1
|
Dominguez-Alonso S, Carracedo A, Rodriguez-Fontenla C. The non-coding genome in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Eur J Med Genet 2023; 66:104752. [PMID: 37023975 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2023.104752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, repetitive behavior, and restricted interests. While ASD have been proven to have a strong genetic component, current research largely focuses on coding regions of the genome. However, non-coding DNA, which makes up for ∼99% of the human genome, has recently been recognized as an important contributor to the high heritability of ASD, and novel sequencing technologies have been a milestone in opening up new directions for the study of the gene regulatory networks embedded within the non-coding regions. Here, we summarize current progress on the contribution of non-coding alterations to the pathogenesis of ASD and provide an overview of existing methods allowing for the study of their functional relevance, discussing potential ways of unraveling ASD's "missing heritability".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Dominguez-Alonso
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - A Carracedo
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS), Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - C Rodriguez-Fontenla
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhuang W, Liu H, He Z, Ju J, Gao Q, Shan Z, Lei L. miR-92a-2-5p Regulates the Proliferation and Differentiation of ASD-Derived Neural Progenitor Cells. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:2431-2442. [PMID: 35735607 PMCID: PMC9222067 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44060166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders with abnormal behavior. However, the pathogenesis of ASD remains to be clarified. It has been demonstrated that miRNAs are essential regulators of ASD. However, it is still unclear how miR-92a-2-5p acts on the developing brain and the cell types directly. In this study, we used neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from ASD-hiPSCs as well as from neurotypical controls to examine the effects of miR-92a-2-5p on ASD-NPCs proliferation and neuronal differentiation, and whether miR-92a-2-5p could interact with genetic risk factor, DLG3 for ASD. We observed that miR-92a-2-5p upregulated in ASD-NPCs results in decreased proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Inhibition of miR-92a-2-5p could promote proliferation and neuronal differentiation of ASD-NPCs. DLG3 was negatively regulated by miR-92a-2-5p in NPCs. Our results suggest that miR-92a-2-5p is a strong risk factor for ASD and potentially contributes to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lei Lei
- Correspondence: (Z.S.); (L.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang J, Cao Y, Lu X, Wang T, Li S, Kong X, Bo C, Li J, Wang X, Ma H, Li L, Zhang H, Ning S, Wang L. MicroRNAs and nervous system diseases: network insights and computational challenges. Brief Bioinform 2021; 21:863-875. [PMID: 30953059 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbz032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The nervous system is one of the most complex biological systems, and nervous system disease (NSD) is a major cause of disability and mortality. Extensive evidence indicates that numerous dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in a broad spectrum of NSDs. A comprehensive review of miRNA-mediated regulatory will facilitate our understanding of miRNA dysregulation mechanisms in NSDs. In this work, we summarized currently available databases on miRNAs and NSDs, star NSD miRNAs, NSD spectrum width, miRNA spectrum width and the distribution of miRNAs in NSD sub-categories by reviewing approximately 1000 studies. In addition, we characterized miRNA-miRNA and NSD-NSD interactions from a network perspective based on miRNA-NSD benchmarking data sets. Furthermore, we summarized the regulatory principles of miRNAs in NSDs, including miRNA synergistic regulation in NSDs, miRNA modules and NSD modules. We also discussed computational challenges for identifying novel miRNAs in NSDs. Elucidating the roles of miRNAs in NSDs from a network perspective would not only improve our understanding of the precise mechanism underlying these complex diseases, but also provide novel insight into the development, diagnosis and treatment of NSDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianjian Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yuze Cao
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Lu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Tianfeng Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaotong Kong
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chunrui Bo
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Heping Ma
- Department of Physiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Huixue Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shangwei Ning
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Lihua Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Anashkina AA, Erlykina EI. Molecular Mechanisms of Aberrant Neuroplasticity in Autism Spectrum Disorders (Review). Sovrem Tekhnologii Med 2021; 13:78-91. [PMID: 34513070 PMCID: PMC8353687 DOI: 10.17691/stm2021.13.1.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This review presents the analysis and systematization of modern data on the molecular mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) development. Polyetiology and the multifactorial nature of ASD have been proved. The attempt has been made to jointly review and systematize current hypotheses of ASD pathogenesis at the molecular level from the standpoint of aberrant brain plasticity. The mechanism of glutamate excitotoxicity formation, the effect of imbalance of neuroactive amino acids and their derivatives, neurotransmitters, and hormones on the ASD formation have been considered in detail. The strengths and weaknesses of the proposed hypotheses have been analyzed from the standpoint of evidence-based medicine. The conclusion has been drawn on the leading role of glutamate excitotoxicity as a biochemical mechanism of aberrant neuroplasticity accompanied by oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. The mechanism of aberrant neuroplasticity has also been traced at the critical moments of the nervous system development taking into account the influence of various factors of the internal and external environment. New approaches to searching for ASD molecular markers have been considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A A Anashkina
