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Sakaguchi K, Tawata S. Giftedness and atypical sexual differentiation: enhanced perceptual functioning through estrogen deficiency instead of androgen excess. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1343759. [PMID: 38752176 PMCID: PMC11094242 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1343759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Syndromic autism spectrum conditions (ASC), such as Klinefelter syndrome, also manifest hypogonadism. Compared to the popular Extreme Male Brain theory, the Enhanced Perceptual Functioning model explains the connection between ASC, savant traits, and giftedness more seamlessly, and their co-emergence with atypical sexual differentiation. Overexcitability of primary sensory inputs generates a relative enhancement of local to global processing of stimuli, hindering the abstraction of communication signals, in contrast to the extraordinary local information processing skills in some individuals. Weaker inhibitory function through gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors and the atypicality of synapse formation lead to this difference, and the formation of unique neural circuits that process external information. Additionally, deficiency in monitoring inner sensory information leads to alexithymia (inability to distinguish one's own emotions), which can be caused by hypoactivity of estrogen and oxytocin in the interoceptive neural circuits, comprising the anterior insular and cingulate gyri. These areas are also part of the Salience Network, which switches between the Central Executive Network for external tasks and the Default Mode Network for self-referential mind wandering. Exploring the possibility that estrogen deficiency since early development interrupts GABA shift, causing sensory processing atypicality, it helps to evaluate the co-occurrence of ASC with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and schizophrenia based on phenotypic and physiological bases. It also provides clues for understanding the common underpinnings of these neurodevelopmental disorders and gifted populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kikue Sakaguchi
- Research Department, National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE), Kodaira-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shintaro Tawata
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Sophia University, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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2
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Hidayatullah A, Putra WE, Sustiprijatno S, Rifa'i M, Widiastuti D, Heikal MF, Permatasari GW. Concatenation of molecular docking and dynamics simulation of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein targeted ligands: In quest of cervical cancer's treatment. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20220633. [PMID: 37466536 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The Human papillomaviruses type 16 E7 oncoprotein is a 98-amino-acid, 11-kilodalton acidic oncoprotein with three conserved portions. Due to its interaction with the pRb-E2F complex, CKII, CKI (mostly p21), and even HDAC1, it possesses strong transformative and carcinogenic qualities that inhibit normal differentiation and cell cycle regulation. Here, we target the E7 oncoprotein using two prior research active compounds: asarinin and thiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazole-3(2H)-one,2-(2-fluorobenzylideno)-7,8-dimethyl (thiazolo), and valproic acid as a control. We are performing molecular docking followed by molecular dynamic analysis. By acting as competitive inhibitors in the binding site, it was hypothesized that both drugs would inhibit E7-mediated pRb degradation and E7-mediated p21 degradation, resulting in decreased cell cycle progression, immortalization, and proliferation. In addition, we expect that the direct inhibitory action of valproic acid in E7 will target the CKII-mediated phosphorylation pathway necessary for destabilizing p130 and pRb. According to the results of the dynamic simulation, stable interactions exist between every compound. Despite the instability of E7 protein, stability results indicate that both natural chemicals are preferable, with thiazolo outperforming valproic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arief Hidayatullah
- United Nations Development Programme Indonesia, Health Governance Initiative, Eijkman-RSCM Building, Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia
| | - Wira E Putra
- Universitas Negeri Malang, Biotechnology Study Program, Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, East Java 65145, Indonesia
| | - Sustiprijatno Sustiprijatno
- National Research and Innovation Agency, Research Center for Plant Conservation, Botanic Gardens and Forestry, Cibinong-Bogor, West Java 45262, Indonesia
| | - Muhaimin Rifa'i
- Brawijaya University, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, East Java, 65145, Indonesia
| | - Diana Widiastuti
- Universitas Pakuan, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, West Java, 45262, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad F Heikal
- Khon Kaen University, Tropical Medicine International Program, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen 40000, Thailand
| | - Galuh W Permatasari
- Indonesian Research Institute for Biotechnology and Bioindustry, Bogor, West Java, 45262, Indonesia
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Jiang P, Zhou L, Du Z, Zhao L, Tang Y, Fei X, Wang L, Li D, Li S, Yang H, Fan X, Liao H. Icariin alleviates autistic-like behavior, hippocampal inflammation and vGlut1 expression in adult BTBR mice. Behav Brain Res 2023; 445:114384. [PMID: 36889463 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complicated, heterogeneous disorder characterized by social interaction deficits and repetitive stereotypical behaviors. Neuroinflammation and synaptic protein dysregulation have been implicated in ASD pathogenesis. Icariin (ICA) has proven to exert neuroprotective function through anti-inflammatory function. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the effects of ICA treatment on autism-like behavioral deficits in BTBR mice and whether these changes were related to modifications in the hippocampal inflammation and the balance of excitatory/inhibitory synapses. ICA supplementation (80 mg/kg, once daily for ten days, i.g.) ameliorated social deficits, repetitive stereotypical behaviors, and short-term memory deficit without affecting locomotor activity or anxiety-like behaviors of BTBR mice. Furthermore, ICA treatment inhibited neuroinflammation via decreasing microglia number and the soma size in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, as well as the protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus of BTBR mice. In addition, ICA treatment also rescued excitatory-inhibitory synaptic protein imbalance by inhibiting the increased vGlut1 level without affecting the vGAT level in the BTBR mouse hippocampus. Collectively, the observed results indicate that ICA treatment alleviates ASD-like features, mitigates disturbed balance of excitatory-inhibitory synaptic protein, and inhibits hippocampal inflammation in BTBR mice, and may represent a novel promising drug for ASD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyan Jiang
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China; Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Lianyu Zhou
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Zhulin Du
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Linyang Zhao
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yexi Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Xinghang Fei
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Lian Wang
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Dabing Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Song Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China; Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China; Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Guangyang Bay Laboratory, Chongqing, China.
