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Ribeiro S, Sherrard RM. Cerebellum and neurodevelopmental disorders: RORα is a unifying force. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1108339. [PMID: 37066074 PMCID: PMC10098020 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1108339] [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: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Errors of cerebellar development are increasingly acknowledged as risk factors for neuro-developmental disorders (NDDs), such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and schizophrenia. Evidence has been assembled from cerebellar abnormalities in autistic patients, as well as a range of genetic mutations identified in human patients that affect the cerebellar circuit, particularly Purkinje cells, and are associated with deficits of motor function, learning and social behavior; traits that are commonly associated with autism and schizophrenia. However, NDDs, such as ASD and schizophrenia, also include systemic abnormalities, e.g., chronic inflammation, abnormal circadian rhythms etc., which cannot be explained by lesions that only affect the cerebellum. Here we bring together phenotypic, circuit and structural evidence supporting the contribution of cerebellar dysfunction in NDDs and propose that the transcription factor Retinoid-related Orphan Receptor alpha (RORα) provides the missing link underlying both cerebellar and systemic abnormalities observed in NDDs. We present the role of RORα in cerebellar development and how the abnormalities that occur due to RORα deficiency could explain NDD symptoms. We then focus on how RORα is linked to NDDs, particularly ASD and schizophrenia, and how its diverse extra-cerebral actions can explain the systemic components of these diseases. Finally, we discuss how RORα-deficiency is likely a driving force for NDDs through its induction of cerebellar developmental defects, which in turn affect downstream targets, and its regulation of extracerebral systems, such as inflammation, circadian rhythms, and sexual dimorphism.
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2
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Kim E, Yoo SH, Chen Z. Circadian stabilization loop: the regulatory hub and therapeutic target promoting circadian resilience and physiological health. F1000Res 2022; 11:1236. [PMID: 36415204 PMCID: PMC9652504 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.126364.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The circadian clock is a fundamental biological mechanism that orchestrates essential cellular and physiological processes to optimize fitness and health. The basic functional unit is the cell-autonomous oscillator, consisting of intersecting negative feedback loops. Whereas the core loop is primarily responsible for rhythm generation, auxiliary loops, most notably the secondary or stabilization loop, play pivotal roles to confer temporal precision and molecular robustness. The stabilization loop contains opposing nuclear receptor subfamilies REV-ERBs and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptors (RORs), competing to modulate rhythmic expression of the basic helix-loop-helix ARNT like 1 ( Bmal1) genes in the core loop as well as other clock-controlled genes. Therefore, REV-ERBs and RORs are strategically located to interface the oscillator and the global transcriptomic network, promoting cellular homeostasis and physiological fitness throughout lifespan. Disruption of REV-ERB and ROR functions has been linked with diseases and aging, and pharmacological manipulation of these factors has shown promise in various mouse disease models. Nobiletin is a natural compound that directly binds to and activates RORα/γ, modulating circadian rhythms, and shows robust in vivo efficacies to combat clock-associated pathophysiologies and age-related decline. Results from several studies demonstrate an inverse relation between nobiletin efficacy and clock functional state, where nobiletin elicits little effect in young and healthy mice with growing efficacy as the clock is perturbed by environmental and genetic challenges. This mode of action is consistent with the function of the stabilization loop to promote circadian and physiological resilience. Future studies should further investigate the function and mechanism of REV-ERBs and RORs, and test strategies targeting these factors against disease and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunju Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Seung-Hee Yoo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, 77030, USA,
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3
