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Birnbaum R, Weinberger DR. The Genesis of Schizophrenia: An Origin Story. Am J Psychiatry 2024; 181:482-492. [PMID: 38822584 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20240305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is routinely referred to as a neurodevelopmental disorder, but the role of brain development in a disorder typically diagnosed during early adult life is enigmatic. The authors revisit the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia with genomic insights from the most recent schizophrenia clinical genetic association studies, transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses from human postmortem brain studies, and analyses from cellular models that recapitulate neurodevelopment. Emerging insights into schizophrenia genetic risk continue to converge on brain development, particularly stages of early brain development, that may be perturbed to deviate from a typical, normative course, resulting in schizophrenia clinical symptomatology. As the authors explicate, schizophrenia genetic risk is likely dynamic and context dependent, with effects of genetic risk varying spatiotemporally, across the neurodevelopmental continuum. Optimizing therapeutic strategies for the heterogeneous collective of individuals with schizophrenia may likely be guided by leveraging markers of genetic risk and derivative functional insights, well before the emergence of psychosis. Ultimately, rather than a focus on therapeutic intervention during adolescence or adulthood, principles of prediction and prophylaxis in the pre- and perinatal and neonatal stages may best comport with the biology of schizophrenia to address the early-stage perturbations that alter the normative neurodevelopmental trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Birnbaum
- Departments of Psychiatry, Genetics, and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (Birnbaum); Lieber Institute of Brain Development, Maltz Research Laboratory, and Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Neuroscience, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore (Weinberger)
| | - Daniel R Weinberger
- Departments of Psychiatry, Genetics, and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (Birnbaum); Lieber Institute of Brain Development, Maltz Research Laboratory, and Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Neuroscience, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore (Weinberger)
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2
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Maussion G, Rocha C, Ramoz N. iPSC-derived models for anorexia nervosa research. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:339-349. [PMID: 38472034 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with genetic and epigenetic components that results in reduced food intake combined with alterations in the reward-processing network. While studies of patient cohorts and mouse models have uncovered genes and epigenetic changes associated with the disease, neuronal networks and brain areas preferentially activated and metabolic changes associated with reduced food intake, the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain unknown. The use of both 2D in vitro cultures and 3D models, namely organoids and spheroids, derived from either human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), would allow identification of cell type-specific changes associated with AN and comorbid diseases, to study preferential connections between brain areas and organs, and the development of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Maussion
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
| | - Cecilia Rocha
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Nicolas Ramoz
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Paris 75014, France; GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, CMME, Hôpital Sainte-Anne, Paris F-75014, France
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3
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Zhang H, Peyton L, McCarroll A, de León Guerrerro SD, Zhang S, Gowda P, Sirkin D, El Achwah M, Duhe A, Wood WG, Jamison B, Tracy G, Pollak R, Hart RP, Pato CN, Mulle JG, Sanders AR, Pang ZP, Duan J. Scaled and Efficient Derivation of Loss of Function Alleles in Risk Genes for Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Disorders in Human iPSC. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.18.585542. [PMID: 38562852 PMCID: PMC10983959 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.18.585542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Translating genetic findings for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders (NPD) into actionable disease biology would benefit from large-scale and unbiased functional studies of NPD genes. Leveraging the cytosine base editing (CBE) system, here we developed a pipeline for clonal loss-of-function (LoF) allele mutagenesis in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) by introducing premature stop-codons (iSTOP) that lead to mRNA nonsense-mediated-decay (NMD) or protein truncation. We tested the pipeline for 23 NPD genes on 3 hiPSC lines and achieved highly reproducible, efficient iSTOP editing in 22 NPD genes. Using RNAseq, we confirmed their pluripotency, absence of chromosomal abnormalities, and NMD. Interestingly, for three schizophrenia risk genes (SETD1A, TRIO, CUL1), despite the high efficiency of base editing, we only obtained heterozygous LoF alleles, suggesting their essential roles for cell growth. We replicated the reported neural phenotypes of SHANK3-haploinsufficiency and found CUL1-LoF reduced neurite branches and synaptic puncta density. This iSTOP pipeline enables a scaled and efficient LoF mutagenesis of NPD genes, yielding an invaluable shareable resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanwen Zhang
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
| | - Lilia Peyton
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
| | - Ada McCarroll
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
| | - Sol Díaz de León Guerrerro
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - Siwei Zhang
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Prarthana Gowda
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - David Sirkin
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
| | - Mahmoud El Achwah
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - Alexandra Duhe
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
| | - Whitney G Wood
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
| | - Brandon Jamison
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
