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Dysregulated Signaling at Postsynaptic Density: A Systematic Review and Translational Appraisal for the Pathophysiology, Clinics, and Antipsychotics' Treatment of Schizophrenia. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040574. [PMID: 36831241 PMCID: PMC9954794 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence from genomics, post-mortem, and preclinical studies point to a potential dysregulation of molecular signaling at postsynaptic density (PSD) in schizophrenia pathophysiology. The PSD that identifies the archetypal asymmetric synapse is a structure of approximately 300 nm in diameter, localized behind the neuronal membrane in the glutamatergic synapse, and constituted by more than 1000 proteins, including receptors, adaptors, kinases, and scaffold proteins. Furthermore, using FASS (fluorescence-activated synaptosome sorting) techniques, glutamatergic synaptosomes were isolated at around 70 nm, where the receptors anchored to the PSD proteins can diffuse laterally along the PSD and were stabilized by scaffold proteins in nanodomains of 50-80 nm at a distance of 20-40 nm creating "nanocolumns" within the synaptic button. In this context, PSD was envisioned as a multimodal hub integrating multiple signaling-related intracellular functions. Dysfunctions of glutamate signaling have been postulated in schizophrenia, starting from the glutamate receptor's interaction with scaffolding proteins involved in the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Despite the emerging role of PSD proteins in behavioral disorders, there is currently no systematic review that integrates preclinical and clinical findings addressing dysregulated PSD signaling and translational implications for antipsychotic treatment in the aberrant postsynaptic function context. Here we reviewed a critical appraisal of the role of dysregulated PSD proteins signaling in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, discussing how antipsychotics may affect PSD structures and synaptic plasticity in brain regions relevant to psychosis.
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Wei GX, Yang L, Imm K, Loprinzi PD, Smith L, Zhang X, Yu Q. Effects of Mind-Body Exercises on Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:819. [PMID: 32922321 PMCID: PMC7457019 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mind-body exercises (MBEs) have been widely accepted as a complementary therapy for the patients with low exercise tolerance. Currently, the number of experimental studies investigating the effect of MBEs for improving symptoms in people with schizophrenia is increasing. However, results are inconsistent. METHODS We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the effects of mind-body exercises on schizophrenia. Seven electronic databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [CENTRAL], CNKI and Wangfang) were screened through October 2019 and risks of bias of included studies were assessed in Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS Meta-analysis on 13 studies with 1,159 patients showed moderately significant effects in favor of mind-body exercise intervention to improve positive symptoms (SMD = 0.31; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.60; p = 0.04), negative symptoms (SMD = 0.37; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.60; p = 0.002), and depression (SMD = 0.88; 95% CI 0.63 to 1.13; p<0.00001). Meta-regression analysis revealed that the improvement in positive symptoms was positively associated with the frequency of intervention (p = 0.04), while a marginally significant correlation was observed between the improved negative symptoms and duration of each session (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis supports the therapeutic effects of MBEs to aid in the treatment of schizophrenia. Further studies need to incorporate rigorous design and large sample size to identify the optimal type and dose of mind-body exercise to inform clinical practices on MBEs' recommendations for the management of schizophrenia symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gao-Xia Wei
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Kellie Imm
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Paul D. Loprinzi
- Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United States
| | - Lee Smith
- Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Yu
- Center for Lifestyle and Mental Health, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Exercise and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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3
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Gawel K, Banono NS, Michalak A, Esguerra CV. A critical review of zebrafish schizophrenia models: Time for validation? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:6-22. [PMID: 31381931 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects 1% of the population worldwide and is manifested as a broad spectrum of symptoms, from hallucinations to memory impairment. It is believed that genetic and/or environmental factors may contribute to the occurrence of this disease. Recently, the zebrafish has emerged as a valuable and attractive model for various neurological disorders including schizophrenia. In this review, we describe current pharmacological models of schizophrenia with special emphasis on providing insights into the pros and cons of using zebrafish as a behavioural model of this disease. Moreover, we highlight the advantages and utility of using zebrafish for elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying this psychiatric disorder. We believe that the zebrafish has high potential also in the area of precision medicine and may complement the development of therapeutics, especially for pharmacoresistant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawel
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego St. 8b, 20-090, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Nancy Saana Banono
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Agnieszka Michalak
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki St. 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Camila V Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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Dahoun T, Nour MM, Adams RA, Trossbach S, Lee SH, Patel H, Curtis C, Korth C, Howes OD. Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 functional polymorphisms and D 2 /D 3 receptor availability: A [ 11 C]-(+)-PHNO imaging study. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 18:e12596. [PMID: 31264367 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) protein has been implicated in a range of biological mechanisms underlying chronic mental disorders such as schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is associated with abnormal striatal dopamine signalling, and all antipsychotic drugs block striatal dopamine 2/3 receptors (D2/3 Rs). Importantly, the DISC1 protein directly interacts and forms a protein complex with the dopamine D2 receptor (D2 R) that inhibits agonist-induced D2 R internalisation. Moreover, animal studies have found large striatal increases in the proportion of D2 R receptors in a high affinity state (D2 high R) in DISC1 rodent models. Here, we investigated the relationship between the three most common polymorphisms altering the amino-acid sequence of the DISC1 protein (Ser704Cys (rs821616), Leu607Phe (rs6675281) and Arg264Gln (rs3738401)) and striatal D2/3 R availability in 41 healthy human volunteers, using [11 C]-(+)-PHNO positron emission tomography. We found no association between DISC1 polymorphisms and D2/3 R availability in the striatum and D2 R availability in the caudate and putamen. Therefore, despite a direct interaction between DISC1 and the D2 R, none of its main functional polymorphisms impact striatal D2/3 R binding potential, suggesting DISC1 variants act through other mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarik Dahoun
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, Robert Steiner MRI Unit, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew M Nour
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, Robert Steiner MRI Unit, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK.,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, Russell Square House, London, UK.,Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (WCHN), University College London, London, UK
| | - Rick A Adams
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, Robert Steiner MRI Unit, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.,Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| | - Svenja Trossbach
- Department Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sang H Lee
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,NIHR BioResource Centre Maudsley, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) & Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK.,Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Hamel Patel
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,NIHR BioResource Centre Maudsley, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) & Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK.,Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Charles Curtis
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,NIHR BioResource Centre Maudsley, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) & Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Carsten Korth
- Department Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Oliver D Howes
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, Robert Steiner MRI Unit, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.,Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
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Qiu L, Yan H, Zhu R, Yan J, Yuan H, Han Y, Yue W, Tian L, Zhang D. Correlations between exploratory eye movement, hallucination, and cortical gray matter volume in people with schizophrenia. BMC Psychiatry 2018; 18:226. [PMID: 30005610 PMCID: PMC6045825 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-018-1806-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Widespread cortical gray matter alternations in people with schizophrenia are correlated with both psychotic symptoms and cognitive/behavioral abnormalities, including the impairments of exploratory eye movement (EEM). Particularly, the loss of gray matter density is specifically related to deficits of the responsive search score (RSS) of EEM in schizophrenia. It is unknown, however, whether the schizophrenia-related RSS deficits are associated with certain psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations. METHODS In 33 participants with schizophrenia, the measurement of EEM, assessment of the hallucination severity using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and a voxel-based morphometric analysis of cortical gray matter volume (GMV) were conducted to investigate the relationships between the RSS of EEM, symptom severity, and GMV. In 29 matched healthy controls, the measurement of EEM and a voxel-based morphometric analysis of cortical GMV were also conducted to investigate the relationship between the RSS of EEM and GMV. RESULTS In participants with schizophrenia, the hallucination severity was significantly negatively correlated with both the RSS and the GMV of a large number of brain regions in the frontal, temporal, parietal, orbitofrontal, calcarine, cingulate, and insular cortices, and rolandic operculum, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and thalamus. Also in participants with schizophrenia, the RSS was significantly positively correlated with the GMV in the left supplementary motor area (SMA), left superior frontal cortex (SFG), bilateral precentral gyri, bilateral postcentral gyri, and bilateral middle frontal cortices. More importantly, the GMV of the SMA, SFG, and precentral gyrus in the left hemisphere was not only significantly negatively correlated with the hallucination severity but also significantly positively correlated with the RSS. No significant correlation could be revealed between the RSS and the GMV of any brain regions in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS There was a significantly negative association between the hallucination severity and the RSS of EEM, suggesting that the RSS may be a potential biomarker for predicting the hallucination severity of schizophrenia. Also, the GMV of the left SMA, SFG, and precentral gyrus may be the common substrates underlying both hallucination induction and the RSS in people with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Qiu
- 0000 0000 9490 772Xgrid.186775.aDepartment of Medical Psychology, Chaohu Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui China ,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders & Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, Anhui China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital (Institute of Mental Health), Beijing, China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Hao Yan
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital (Institute of Mental Health), Beijing, China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Risheng Zhu
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital (Institute of Mental Health), Beijing, China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Jun Yan
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital (Institute of Mental Health), Beijing, China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Huishu Yuan
- 0000 0004 0605 3760grid.411642.4The Department of Radiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yonghua Han
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital (Institute of Mental Health), Beijing, China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Weihua Yue
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital (Institute of Mental Health), Beijing, China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Lin Tian
- Peking University Sixth Hospital (Institute of Mental Health), Beijing, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China. .,Department of Psychiatry, the Affiliated Wuxi Mental Health Center of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Dai Zhang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital (Institute of Mental Health), Beijing, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China.