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Kim E, Yoo SH, Chen Z. Circadian stabilization loop: the regulatory hub and therapeutic target promoting circadian resilience and physiological health. F1000Res 2022; 11:1236. [PMID: 36415204 PMCID: PMC9652504.2 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.126364.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The circadian clock is a fundamental biological mechanism that orchestrates essential cellular and physiological processes to optimize fitness and health. The basic functional unit is the cell-autonomous oscillator, consisting of intersecting negative feedback loops. Whereas the core loop is primarily responsible for rhythm generation, auxiliary loops, most notably the secondary or stabilization loop, play pivotal roles to confer temporal precision and molecular robustness. The stabilization loop contains opposing nuclear receptor subfamilies REV-ERBs and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptors (RORs), competing to modulate rhythmic expression of the basic helix-loop-helix ARNT like 1 ( Bmal1) genes in the core loop as well as other clock-controlled genes. Therefore, REV-ERBs and RORs are strategically located to interface the oscillator and the global transcriptomic network, promoting cellular homeostasis and physiological fitness throughout lifespan. Disruption of REV-ERB and ROR functions has been linked with diseases and aging, and pharmacological manipulation of these factors has shown promise in various mouse disease models. Nobiletin is a natural compound that directly binds to and activates RORα/γ, modulating circadian rhythms, and shows robust in vivo efficacies to combat clock-associated pathophysiologies and age-related decline. Results from several studies demonstrate an inverse relation between nobiletin efficacy and clock functional state, where nobiletin elicits little effect in young and healthy mice with growing efficacy as the clock is perturbed by environmental and genetic challenges. This mode of action is consistent with the function of the stabilization loop to promote circadian and physiological resilience. Future studies should further investigate the function and mechanism of REV-ERBs and RORs, and test strategies targeting these factors against disease and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunju Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Seung-Hee Yoo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, 77030, USA,
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4
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Blando S, Raffaele I, Chiricosta L, Valeri A, Gugliandolo A, Silvestro S, Pollastro F, Mazzon E. Cannabidiol Promotes Neuronal Differentiation Using Akt and Erk Pathways Triggered by Cb1 Signaling. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175644. [PMID: 36080415 PMCID: PMC9457834 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the scientific community has started to focus on the neurogenic potential of cannabinoids. The phytocompound cannabidiol (CBD) shows different mechanism of signaling on cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), depending on its concentration. In this study, we investigated if CBD may induce in vitro neuronal differentiation after treatment at 5 µM and 10 µM. For this purpose, we decided to use the spinal cord × neuroblastoma hybrid cell line (NSC-34) because of its proliferative and undifferentiated state. The messenger RNAs (mRNAs) expression profiles were tested using high-throughput sequencing technology and Western blot assay was used to determine the number of main proteins in different pathways. Interestingly, the treatment shows different genes associated with neurodifferentiation statistically significant, such as Rbfox3, Tubb3, Pax6 and Eno2. The CB1 signaling pathway is responsible for neuronal differentiation at 10 µM, as suggested by the presence of p-ERK and p-AKT, but not at 5 µM. A new correlation between CBD, neurodifferentiation and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptors (RORs) has been observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santino Blando
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy,
| | - Ivana Raffaele
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy,
| | - Luigi Chiricosta
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy,
| | - Andrea Valeri
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy,
| | - Agnese Gugliandolo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy,
| | - Serena Silvestro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy,
| | - Federica Pollastro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Largo Donegani 2, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Emanuela Mazzon
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy,
- Correspondence:
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5
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Lee JM, Kim H, Baek SH. Unraveling the physiological roles of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor α. Exp Mol Med 2021; 53:1278-1286. [PMID: 34588606 PMCID: PMC8492739 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-021-00679-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-α (RORα) is a member of the orphan nuclear receptor family and functions as a transcriptional activator in response to circadian changes. Circadian rhythms are complex cellular mechanisms regulating diverse metabolic, inflammatory, and tumorigenic gene expression pathways that govern cyclic cellular physiology. Disruption of circadian regulators, including RORα, plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and facilitates the development of inflammatory hallmarks. Although RORα contributes to overall fitness among anticancer, anti-inflammatory, lipid homeostasis, and circadian clock mechanisms, the molecular mechanisms underlying the mode of transcriptional regulation by RORα remain unclear. Nonetheless, RORα has important implications for pharmacological prevention of cancer, inflammation, and metabolic diseases, and understanding context-dependent RORα regulation will provide an innovative approach for unraveling the functional link between cancer metabolism and rhythm changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Min Lee
