (mild and moderate/severe) according to the severity of their symptoms, as determined by their Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores. The socioeconomic, demographic factors and the nutritional factors that may affect the severity of ASD were included in the logistic regression to analyze whether they were predictors that affected the severity of ASD. Results Logistic regression showed that caregivers(P = 0.042), maternal education (P = 0.030), gastrointestinal problems (P = 0.041) and a high serum concentration of lead (P = 0.003) were statistically significantly associated with ASD severity. Conclusion Many environmental factors affect the severity of ASD. We concluded that non-parental caregivers, low maternal education, gastrointestinal problems and high blood lead level maybe predictors that affected the severity of ASD in northeast China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Yu Dong
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jun-Yan Feng
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Hong-Hua Li
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Yue
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Fei-Yong Jia
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China.
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Matsuo K, Shinoda Y, Abolhassani N, Nakabeppu Y, Fukunaga K. Transcriptome Analysis in Hippocampus of Rats Prenatally Exposed to Valproic Acid and Effects of Intranasal Treatment of Oxytocin. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:859198. [PMID: 35432011 PMCID: PMC9005872 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.859198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors and social impairments, often accompanied by learning disabilities. It has been documented that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) ameliorates core symptoms in patients with ASD. We recently reported that chronic administration of intranasal OXT reversed social and learning impairments in prenatally valproic acid (VPA)-exposed rats. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we explored molecular alterations in the hippocampus of rats and the effects of chronic administration of intranasal OXT (12 μg/kg/d). Microarray analyses revealed that prenatal VPA exposure altered gene expression, a part of which is suggested as a candidate in ASD and is involved in key features including memory, developmental processes, and epilepsy. OXT partly improved the expression of these genes, which were predicted to interact with those involved in social behaviors and hippocampal-dependent memory. Collectively, the present study documented molecular profiling in the hippocampus related to ASD and improvement by chronic treatment with OXT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Matsuo
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Shinoda
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Nona Abolhassani
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yusaku Nakabeppu
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kohji Fukunaga
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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Research Progress in Vitamin A and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Behav Neurol 2021; 2021:5417497. [PMID: 34917197 PMCID: PMC8670912 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5417497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder. Over the past few decades, many studies have investigated the effects of VA supplementation in ASD patients and the relationship between vitamin A (VA) levels and ASD. VA is an essential micronutrient that plays an important role in various systems and biological processes in the form of retinoic acid (RA). Recent studies have shown that serum VA concentration is negatively correlated with the severity of ASD. The lack of VA during pregnancy or early fetal development can affect brain development and lead to long-term or even permanent impairment in the learning process, memory formation, and cognitive function. In addition, VA deficiency has been reported to have a major impact on the gastrointestinal function of children with ASD, while VA supplementation has been shown to improve the symptoms of ASD to a certain extent. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the relationship between VA and ASD.
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Wang W, Tang J, Zhong M, Chen J, Li T, Dai Y. HIF-1 α may play a role in late pregnancy hypoxia-induced autism-like behaviors in offspring rats. Behav Brain Res 2021; 411:113373. [PMID: 34048873 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can be caused by various factors. The present study aimed to determine whether prenatal hypoxia can lead to ASD and the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in this process. We constructed a prenatal hypoxia model of pregnant rats by piping nitrogen and oxygen mixed gas, with an oxygen concentration of 10 ± 0.5 %, into the self-made hypoxia chamber. Rats were subjected to different extents of hypoxia treatments at different points during pregnancy. The results showed that hypoxia for 6 h on the 17th gestation day is most likely to lead to autistic behavior in offspring rats, including social deficits, repetitive behaviors, and impaired learning and memory. The mRNA expression level of TNF-α also increased in hypoxia-induced autism group and valproic acid (VPA) group. Western blotting analysis showed increased levels of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) and decreased levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in the hypoxic-induced autism group. Meanwhile, N-methyl d-aspartate receptor subtype 2 (NR2A) and glutamate ionotropic receptor AMPA type subunit 2 (GluR2) were upregulated in the hypoxic-induced autism group. HIF-1α might play a role in hypoxia-caused autism-like behavior and its regulatory effect is likely to be achieved by regulating synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyu Wang
- Department of Primary Child Health Care, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinghua Tang
- Department of Primary Child Health Care, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Min Zhong
- Department of Primary Child Health Care, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Primary Child Health Care, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingyu Li
- Department of Primary Child Health Care, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Dai
- Department of Primary Child Health Care, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China.
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Wang S, Liu H, Cheng B, Wu Q, Li L, Yang T, Hou N, Li T. Vitamin A supplementation ameliorates motor incoordination via modulating RORα in the cerebellum in a valproic acid-treated rat autism model with vitamin A deficiency. Neurotoxicology 2021; 85:90-98. [PMID: 33991534 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Motor dysfunctions are common comorbidities among autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients. Abnormal cerebellar development throughout critical periods may have an effect on motor functions and result in motor impairments. Vitamin A (VA) plays a crucial role in the developing process of the nervous system. The correlation of VA deficiency (VAD) and ASD with motor dysfunctions, however, is not clear. Therefore, we built rat models with different VA levels based on the valproic acid (VPA)-treated autism model. ASD rats with VAD showed aggravated motor coordination abnormalities, Purkinje cell loss and impaired dendritic arborization of Purkinje cells compared to ASD rats with normal VA levels (VA normal, VAN). Additionally, the expression levels of retinoid-related orphan receptor α (RORα) and retinoic acid receptor α (RARα) were lower in the cerebellum of ASD rats with VAD than in those of ASD rats with VAN. VA supplementation (VAS) effectively improved motor coordination and cerebellar Purkinje cell abnormalities in ASD rats with VAD. Furthermore, the results of chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays confirmed that the enrichment of RARα was detected on the RORα promoter in the cerebellum and that VAS could upregulate the binding capacity of RARα for RORα promoters. These results showed that VAD in autism might result in cerebellar impairments and be a factor aggravating a subtype of ASD with motor comorbidities. The therapeutic effect of VAS on motor deficits and Purkinje neuron impairments in autism might be due to the regulation of RORα by RARα.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Wang
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China
| | - Boli Cheng
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China
| | - Qionghui Wu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China
| | - Lisha Li
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China
| | - Ting Yang
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China
| | - Nali Hou
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China; Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Tingyu Li
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China.