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6
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Huang XF, Song X. Effects of antipsychotic drugs on neurites relevant to schizophrenia treatment. Med Res Rev 2018; 39:386-403. [PMID: 29785841 DOI: 10.1002/med.21512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Although antipsychotic drugs are mainly used for treating schizophrenia, they are widely used for treating various psychiatric diseases in adults, the elderly, adolescents and even children. Today, about 1.2% of the worldwide population suffers from psychosis and related disorders, which translates to about 7.5 million subjects potentially targeted by antipsychotic drugs. Neurites project from the cell body of neurons and connect neurons to each other to form neural networks. Deficits in neurite outgrowth and integrity are implicated in psychiatric diseases including schizophrenia. Neurite deficits contribute to altered brain development, neural networking and connectivity as well as symptoms including psychosis and altered cognitive function. This review revealed that (1) antipsychotic drugs could have profound effects on neurites, synaptic spines and synapse, by which they may influence and regulate neural networking and plasticity; (2) antipsychotic drugs target not only neurotransmitter receptors but also intracellular signaling molecules regulating the signaling pathways responsible for neurite outgrowth and maintenance; (3) high doses and chronic administration of antipsychotic drugs may cause some loss of neurites, synaptic spines, or synapsis in the cortical structures. In addition, confounding effects causing neurite deficits may include elevated inflammatory cytokines and antipsychotic drug-induced metabolic side effects in patients on chronic antipsychotic therapy. Unraveling how antipsychotic drugs affect neurites and neural connectivity is essential for improving therapeutic outcomes and preventing aversive effects for patients on antipsychotic drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Feng Huang
- Henan Medical Key Laboratory of Translational Research on Psychiatric Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,The Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute and School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Xueqin Song
- Henan Medical Key Laboratory of Translational Research on Psychiatric Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Lee A, Shen M, Qiu A. Psychiatric polygenic risk associates with cortical morphology and functional organization in aging. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:1276. [PMID: 29225336 PMCID: PMC5802582 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-017-0036-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Common brain abnormalities in cortical morphology and functional organization are observed in psychiatric disorders and aging, reflecting shared genetic influences. This preliminary study aimed to examine the contribution of a polygenetic risk for psychiatric disorders (PRScross) to aging brain and to identify molecular mechanisms through the use of multimodal brain images, genotypes, and transcriptome data. We showed age-related cortical thinning in bilateral inferior frontal cortex (IFC) and superior temporal gyrus and alterations in the functional connectivity between bilateral IFC and between right IFC and right inferior parietal lobe as a function of PRScross. Interestingly, the genes in PRScross, that contributed most to aging neurodegeneration, were expressed in the functioanlly connected cortical regions. Especially, genes identified through the genotype-functional connectivity association analysis were commonly expressed in both cortical regions and formed strong gene networks with biological processes related to neural plasticity and synaptogenesis, regulated by glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission, neurotrophin signaling, and metabolism. This study suggested integrating genotype and transcriptome with neuroimage data sheds new light on the mechanisms of aging brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Lee
- 0000 0001 2180 6431grid.4280.eDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576 Singapore
| | - Mojun Shen
- 0000 0004 0637 0221grid.185448.4Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, The Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 117609 Singapore
| | - Anqi Qiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore. .,Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, The Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 117609, Singapore. .,Clinical Imaging Research Center, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.
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9
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Cheah SY, Lurie JK, Lawford BR, Young RM, Morris CP, Voisey J. Interaction of multiple gene variants and their effects on schizophrenia phenotypes. Compr Psychiatry 2016; 71:63-70. [PMID: 27636509 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Revised: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a clinically heterogeneous disorder and may be explained by its complex genetic architecture. Many schizophrenia susceptibility genes were identified but the picture remains unclear due to inconsistent or contradictory genetic association studies. This confusion may, in part, be because symptoms result from the combined interaction of many genes and these interacting genes are associated with specific sub-phenotypes of schizophrenia rather than schizophrenia as a whole. This study investigates the relationship between schizophrenia susceptibility genes and schizophrenia sub-phenotypes by identifying multiple gene variant interactions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty SNPs from 21 genes were genotyped in 235 Australian participants with schizophrenia screened for various phenotypes. Schizophrenia participants were grouped into relevant phenotype clusters using cluster analysis and normalized phenotype cluster scores were calculated for each patient. The relationship between genotypes and normalized phenotype cluster scores were analyzed by linear regression analysis. RESULTS Three phenotype clusters were identified. There was some overlap in symptoms between phenotype clusters, particularly for depression. However, cluster 1 appears to be characterized by speech disorder and affective behavior symptoms, cluster 2 has predominantly hallucination symptoms and cluster 3 has mainly delusion symptoms. Interaction of five SNPs was found to have an effect on cluster 1 symptoms; ten SNPs on cluster 2 symptoms; and eight SNPs on cluster 3 symptoms. CONCLUSION The interaction of specific susceptibility genes is likely to lead to specific clinical sub-phenotypes of schizophrenia. Larger patient cohorts with more extensive clinical data will improve the detection of gene interactions and the resultant schizophrenia clinical phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sern-Yih Cheah
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave., Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Janine K Lurie
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave., Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Bruce R Lawford
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave., Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia; Discipline of Psychiatry, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
| | - Ross McD Young
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave., Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Charles P Morris
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave., Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Joanne Voisey
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave., Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
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10
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Increased density of DISC1-immunoreactive oligodendroglial cells in fronto-parietal white matter of patients with paranoid schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2016; 266:495-504. [PMID: 26315603 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-015-0640-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Profound white matter abnormalities have repeatedly been described in schizophrenia, which involve the altered expression of numerous oligodendrocyte-associated genes. Transcripts of the disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene, a key susceptibility factor in schizophrenia, have recently been shown to be expressed by oligodendroglial cells and to negatively regulate oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation. To learn more about the putative role(s) of oligodendroglia-associated DISC1 in schizophrenia, we analyzed the density of DISC1-immunoreactive oligodendrocytes in the fronto-parietal white matter in postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia. Compared with controls (N = 12) and cases with undifferentiated/residual schizophrenia (N = 6), there was a significantly increased density of DISC1-expressing glial cells in paranoid schizophrenia (N = 12), which unlikely resulted from neuroleptic treatment. Pathophysiologically, over-expression of DISC1 protein(s) in white matter oligodendrocytes might add to the reduced levels of two myelin markers, 2',3'-cyclic-nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase and myelin basic protein in schizophrenia. Moreover, it might significantly contribute to cell cycle abnormalities as well as to deficits in oligodendroglial cell differentiation and maturation found in schizophrenia.