| | - Gregory Tracy
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
| | - Rebecca Pollak
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ
| | - Ronald P Hart
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University
| | - Carlos N Pato
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ
| | - Jennifer G Mulle
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ
- Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - Alan R Sanders
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Zhiping P Pang
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - Jubao Duan
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
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4
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Bellon A. Comparing stem cells, transdifferentiation and brain organoids as tools for psychiatric research. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:127. [PMID: 38418498 PMCID: PMC10901833 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02780-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The inaccessibility of neurons coming directly from patients has hindered our understanding of mental illnesses at the cellular level. To overcome this obstacle, six different cellular approaches that carry the genetic vulnerability to psychiatric disorders are currently available: Olfactory Neuroepithelial Cells, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Pluripotent Monocytes, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Induced Neuronal cells and more recently Brain Organoids. Here we contrast advantages and disadvantages of each of these six cell-based methodologies. Neuronal-like cells derived from pluripotent monocytes are presented in more detail as this technique was recently used in psychiatry for the first time. Among the parameters used for comparison are; accessibility, need for reprograming, time to deliver differentiated cells, differentiation efficiency, reproducibility of results and cost. We provide a timeline on the discovery of these cell-based methodologies, but, our main goal is to assist researchers selecting which cellular approach is best suited for any given project. This manuscript also aims to help readers better interpret results from the published literature. With this goal in mind, we end our work with a discussion about the differences and similarities between cell-based techniques and postmortem research, the only currently available tools that allow the study of mental illness in neurons or neuronal-like cells coming directly from patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Bellon
- Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Hershey, PA, USA.
- Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Department of Pharmacology, Hershey, PA, USA.
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Perrottelli A, Marzocchi FF, Caporusso E, Giordano GM, Giuliani L, Melillo A, Pezzella P, Bucci P, Mucci A, Galderisi S. Advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder through induced pluripotent stem cell models. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2024; 49:E109-E125. [PMID: 38490647 PMCID: PMC10950363 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.230112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder involves a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors that begins in the early stages of neurodevelopment. Recent advancements in the field of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer a promising tool for understanding the neurobiological alterations involved in these disorders and, potentially, for developing new treatment options. In this review, we summarize the results of iPSC-based research on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, showing disturbances in neurodevelopmental processes, imbalance in glutamatergic-GABAergic transmission and neuromorphological alterations. The limitations of the reviewed literature are also highlighted, particularly the methodological heterogeneity of the studies, the limited number of studies developing iPSC models of both diseases simultaneously, and the lack of in-depth clinical characterization of the included samples. Further studies are needed to advance knowledge on the common and disease-specific pathophysiological features of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and to promote the development of new treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Luigi Giuliani
- From the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Melillo
- From the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | | | - Paola Bucci
- From the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Armida Mucci
- From the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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Sagar R, Zivko C, Xydia A, Weisman DC, Lyketsos CG, Mahairaki V. Generation and Characterization of a Human-Derived and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Line from an Alzheimer's Disease Patient with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3313. [PMID: 38137534 PMCID: PMC10741135 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Agitation is one of the most eminent characteristics of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) affecting people living with Alzheimer's and Dementia and has serious consequences for patients and caregivers. The current consensus is that agitation results, in part, from the disruption of ascending monoamine regulators of cortical circuits, especially the loss of serotonergic activity. It is believed that the first line of treatment for these conditions is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), but these are effective in only about 40% of patients. Person-specific biomarkers, for example, ones based on in vitro iPSC-derived models of serotonin activity, which predict who with Agitation responds to an SSRI, are a major clinical priority. Here, we report the generation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a 74-year-old AD patient, the homozygous APOE ε4/ε4 carrier, who developed Agitation. His iPSCs were reprogrammed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using the transient expression of pluripotency genes. These display typical iPSC characteristics that are karyotypically normal and attain the capacity to differentiate into three germ layers. The newly patient-derived iPSC line offers a unique resource to investigate the underlying mechanisms associated with neuropsychiatric symptom progression in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Sagar
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (R.S.); (C.Z.); (A.X.)