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Baranova J, Dragunas G, Botellho MCS, Ayub ALP, Bueno-Alves R, Alencar RR, Papaiz DD, Sogayar MC, Ulrich H, Correa RG. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Signaling Pathways and Prospective Therapeutic Targets. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 41:619-649. [PMID: 32468442 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00882-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) consists of a prevalent and heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental diseases representing a severe burden to affected individuals and their caretakers. Despite substantial improvement towards understanding of ASD etiology and pathogenesis, as well as increased social awareness and more intensive research, no effective drugs have been successfully developed to resolve the main and most cumbersome ASD symptoms. Hence, finding better treatments, which may act as "disease-modifying" agents, and novel biomarkers for earlier ASD diagnosis and disease stage determination are needed. Diverse mutations of core components and consequent malfunctions of several cell signaling pathways have already been found in ASD by a series of experimental platforms, including genetic associations analyses and studies utilizing pre-clinical animal models and patient samples. These signaling cascades govern a broad range of neurological features such as neuronal development, neurotransmission, metabolism, and homeostasis, as well as immune regulation and inflammation. Here, we review the current knowledge on signaling pathways which are commonly disrupted in ASD and autism-related conditions. As such, we further propose ways to translate these findings into the development of genetic and biochemical clinical tests for early autism detection. Moreover, we highlight some putative druggable targets along these pathways, which, upon further research efforts, may evolve into novel therapeutic interventions for certain ASD conditions. Lastly, we also refer to the crosstalk among these major signaling cascades as well as their putative implications in therapeutics. Based on this collective information, we believe that a timely and accurate modulation of these prominent pathways may shape the neurodevelopment and neuro-immune regulation of homeostatic patterns and, hopefully, rescue some (if not all) ASD phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Baranova
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Dragunas
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1524, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Mayara C S Botellho
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ana Luisa P Ayub
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo 669, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Rebeca Bueno-Alves
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Rebeca R Alencar
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Debora D Papaiz
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo 669, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Mari C Sogayar
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
- Cell and Molecular Therapy Center, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Rua Pangaré 100 (Edifício NUCEL), Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05360-130, Brazil
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ricardo G Correa
- NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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Liu H, Tan M, Cheng B, Wang S, Xiao L, Zhu J, Wu Q, Lai X, Zhang Q, Chen J, Li T. Valproic Acid Induces Autism-Like Synaptic and Behavioral Deficits by Disrupting Histone Acetylation of Prefrontal Cortex ALDH1A1 in Rats. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:641284. [PMID: 33994921 PMCID: PMC8113628 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.641284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to investigate the impact of valproic acid (VPA) on the histone acetylation of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) and the mechanism underlying VPA-induced autism-like behavior. Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with VPA during gestation to establish an autism model in their offspring. Some offspring prenatally exposed to VPA were randomly treated with MS-275, one histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, or retinoic acid (RA) after birth. Behavioral tests were conducted on the offspring 6 weeks after birth. Electrophysiological experiments were performed to investigate long-term potentiation (LTP) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The expression levels of AMPA receptors (GluA1 and 2), NMDA receptors (GluN1 and 2), synapsin 1 (SYN1), HDAC, acetylated histone 3 (AcH3), RA receptor alpha (RARα), and ALDH1A1 in the PFC were measured by Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. ALDH enzyme activity in PFC tissue was detected using a Micro ALDH Assay Kit. The RA level in the PFC was measured using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. A chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiment explored the interaction between the ALDH1A1 gene and AcH3. Results Offspring prenatally exposed to VPA showed autism-like behavior, upregulated the levels of LTP and GluN2A, GluA1, and SYN1 proteins relevant to synaptic plasticity in the PFC. The expression levels of HDAC3 mRNA and protein were increased. On the other hand, there was a significant reduction in the levels of AcH3, RARα, RA, ALDH1A1 mRNA and protein, the level of ALDH activity and AcH3 enrichment in the ALDH1A1 promoter region in VPA-induced offspring. Administration of MS-275 in VPA offspring significantly elevated the levels of AcH3, ALDH1A1 mRNA and protein, ALDH activity, RA, the level of RARα protein and the binding of AcH3 to the ALDH1A1 promoter. In addition, the GluA1 protein level and LTP were reduced, and most behavioral deficits were reversed. After RA supplementation in the VPA-treated offspring, the RA and RARα protein levels were significantly upregulated, GluA1 protein and LTP were downregulated, and most autism-like behavioral deficits were effectively reversed. Conclusion These findings suggest that VPA impairs histoneacetylation of ALDH1A1 and downregulates the RA-RARα pathway. Such epigenetic modification of ALDH1A1 by VPA leads to autism-like synaptic and behavioral deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
| | - Mei Tan
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
| | - Boli Cheng
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
| | - Si Wang
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
| | - Lu Xiao
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiang Zhu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
| | - Qionghui Wu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
| | - Xi Lai
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingyu Li
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
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20
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Upadhyay J, Patra J, Tiwari N, Salankar N, Ansari MN, Ahmad W. Dysregulation of Multiple Signaling Neurodevelopmental Pathways during Embryogenesis: A Possible Cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cells 2021; 10:958. [PMID: 33924211 PMCID: PMC8074600 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the autistic brain and the involvement of genetic, non-genetic, and numerous signaling pathways in the etiology and pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is complex, as is evident from various studies. Apart from multiple developmental disorders of the brain, autistic subjects show a few characteristics like impairment in social communications related to repetitive, restricted, or stereotypical behavior, which suggests alterations in neuronal circuits caused by defects in various signaling pathways during embryogenesis. Most of the research studies on ASD subjects and genetic models revealed the involvement of mutated genes with alterations of numerous signaling pathways like Wnt, hedgehog, and Retinoic Acid (RA). Despite significant improvement in understanding the pathogenesis and etiology of ASD, there is an increasing awareness related to it as well as a need for more in-depth research because no effective therapy has been developed to address ASD symptoms. Therefore, identifying better therapeutic interventions like "novel drugs for ASD" and biomarkers for early detection and disease condition determination are required. This review article investigated various etiological factors as well as the signaling mechanisms and their alterations to understand ASD pathophysiology. It summarizes the mechanism of signaling pathways, their significance, and implications for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Upadhyay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Energy Acre Campus Bidholi, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India; (J.U.); (J.P.)