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunkyung Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea. .,BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sung Hee Baek
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Epigenetic Code and Diseases, Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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Vitalis T, Dauphinot L, Gressens P, Potier MC, Mariani J, Gaspar P. RORα Coordinates Thalamic and Cortical Maturation to Instruct Barrel Cortex Development. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:3994-4007. [PMID: 29040410 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The retinoic acid-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα) is well-known for its role in cerebellar development and maturation as revealed in staggerer mice. However, its potential involvement in the development of other brain regions has hardly been assessed. Here, we describe a new role of RORα in the development of primary somatosensory maps. Staggerer mice showed a complete disruption of barrels in the somatosensory cortex and of barreloids in the thalamus. This phenotype results from a severe reduction of thalamocortical axon (TCA) branching and a defective maturation of layer IV cortical neurons during postnatal development. Conditional deletion of RORα was conducted in the thalamus or the cortex to determine the specific contribution of RORα in each of these structures to these phenotypes. This showed that RORα is cell-autonomously required in the thalamus for the organization of TCAs into periphery-related clusters and in the somatosensory cortex for the dendritic maturation of layer IV neurons. Microarray analyses revealed that Sema7a, Neph, and Adcy8 are RORα regulated genes that could be implicated in TCA and cortical maturation. Overall, our study outlines a new role of RORα for the coordinated maturation of the somatosensory thalamus and cortex during the assembly of columnar barrel structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Vitalis
- PROTECT, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Luce Dauphinot
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 7225, INSERM U1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Gressens
- PROTECT, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Claude Potier
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 7225, INSERM U1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Paris, France
| | - Jean Mariani
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 8256, Institut de Biologie de Paris Seine (IBPS), Biological adaptation and ageing (B2A), Team Brain Development, Repair and Ageing, Paris, France
- APHP, DHU FAST, Institut de la Longévité, Ivry-Sur-Seine, France
| | - Patricia Gaspar
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR-S839, Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
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7
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Canet-Pons J, Schubert R, Duecker RP, Schrewe R, Wölke S, Kieslich M, Schnölzer M, Chiocchetti A, Auburger G, Zielen S, Warnken U. Ataxia telangiectasia alters the ApoB and reelin pathway. Neurogenetics 2018; 19:237-255. [DOI: 10.1007/s10048-018-0557-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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8
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Balzano T, Forteza J, Borreda I, Molina P, Giner J, Leone P, Urios A, Montoliu C, Felipo V. Histological Features of Cerebellar Neuropathology in Patients With Alcoholic and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2018; 77:837-845. [DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nly061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tiziano Balzano
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe de Valencia, Spain
| | - Jerónimo Forteza
- Instituto Valenciano de Patología, Unidad Mixta de Patología Molecular. Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe/Universidad Católica, Valencia, Spain
| | - Irene Borreda
- Instituto Valenciano de Patología, Unidad Mixta de Patología Molecular. Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe/Universidad Católica, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pilar Molina
- Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses, Valencia, Spain
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Giner
- Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paola Leone
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe de Valencia, Spain
| | - Amparo Urios
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe de Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmina Montoliu
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Vicente Felipo
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe de Valencia, Spain
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9