- Senior Teacher, Department of Biochemistry named after G.Y. Gorodisskaya; Senior Researcher, Central Scientific Research Laboratory, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - E I Erlykina
- Professor, Head of the Department of Biochemistry named after G.Y. Gorodisskaya, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen S, Zhang K, Zhang B, Jiang M, Zhang X, Guo Y, Yu Y, Qin T, Li H, Chen Q, Cai Z, Luo S, Huang Y, Hu J, Mo W. Temporarily Epigenetic Repression in Bergmann Glia Regulates the Migration of Granule Cells. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2003164. [PMID: 34026436 PMCID: PMC8132163 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202003164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Forming tight interaction with both Purkinje and granule cells (GCs), Bergmann glia (BG) are essential for cerebellar morphogenesis and neuronal homeostasis. However, how BG act in this process is unclear without comprehensive transcriptome landscape of BG. Here, high temporal-resolution investigation of transcriptomes with FACS-sorted BG revealed the dynamic expression of genes within given functions and pathways enabled BG to assist neural migration and construct neuron-glia network. It is found that the peak time of GCs migration (P7-10) strikingly coincides with the downregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) related genes, and the disruption of which by Setdb1 ablation at P7-10 in BG leads to significant migration defect of GCs emphasizing the criticality of Nfix-Setdb1 mediated H3K9me3 repressive complex for the precise regulation of GCs migration in vivo. Thus, BG's transcriptomic landscapes offer an insight into the mechanism by which BG are in depth integrated in cerebellar neural network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaoxuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
- The Department of NeuroscienceSchool of MedicineXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Kunkun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
- The Department of NeuroscienceSchool of MedicineXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Boxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Mengyun Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of MedicineXiamen361102China
| | - Yi Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Yingying Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and MedicineXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Tianyu Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and MedicineXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Hongda Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Qiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Zhiyu Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Site Luo
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Coast and Wetland EcosystemsCollege of the Environment and EcologyXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Yi Huang
- Department of Clinical LaboratoryFujian Provincial HospitalFuzhou350001China
- Provincial Clinical CollegeFujian Medical UniversityFuzhou350001China
| | - Jin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| | - Wei Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress BiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of Life SciencesXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
- The Department of NeuroscienceSchool of MedicineXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and MedicineXiamen UniversityXiamen361102China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Segaran RC, Chan LY, Wang H, Sethi G, Tang FR. Neuronal Development-Related miRNAs as Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease, Depression, Schizophrenia and Ionizing Radiation Exposure. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:19-52. [PMID: 31965936 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200121122910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Radiation exposure may induce Alzheimer's disease (AD), depression or schizophrenia. A number of experimental and clinical studies suggest the involvement of miRNA in the development of these diseases, and also in the neuropathological changes after brain radiation exposure. The current literature review indicated the involvement of 65 miRNAs in neuronal development in the brain. In the brain tissue, blood, or cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), 11, 55, or 28 miRNAs are involved in the development of AD respectively, 89, 50, 19 miRNAs in depression, and 102, 35, 8 miRNAs in schizophrenia. We compared miRNAs regulating neuronal development to those involved in the genesis of AD, depression and schizophrenia and also those driving radiation-induced brain neuropathological changes by reviewing the available data. We found that 3, 11, or 8 neuronal developmentrelated miRNAs from the brain tissue, 13, 16 or 14 miRNAs from the blood of patient with AD, depression and schizophrenia respectively were also involved in radiation-induced brain pathological changes, suggesting a possibly specific involvement of these miRNAs in radiation-induced development of AD, depression and schizophrenia respectively. On the other hand, we noted that radiationinduced changes of two miRNAs, i.e., miR-132, miR-29 in the brain tissue, three miRNAs, i.e., miR- 29c-5p, miR-106b-5p, miR-34a-5p in the blood were also involved in the development of AD, depression and schizophrenia, thereby suggesting that these miRNAs may be involved in the common brain neuropathological changes, such as impairment of neurogenesis and reduced learning memory ability observed in these three diseases and also after radiation exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renu Chandra Segaran