- The Richman Family Precision Medicine Center of Excellence in Alzheimer’s Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA;
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Cristina Zivko
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (R.S.); (C.Z.); (A.X.)
- The Richman Family Precision Medicine Center of Excellence in Alzheimer’s Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA;
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Ariadni Xydia
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (R.S.); (C.Z.); (A.X.)
- The Richman Family Precision Medicine Center of Excellence in Alzheimer’s Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA;
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - David C. Weisman
- Abington Neurologic Associates, Clinical Research Center, Abington, PA 19001, USA
| | - Constantine G. Lyketsos
- The Richman Family Precision Medicine Center of Excellence in Alzheimer’s Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA;
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Vasiliki Mahairaki
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (R.S.); (C.Z.); (A.X.)
- The Richman Family Precision Medicine Center of Excellence in Alzheimer’s Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA;
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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Niemis W, Peterson SR, Javier C, Nguyen A, Subiah S, Palmer RHC. On the utilization of the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model to study substance use disorders: A scoping review protocol. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292238. [PMID: 37824561 PMCID: PMC10569547 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are cells derived from somatic cells via reprogramming techniques. The iPSC approach has been increasingly used in neuropsychiatric research in the last decade. Though substance use disorders (SUDs) are a commonly occurring psychiatric disorder, the application of iPSC model in addiction research has been limited. No comprehensive review has been reported. We conducted a scoping review to collate existing evidence on the iPSC technologies applied to SUD research. We aim to identify current knowledge gaps and limitations in order to advance the use of iPSCs in the SUD field. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We employed a scoping review using the methodological framework first created by Arksey and O'Malley and further updated by Levac et al. and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). We adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Protocols (PRISMA-P) to report items for the protocol. We searched evidence from four electronic databases: PubMed®, Embase®, Web of Science™, and Scopus®. Primary research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were included and limited to studies published in English, at the time from 2007 to March 2022. This is an "ongoing" scoping review. Searched studies will be independently screened, selected, and extracted by two reviewers. Disagreement will be solved by the third reviewer and discussion. Extracted data will be analyzed in descriptive and quantitative approaches, then summarized and presented in appropriate formats. Results will be reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guideline and disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations. CONCLUSION To our best knowledge, this is the first comprehensive scoping review of iPSC methods specifically applied to a broad range of addictive drugs/substances that lead to SUDs or misuse behavior. REGISTRATION This protocol is registered on Zenodo repository (https://zenodo.org/) with doi:10.5281/zenodo.7915252.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasiri Niemis
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Shenita R. Peterson
- Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Chrisabella Javier
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Amy Nguyen
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Sanchi Subiah
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Rohan H. C. Palmer
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
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Forrest MP, Penzes P. Mechanisms of copy number variants in neuropsychiatric disorders: From genes to therapeutics. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 82:102750. [PMID: 37515924 PMCID: PMC10529795 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Copy number variants (CNVs) are genomic imbalances strongly linked to the aetiology of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. By virtue of their large size, CNVs often contain many genes, providing a multi-genic view of disease processes that can be dissected in model systems. Thus, CNV research provides an important stepping stone towards understanding polygenic disease mechanisms, positioned between monogenic and polygenic risk models. In this review, we will outline hypothetical models for gene interactions occurring within CNVs and discuss different approaches used to study rodent and stem cell disease models. We highlight recent work showing that genetic and pharmacological strategies can be used to rescue important aspects of CNV-mediated pathophysiology, which often converges onto synaptic pathways. We propose that using a rescue approach in complete CNV models provides a new path forward for precise mechanistic understanding of complex disorders and a tangible route towards therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc P Forrest
