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Salim S, Banu A, Alwa A, Gowda SBM, Mohammad F. The gut-microbiota-brain axis in autism: what Drosophila models can offer? J Neurodev Disord 2021; 13:37. [PMID: 34525941 PMCID: PMC8442445 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-021-09378-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The idea that alterations in gut-microbiome-brain axis (GUMBA)-mediated communication play a crucial role in human brain disorders like autism remains a topic of intensive research in various labs. Gastrointestinal issues are a common comorbidity in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although gut microbiome and microbial metabolites have been implicated in the etiology of ASD, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. In this review, we have summarized recent findings in human and animal models highlighting the role of the gut-brain axis in ASD. We have discussed genetic and neurobehavioral characteristics of Drosophila as an animal model to study the role of GUMBA in ASD. The utility of Drosophila fruit flies as an amenable genetic tool, combined with axenic and gnotobiotic approaches, and availability of transgenic flies may reveal mechanistic insight into gut-microbiota-brain interactions and the impact of its alteration on behaviors relevant to neurological disorders like ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safa Salim
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, 34110, Qatar
| | - Ayesha Banu
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, 34110, Qatar
| | - Amira Alwa
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, 34110, Qatar
| | - Swetha B M Gowda
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, 34110, Qatar
| | - Farhan Mohammad
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, 34110, Qatar.
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Yost RT, Robinson JW, Baxter CM, Scott AM, Brown LP, Aletta MS, Hakimjavadi R, Lone A, Cumming RC, Dukas R, Mozer B, Simon AF. Abnormal Social Interactions in a Drosophila Mutant of an Autism Candidate Gene: Neuroligin 3. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4601. [PMID: 32610435 PMCID: PMC7370170 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Social interactions are typically impaired in neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism, for which the genetic underpinnings are very complex. Social interactions can be modeled by analysis of behaviors, including social spacing, sociability, and aggression, in simpler organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we examined the effects of mutants of the autism-related gene neuroligin 3 (nlg3) on fly social and non-social behaviors. Startled-induced negative geotaxis is affected by a loss of function nlg3 mutation. Social space and aggression are also altered in a sex- and social-experience-specific manner in nlg3 mutant flies. In light of the conserved roles that neuroligins play in social behavior, our results offer insight into the regulation of social behavior in other organisms, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryley T. Yost
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - J. Wesley Robinson
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - Carling M. Baxter
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (PNB) McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (C.M.B.); (A.M.S.); (R.D.)
| | - Andrew M. Scott
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (PNB) McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (C.M.B.); (A.M.S.); (R.D.)
| | - Liam P. Brown
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - M. Sol Aletta
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - Ramtin Hakimjavadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - Asad Lone
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - Robert C. Cumming
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (PNB) McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (C.M.B.); (A.M.S.); (R.D.)
| | - Brian Mozer
- Office of Research Integrity, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Rockville, MD 20889, USA;
| | - Anne F. Simon
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
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Wu J, Cheng Z, Xu X, Fu J, Wang K, Liu T, Wu C, Kong X, Yang Q, Yan G, Zhou H. Aurora-A Induces Chemoresistance Through Activation of the AKT/mTOR Pathway in Endometrial Cancer. Front Oncol 2019; 9:422. [PMID: 31192127 PMCID: PMC6540875 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological tumor all over the world, and advanced/metastatic EC remains a malignancy with poor survival outcome due to highly resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic treatment. Here, we report that Aurora-A, a serine-threonine kinase, plays a vital role in chemoresistance of EC. Aurora-A is overexpressed in EC tissues, compared with normal endometrium and Aurora-A expression is associated with decreased overall survival. Overexpression of Aurora-A in EC cell lines (Ishikawa and HEC-1B cells) promotes cell proliferation and induced paclitaxel- and cisplatin-resistance. Furthermore, Aurora-A activating AKT-mTOR pathway further induces chemoresistance in vitro, consistent with a positive correlation between Aurora-A and phosphorylated AKT/4E-BP1 expression in EC tissues. In summary, our study provides the strong evidence that Aurora-A controls the sensitivity of EC cell lines to chemotherapy via AKT/mTOR pathway, indicating that pharmacologic intervention of Aurora-A and AKT/mTOR in combination with chemotherapy may be considered for the targeted therapy against EC with overexpression of Aurora-A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wu
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Ziyun Cheng
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xu
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Fu
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Suqian People's Hospital of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group, Department of Gynecology, Suqian, China
| | - Kaiyue Wang
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Department of Gynecology, The First People Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Chan Wu
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangyi Kong
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Nanjing Pukou Hospital, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guijun Yan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Huaijun Zhou
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
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