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11
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Mühle C, Kreczi J, Rhein C, Richter-Schmidinger T, Alexopoulos P, Doerfler A, Lenz B, Kornhuber J. Additive sex-specific influence of common non-synonymous DISC1 variants on amygdala, basal ganglia, and white cortical surface area in healthy young adults. Brain Struct Funct 2016; 222:881-894. [PMID: 27369464 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-016-1253-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) gene is known for its role in the development of mental disorders. It is also involved in neurodevelopment, cognition, and memory. To investigate the association between DISC1 variants and brain morphology, we analyzed the influence of the three common non-synonymous polymorphisms in DISC1 on specific brain structures in healthy young adults. The volumes of brain regions were determined in 145 subjects by magnetic resonance imaging and automated analysis using FreeSurfer. Genotyping was performed by high resolution melting of amplified products. In an additive genetic model, rs6675281 (Leu607Phe), rs3738401 (Arg264Gln), and rs821616 (Ser704Cys) significantly explained the volume variance of the amygdala (p = 0.007) and the pallidum (p = 0.004). A higher cumulative portion of minor alleles was associated with larger volumes of the amygdala (p = 0.005), the pallidum (p = 0.001), the caudate (p = 0.024), and the putamen (p = 0.007). Sex-stratified analysis revealed a strong genetic effect of rs6675281 on putamen and pallidum in females but not in males and an opposite influence of rs3738401 on the white cortical surface in females compared to males. The strongest single association was found for rs821616 and the amygdala volume in male subjects (p < 0.001). No effect was detected for the nucleus accumbens. We report-to our knowledge-for the first time a significant and sex-specific influence of common DISC1 variants on volumes of the basal ganglia, the amygdala and on the cortical surface area. Our results demonstrate that the additive model of all three polymorphisms outperforms their single analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Jakob Kreczi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Cosima Rhein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tanja Richter-Schmidinger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Panagiotis Alexopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Arnd Doerfler
- Department of Neuroradiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernd Lenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
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12
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Schwarz E, Tost H, Meyer-Lindenberg A. Working memory genetics in schizophrenia and related disorders: An RDoC perspective. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2016; 171B:121-31. [PMID: 26365198 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Improved classification of mental disorders through neurobiological measures will require a set of traits that map to transdiagnostic subgroups of patients and align with heritable, core psychopathological processes at the center of the disorders of interest. A promising candidate is working memory (WM) function, for which deficits have been reported across multiple diagnostic entities including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, autism, and major depressive disorder. Here we review genetic working memory associations and their brain functional correlates from the perspective of identifying patient subgroups across conventional diagnostic boundaries, explore the utility of multimodal investigations integrating functional information at the neural systems level and explore potential limitations as well as future directions for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel Schwarz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Heike Tost
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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13
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Arnsten AFT. Stress weakens prefrontal networks: molecular insults to higher cognition. Nat Neurosci 2015; 18:1376-85. [PMID: 26404712 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 439] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A variety of cognitive disorders are worsened by stress exposure and involve dysfunction of the newly evolved prefrontal cortex (PFC). Exposure to acute, uncontrollable stress increases catecholamine release in PFC, reducing neuronal firing and impairing cognitive abilities. High levels of noradrenergic α1-adrenoceptor and dopaminergic D1 receptor stimulation activate feedforward calcium-protein kinase C and cyclic AMP-protein kinase A signaling, which open potassium channels to weaken synaptic efficacy in spines. In contrast, high levels of catecholamines strengthen the primary sensory cortices, amygdala and striatum, rapidly flipping the brain from reflective to reflexive control of behavior. These mechanisms are exaggerated by chronic stress exposure, where architectural changes lead to persistent loss of PFC function. Understanding these mechanisms has led to the successful translation of prazosin and guanfacine for treating stress-related disorders. Dysregulation of stress signaling pathways by genetic insults likely contributes to PFC deficits in schizophrenia, while age-related insults initiate interacting vicious cycles that increase vulnerability to Alzheimer's degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy F T Arnsten
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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14
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Whalley HC, Dimitrova R, Sprooten E, Dauvermann MR, Romaniuk L, Duff B, Watson AR, Moorhead B, Bastin M, Semple SI, Giles S, Hall J, Thomson P, Roberts N, Hughes ZA, Brandon NJ, Dunlop J, Whitcher B, Blackwood DHR, McIntosh AM, Lawrie SM. Effects of a Balanced Translocation between Chromosomes 1 and 11 Disrupting the DISC1 Locus on White Matter Integrity. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130900. [PMID: 26102360 PMCID: PMC4477898 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Individuals carrying rare, but biologically informative genetic variants provide a unique opportunity to model major mental illness and inform understanding of disease mechanisms. The rarity of such variations means that their study involves small group numbers, however they are amongst the strongest known genetic risk factors for major mental illness and are likely to have large neural effects. DISC1 (Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1) is a gene containing one such risk variant, identified in a single Scottish family through its disruption by a balanced translocation of chromosomes 1 and 11; t(1;11) (q42.1;q14.3). Method Within the original pedigree, we examined the effects of the t(1;11) translocation on white matter integrity, measured by fractional anisotropy (FA). This included family members with (n = 7) and without (n = 13) the translocation, along with a clinical control sample of patients with psychosis (n = 34), and a group of healthy controls (n = 33). Results We report decreased white matter integrity in five clusters in the genu of the corpus callosum, the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, acoustic radiation and fornix. Analysis of the mixed psychosis group also demonstrated decreased white matter integrity in the above regions. FA values within the corpus callosum correlated significantly with positive psychotic symptom severity. Conclusions We demonstrate that the t(1;11) translocation is associated with reduced white matter integrity in frontal commissural and association fibre tracts. These findings overlap with those shown in affected patients with psychosis and in DISC1 animal models and highlight the value of rare but biologically informative mutations in modeling psychosis.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Bipolar Disorder/genetics
- Bipolar Disorder/pathology
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1/genetics
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1/ultrastructure
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11/genetics
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11/ultrastructure
- Corpus Callosum/pathology
- Cyclothymic Disorder/genetics
- Cyclothymic Disorder/pathology
- Depressive Disorder, Major/genetics
- Depressive Disorder, Major/pathology
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging
- Exons/genetics
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/deficiency
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/physiology
- Schizophrenia/genetics
- Schizophrenia/pathology
- Severity of Illness Index
- Translocation, Genetic
- White Matter/pathology
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C. Whalley
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Rali Dimitrova
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for the Developing Brain, St Thomas’ Hospital, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Sprooten
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Maria R. Dauvermann
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Liana Romaniuk