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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Zhang S, Zhang H, Forrest MP, Zhou Y, Sun X, Bagchi VA, Kozlova A, Santos MD, Piguel NH, Dionisio LE, Sanders AR, Pang ZP, He X, Penzes P, Duan J. Multiple genes in a single GWAS risk locus synergistically mediate aberrant synaptic development and function in human neurons. CELL GENOMICS 2023; 3:100399. [PMID: 37719141 PMCID: PMC10504676 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The mechanistic tie between genome-wide association study (GWAS)-implicated risk variants and disease-relevant cellular phenotypes remains largely unknown. Here, using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons as a neurodevelopmental model, we identify multiple schizophrenia (SZ) risk variants that display allele-specific open chromatin (ASoC) and are likely to be functional. Editing the strongest ASoC SNP, rs2027349, near vacuolar protein sorting 45 homolog (VPS45) alters the expression of VPS45, lncRNA AC244033.2, and a distal gene, C1orf54. Notably, the transcriptomic changes in neurons are associated with SZ and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurons carrying the risk allele exhibit increased dendritic complexity and hyperactivity. Interestingly, individual/combinatorial gene knockdown shows that these genes alter cellular phenotypes in a non-additive synergistic manner. Our study reveals that multiple genes at a single GWAS risk locus mediate a compound effect on neural function, providing a mechanistic link between a non-coding risk variant and disease-related cellular phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwei Zhang
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Hanwen Zhang
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Marc P. Forrest
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yifan Zhou
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Xiaotong Sun
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Vikram A. Bagchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Alena Kozlova
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Marc Dos Santos
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Nicolas H. Piguel
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Leonardo E. Dionisio
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Alan R. Sanders
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Zhiping P. Pang
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Xin He
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jubao Duan
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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10
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Parker DA, Cubells JF, Imes SL, Ruban GA, Henshey BT, Massa NM, Walker EF, Duncan EJ, Ousley OY. Deep psychophysiological phenotyping of adolescents and adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: a multilevel approach to defining core disease processes. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:425. [PMID: 37312091 PMCID: PMC10262114 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04888-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is the most common chromosomal interstitial-deletion disorder, occurring in approximately 1 in 2000 to 6000 live births. Affected individuals exhibit variable clinical phenotypes that can include velopharyngeal anomalies, heart defects, T-cell-related immune deficits, dysmorphic facial features, neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, early cognitive decline, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric disorders. Developing comprehensive treatments for 22q11.2DS requires an understanding of both the psychophysiological and neural mechanisms driving clinical outcomes. Our project probes the core psychophysiological abnormalities of 22q11.2DS in parallel with molecular studies of stem cell-derived neurons to unravel the basic mechanisms and pathophysiology of 22q11.2-related psychiatric disorders, with a primary focus on psychotic disorders. Our study is guided by the central hypothesis that abnormal neural processing associates with psychophysiological processing and underlies clinical diagnosis and symptomatology. Here, we present the scientific background and justification for our study, sharing details of our study design and human data collection protocol. METHODS Our study is recruiting individuals with 22q11.2DS and healthy comparison subjects between the ages of 16 and 60 years. We are employing an extensive psychophysiological assessment battery (e.g., EEG, evoked potential measures, and acoustic startle) to assess fundamental sensory detection, attention, and reactivity. To complement these unbiased measures of cognitive processing, we will develop stem-cell derived neurons and examine neuronal phenotypes relevant to neurotransmission. Clinical characterization of our 22q11.2DS and control participants relies on diagnostic and research domain criteria assessments, including standard Axis-I diagnostic and neurocognitive measures, following from the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) and the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS) batteries. We are also collecting measures of autism spectrum (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms. DISCUSSION Studying 22q11.2DS in adolescence and adulthood via deep phenotyping across multiple clinical and biological domains may significantly increase our knowledge of its core disease processes. Our manuscript describes our ongoing study's protocol in detail. These paradigms could be adapted by clinical researchers studying 22q11.2DS, other CNV/single gene disorders, or idiopathic psychiatric syndromes, as well as by basic researchers who plan to incorporate biobehavioral outcome measures into their studies of 22q11.2DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Parker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Biomedical Research Building 615 Michael Street Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Joseph F Cubells
- Department of Human Genetics; Emory Autism Center; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1551 Shoup Court, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
| | - Sid L Imes
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Biomedical Research Building 615 Michael Street Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Gabrielle A Ruban
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Biomedical Research Building 615 Michael Street Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Brett T Henshey
- Emory University, Whitehead Biomedical Research Building 615 Michael Street Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Nicholas M Massa