| | - Jeevan Patra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Energy Acre Campus Bidholi, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India; (J.U.); (J.P.)
| | - Nidhi Tiwari
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Delhi 110054, India;
| | - Nilima Salankar
- School of Computer Sciences, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Energy Acre Campus Bidholi, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India;
| | - Mohd Nazam Ansari
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wasim Ahmad
- Department of Pharmacy, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Dammam 34222, Saudi Arabia;
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21
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Rizk M, Saker Z, Harati H, Fares Y, Bahmad HF, Nabha S. Deciphering the roles of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder and related syndromes. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:2669-2686. [PMID: 33650079 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06237-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex and multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the presence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors besides deficits in social communication. Syndromic ASD is a subset of ASD caused by underlying genetic disorders, most commonly Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) and Rett Syndrome (RTT). Various mutations and consequent malfunctions in core signaling pathways have been identified in ASD, including glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3). A growing body of evidence suggests a key role of GSK3 dysregulation in the pathogenesis of ASD and its related disorders. Here, we provide a synopsis of the implication of GSK3 in ASD, FXS, and RTT as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Rizk
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Zahraa Saker
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hayat Harati
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Youssef Fares
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.,Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hisham F Bahmad
- Arkadi M. Rywlin M.D. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL, 33140, USA
| | - Sanaa Nabha
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
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22
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Carter CS, Kenkel WM, MacLean EL, Wilson SR, Perkeybile AM, Yee JR, Ferris CF, Nazarloo HP, Porges SW, Davis JM, Connelly JJ, Kingsbury MA. Is Oxytocin "Nature's Medicine"? Pharmacol Rev 2021; 72:829-861. [PMID: 32912963 PMCID: PMC7495339 DOI: 10.1124/pr.120.019398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a pleiotropic, peptide hormone with broad implications for general health, adaptation, development, reproduction, and social behavior. Endogenous oxytocin and stimulation of the oxytocin receptor support patterns of growth, resilience, and healing. Oxytocin can function as a stress-coping molecule, an anti-inflammatory, and an antioxidant, with protective effects especially in the face of adversity or trauma. Oxytocin influences the autonomic nervous system and the immune system. These properties of oxytocin may help explain the benefits of positive social experiences and have drawn attention to this molecule as a possible therapeutic in a host of disorders. However, as detailed here, the unique chemical properties of oxytocin, including active disulfide bonds, and its capacity to shift chemical forms and bind to other molecules make this molecule difficult to work with and to measure. The effects of oxytocin also are context-dependent, sexually dimorphic, and altered by experience. In part, this is because many of the actions of oxytocin rely on its capacity to interact with the more ancient peptide molecule, vasopressin, and the vasopressin receptors. In addition, oxytocin receptor(s) are epigenetically tuned by experience, especially in early life. Stimulation of G-protein–coupled receptors triggers subcellular cascades allowing these neuropeptides to have multiple functions. The adaptive properties of oxytocin make this ancient molecule of special importance to human evolution as well as modern medicine and health; these same characteristics also present challenges to the use of oxytocin-like molecules as drugs that are only now being recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - William M Kenkel
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Evan L MacLean
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Steven R Wilson
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Allison M Perkeybile
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Jason R Yee
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Craig F Ferris
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Hossein P Nazarloo
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Stephen W Porges
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - John M Davis
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Jessica J Connelly
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Marcy A Kingsbury
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
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Vitamin A deficiency increases the risk of gastrointestinal comorbidity and exacerbates core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder. Pediatr Res 2021; 89:211-216. [PMID: 32225174 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-0865-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and many individuals with ASD have gastrointestinal (GI) comorbidities. Vitamin A (VA) is an essential micronutrient that plays an important role in brain development and GI function. METHODS A total of 323 children with ASD and 180 control children were enrolled in this study. Symptoms of ASD were assessed with the Child Autism Rating Scale (CARS), the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). Caregivers of the children completed questionnaires about GI symptoms. Serum retinol levels were detected with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS Children with ASD and with GI comorbidity and constipation had considerably lower serum VA levels than autistic children without these symptoms. VA level was associated with CARS, SRS, and ABC scores, whereas GI symptoms were associated some SRS and ABC scores. The interaction of VAD and GI symptoms appeared to aggravate some of the core symptoms of children with ASD. CONCLUSIONS VAD exacerbates core symptoms in children with ASD, and ASD children with GI comorbidities also have more serious core symptoms than ASD children without GI comorbidities. VAD comorbid with GI symptoms aggravates autistic children's core symptoms. IMPACT VAD exacerbates core symptoms in children with ASD. ASD children with GI comorbidities have more serious core symptoms than ASD children without GI comorbidities. VAD comorbid with GI symptoms aggravates autistic children's core symptoms. We speculate that VAD might be related to a subtype of ASD that involves GI comorbidities. We believe that our findings will be of fundamental importance to the scientific community.