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Duff
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R. Watson
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Bill Moorhead
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Bastin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Western General Hospital, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Scott I. Semple
- Clinical Research Imaging Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Giles
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Pippa Thomson
- Department of Medical Genetics, MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Roberts
- Clinical Research Imaging Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Zoe A. Hughes
- Neuroscience Research Unit, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Nick J. Brandon
- Neuroscience Research Unit, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Current affiliation: AstraZeneca Neuroscience IMED, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - John Dunlop
- Neuroscience Research Unit, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Current affiliation: AstraZeneca Neuroscience IMED, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Brandon Whitcher
- Clinical and Translational Imaging, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | | | - Andrew M. McIntosh
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen M. Lawrie
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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15
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van der Velde J, Gromann PM, Swart M, de Haan L, Wiersma D, Bruggeman R, Krabbendam L, Aleman A. Grey matter, an endophenotype for schizophrenia? A voxel-based morphometry study in siblings of patients with schizophrenia. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2015; 40:207-13. [PMID: 25768029 PMCID: PMC4409438 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.140064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Grey matter, both volume and concentration, has been proposed as an endophenotype for schizophrenia given a number of reports of grey matter abnormalities in relatives of patients with schizophrenia. However, previous studies on grey matter abnormalities in relatives have produced inconsistent results. The aim of the present study was to examine grey matter differences between controls and siblings of patients with schizophrenia and to examine whether the age, genetic loading or subclinical psychotic symptoms of selected individuals could explain the previously reported inconsistencies. METHODS We compared the grey matter volume and grey matter concentration of healthy siblings of patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls matched for age, sex and education using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Furthermore, we selected subsamples based on age (< 30 yr), genetic loading and subclinical psychotic symptoms to examine whether this would lead to different results. RESULTS We included 89 siblings and 69 controls in our study. The results showed that siblings and controls did not differ significantly on grey matter volume or concentration. Furthermore, specifically selecting participants based on age, genetic loading or subclinical psychotic symptoms did not alter these findings. LIMITATIONS The main limitation was that subdividing the sample resulted in smaller samples for the subanalyses. Furthermore, we used MRI data from 2 different scanner sites. CONCLUSION These results indicate that grey matter measured through VBM might not be a suitable endophenotype for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorien van der Velde
- Correspondence to: J van der Velde, Department of Neuroscience, Neuroimaging Center, UMCG-O&O, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands;
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16
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Koyama Y, Hattori T, Nishida T, Hori O, Tohyama M. Alterations in dendrite and spine morphology of cortical pyramidal neurons in DISC1-binding zinc finger protein (DBZ) knockout mice. Front Neuroanat 2015; 9:52. [PMID: 25983680 PMCID: PMC4415407 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2015.00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendrite and dendritic spine formation are crucial for proper brain function. DISC1-binding zinc finger protein (DBZ) was first identified as a Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia1 (DISC1) binding partner. DBZ is highly expressed in the cerebral cortex of developing and adult rodents and is involved in neurite formation, cell positioning, and the development of interneurons and oligodendrocytes. The functional roles of DBZ in postnatal brain remain unknown; thus we investigated cortical pyramidal neuron morphology in DBZ knockout (KO) mice. Morphological analyses by Golgi staining alone in DBZ KO mice revealed decreased dendritic arborization, increased spine density. A morphological analysis of the spines revealed markedly increased numbers of thin spines. To investigate whole spine structure in detail, electron tomographic analysis using ultra-high voltage electron microscopy (UHVEM) combined with Golgi staining was performed. Tomograms and three-dimensional models of spines revealed that the spines of DBZ KO mice exhibited two types of characteristic morphology, filopodia-like spines and abnormal thin-necked spines having an extremely thin spine neck. Moreover, conventional electron microscopy revealed significantly decreased number of postsynaptic densities (PSDs) in spines of DBZ KO mice. In conclusion, DBZ deficiency impairs the morphogenesis of dendrites and spines in cortical pyramidal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihisa Koyama
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka UniversitySuita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Hattori
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
- Department of Child Development and Molecular Brain Science, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui SuitaOsaka, Japan
| | - Tomoki Nishida
- Research Center for Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscopy, Osaka UniversitySuita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Osamu Hori
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical SciencesKanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Masaya Tohyama
- Division of Molecular Brain Science, Research Institute of Traditional Asian Medicine, Kinki UniversityOsaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan
- Osaka Prefectural Hospital OrganizationOsaka, Japan
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17
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Stacey D, Redlich R, Opel N, Grotegerd D, Arolt V, Kugel H, Heindel W, Baune BT, Dannlowski U. No evidence of DISC1-associated morphological changes in the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, or striatum in major depressive disorder cases and healthy controls. J Affect Disord 2014; 166:103-7. [PMID: 25012417 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Revised: 04/30/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND DISC1 imaging genetics studies in healthy controls, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder cases have revealed morphological changes in brain regions involved in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disease including the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the striatum. However, many of these studies have yielded discordant findings so there is a need for replication. Furthermore, despite evidence from human genetic studies and animal models implicating DISC1 in major depressive disorder (MDD), a DISC1 imaging genetics study in MDD cases has yet to be published. Thus, using neuroimaging data from MDD cases and a large sample of healthy controls we aimed to identify morphological changes representing neurobiological mechanisms underlying the association between DISC1 and MDD. METHODS We utilized structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data from 512 healthy controls and 171 current MDD (SCID interview) cases, each with genotype data for non-synonymous DISC1 SNPs rs3738401, rs6675281, and rs821616. RESULTS Region of interest analyses failed to reveal DISC1-associated morphological changes in the hippocampus, ACC, or striatum in MDD patients and healthy controls. Whole brain exploratory analyses identified a nominally significant cluster mapping to the border of the precentral and postcentral gyri associated with rs821616 in healthy controls only (p(uncorrected)<0.001). LIMITATIONS We focused our analyses exclusively on three, but previously heavily studied, SNPs in DISC1. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that morphological changes in the hippocampus, ACC, and/or striatum of MDD patients do not represent neurobiological mechanisms underlying the association between DISC1 and MDD. However, we urge replication in independent samples of MDD cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Stacey
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Level 4, Eleanor Harrald Building, Frome Road, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Ronny Redlich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Germany