- Atlanta Veterans Administration Health Care System, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
| | - Elaine F Walker
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Psychology and Interdisciplinary Sciences Building Suite 487, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Erica J Duncan
- Atlanta Veterans Administration Health Care System, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Brain Health Center, 12 Executive Park Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Opal Y Ousley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1551 Shoup Court, Decatur, GA, USA
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11
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Zheng W, Benner EM, Bloom DC, Muralidaran V, Caldwell JK, Prabhudesai A, Piazza PA, Wood J, Kinchington PR, Nimgaonkar VL, D'Aiuto L. Variations in Aspects of Neural Precursor Cell Neurogenesis in a Human Model of HSV-1 Infection. Organogenesis 2022; 18:2055354. [PMID: 35384798 PMCID: PMC8993067 DOI: 10.1080/15476278.2022.2055354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Encephalitis, the most significant of the central nervous system (CNS) diseases caused by Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), may have long-term sequelae in survivors treated with acyclovir, the cause of which is unclear. HSV-1 exhibits a tropism toward neurogenic niches in CNS enriched with neural precursor cells (NPCs), which play a pivotal role in neurogenesis. NPCs are susceptible to HSV-1. There is a paucity of information regarding the influence of HSV-1 on neurogenesis in humans. We investigated HSV-1 infection of NPCs from two individuals. Our results show (i) HSV-1 impairs, to different extents, the proliferation, self-renewing, and, to an even greater extent, migration of NPCs from these two subjects; (ii) The protective effect of the gold-standard antiherpetic drug acyclovir (ACV) varies with viral dose and is incomplete. It is also subject to differences in terms of efficacy of the NPCs derived from these two individuals. These results suggest that the effects of HSV-1 may have on aspects of NPC neurogenesis may vary among individuals, even in the presence of acyclovir, and this may contribute to the heterogeneity of cognitive sequelae across encephalitis survivors. Further analysis of NPC cell lines from a larger number of individuals is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiao Zheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Second Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Emily M Benner
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David C Bloom
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Vaishali Muralidaran
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jill K Caldwell
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anuya Prabhudesai
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Paolo A Piazza
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pitt Graduate School Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joel Wood
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Paul R Kinchington
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vishwajit L Nimgaonkar
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Leonardo D'Aiuto
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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12
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Choudhary A, Peles D, Nayak R, Mizrahi L, Stern S. Current progress in understanding schizophrenia using genomics and pluripotent stem cells: A meta-analytical overview. Schizophr Res 2022:S0920-9964(22)00406-6. [PMID: 36443183 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.11.001] [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] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex, heritable and polygenic neuropsychiatric disease, which disables the patients as well as decreases their life expectancy and quality of life. Common and rare variants studies on SCZ subjects have provided >100 genomic loci that hold importance in the context of SCZ pathophysiology. Transcriptomic studies from clinical samples have informed about the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and non-coding RNAs in SCZ patients. Despite these advancements, no causative genes for SCZ were found and hence SCZ is difficult to recapitulate in animal models. In the last decade, induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)-based models have helped in understanding the neural phenotypes of SCZ by studying patient iPSC-derived 2D neuronal cultures and 3D brain organoids. Here, we have aimed to provide a simplistic overview of the current progress and advancements after synthesizing the enormous literature on SCZ genetics and SCZ iPSC-based models. Although further understanding of SCZ genetics and pathophysiological mechanisms using these technological advancements is required, the recent approaches have allowed to delineate important cellular mechanisms and biological pathways affected in SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwani Choudhary
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - David Peles
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Ritu Nayak
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Liron Mizrahi
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Shani Stern
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
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13