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Wang N, Zhao Y, Gao J. Association Between Peripheral Blood Levels of Vitamin A and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children: A Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:742937. [PMID: 34658977 PMCID: PMC8515042 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.742937] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin A is an essential fat-soluble micronutrient that plays important roles in a surprisingly wide variety of biological processes from early growth and development to brain maintenance. Numerous clinical studies have been conducted to explore the relationship between peripheral vitamin A levels and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the results of these studies are controversial. Therefore, we assessed the association between peripheral vitamin A levels and ASD in the present meta-analysis. Relevant records were retrieved through the Embase, Web of Knowledge and PubMed databases up to 13 November 2020. Reference lists were also searched and analyzed. Hedges' g with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the association between peripheral vitamin A levels and ASD. A fixed or random effects model was selected according to a heterogeneity test in overall and subgroup analyses. Five records (six studies) with 935 ASD children and 516 healthy children were included in the present study. Significantly decreased peripheral vitamin A concentrations were observed in ASD children compared with healthy children (Hedges' g = -0.600, 95% CI -1.153 to -0.048, P = 0.033). A similar result was also obtained after removing the studies identified by Galbraith plots. In addition, no obvious publication bias was found in the meta-analysis. The findings of our meta-analysis suggested decreased peripheral vitamin A levels in ASD children compared with healthy children. Further investigations into the effects of vitamin A on the development of ASD are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Wang
- Nursing Office of Beijing Road Medical District, General Hospital of Xinjiang Military Region, Wulumuqi, China
| | | | - Junwei Gao
- Department of Developmental Neuropsychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
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25
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A weekly vitamin A supplementary program alleviates social impairment in Chinese children with autism spectrum disorders and vitamin A deficiency. Eur J Clin Nutr 2020; 75:1118-1125. [PMID: 33328600 DOI: 10.1038/s41430-020-00827-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children in China with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are prone to vitamin A deficiency (VAD). The present study compared two vitamin A supplements (VAS) in two groups of children with ASD and VAD to explore a better VAS program for children with ASD. METHOD A total of 138 3-8-year-old children with ASD (118 males and 20 females) were enrolled in this 6-month study. Of these 138 children, 82 who had VAD (ASD-VAD) were divided into two VAS groups that received the recommended VAS program (RNI-VAS) or a weekly dose of VAS (WD-VAS). The 56 children who had normal vitamin A levels (ASD-VAN) served as a control group. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) was used to assess the severity of social impairment before and after the interventions. Their serum retinol (VA) and oxytocin (OXT) concentrations, the mRNA expression of retinoic acid receptors (RARs), and CD38 gene in peripheral blood was measured before and after the 6-month intervention. RESULTS The WD-VAS program increased VA levels better than the RNI-VAS program did (P < 0.01), and it significantly decreased SRS scores (P < 0.05). In addition, the change in VA was positively correlated with the change in mRNA levels in RARβ (r = 0.2441, P = 0.0092), the CD38 in PBMC (r = 0.2729, P = 0.0033), and the change in OXT concentration in serum (r = 0.3735, P < 0.0001). VA was also negatively correlated with changes in SRS scores across the three groups (r = -0.2615, P = 0.0026). CONCLUSION The WD-VAS might be more suitable for children with ASD and VAD than other interventions to improve both VA and social functioning, which may be mediated through the RARβ-CD38-OXT axis.
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Yao Q, Li Y. Study of decreased serum levels of retinol binding protein 4 in major depressive disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2020; 129:24-30. [PMID: 32559505 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies in western populations find that obesity and depression are positively correlated. Adipokines secreted by adipose tissue may serve as the crosstalk link between peripheral tissue and central nervous system, which mediates the relationship between obesity and depression. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) concentration in patients with major depressive depression (MDD) and clarify its possible association with depression. METHODS Major depressive disorder patients (n = 237), healthy controls (n = 48) were collected from June 2017 to October 2019. The measurement of RBP4 levels was performed by Advia 2400 automatic biochemistry analyzer. Depressive symptoms of patients were assessed using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24). RESULTS (1) Serum RBP4 levels of MDD patients were significantly lower than that of the control group [(34.25 ± 8.82) mg/L vs (37.56 ± 8.83) mg/L] (P < 0.05) which was independent from obesity; (2) The level of RBP4 [(31.13 ± 9.16) mg/L] in suicide attempt (SA) group was significantly lower than that in the control group and non-suicide attempt (non-SA) group [(35.55 ± 8.37)mg/L](P < 0.05); (3) There was no significant correlation between serum RBP4 concentration and HAMD-24 score (P > 0.05); serum RBP4 concentrations were positively associated with age, age of onset and duration of disease (r = 0.325, 0.298, 0.135; P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.038) in depressive patients. (4) The level of serum RBP4 was positively correlated with TC, TG, and LDL-C (r = 0.350, 0.207, 0.268; P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P < 0.001), but not with other blood lipid indexes. ROC curve of RBP4 for MDD revealed an area under the curve of 0.603 and a sensitivity of 81.3%, specificity of 80%. CONCLUSION The level of RBP4 in patients with MDD was lower than that in the normal control group, which might be related to the prognosis of patients with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, China.