| | - Nils Opel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Germany
| | | | - Volker Arolt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Germany
| | - Harald Kugel
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany
| | - Walter Heindel
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany
| | - Bernhard T Baune
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Level 4, Eleanor Harrald Building, Frome Road, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Udo Dannlowski
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Germany
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18
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Gong X, Lu W, Kendrick KM, Pu W, Wang C, Jin L, Lu G, Liu Z, Liu H, Feng J. A brain-wide association study of DISC1 genetic variants reveals a relationship with the structure and functional connectivity of the precuneus in schizophrenia. Hum Brain Mapp 2014; 35:5414-30. [PMID: 24909300 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Revised: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Disrupted in Schizophrenia Gene 1 (DISC1) plays a role in both neural signaling and development and is associated with schizophrenia, although its links to altered brain structure and function in this disorder are not fully established. Here we have used structural and functional MRI to investigate links with six DISC1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We employed a brain-wide association analysis (BWAS) together with a Jacknife internal validation approach in 46 schizophrenia patients and 24 matched healthy control subjects. Results from structural MRI showed significant associations between all six DISC1 variants and gray matter volume in the precuneus, post-central gyrus and middle cingulate gyrus. Associations with specific SNPs were found for rs2738880 in the left precuneus and right post-central gyrus, and rs1535530 in the right precuneus and middle cingulate gyrus. Using regions showing structural associations as seeds a resting-state functional connectivity analysis revealed significant associations between all 6 SNPS and connectivity between the right precuneus and inferior frontal gyrus. The connection between the right precuneus and inferior frontal gyrus was also specifically associated with rs821617. Importantly schizophrenia patients showed positive correlations between the six DISC-1 SNPs associated gray matter volume in the left precuneus and right post-central gyrus and negative symptom severity. No correlations with illness duration were found. Our results provide the first evidence suggesting a key role for structural and functional connectivity associations between DISC1 polymorphisms and the precuneus in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Gong
- Centre for Computational Systems Biology, School of Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
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19
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Knickmeyer RC, Wang J, Zhu H, Geng X, Woolson S, Hamer RM, Konneker T, Lin W, Styner M, Gilmore JH. Common variants in psychiatric risk genes predict brain structure at birth. Cereb Cortex 2014; 24:1230-46. [PMID: 23283688 PMCID: PMC3977618 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhs401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies in adolescents and adults have demonstrated that polymorphisms in putative psychiatric risk genes are associated with differences in brain structure, but cannot address when in development these relationships arise. To determine if common genetic variants in disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1; rs821616 and rs6675281), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT; rs4680), neuregulin 1 (NRG1; rs35753505 and rs6994992), apolipoprotein E (APOE; ε3ε4 vs. ε3ε3), estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1; rs9340799 and rs2234693), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF; rs6265), and glutamate decarboxylase 1 (GAD1; rs2270335) are associated with individual differences in brain tissue volumes in neonates, we applied both automated region-of-interest volumetry and tensor-based morphometry to a sample of 272 neonates who had received high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans. ESR1 (rs9340799) predicted intracranial volume. Local variation in gray matter (GM) volume was significantly associated with polymorphisms in DISC1 (rs821616), COMT, NRG1, APOE, ESR1 (rs9340799), and BDNF. No associations were identified for DISC1 (rs6675281), ESR1 (rs2234693), or GAD1. Of note, neonates homozygous for the DISC1 (rs821616) serine allele exhibited numerous large clusters of reduced GM in the frontal lobes, and neonates homozygous for the COMT valine allele exhibited reduced GM in the temporal cortex and hippocampus, mirroring findings in adults. The results highlight the importance of prenatal brain development in mediating psychiatric risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Thomas Konneker
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | - Martin Styner
- Department of Psychiatry
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA and
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20
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Vázquez-Bourgon J, Mata I, Roiz-Santiáñez R, Ayesa-Arriola R, Suárez Pinilla P, Tordesillas-Gutiérrez D, Vázquez-Barquero JL, Crespo-Facorro B. A Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 Gene Variant is Associated with Clinical Symptomatology in Patients with First-Episode Psychosis. Psychiatry Investig 2014; 11:186-91. [PMID: 24843375 PMCID: PMC4023094 DOI: 10.4306/pi.2014.11.2.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2013] [Revised: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE DISC1 gene is one of the main candidate genes for schizophrenia since it has been associated to the illness in several populations. Moreover, variations in several DISC1 polymorphisms, and in particular Ser704Cys SNP, have been associated in schizophrenic patients to structural and functional modifications in two brain areas (pre-frontal cortex and hippocampus) that play a central role in the genesis of psychotic symptoms. This study tested the association between Ser704Cys DISC1 polymorphism and the clinical onset of psychosis. METHODS Two hundred and thirteen Caucasian drug-naive patients experiencing a first episode of non-affective psychosis were genotyped for rs821616 (Ser704Cys) SNP of the DISC1 gene. The clinical severity of the illness was assessed using SAPS and SANS scales. Other clinical and socio-demographic variables were recorded to rule out possible confounding effects. RESULTS Patients homozygous for the Ser allele of the Ser704Cys DISC1 SNP had significantly (p<0.05) higher rates at the positive symptoms dimension (SAPS-SANS scales) and hallucinations item, compared to Cys carriers. CONCLUSION DISC1 gene variations may modulate the clinical severity of the psychosis at the onset of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Vázquez-Bourgon
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla-IFIMAV, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Mata
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Roiz-Santiáñez
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla-IFIMAV, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Ayesa-Arriola
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla-IFIMAV, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Suárez Pinilla
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla-IFIMAV, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Diana Tordesillas-Gutiérrez
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla-IFIMAV, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Vázquez-Barquero
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla-IFIMAV, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Benedicto Crespo-Facorro
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla-IFIMAV, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
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McCullumsmith RE, Hammond JH, Shan D, Meador-Woodruff JH. Postmortem brain: an underutilized substrate for studying severe mental illness. Neuropsychopharmacology 2014; 39:65-87. [PMID: 24091486 PMCID: PMC3857666 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2013.239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Revised: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