- Radiation Physiology Lab, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, National University of Singapore, CREATE Tower, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Li Yun Chan
- Radiation Physiology Lab, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, National University of Singapore, CREATE Tower, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Hong Wang
- Radiation Physiology Lab, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, National University of Singapore, CREATE Tower, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore
| | - Feng Ru Tang
- Radiation Physiology Lab, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, National University of Singapore, CREATE Tower, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Konečná B, Radošinská J, Keményová P, Repiská G. Detection of disease-associated microRNAs - application for autism spectrum disorders. Rev Neurosci 2020; 31:757-769. [PMID: 32813679 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) diagnostic procedure still lacks a uniform biological marker. This review gathers the information on microRNAs (miRNAs) specifically as a possible source of biomarkers of ASD. Extracellular vesicles, and their subset of exosomes, are believed to be a tool of cell-to-cell communication, and they are increasingly considered to be carriers of such a marker. The interest in studying miRNAs in extracellular vesicles grows in all fields of study and therefore should not be omitted in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders. The summary of miRNAs associated with brain cells and ASD either studied directly in the tissue or biofluids are gathered in this review. The heterogeneity in findings from different studies points out the fact that unified methods should be established, beginning with the determination of the accurate patient and control groups, through to sample collection, processing, and storage conditions. This review, based on the available literature, proposes the standardized approach to obtain the results that would not be affected by technical factors. Nowadays, the method of high-throughput sequencing seems to be the most optimal to analyze miRNAs. This should be followed by the uniformed bioinformatics procedure to avoid misvalidation. At the end, the proper validation of the obtained results is needed. With such an approach as is described in this review, it would be possible to obtain a reliable biomarker that would characterize the presence of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Konečná
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jana Radošinská
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute for Heart Research, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Petra Keményová
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Gabriela Repiská
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Laneve P, Caffarelli E. The Non-coding Side of Medulloblastoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:275. [PMID: 32528946 PMCID: PMC7266940 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric brain tumor and a primary cause of cancer-related death in children. Until a few years ago, only clinical and histological features were exploited for MB pathological classification and outcome prognosis. In the past decade, the advancement of high-throughput molecular analyses that integrate genetic, epigenetic, and expression data, together with the availability of increasing wealth of patient samples, revealed the existence of four molecularly distinct MB subgroups. Their further classification into 12 subtypes not only reduced the well-characterized intertumoral heterogeneity, but also provided new opportunities for the design of targets for precision oncology. Moreover, the identification of tumorigenic and self-renewing subpopulations of cancer stem cells in MB has increased our knowledge of its biology. Despite these advancements, the origin of MB is still debated, and its molecular bases are poorly characterized. A major goal in the field is to identify the key genes that drive tumor growth and the mechanisms through which they are able to promote tumorigenesis. So far, only protein-coding genes acting as oncogenic drivers have been characterized in each MB subgroup. The contribution of the non-coding side of the genome, which produces a plethora of transcripts that control fundamental biological processes, as the cell choice between proliferation and differentiation, is still unappreciated. This review wants to fill this major gap by summarizing the recent findings on the impact of non-coding RNAs in MB initiation and progression. Furthermore, their potential role as specific MB biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets is also highlighted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Laneve
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Caffarelli
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
New Horizons for Molecular Genetics Diagnostic and Research in Autism Spectrum Disorder. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 24:43-81. [PMID: 32006356 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-30402-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable, heterogeneous, and complex pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder (PND) characterized by distinctive abnormalities of human cognitive functions, social interaction, and speech development.Nowadays, several genetic changes including chromosome abnormalities, genetic variations, transcriptional epigenetics, and noncoding RNA have been identified in ASD. However, the association between these genetic modifications and ASDs has not been confirmed yet.The aim of this review is to summarize the key findings in ASD from genetic viewpoint that have been identified from the last few decades of genetic and molecular research.