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, China.
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Vitamin A deficiency exacerbates autism-like behaviors and abnormalities of the enteric nervous system in a valproic acid-induced rat model of autism. Neurotoxicology 2020; 79:184-190. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Anderson G, Betancort Medina SR. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Role of Pre- and Post-Natal GammaDelta (γδ) T Cells and Immune Regulation. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 25:4321-4330. [PMID: 31682211 DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666191102170125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is widely accepted that alterations in immune functioning are an important aspect of the pathoetiology and pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A relatively under-explored aspect of these alterations is the role of gammaDelta (γδ) T cells, prenatally and in the postnatal gut, which seem important hubs in driving the course of ASD. METHODS The present article describes the role of γδ T cells in ASD, including their interactions with other immune cells shown to be altered in this spectrum of conditions, including natural killer cells and mast cells. RESULTS Other risk factors in ASD, such as decreased vitamins A & D, as well as toxin-associated activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, may also be intimately linked to γδ T cells, and alterations in the regulation of these cells. A growing body of data has highlighted an important role for alterations in mitochondria functioning in the regulation of immune cells, including natural killer cells and mast cells. This is an area that requires investigation in γδ T cells and their putative subtypes. CONCLUSION It is also proposed that maternal stress may act through alterations in the maternal microbiome, leading to changes in how the balance of short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, which may act to regulate the placenta and foetal development. Following an overview of previous research on immune, especially γδ T cells, effects in ASD, the future research implications are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Anderson
- CRC Scotland & London, Eccleston Square, London, United Kingdom
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Maes M, Anderson G, Betancort Medina SR, Seo M, Ojala JO. Integrating Autism Spectrum Disorder Pathophysiology: Mitochondria, Vitamin A, CD38, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Melatonergic Alterations in the Placenta and Gut. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 25:4405-4420. [PMID: 31682209 DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666191102165459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A diverse array of data has been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), reflecting the complexity of its pathophysiology as well as its heterogeneity. Two important hubs have emerged, the placenta/prenatal period and the postnatal gut, with alterations in mitochondria functioning crucial in both. METHODS Factors acting to regulate mitochondria functioning in ASD across development are reviewed in this article. RESULTS Decreased vitamin A, and its retinoic acid metabolites, lead to a decrease in CD38 and associated changes that underpin a wide array of data on the biological underpinnings of ASD, including decreased oxytocin, with relevance both prenatally and in the gut. Decreased sirtuins, poly-ADP ribose polymerase-driven decreases in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), hyperserotonemia, decreased monoamine oxidase, alterations in 14-3-3 proteins, microRNA alterations, dysregulated aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity, suboptimal mitochondria functioning, and decreases in the melatonergic pathways are intimately linked to this. Many of the above processes may be modulating, or mediated by, alterations in mitochondria functioning. Other bodies of data associated with ASD may also be incorporated within these basic processes, including how ASD risk factors such as maternal obesity and preeclampsia, as well as more general prenatal stressors, modulate the likelihood of offspring ASD. CONCLUSION Such a mitochondria-focussed integrated model of the pathophysiology of ASD has important preventative and treatment implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Maes
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - George Anderson
- CRC Scotland & London, Eccleston Square, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Moonsang Seo
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Johanna O Ojala
- Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Anderson G. Integrating Pathophysiology in Migraine: Role of the Gut Microbiome and Melatonin. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 25:3550-3562. [PMID: 31538885 DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666190920114611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pathoetiology and pathophysiology of migraine are widely accepted as unknown. METHODS The current article reviews the wide array of data associated with the biological underpinnings of migraine and provides a framework that integrates previously disparate bodies of data. RESULTS The importance of alterations in stress- and pro-inflammatory cytokine- induced gut dysbiosis, especially butyrate production, are highlighted. This is linked to a decrease in the availability of melatonin, and a relative increase in the N-acetylserotonin/melatonin ratio, which has consequences for the heightened glutamatergic excitatory transmission in migraine. It is proposed that suboptimal mitochondria functioning and metabolic regulation drive alterations in astrocytes and satellite glial cells that underpin the vasoregulatory and nociceptive changes in migraine. CONCLUSION This provides a framework not only for classical migraine associated factors, such as calcitonin-gene related peptide and serotonin, but also for wider factors in the developmental pathoetiology of migraine. A number of future research and treatment implications arise, including the clinical utilization of sodium butyrate and melatonin in the management of migraine.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Anderson
- CRC Scotland & London, Eccleston Square, London, United Kingdom
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31
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Network Structure Analysis Identifying Key Genes of Autism and Its Mechanism. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2020; 2020:3753080. [PMID: 32273901 PMCID: PMC7125446 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3753080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the key genes of autism is of great significance for understanding its pathogenesis and improving the clinical level of medicine. In this paper, we use the structural parameters (average degree) of gene correlation networks to identify genes related to autism and study its pathogenesis. Based on the gene expression profiles of 82 autistic patients (the experimental group, E) and 64 healthy persons (the control group, C) in NCBI database, spearman correlation networks are established, and their average degrees under different thresholds are analyzed. It is found that average degrees of C and E are basically separable at the full thresholds. This indicates that there is a clear difference between the network structures of C and E, and it also suggests that this difference is related to the mechanism of disease. By annotating and enrichment analysis of the first 20 genes (MD-Gs) with significant difference in the average degree, we find that they are significantly related to gland development, cardiovascular development, and embryogenesis of nervous system, which support the results in Alter et al.'s original research. In addition, FIGF and CSF3 may play an important role in the mechanism of autism.