We propose that postmortem tissue is an underutilized substrate that may be used to translate genetic and/or preclinical studies, particularly for neuropsychiatric illnesses with complex etiologies. Postmortem brain tissues from subjects with schizophrenia have been extensively studied, and thus serve as a useful vehicle for illustrating the challenges associated with this biological substrate. Schizophrenia is likely caused by a combination of genetic risk and environmental factors that combine to create a disease phenotype that is typically not apparent until late adolescence. The complexity of this illness creates challenges for hypothesis testing aimed at understanding the pathophysiology of the illness, as postmortem brain tissues collected from individuals with schizophrenia reflect neuroplastic changes from a lifetime of severe mental illness, as well as treatment with antipsychotic medications. While there are significant challenges with studying postmortem brain, such as the postmortem interval, it confers a translational element that is difficult to recapitulate in animal models. On the other hand, data derived from animal models typically provide specific mechanistic and behavioral measures that cannot be generated using human subjects. Convergence of these two approaches has led to important insights for understanding molecular deficits and their causes in this illness. In this review, we discuss the problem of schizophrenia, review the common challenges related to postmortem studies, discuss the application of biochemical approaches to this substrate, and present examples of postmortem schizophrenia studies that illustrate the role of the postmortem approach for generating important new leads for understanding the pathophysiology of severe mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John H Hammond
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Dan Shan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - James H Meador-Woodruff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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22
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Gamo NJ, Duque A, Paspalas CD, Kata A, Fine R, Boven L, Bryan C, Lo T, Anighoro K, Bermudez L, Peng K, Annor A, Raja A, Mansson E, Taylor SR, Patel K, Simen AA, Arnsten AFT. Role of disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) in stress-induced prefrontal cognitive dysfunction. Transl Psychiatry 2013; 3:e328. [PMID: 24301646 PMCID: PMC4030323 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2013.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2012] [Revised: 10/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent genetic studies have linked mental illness to alterations in disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), a multifunctional scaffolding protein that regulates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling via interactions with phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4). High levels of cAMP during stress exposure impair function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region gravely afflicted in mental illness. As stress can aggravate mental illness, genetic insults to DISC1 may worsen symptoms by increasing cAMP levels. The current study examined whether viral knockdown (KD) of the Disc1 gene in rat PFC increases susceptibility to stress-induced PFC dysfunction. Rats were trained in a spatial working memory task before receiving infusions of (a) an active viral construct that knocked down Disc1 in PFC (DISC1 KD group), (b) a 'scrambled' construct that had no effect on Disc1 (Scrambled group), or (c) an active construct that reduced DISC1 expression dorsal to PFC (Anatomical Control group). Data were compared with an unoperated Control group. Cognitive performance was assessed following mild restraint stress that had no effect on normal animals. DISC1 KD rats were impaired by 1 h restraint stress, whereas Scrambled, Control, and Anatomical Control groups were unaffected. Thus, knocking down Disc1 in PFC reduced the threshold for stress-induced cognitive dysfunction, possibly through disinhibited cAMP signaling at neuronal network synapses. These findings may explain why patients with DISC1 mutations may be especially vulnerable to the effects of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- N J Gamo
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA,Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. E-mail:
| | - A Duque
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - C D Paspalas
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A Kata
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - R Fine
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - L Boven
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - C Bryan
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - T Lo
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - K Anighoro
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - L Bermudez
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - K Peng
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A Annor
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A Raja
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - E Mansson
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - S R Taylor
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - K Patel
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A A Simen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A F T Arnsten
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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23
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Koyama Y, Hattori T, Shimizu S, Taniguchi M, Yamada K, Takamura H, Kumamoto N, Matsuzaki S, Ito A, Katayama T, Tohyama M. DBZ (DISC1-binding zinc finger protein)-deficient mice display abnormalities in basket cells in the somatosensory cortices. J Chem Neuroanat 2013; 53:1-10. [PMID: 23912123 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2013.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Revised: 07/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1)-binding zinc finger protein (DBZ) is a DISC1-interacting molecule and the interaction between DBZ and DISC1 is involved in neurite outgrowth in vitro. DBZ is highly expressed in brain, especially in the cortex. However, the physiological roles of DBZ in vivo have not been clarified. Here, we show that development of basket cells, a morphologically defined class of parvalbumin (PV)-containing interneurons, is disturbed in DBZ knockout (KO) mice. DBZ mRNA was highly expressed in the ventral area of the subventricular zone of the medial ganglionic eminence, where PV-containing cortical interneurons were generated, at embryonic 14.5 days (E14.5). Although the expression level for PV and the number of PV-containing interneurons were not altered in the cortices of DBZ KO mice, basket cells were less branched and had shorter processes in the somatosensory cortices of DBZ KO mice compared with those in the cortices of WT mice. Furthermore, in the somatosensory cortices of DBZ KO mice, the level of mRNAs for the gamma-aminobutyric acid-synthesizing enzymes GAD67 was decreased. These findings show that DBZ is involved in the morphogenesis of basket cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihisa Koyama
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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24
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Duff BJ, Macritchie KAN, Moorhead TWJ, Lawrie SM, Blackwood DHR. Human brain imaging studies of DISC1 in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression: a systematic review. Schizophr Res 2013; 147:1-13. [PMID: 23602339 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Revised: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a well researched candidate gene for schizophrenia and affective disorders with a range of functions relating to neurodevelopment. Several human brain imaging studies investigating correlations between common and rare variants in DISC1 and brain structure and function have shown conflicting results. A meta-analysis of case/control data showed no association between schizophrenia and any common SNP in DISC1. Therefore it is timely to review the literature to plan the direction of future studies. Twenty-two human brain imaging studies have examined the influence of DISC1 variants in health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or depression. The most studied common SNPs are Ser704Cys (rs821616) and Leu607Phe (rs6675281). Some imaging-genomic studies report effects on frontal, temporal and hippocampal structural indices in health and illness and a volumetric longitudinal study supports a putative role for these common SNPs in neurodevelopment. Callosal agenesis is described in association with rare deletions at 1q42 which include DISC1 and rare sequence variants at DISC1 itself. DISC1 interactions with translin-associated factor X (TRAX) and neuregulin have been shown to influence several regional volumes. In the first study involving neonates, a role for Ser704Cys (rs821616) has been highlighted in prenatal brain development with large clusters of reduced grey matter reported in the frontal lobes. Functional MRI studies examining associations between Ser704Cys (rs821616) and Leu607Phe (rs6675281) with prefrontal and hippocampal activation have also given inconsistent results. Prefrontal function was reported to be associated with interaction between DISC1 and CITRON (CIT) in health. Preliminary magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion tensor data support the influence of Ser704Cys (rs821616) status on grey and white matter integrity. The glutamate system remains uninvestigated. Associations between rare sequence variants and structural changes in brain regions including the corpus callosum and effects of gene-gene interactions on brain structure and function are promising areas for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara J Duff
- University of Edinburgh, Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, United Kingdom.