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Cook DN, Kang HS, Jetten AM. Retinoic Acid-Related Orphan Receptors (RORs): Regulatory Functions in Immunity, Development, Circadian Rhythm, and Metabolism. NUCLEAR RECEPTOR RESEARCH 2015; 2. [PMID: 26878025 PMCID: PMC4750502 DOI: 10.11131/2015/101185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In this overview, we provide an update on recent progress made in understanding the mechanisms of action, physiological functions, and roles in disease of retinoic acid related orphan receptors (RORs). We are particularly focusing on their roles in the regulation of adaptive and innate immunity, brain function, retinal development, cancer, glucose and lipid metabolism, circadian rhythm, metabolic and inflammatory diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. We also summarize the current status of ROR agonists and inverse agonists, including their regulation of ROR activity and their therapeutic potential for management of various diseases in which RORs have been implicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald N Cook
- Immunogenetics Section, Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Hong Soon Kang
- Cell Biology Section, Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Anton M Jetten
- Cell Biology Section, Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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Hu VW, Sarachana T, Sherrard RM, Kocher KM. Investigation of sex differences in the expression of RORA and its transcriptional targets in the brain as a potential contributor to the sex bias in autism. Mol Autism 2015; 6:7. [PMID: 26056561 PMCID: PMC4459681 DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-6-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by significant impairment in reciprocal social interactions and communication coupled with stereotyped, repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. Although genomic and functional studies are beginning to reveal some of the genetic complexity and underlying pathobiology of ASD, the consistently reported male bias of ASD remains an enigma. We have recently proposed that retinoic acid-related orphan receptor alpha (RORA), which is reduced in the brain and lymphoblastoid cell lines of multiple cohorts of individuals with ASD and oppositely regulated by male and female hormones, might contribute to the sex bias in autism by differentially regulating target genes, including CYP19A1 (aromatase), in a sex-dependent manner that can also lead to elevated testosterone levels, a proposed risk factor for autism. Methods In this study, we examine sex differences in RORA and aromatase protein levels in cortical tissues of unaffected and affected males and females by re-analyzing pre-existing confocal immunofluorescence data from our laboratory. We further investigated the expression of RORA and its correlation with several of its validated transcriptional targets in the orbital frontal cortex and cerebellum as a function of development using RNAseq data from the BrainSpan Atlas of the Developing Human Brain. In a pilot study, we also analyzed the expression of Rora and the same transcriptional targets in the cortex and cerebellum of adult wild-type male and female C57BL/6 mice. Results Our findings suggest that Rora/RORA and several of its transcriptional targets may exhibit sexually dimorphic expression in certain regions of the brain of both mice and humans. Interestingly, the correlation coefficients between Rora expression and that of its targets are much higher in the cortex of male mice relative to that of female mice. A strong positive correlation between the levels of RORA and aromatase proteins is also seen in the cortex of control human males and females as well as ASD males, but not ASD females. Conclusions Based on these studies, we suggest that disruption of Rora/RORA expression may have a greater impact on males, since sex differences in the correlation of RORA and target gene expression indicate that RORA-deficient males may experience greater dysregulation of genes relevant to ASD in certain brain regions during development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2040-2392-6-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie W Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA
| | - Tewarit Sarachana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA ; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rachel M Sherrard
- Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 & CNRS, UMR 8256 Biological Adaptation and Ageing, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Kristen M Kocher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA
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11
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Munetomo A, Hojo Y, Higo S, Kato A, Yoshida K, Shirasawa T, Shimizu T, Barron A, Kimoto T, Kawato S. Aging-induced changes in sex-steroidogenic enzymes and sex-steroid receptors in the cortex, hypothalamus and cerebellum. J Physiol Sci 2015; 65:253-63. [PMID: 25715777 PMCID: PMC10717965 DOI: 10.1007/s12576-015-0363-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We investigated age-induced changes in mRNA expression profiles of sex-steroidogenic enzymes and sex-steroid receptors in 3-, 12-, and 24-month-old male rat brain subregions [cerebral cortex (CC), hypothalamus (Hy) and cerebellum (CL)]. In many cases, the expression levels of mRNA decreased with age for androgen synthesis enzyme systems, including Cyp17a1, Hsd17b and Srd5a in the CC and CL, but not in the Hy. Estradiol synthase Cyp19a1 did not show age-induced decline in the Hy, and nearly no expression of Cyp19a1 was observed in the CC and CL over 3-24 m. Androgen receptor Ar increased in the Hy but decreased in the CC with age. Estrogen receptor Esr1 increased in the CC and Hy, and did not change in the CL with age. Esr2 did not change in the CC and Hy, but decreased in the CL with age. As a comparison, age-induced changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA were also investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arisa Munetomo