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Harrison PJ, Husain SM, Lee H, Los Angeles AD, Colbourne L, Mould A, Hall NAL, Haerty W, Tunbridge EM. CACNA1C (Ca V1.2) and other L-type calcium channels in the pathophysiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders: Advances from functional genomics and pharmacoepidemiology. Neuropharmacology 2022; 220:109262. [PMID: 36154842 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A role for voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in psychiatric disorders has long been postulated as part of a broader involvement of intracellular calcium signalling. However, the data were inconclusive and hard to interpret. We review three areas of research that have markedly advanced the field. First, there is now robust genomic evidence that common variants in VGCC subunit genes, notably CACNA1C which encodes the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) CaV1.2 subunit, are trans-diagnostically associated with psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Rare variants in these genes also contribute to the risk. Second, pharmacoepidemiological evidence supports the possibility that calcium channel blockers, which target LTCCs, might have beneficial effects on the onset or course of these disorders. This is especially true for calcium channel blockers that are brain penetrant. Third, long-range sequencing is revealing the repertoire of full-length LTCC transcript isoforms. Many novel and abundant CACNA1C isoforms have been identified in human and mouse brain, including some which are enriched compared to heart or aorta, and predicted to encode channels with differing functional and pharmacological properties. These isoforms may contribute to the molecular mechanisms of genetic association to psychiatric disorders. They may also enable development of therapeutic agents that can preferentially target brain LTCC isoforms and be of potential value for psychiatric indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Harrison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK.
| | - Syed M Husain
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
| | - Hami Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
| | | | - Lucy Colbourne
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
| | - Arne Mould
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
| | - Nicola A L Hall
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
| | - Wilfried Haerty
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Tunbridge
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
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14
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Harrison PJ, Mould A, Tunbridge EM. New drug targets in psychiatry: Neurobiological considerations in the genomics era. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 139:104763. [PMID: 35787892 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
After a period of withdrawal, pharmaceutical companies have begun to reinvest in neuropsychiatric disorders, due to improvements in our understanding of these disorders, stimulated in part by genomic studies. However, translating this information into disease insights and ultimately into tractable therapeutic targets is a major challenge. Here we consider how different sources of information might be integrated to guide this process. We review how an understanding of neurobiology has been used to advance therapeutic candidates identified in the pre-genomic era, using catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) as an exemplar. We then contrast with ZNF804A, the first genome-wide significant schizophrenia gene, and draw on some of the lessons that these and other examples provide. We highlight that, at least in the short term, the translation of potential targets for which there is orthogonal neurobiological support is likely to be more straightforward and productive than that those relying solely on genomic information. Although we focus here on information from genomic studies of schizophrenia, the points are broadly applicable across major psychiatric disorders and their symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Harrison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Arne Mould
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Tunbridge
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
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15
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Muhtaseb AW, Duan J. Modeling common and rare genetic risk factors of neuropsychiatric disorders in human induced pluripotent stem cells. Schizophr Res 2022:S0920-9964(22)00156-6. [PMID: 35459617 PMCID: PMC9735430 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and whole-exome sequencing of neuropsychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia, have identified a plethora of common and rare disease risk variants/genes. Translating the mounting human genetic discoveries into novel disease biology and more tailored clinical treatments is tied to our ability to causally connect genetic risk variants to molecular and cellular phenotypes. When combined with the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) nuclease-mediated genome editing system, human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neural cultures (both 2D and 3D organoids) provide a promising tractable cellular model for bridging the gap between genetic findings and disease biology. In this review, we first conceptualize the advances in understanding the disease polygenicity and convergence from the past decade of iPSC modeling of different types of genetic risk factors of neuropsychiatric disorders. We then discuss the major cell types and cellular phenotypes that are most relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders in iPSC modeling. Finally, we critically review the limitations of iPSC modeling of neuropsychiatric disorders and outline the need for implementing and developing novel methods to scale up the number of iPSC lines and disease risk variants in a systematic manner. Sufficiently scaled-up iPSC modeling and a better functional interpretation of genetic risk variants, in combination with cutting-edge CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and single-cell multi-omics methods, will enable the field to identify the specific and convergent molecular and cellular phenotypes in precision for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdurrahman W Muhtaseb
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, United States of America; Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States of America
| | - Jubao Duan
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States of America.