| | - Karine A N Macritchie
- University of Edinburgh, Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas W J Moorhead
- University of Edinburgh, Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen M Lawrie
- University of Edinburgh, Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, United Kingdom
| | - Douglas H R Blackwood
- University of Edinburgh, Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, United Kingdom
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25
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Ozomaro U, Wahlestedt C, Nemeroff CB. Personalized medicine in psychiatry: problems and promises. BMC Med 2013; 11:132. [PMID: 23680237 PMCID: PMC3668172 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-11-132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Accepted: 04/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The central theme of personalized medicine is the premise that an individual's unique physiologic characteristics play a significant role in both disease vulnerability and in response to specific therapies. The major goals of personalized medicine are therefore to predict an individual's susceptibility to developing an illness, achieve accurate diagnosis, and optimize the most efficient and favorable response to treatment. The goal of achieving personalized medicine in psychiatry is a laudable one, because its attainment should be associated with a marked reduction in morbidity and mortality. In this review, we summarize an illustrative selection of studies that are laying the foundation towards personalizing medicine in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. In addition, we present emerging applications that are likely to advance personalized medicine in psychiatry, with an emphasis on novel biomarkers and neuroimaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uzoezi Ozomaro
- University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Claes Wahlestedt
- University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Charles B Nemeroff
- University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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26
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Tsang SY, Zhong S, Mei L, Chen J, Ng SK, Pun FW, Zhao C, Jing B, Chark R, Guo J, Tan Y, Li L, Wang C, Chew SH, Xue H. Social cognitive role of schizophrenia candidate gene GABRB2. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62322. [PMID: 23638040 PMCID: PMC3634734 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The occurrence of positive selection in schizophrenia-associated GABRB2 suggests a broader impact of the gene product on population fitness. The present study considered the possibility of cognition-related GABRB2 involvement by examining the association of GABRB2 with psychosis and altruism, respectively representing psychiatric and psychological facets of social cognition. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped for quantitative trait analyses and population-based association studies. Psychosis was measured by either the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) or antipsychotics dosage, and altruism was based on a self-report altruism scale. The minor alleles of SNPs rs6556547, rs1816071 and rs187269 in GABRB2 were correlated with high PANSS score for positive symptoms in a Han Chinese schizophrenic cohort, whereas those of rs1816071 and rs1816072 were associated with high antipsychotics dosage in a US Caucasian schizophrenic cohort. Moreover, strongly significant GABRB2-disease associations were found among schizophrenics with severe psychosis based on high PANSS positive score, but no significant association was observed for schizophrenics with only mild psychosis. Interestingly, in addition to association with psychosis in schizophrenics, rs187269 was also associated with altruism in healthy Han Chinese. Furthermore, parallel to correlation with severe psychosis, its minor allele was correlated with high altruism scores. These findings revealed that GABRB2 is associated with psychosis, the core symptom and an endophenotype of schizophrenia. Importantly, the association was found across the breadth of the psychiatric (psychosis) to psychological (altruism) spectrum of social cognition suggesting GABRB2 involvement in human cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shui Ying Tsang
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Laboratory, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Songfa Zhong
- Department of Economics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Economics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Rep. of Singapore
| | - Lingling Mei
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Laboratory, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jianhuan Chen
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Laboratory, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu-Kin Ng
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Laboratory, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Frank W. Pun
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Laboratory, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Center for Statistical Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cunyou Zhao
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Laboratory, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bingyi Jing
- Center for Statistical Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Mathematics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Robin Chark
- Department of Marketing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Rep. of Singapore
| | - Jianhua Guo
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Yunlong Tan
- Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lijun Li
- Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuanyue Wang
- Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Soo Hong Chew
- Department of Economics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Economics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Rep. of Singapore
| | - Hong Xue
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Laboratory, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Center for Statistical Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- * E-mail:
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27
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Trost S, Platz B, Usher J, Scherk H, Wobrock T, Ekawardhani S, Meyer J, Reith W, Falkai P, Gruber O. DISC1 (disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1) is associated with cortical grey matter volumes in the human brain: a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) study. J Psychiatr Res 2013; 47:188-96. [PMID: 23140672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2012.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2012] [Revised: 08/08/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
DISC1 (Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1), one of the top candidate genes for schizophrenia, has been associated with a range of major mental illnesses over the last two decades. DISC1 is crucially involved in neurodevelopmental processes of the human brain. Several haplotypes and single nucleotide polymorphisms of DISC1 have been associated with changes of grey matter volumes in brain regions known to be altered in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of DISC1 on grey matter volumes in human subjects using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). 114/113 participating subjects (psychiatric patients and healthy controls) were genotyped with respect to two at-risk SNPs of DISC1, rs6675281 and rs821616. All participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI data was statistically analyzed using voxel-based morphometry. We found significant alterations of grey matter volumes in prefrontal and temporal brain regions in association with rs6675281 and rs821616. These effects of DISC1 polymorphisms on brain morphology provide further support for an involvement of DISC1 in the neurobiology of major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Trost
- Centre for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany.
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28
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Thomson PA, Malavasi ELV, Grünewald E, Soares DC, Borkowska M, Millar JK. DISC1 genetics, biology and psychiatric illness. FRONTIERS IN BIOLOGY 2013; 8:1-31. [PMID: 23550053 PMCID: PMC3580875 DOI: 10.1007/s11515-012-1254-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are highly heritable, and in many individuals likely arise from the combined effects of genes and the environment. A substantial body of evidence points towards DISC1 being one of the genes that influence risk of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, and functional studies of DISC1 consequently have the potential to reveal much about the pathways that lead to major mental illness. Here, we review the evidence that DISC1 influences disease risk through effects upon multiple critical pathways in the developing and adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pippa A Thomson
- The Centre for Molecular Medicine at the Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
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29
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Narayan S, Nakajima K, Sawa A. DISC1: a key lead in studying cortical development and associated brain disorders. Neuroscientist 2013; 19:451-64. [PMID: 23300216 DOI: 10.1177/1073858412470168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
For the past decade, DISC1 has been studied as a promising lead to understand the biology underlying major mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia. Consequently, many review articles on DISC1 have been published. In this article, rather than repeating comprehensive overviews of research articles, we will introduce the utility of DISC1 in the study of cortical development in association with a wide range of developmental brain disorders. Cortical development involves cell autonomous and cell nonautonomous mechanisms as well as host responses to environmental factors, all of which involve DISC1 function. Thus, we will discuss the significance of DISC1 in forming an overall understanding of multiple mechanisms that orchestrate corticogenesis and can serve as therapeutic targets in diseases caused by abnormal cortical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Narayan
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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30
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Hikida T, Gamo NJ, Sawa A. DISC1 as a therapeutic target for mental illnesses. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2012; 16:1151-60. [PMID: 23130881 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2012.719879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Many genetic studies have indicated that DISC1 is not merely "disrupted-in-schizophrenia," but is more generally implicated in various brain dysfunctions associated with aberrant neurodevelopment and intracellular signaling pathways. Thus, the DISC1 gene is mildly associated with a variety of brain disorders, including schizophrenia, mood disorders, and autism. This novel concept fits with the results from biological studies of DISC1, which include cell and animal models. AREAS COVERED We review the molecular structure and functions of DISC1, particularly those in conjunction with its important interactors. Functions of these interacting proteins are also introduced under the concept of the "DISC1 interactome." Finally, we discuss how the DISC1 interactome can provide potential therapeutic targets for mental illnesses. EXPERT OPINION Modulation of DISC1 stability and post-transcriptional modifications may be key targets to address DISC1-related pathology. In addition, modulation of DISC1 interactors and the mechanisms of their interactions with DISC1 may also provide drug targets. Disc1 rodent models can subsequently be used as templates for in vivo validations of compounds designed for DISC1 and its interacting proteins. Furthermore, these rodents will serve as genetic models for schizophrenia and related conditions, especially in conjunction with their pathologies during the neurodevelopmental trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takatoshi Hikida
- Kyoto University School of Medicine, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto, Japan.
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31
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Statistical epistasis and progressive brain change in schizophrenia: an approach for examining the relationships between multiple genes. Mol Psychiatry 2012; 17:1093-102. [PMID: 21876540 PMCID: PMC3235542 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2011.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Although schizophrenia is generally considered to occur as a consequence of multiple genes that interact with one another, very few methods have been developed to model epistasis. Phenotype definition has also been a major challenge for research on the genetics of schizophrenia. In this report, we use novel statistical techniques to address the high dimensionality of genomic data, and we apply a refinement in phenotype definition by basing it on the occurrence of brain changes during the early course of the illness, as measured by repeated magnetic resonance scans (i.e., an 'intermediate phenotype.') The method combines a machine-learning algorithm, the ensemble method using stochastic gradient boosting, with traditional general linear model statistics. We began with 14 genes that are relevant to schizophrenia, based on association studies or their role in neurodevelopment, and then used statistical techniques to reduce them to five genes and 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that had a significant statistical interaction: five for PDE4B, four for RELN, four for ERBB4, three for DISC1 and one for NRG1. Five of the SNPs involved in these interactions replicate previous research in that, these five SNPs have previously been identified as schizophrenia vulnerability markers or implicate cognitive processes relevant to schizophrenia. This ability to replicate previous work suggests that our method has potential for detecting a meaningful epistatic relationship among the genes that influence brain abnormalities in schizophrenia.