| | - Xiaotang Fan
- Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Huiling Liao
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
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Singh AP, Jain VS, Yu JPJ. Diffusion radiomics for subtyping and clustering in autism spectrum disorder: A preclinical study. Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 96:116-125. [PMID: 36496097 PMCID: PMC9815912 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2022.12.003] [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: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent, heterogenous neurodevelopmental disorder. Neuroimaging methods such as functional, structural, and diffusion MRI have been used to identify candidate imaging biomarkers for ASD, but current findings remain non-specific and likely arise from the heterogeneity present in ASD. To account for this, efforts to subtype ASD have emerged as a potential strategy for both the study of ASD and advancement of tailored behavioral therapies and therapeutics. Towards these ends, to improve upon current neuroimaging methods, we propose combining biologically sensitive neurite orientation dispersion and density index (NODDI) diffusion MR imaging with radiomics image processing to create a new methodological approach that, we hypothesize, can sensitively and specifically capture neurobiology. We demonstrate this method can sensitively distinguish differences between four genetically distinct rat models of ASD (Fmr1, Pten, Nrxn1, Disc1). Further, we demonstrate diffusion radiomic analyses hold promise for subtyping in ASD as we show unsupervised clustering of NODDI radiomic data generates clusters specific to the underlying genetic differences between the animal models. Taken together, our findings suggest the unique application of radiomic analysis on NODDI diffusion MRI may have the capacity to sensitively and specifically disambiguate the neurobiological heterogeneity present in the ASD population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay P. Singh
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA,Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Vansh S. Jain
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - John-Paul J. Yu
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.,Neuroscience Training Program, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Corresponding Author: John-Paul J. Yu, MD, PhD, Departments of Radiology, Psychiatry, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792,
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Zhou L, Tao X, Pang G, Mu M, Sun Q, Liu F, Hu Y, Tao H, Li B, Xu K. Maternal Nicotine Exposure Alters Hippocampal Microglia Polarization and Promotes Anti-inflammatory Signaling in Juvenile Offspring in Mice. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:661304. [PMID: 34045967 PMCID: PMC8144443 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.661304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence reveal that maternal smoking or perinatal nicotine replacement therapy impairs hippocampal neurogenesis, neural development, and cognitive behaviors in the offspring. Microglia is a source of non-neural regulation of neuronal development and postnatal neurogenesis. In this study, we explored the impact of nicotine on the microglia during the development of hippocampus. Developmental nicotine exposure in a mouse model was conducted by supplementing nicotine in the drinking water to mother mice during gestation and lactation period. We found that juvenile offspring with maternal nicotine exposure presented physical and neurobehavioral development delay and an increase in anxiety-like behavior in the open field test on postnatal day (PND) 20. To further detect possible developmental neurotoxic effects of nicotine in offspring and underlying mechanism, whole genome microarray analysis of the expression profile of the hippocampus was performed on postnatal day 20. Significant alterations in the expression of genes related to inflammatory, neurotransmitter, and synapsis were observed in the hippocampus after maternal nicotine exposure, as compared to the vehicle control. Concurrently, an increase in microglial markers and the presence of M2 polarity state in the hippocampus of the nicotine offspring were observed by histological analysis and confocal z-stacking scanning. The M2 microglial polarization state was further confirmed with in vitro primary microglia culture by cytokine array, and double-positive expression of BDNF/Iba1 in microglia by immunohistochemical staining in the juvenile offspring hippocampus was visualized. We also found that nicotine offspring showed an increase of neurite length in the molecular layer and CA1 by Tuj1 staining, as well as an increase in the expression of synapse associated protein, PSD95, but the expression of NeuroD1 in CA1 and CA3 reduced. In summary, maternal nicotine exposure dysregulates immune-related genes expression by skewing the polarity of M2 microglia in the hippocampus, which may cause abnormal cognitive and behavioral performance in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhou
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Xinrong Tao
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Control and Occupational Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health, Anhui Province, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Gang Pang
- College of Basic Medical Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Min Mu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Control and Occupational Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health, Anhui Province, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Qixian Sun
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Yuting Hu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Huihui Tao
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Control and Occupational Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health, Anhui Province, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Bing Li
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Keyi Xu
- Center for Medical Research, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Control and Occupational Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China.,Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health, Anhui Province, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
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6
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Andoh M, Koyama R. Microglia regulate synaptic development and plasticity. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:568-590. [PMID: 33583110 PMCID: PMC8451802 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Synapses are fundamental structures of neural circuits that transmit information between neurons. Thus, the process of neural circuit formation via proper synaptic connections shapes the basis of brain functions and animal behavior. Synapses continuously undergo repeated formation and elimination throughout the lifetime of an organism, reflecting the dynamics of neural circuit function. The structural transformation of synapses has been described mainly in relation to neural activity-dependent strengthening and weakening of synaptic functions, that is, functional plasticity of synapses. An increasing number of studies have unveiled the roles of microglia, brain-resident immune cells that survey the brain parenchyma with highly motile processes, in synapse formation and elimination as well as in regulating synaptic function. Over the past 15 years, the molecular mechanisms underlying microglia-dependent regulation of synaptic plasticity have been thoroughly studied, and researchers have reported that the disruption of microglia-dependent regulation causes synaptic dysfunction that leads to brain diseases. In this review, we will broadly introduce studies that report the roles of microglia in synaptic plasticity and the possible underlying molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megumi Andoh
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryuta Koyama
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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