- Department of Biophysics and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Univ. Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153 Japan
| | - Yasushi Hojo
- Department of Biophysics and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Univ. Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153 Japan
| | - Shimpei Higo
- Department of Biophysics and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Univ. Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153 Japan
| | - Asami Kato
- Department of Biophysics and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Univ. Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153 Japan
| | - Kotaro Yoshida
- Department of Biophysics and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Univ. Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153 Japan
| | - Takuji Shirasawa
- Department of Aging Control Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
| | - Takahiko Shimizu
- Molecular Gerontogy, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Itabashi-Ku, Tokyo, 173-0015 Japan
- Department of Advanced Aging Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670 Japan
| | - Anna Barron
- Department of Biophysics and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Univ. Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153 Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kimoto
- Department of Biophysics and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Univ. Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153 Japan
| | - Suguru Kawato
- Department of Biophysics and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Univ. Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153 Japan
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12
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Cook DN, Kang HS, Jetten AM. Retinoic Acid-Related Orphan Receptors (RORs): Regulatory Functions in Immunity, Development, Circadian Rhythm, and Metabolism. NUCLEAR RECEPTOR RESEARCH 2015. [PMID: 26878025 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.3121.chip-nexus] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In this overview, we provide an update on recent progress made in understanding the mechanisms of action, physiological functions, and roles in disease of retinoic acid related orphan receptors (RORs). We are particularly focusing on their roles in the regulation of adaptive and innate immunity, brain function, retinal development, cancer, glucose and lipid metabolism, circadian rhythm, metabolic and inflammatory diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. We also summarize the current status of ROR agonists and inverse agonists, including their regulation of ROR activity and their therapeutic potential for management of various diseases in which RORs have been implicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald N Cook
- Immunogenetics Section, Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Hong Soon Kang
- Cell Biology Section, Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Anton M Jetten
- Cell Biology Section, Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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13
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Sarachana T, Hu VW. Differential recruitment of coregulators to the RORA promoter adds another layer of complexity to gene (dys) regulation by sex hormones in autism. Mol Autism 2013; 4:39. [PMID: 24119295 PMCID: PMC4016566 DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-4-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our independent cohort studies have consistently shown the reduction of the nuclear receptor RORA (retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-alpha) in lymphoblasts as well as in brain tissues from individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Moreover, we have found that RORA regulates the gene for aromatase, which converts androgen to estrogen, and that male and female hormones regulate RORA in opposite directions, with androgen suppressing RORA, suggesting that the sexually dimorphic regulation of RORA may contribute to the male bias in ASD. However, the molecular mechanisms through which androgen and estrogen differentially regulate RORA are still unknown. METHODS Here we use functional knockdown of hormone receptors and coregulators with small interfering RNA (siRNA) to investigate their involvement in sex hormone regulation of RORA in human neuronal cells. Luciferase assays using a vector containing various RORA promoter constructs were first performed to identify the promoter regions required for inverse regulation of RORA by male and female hormones. Sequential chromatin immunoprecipitation methods followed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses of RORA expression in hormone-treated SH-SY5Y cells were then utilized to identify coregulators that associate with hormone receptors on the RORA promoter. siRNA-mediated knockdown of interacting coregulators was performed followed by qRT-PCR analyses to confirm the functional requirement of each coregulator in hormone-regulated RORA expression. RESULTS Our studies demonstrate the direct involvement of androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER) in