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16
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Walker EF, Goldsmith DR. Schizophrenia: A scientific graveyard or a pragmatically useful diagnostic construct? Schizophr Res 2022; 242:141-143. [PMID: 35090774 PMCID: PMC9112231 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elaine F. Walker
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America,Corresponding author at: Emory University, Department of Psychology, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America. (E.F. Walker)
| | - David R. Goldsmith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America
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17
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Harnessing the Power of Stem Cell Models to Study Shared Genetic Variants in Congenital Heart Diseases and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030460. [PMID: 35159270 PMCID: PMC8833927 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030460] [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: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technology allow one to deconstruct the human body into specific disease-relevant cell types or create functional units representing various organs. hPSC-based models present a unique opportunity for the study of co-occurring disorders where “cause and effect” can be addressed. Poor neurodevelopmental outcomes have been reported in children with congenital heart diseases (CHD). Intuitively, abnormal cardiac function or surgical intervention may stunt the developing brain, leading to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). However, recent work has uncovered several genetic variants within genes associated with the development of both the heart and brain that could also explain this co-occurrence. Given the scalability of hPSCs, straightforward genetic modification, and established differentiation strategies, it is now possible to investigate both CHD and NDD as independent events. We will first overview the potential for shared genetics in both heart and brain development. We will then summarize methods to differentiate both cardiac & neural cells and organoids from hPSCs that represent the developmental process of the heart and forebrain. Finally, we will highlight strategies to rapidly screen several genetic variants together to uncover potential phenotypes and how therapeutic advances could be achieved by hPSC-based models.
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18
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Abstract
The cognitive dysfunction experienced by patients with schizophrenia represents a major unmet clinical need. We believe that enhancing synaptic function and plasticity by targeting kalirin may provide a novel means to remediate these symptoms. Karilin (a protein encoded by the KALRN gene) has multiple functional domains, including two Dbl homology (DH) guanine exchange factor (GEF) domains, which act to enhance the activity of the Rho family guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-ases. Here, we provide an overview of kalirin's roles in brain function and its therapeutic potential in schizophrenia. We outline how it mediates diverse effects via a suite of distinct isoforms that couple to members of the Rho GTPase family to regulate synapse formation and stabilisation, and how genomic and post-mortem data implicate it in schizophrenia. We then review the current state of knowledge about the influence of kalirin on brain function at a systems level, based largely on evidence from transgenic mouse models, which support its proposed role in regulating dendritic spine function and plasticity. We demonstrate that, whilst the GTPases are classically considered to be 'undruggable', targeting kalirin and other Rho GEFs provides a means to indirectly modulate their activity. Finally, we integrate across the information presented to assess the therapeutic potential of kalirin for schizophrenia and highlight the key outstanding questions required to advance it in this capacity; namely, the need for more information about the diversity and function of its isoforms, how these change across neurodevelopment, and how they affect brain function in vivo.
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19
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Mould AW, Hall NA, Milosevic I, Tunbridge EM. Targeting synaptic plasticity in schizophrenia: insights from genomic studies. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:1022-1032. [PMID: 34419330 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia experience cognitive dysfunction and negative symptoms that do not respond to current drug treatments. Historical evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that these deficits are due, at least in part, to altered cortical synaptic plasticity (the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken their activity), making this an attractive pathway for therapeutic intervention. However, while synaptic transmission and plasticity is well understood in model systems, it has been challenging to identify specific therapeutic targets for schizophrenia. New information is emerging from genomic findings, which converge on synaptic plasticity and provide a new window on the neurobiology of schizophrenia. Translating this information into therapeutic advances will require a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne W Mould
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicola A Hall
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Ira Milosevic
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Tunbridge
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
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