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Zhao M, Chen S, Yang ML, Li SY, Jiang W, Xiao N. Vitamin A regulates neural stem cell proliferation in rats after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage via RARɑ-mediated modulation of the β-catenin pathway. Neurosci Lett 2020; 727:134922. [PMID: 32205185 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.134922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Our previous experiments found that a suitable dose of vitamin A (VA) can affect neuronal apoptosis after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) by binding to RARα to activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway; however, the other neuroprotective effects of VA after HIBD, for example, whether it promotes neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation, remain unclear. In this study, in vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that VA regulates β-catenin signaling through RARɑ to affect NSC proliferation after HIBD and to improve neurocognitive outcomes. Because of the accumulation and suspended growth characteristics of NSCs, we performed in vitro experiments with PC12 cells to mimic NSCs. Flow cytometry, CCK8, EdU staining, immunofluorescence and behavioral tests were performed to explore the effects of retinoic acid (RA) on NSC proliferation and post-HIBD function. The expression of RARα and β-catenin pathway components were measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting. We found that the learning and memory of the VA-deficient (VAD) group was more seriously damaged than that of the VA normal (VAN) group. The proliferation of hippocampal NSCs was significantly decreased in the VAD group compared with the VAN group. The mRNA and protein expression of RARɑ, AKT, GSK-3β, β-catenin and Cyclin D1 were significantly lower in the VAD group than in the VAN group. In vitro, too high and too low of an RA intervention resulted in decreased proliferation, while an appropriate RA concentration (1-5 μmol/L) significantly promoted proliferation, S phase cells and high β-catenin pathway expression. These results suggested that VA can exert a neuroprotective effect by promoting the proliferation of hippocampal NSCs after neonatal HIBD injury at the appropriate concentration. VA activates RARɑ, which regulates the β-catenin signaling pathway, which in turn upregulates Cyclin D1 expression, promotes NSC proliferation, and finally plays a role in the neuroprotective effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhao
- Department of Children Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell Therapy, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Health and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuang Chen
- Wuhan Children's Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430016, Hubei, China
| | - Mao-Lin Yang
- Department of Children Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell Therapy, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Health and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Si-Yu Li
- Department of Children Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell Therapy, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Health and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Children Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell Therapy, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Health and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Nong Xiao
- Department of Children Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell Therapy, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Health and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Xie L, Zou L, Chen J, Liu Y. All-Trans Retinoic Acid Inhibits Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Commitment to Adipocytes via Upregulating FRA1 Signaling. Int J Endocrinol 2020; 2020:6525787. [PMID: 32089684 PMCID: PMC7013307 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6525787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity, caused by an increased number and volume of adipocytes, is a global epidemic that seriously threatens human health. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into adipocytes. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA, the active form of vitamin A) inhibits the adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs through its receptor RARG. The expression level of FRA1 (FOS like 1, AP-1 transcription factor subunit) in atRA-treated BMSCs increased, suggesting that atRA-mediated inhibition of BMSCs adipogenesis involves FRA1. BMSCs were transfected with adenovirus overexpressing Fra1 (ad-fra1) or silenced for Fra1 (si-fra1) and then treated with atRA. BMSCs treated with atRA and treated with ad-fra1 showed decreased mRNA and protein levels of key adipogenic genes (Pparg2, Cebpa) and adipogenesis-associated genes (Cd36, Fabp, Lpl, and Plin); atRA had a stronger inhibitory effect on adipogenesis compared with that in the ad-fra1 group. Adipogenic gene expression in Fra1-silenced BMSCs was significantly upregulated. Compared with that in the atRA group, the si-fra1 + atRA also upregulated adipogenic gene expression. However, compared with si-fra1, si-fra1 + atRA significantly inhibited adipogenic differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that RARG directly regulates Fra1 and FRA1 directly regulates Pparg2 and Cebpa. The results supported the conclusion that atRA inhibits BMSC adipogenesis partially through the RARG-FRA1-PPARG2 or the CEBPA axis or both. Thus, vitamin A might be used to treat obesity and its related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjun Xie
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Liying Zou
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Youxue Liu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorder, Chongqing, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
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Karhu E, Zukerman R, Eshraghi RS, Mittal J, Deth RC, Castejon AM, Trivedi M, Mittal R, Eshraghi AA. Nutritional interventions for autism spectrum disorder. Nutr Rev 2019; 78:515-531. [DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuz092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an increasingly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with considerable clinical heterogeneity. With no cure for the disorder, treatments commonly center around speech and behavioral therapies to improve the characteristic social, behavioral, and communicative symptoms of ASD. Gastrointestinal disturbances are commonly encountered comorbidities that are thought to be not only another symptom of ASD but to also play an active role in modulating the expression of social and behavioral symptoms. Therefore, nutritional interventions are used by a majority of those with ASD both with and without clinical supervision to alleviate gastrointestinal and behavioral symptoms. Despite a considerable interest in dietary interventions, no consensus exists regarding optimal nutritional therapy. Thus, patients and physicians are left to choose from a myriad of dietary protocols. This review, summarizes the state of the current clinical and experimental literature on nutritional interventions for ASD, including gluten-free and casein-free, ketogenic, and specific carbohydrate diets, as well as probiotics, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and dietary supplements (vitamins A, C, B6, and B12; magnesium and folate).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Karhu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ryan Zukerman
- Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Rebecca S Eshraghi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jeenu Mittal
- Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Richard C Deth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
| | - Ana M Castejon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
| | - Malav Trivedi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
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Higashida H, Hashii M, Tanaka Y, Matsukawa S, Higuchi Y, Gabata R, Tsubomoto M, Seishima N, Teramachi M, Kamijima T, Hattori T, Hori O, Tsuji C, Cherepanov SM, Shabalova AA, Gerasimenko M, Minami K, Yokoyama S, Munesue SI, Harashima A, Yamamoto Y, Salmina AB, Lopatina O. CD38, CD157, and RAGE as Molecular Determinants for Social Behavior. Cells 2019; 9:cells9010062. [PMID: 31881755 PMCID: PMC7016687 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies provide evidence to support that cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) and CD157 meaningfully act in the brain as neuroregulators. They primarily affect social behaviors. Social behaviors are impaired in Cd38 and Cd157 knockout mice. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the CD38 and CD157/BST1 genes are associated with multiple neurological and psychiatric conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia. In addition, both antigens are related to infectious and immunoregulational processes. The most important clues to demonstrate how these molecules play a role in the brain are oxytocin (OT) and the OT system. OT is axo-dendritically secreted into the brain from OT-containing neurons and causes activation of OT receptors mainly on hypothalamic neurons. Here, we overview the CD38/CD157-dependent OT release mechanism as the initiation step for social behavior. The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a newly identified molecule as an OT binding protein and serves as a transporter of OT to the brain, crossing over the blood–brain barrier, resulting in the regulation of brain OT levels. We point out new roles of CD38 and CD157 during neuronal development and aging in relation to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide+ levels in embryonic and adult nervous systems. Finally, we discuss how CD38, CD157, and RAGE are crucial for social recognition and behavior in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruhiro Higashida
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
- Laboratory of Social Brain Study, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia; (A.B.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-76-265-2455; Fax: +81-76-234-4213
| | - Minako Hashii
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Nanao Hospital, Nanao 926-0841, Japan
| | - Yukie Tanaka
- Molecular Biology and Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Fukui, Fukui 910-1193, Japan;
| | - Shigeru Matsukawa
- Life Science Research Laboratory, University of Fukui, Fukui 910-1193, Japan;
| | - Yoshihiro Higuchi
- Molecular Pharmacology, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka 513-0816, Japan;
| | - Ryosuke Gabata
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Makoto Tsubomoto
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Noriko Seishima
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Mitsuyo Teramachi
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Taiki Kamijima
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Tsuyoshi Hattori
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (T.H.); (O.H.)
| | - Osamu Hori
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (T.H.); (O.H.)
| | - Chiharu Tsuji
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Stanislav M. Cherepanov
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Anna A. Shabalova
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Maria Gerasimenko
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Kana Minami
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Shigeru Yokoyama
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
| | - Sei-ichi Munesue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (S.-i.M.); (A.H.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Ai Harashima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (S.-i.M.); (A.H.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Yasuhiko Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Vascular Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (S.-i.M.); (A.H.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Alla B. Salmina
- Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan; (M.H.); (R.G.); (M.T.); (N.S.); (M.T.); (T.K.); (C.T.); (S.M.C.); (A.A.S.); (M.G.); (K.M.); (S.Y.)
- Laboratory of Social Brain Study, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia; (A.B.S.)
| | - Olga Lopatina
- Laboratory of Social Brain Study, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia; (A.B.S.)
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Association of genes with phenotype in autism spectrum disorder. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:10742-10770. [PMID: 31744938 PMCID: PMC6914398 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a genetic heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by impairments in social interaction and speech development and is accompanied by stereotypical behaviors such as body rocking, hand flapping, spinning objects, sniffing and restricted behaviors. The considerable significance of the genetics associated with autism has led to the identification of many risk genes for ASD used for the probing of ASD specificity and shared cognitive features over the past few decades. Identification of ASD risk genes helps to unravel various genetic variants and signaling pathways which are involved in ASD. This review highlights the role of ASD risk genes in gene transcription and translation regulation processes, as well as neuronal activity modulation, synaptic plasticity, disrupted key biological signaling pathways, and the novel candidate genes that play a significant role in the pathophysiology of ASD. The current emphasis on autism spectrum disorders has generated new opportunities in the field of neuroscience, and further advancements in the identification of different biomarkers, risk genes, and genetic pathways can help in the early diagnosis and development of new clinical and pharmacological treatments for ASD.