the regulation of RORA by male and female hormones, respectively, and that the promoter region between -10055 bp and -2344 bp from the transcription start site of RORA is required for the inverse hormonal regulation. We further show that AR interacts with SUMO1, a reported suppressor of AR transcriptional activity, whereas ERα interacts with the coactivator NCOA5 on the RORA promoter. siRNA-mediated knockdown of SUMO1 and NCOA5 attenuate the sex hormone effects on RORA expression. CONCLUSIONS AR and SUMO1 are involved in the suppression RORA expression by androgen, while ERα and NCOA5 collaborate in the up-regulation of RORA by estrogen. While this study offers a better understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in sex hormone regulation of RORA, it also reveals another layer of complexity with regard to gene regulation in ASD. Inasmuch as coregulators are capable of interacting with a multitude of transcription factors, aberrant expression of coregulator proteins, as we have seen previously in lymphoblasts from individuals with ASD, may contribute to the polygenic nature of gene dysregulation in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tewarit Sarachana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
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Mature Purkinje cells require the retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-α (RORα) to maintain climbing fiber mono-innervation and other adult characteristics. J Neurosci 2013; 33:9546-62. [PMID: 23719821 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2977-12.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal maturation during development is a multistep process regulated by transcription factors. The transcription factor RORα (retinoic acid-related orphan receptor α) is necessary for early Purkinje cell (PC) maturation but is also expressed throughout adulthood. To identify the role of RORα in mature PCs, we used Cre-lox mouse genetic tools in vivo that delete it specifically from PCs between postnatal days 10-21. Up to 14 d of age, differences between mutant and control PCs were not detectable: both were mono-innervated by climbing fibers (CFs) extending along their well-developed dendrites with spiny branchlets. By week 4, mutant mice were ataxic, some PCs had died, and remaining PC soma and dendrites were atrophic, with almost complete disappearance of spiny branchlets. The innervation pattern of surviving RORα-deleted PCs was abnormal with several immature characteristics. Notably, multiple functional CF innervation was reestablished on these mature PCs, simultaneously with the relocation of CF contacts to the PC soma and their stem dendrite. This morphological modification of CF contacts could be induced even later, using lentivirus-mediated depletion of rora from adult PCs. These data show that the late postnatal expression of RORα cell-autonomously regulates the maintenance of PC dendritic complexity, and the CF innervation status of the PC (dendritic vs somatic contacts, and mono-innervation vs multi-innervation). Thus, the differentiation state of adult neurons is under the control of transcription factors; and in their absence, adult neurons lose their mature characteristics and acquire some characteristics of an earlier developmental stage.
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Abstract
Neurons in mammals do not undergo replicative aging, and, in absence of pathologic conditions, their lifespan is limited only by the maximum lifespan of the organism. Whether neuronal lifespan is determined by the strain-specific lifetime or can be extended beyond this limit is unknown. Here, we transplanted embryonic mouse cerebellar precursors into the developing brain of the longer-living Wistar rats. The donor cells integrated into the rat cerebellum developing into mature neurons while retaining mouse-specific morphometric traits. In their new environment, the grafted mouse neurons did not die at or before the maximum lifespan of their strain of origin but survived as long as 36 mo, doubling the average lifespan of the donor mice. Thus, the lifespan of neurons is not limited by the maximum lifespan of the donor organism, but continues when transplanted in a longer-living host.
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Hu VW. Is retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-alpha (RORA) a target for gene-environment interactions contributing to autism? Neurotoxicology 2012; 33:1434-1435. [PMID: 22967355 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2012.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2012] [Accepted: 07/31/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
It is becoming increasingly clear that gene-environment interactions are risk factors for autism. However, there is limited information regarding the susceptibility of specific autism candidate genes to dysregulation by environmental factors, and even less information on the types of environmental agents that may lead to increased risk for autism. Based on our published studies, I propose that the demonstrated responsiveness of RORA to sex hormones makes it a prime target for disruption by endocrine disrupting compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie W Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2300 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
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