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang SF, Gao J, Liu CM. The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Genet 2019; 10:1033. [PMID: 31824553 PMCID: PMC6882276 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs, a group of ribonucleic acids that are ubiquitous in the body and do not encode proteins, emerge as important regulatory factors in almost all biological processes in the brain. Extensive studies have suggested the involvement of non-coding RNAs in brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders, and dysregulation of non-coding RNAs is associated with abnormal brain development and the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we provide an overview of the roles and working mechanisms of non-coding RNAs, and discuss potential clinical applications of non-coding RNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers and as therapeutic targets in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jun Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medicine Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chang-Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wang CX, Cui GS, Liu X, Xu K, Wang M, Zhang XX, Jiang LY, Li A, Yang Y, Lai WY, Sun BF, Jiang GB, Wang HL, Tong WM, Li W, Wang XJ, Yang YG, Zhou Q. METTL3-mediated m6A modification is required for cerebellar development. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2004880. [PMID: 29879109 PMCID: PMC6021109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2004880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is the most abundant modification on mRNAs and plays important roles in various biological processes. The formation of m6A is catalyzed by a methyltransferase complex including methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) as a key factor. However, the in vivo functions of METTL3 and m6A modification in mammalian development remain unclear. Here, we show that specific inactivation of Mettl3 in mouse nervous system causes severe developmental defects in the brain. Mettl3 conditional knockout (cKO) mice manifest cerebellar hypoplasia caused by drastically enhanced apoptosis of newborn cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) in the external granular layer (EGL). METTL3 depletion–induced loss of m6A modification causes extended RNA half-lives and aberrant splicing events, consequently leading to dysregulation of transcriptome-wide gene expression and premature CGC death. Our findings reveal a critical role of METTL3-mediated m6A in regulating the development of mammalian cerebellum. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an abundant modification in mRNA molecules and regulates mRNA metabolism and various biological processes, such as cell fate control, early embryonic development, sex determination, and diseases like diabetes and obesity. Adenosine methylation is regulated by a large methyltransferase complex and by demethylases, as well as by other binding proteins. METTL3 is one of the core subunits of the methyltransferase complex catalyzing m6A formation. However, the role of METTL3-mediated m6A in mammalian brain development remains unclear mainly because of the lack of specific spatiotemporal knockout animal models, as conventional METTL3 knockout in mice leads to early embryonic death. In this study, we specifically inactivated METTL3 in the developing mouse brain. We detected a drastic depletion of m6A accompanied by severe developmental defects in the cerebellum of these mice. Further analysis established that METTL3-mediated m6A participates in cerebellar development by controlling mRNA stability of genes related to cerebellar development and apoptosis and by regulating alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs of synapse-associated genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Xin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guan-Shen Cui
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Network Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Network Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xin-Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Yuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ang Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei-Yi Lai
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bao-Fa Sun
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gui-Bin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hai-Lin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei-Min Tong
- Department of Pathology, Center for Experimental Animal Research, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiu-Jie Wang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Network Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (XJW); (YGY); (QZ)
| | - Yun-Gui Yang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (XJW); (YGY); (QZ)
| | - Qi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (XJW); (YGY); (QZ)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Liu Q, Zhang L, Li H. New Insights: MicroRNA Function in CNS Development and Psychiatric Diseases. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40495-018-0129-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
|
13
|
Abstract
Epigenetics is a growing field of knowledge that is changing our understanding of pathologic processes. For many cerebellar disorders, recent discoveries of epigenetic mechanisms help us to understand their pathophysiology. In this chapter, a short explanation of each epigenetic mechanism (including methylation, histone modification, and miRNA) is followed by references to those cerebellar disorders in which relevant epigenetic advances have been made. The importance of normal timing and distribution of methylation during neurodevelopment is explained. Abnormal methylation and altered gene expression in the developing cerebellum have been related to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, Rett syndrome, and fragile X syndrome. DNA packaging by histones is another important epigenetic mechanism in cerebellar functioning. Current knowledge of histone abnormalities in cerebellar diseases such as Friedreich ataxia and spinocerebellar ataxias is reviewed, including implications for new therapeutic approaches to these degenerative diseases. Finally, micro RNAs, the third mechanism to modulate DNA expression, and their role in normal cerebellar development and disease are described. Understanding how genetic and epigenetic mechanisms interact not only in normal cerebellar development but also in disease is a great challenge. However, such understanding will lead to promising new therapeutic possibilities as is already occurring in other areas of medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Serrano
- Pediatric Neurology Department and Pediatric Institute for Genetic Medicine and Rare Diseases, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; and Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|