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Gogou M, Kolios G. Nutritional Supplements During Gestation and Autism Spectrum Disorder: What Do We Really Know and How Far Have We Gone? J Am Coll Nutr 2019; 39:261-271. [PMID: 31318329 DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2019.1635920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Nutritional interventions are gaining remarkable attention as complementary management options for autism. Our aim is to provide literature data about the impact of the administration of dietary supplements during pregnancy on the risk of autism spectrum disorder in the offspring. A comprehensive search was undertaken by 2 reviewers independently using PubMed as the medical database source. Prospective clinical and experimental studies were considered and no year-of-publication restriction was placed. We were able to identify 4 basic (conducted in rodents) and 3 clinical research papers fulfilling our selection criteria. Supplements studied included folic acid, iron, multivitamins, choline, vitamin D, and docosahexaenoic acid. Choline and folic acid had a significant impact on the expression of autism-related genes. However, from a clinical point of view, prenatal folate administration did not reduce the risk of autism. Similarly, iron had no significant impact, while the use of multivitamins in moderate frequency had a protective effect. The use of vitamin D and docosahexaenoic acid during gestation decreased the incidence of autism in animal models. In conclusion, available data are controversial and cannot change current routine practice. More large-scale prospective studies are needed to identify the real effect of nutritional supplements and also optimize their administration.Key teaching pointsMultivitamins use during pregnancy can exert a protective effect on the risk of autism, although depending on the frequency of use. Nevertheless, prenatal iron and folate were not shown to have any significant impact.Research based on animal models showed that choline and folic acid can have a significant impact on the expression of autism-related genes in a sex-specific manner.Furthermore, the use of vitamin D and docosahexaenoic acid during gestation seem to decrease the incidence of autism in animal offspring.In the future, more clinical, large-scale prospective and methodologically homogenous clinical studies are needed to further investigate the effect of the periconceptional use of nutritional supplements on autism risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gogou
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University General Hospital AHEPA, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - George Kolios
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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Kumar S, Reynolds K, Ji Y, Gu R, Rai S, Zhou CJ. Impaired neurodevelopmental pathways in autism spectrum disorder: a review of signaling mechanisms and crosstalk. J Neurodev Disord 2019; 11:10. [PMID: 31202261 PMCID: PMC6571119 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-019-9268-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The development of an autistic brain is a highly complex process as evident from the involvement of various genetic and non-genetic factors in the etiology of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite being a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder, autistic patients display a few key characteristics, such as the impaired social interactions and elevated repetitive behaviors, suggesting the perturbation of specific neuronal circuits resulted from abnormal signaling pathways during brain development in ASD. A comprehensive review for autistic signaling mechanisms and interactions may provide a better understanding of ASD etiology and treatment. Main body Recent studies on genetic models and ASD patients with several different mutated genes revealed the dysregulation of several key signaling pathways, such as WNT, BMP, SHH, and retinoic acid (RA) signaling. Although no direct evidence of dysfunctional FGF or TGF-β signaling in ASD has been reported so far, a few examples of indirect evidence can be found. This review article summarizes how various genetic and non-genetic factors which have been reported contributing to ASD interact with WNT, BMP/TGF-β, SHH, FGF, and RA signaling pathways. The autism-associated gene ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A) has been reported to influence WNT, BMP, and RA signaling pathways, suggesting crosstalk between various signaling pathways during autistic brain development. Finally, the article comments on what further studies could be performed to gain deeper insights into the understanding of perturbed signaling pathways in the etiology of ASD. Conclusion The understanding of mechanisms behind various signaling pathways in the etiology of ASD may help to facilitate the identification of potential therapeutic targets and design of new treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Kurt Reynolds
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Yu Ji
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Ran Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Sunil Rai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Chengji J Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine of Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
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Guo M, Li L, Zhang Q, Chen L, Dai Y, Liu L, Feng J, Cai X, Cheng Q, Chen J, Wei H, Li T. Vitamin and mineral status of children with autism spectrum disorder in Hainan Province of China: associations with symptoms. Nutr Neurosci 2018; 23:803-810. [PMID: 30570388 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2018.1558762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective: This study was designed to compare the vitamin and mineral levels of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) with those of age-matched typically developing (TD) children and to investigate their effects on the symptoms of autistic children. Methods: The Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and Gesell Developmental Scale (GDS) were completed for 274 children diagnosed with ASD. Vitamins and minerals were compared for all ASD children and 97 age-matched TD children. Serum levels of vitamin A (VA) were detected with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); those of vitamin D (VD), folate, vitamin B12 (VB12), and ferritin were measured with immunoassay methods; and those of minerals were detected using atomic absorption spectrophotometry in two groups. Results: The VD and folate levels of children with ASD were significantly lower than those of TD children. The levels of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in children with ASD were significantly lower than those in TD children, and no significant difference was found in copper (Cu) levels. Correlation analysis showed that VA and Ca levels were negatively correlated with ASD symptoms. Folate, Ca, Fe and Zn were positively correlated with the GDS scores of autistic children. There were no significant interactions among VD, VB12 and ferritin and symptoms. Conclusion: We found that children with autism had more vitamin and mineral insufficiencies than TD children, and their levels were related to ASD symptoms. Therefore, it is essential to formulate a detailed nutritional evaluation for ASD children and provide timely and intensive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Guo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Li
- Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Hainan Province, Haikou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Dai
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Liyan Liu
- Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Hainan Province, Haikou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianqing Feng
- Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Hainan Province, Haikou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofan Cai
- Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Hainan Province, Haikou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Cheng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua Wei
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingyu Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Nutrition and Health, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
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