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32
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Wei Q, Diao F, Kang Z, Gan Z, Han Z, Zheng L, Li L, Guo X, Shan B, Liu C, Zhao J, Zhang J. The effect of DISC1 on regional gray matter density of schizophrenia in Han Chinese population. Neurosci Lett 2012; 517:21-4. [PMID: 22516458 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2012.03.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2012] [Revised: 03/30/2012] [Accepted: 03/31/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is thought to arise in part from abnormal gray matter (GM), which are partly shared by the relatives of the probands. DISC1 is one of the most promising susceptibility genes of schizophrenia and a SNP rs821597 (A) in the gene was associated with schizophrenia in Han Chinese population. In this study, 61 healthy controls and 72 with schizophrenic patients were genotyped at rs821597, and underwent T1-weighted MRI for the density of GM. The results showed that the risk allele (A) carriers had higher GM density in regional left parahippocampal gyrus and right orbitofrontal cortex in schizophrenic patients, but had reduced GM density of these brain regions in healthy controls. The DISC1 variant rs821597 may confer risk for schizophrenia by its effects on the regional GM in left parahippocampal gyrus and right orbitofrontal cortex with other risk factors for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinling Wei
- Psychiatry Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, PR China
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33
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Whalley HC, Sussmann JE, Johnstone M, Romaniuk L, Redpath H, Chakirova G, Mukherjee P, Hall J, Johnstone EC, Lawrie SM, McIntosh AM. Effects of a mis-sense DISC1 variant on brain activation in two cohorts at high risk of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2012; 159B:343-53. [PMID: 22337479 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2011] [Accepted: 01/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia share a number of clinical features and genetic risk variants of small effect, suggesting overlapping pathogenic mechanisms. The effect of single genetic risk variants on brain function is likely to differ in people at high familial risk versus controls as these individuals have a higher overall genetic loading and are therefore closer to crossing a threshold of disease liability. Therefore, whilst the effects of genetic risk variants on brain function may be similar across individuals at risk of both disorders, they are hypothesized to differ compared to that seen in control subjects. We sought to examine the effects of the DISC1 Leu(607) Phe polymorphism on brain activation in young healthy individuals at familial risk of bipolar disorder (n = 84), in a group of controls (n = 78), and in a group at familial risk of schizophrenia (n = 47), performing a language task. We assessed whether genotype effects on brain activation differed according to risk status. There was a significant genotype × group interaction in a cluster centered on the left pre/postcentral gyrus, extending to the inferior frontal gyrus. The origin of this genotype × group effect originated from a significant effect of the presumed risk variant (Phe) on brain activation in the control group, which was absent in both high-risk groups. Differential effects of this polymorphism in controls compared to the two familial groups suggests a commonality of effect across individuals at high-risk of the disorders, which is likely to be dependant upon existing genetic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C Whalley
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
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34
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Abstract
Schizophrenia is a prevalent complex trait disorder manifested by severe neurocognitive dysfunctions and lifelong disability. During the past few years several studies have provided direct evidence for the involvement of different signaling pathways in schizophrenia. In this review, we mainly focus on AKT/GSK3 signaling pathway in schizophrenia. The original study on the involvement of this pathway in schizophrenia was published by Emamian et al. in 2004. This study reported convergent evidence for a decrease in AKT1 protein levels and levels of phosphorylation of GSK-3β in the peripheral lymphocytes and brains of individuals with schizophrenia; a significant association between schizophrenia and an AKT1 haplotype; and a greater sensitivity to the sensorimotor gating-disruptive effect of amphetamine, conferred by AKT1 deficiency. It also showed that haloperidol can induce a stepwise increase in regulatory phosphorylation of AKT1 in the brains of treated mice that could compensate for the impaired function of this signaling pathway in schizophrenia. Following this study, several independent studies were published that not only confirmed the association of this signaling pathway with schizophrenia across different populations, but also shed light on the mechanisms by which AKT/GSK3 pathway may contribute to the development of this complex disorder. In this review, following an introduction on the role of AKT in human diseases and its functions in neuronal and non-neuronal cells, a review on the results of studies published on AKT/GSK3 signaling pathway in schizophrenia after the original 2004 paper will be provided. A brief review on other signaling pathways involved in schizophrenia and the possible connections with AKT/GSK3 signaling pathway will be discussed. Moreover, some possible molecular mechanisms acting through this pathway will be discussed besides the mechanisms by which they may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Finally, different transcription factors related to schizophrenia will be reviewed to see how hypo-activity of AKT signaling pathway may impact such transcriptional mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Effat S Emamian
- Advanced Technologies for Novel Therapeutics (ATNT), Newark NJ, USA.
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35
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Malavasi ELV, Ogawa F, Porteous DJ, Millar JK. DISC1 variants 37W and 607F disrupt its nuclear targeting and regulatory role in ATF4-mediated transcription. Hum Mol Genet 2012; 21:2779-92. [PMID: 22422769 PMCID: PMC3363331 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), a strong genetic candidate for psychiatric illness, encodes a multicompartmentalized molecular scaffold that regulates interacting proteins with key roles in neurodevelopment and plasticity. Missense DISC1 variants are associated with the risk of mental illness and with brain abnormalities in healthy carriers, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We examined the effect of rare and common DISC1 amino acid substitutions on subcellular targeting. We report that both the rare putatively causal variant 37W and the common variant 607F independently disrupt DISC1 nuclear targeting in a dominant-negative fashion, predicting that DISC1 nuclear expression is impaired in 37W and 607F carriers. In the nucleus, DISC1 interacts with the transcription factor Activating Transcription Factor 4 (ATF4), which is involved in the regulation of cellular stress responses, emotional behaviour and memory consolidation. At basal cAMP levels, wild-type DISC1 inhibits the transcriptional activity of ATF4, an effect that is weakened by both 37W and 607F independently, most likely as a consequence of their defective nuclear targeting. The common variant 607F additionally reduces DISC1/ATF4 interaction, which likely contributes to its weakened inhibitory effect. We also demonstrate that DISC1 modulates transcriptional responses to endoplasmic reticulum stress, and that this modulatory effect is ablated by 37W and 607F. By showing that DISC1 amino acid substitutions associated with psychiatric illness affect its regulatory function in ATF4-mediated transcription, our study highlights a potential mechanism by which these variants may impact on transcriptional events mediating cognition, emotional reactivity and stress responses, all processes of direct relevance to psychiatric illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise L V Malavasi
- The Centre for Molecular Medicine at the Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Walsh J, Desbonnet L, Clarke N, Waddington JL, O'Tuathaigh CMP. Disruption of exploratory and habituation behavior in mice with mutation of DISC1: an ethologically based analysis. J Neurosci Res 2012; 90:1445-53. [PMID: 22388794 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2011] [Revised: 12/10/2011] [Accepted: 12/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) is a gene that has been functionally linked with neurodevelopmental processes and structural plasticity in the brain. Clinical genetic investigations have implicated DISC1 as a genetic risk factor for schizophrenia and related psychoses. Studies using mutant mouse models of DISC1 gene function have demonstrated schizophrenia-related anatomical and behavioral endophenotypes. In the present study, ethologically based assessment of exploratory and habituation behavior in the open field was conducted in DISC1 (L100P), wild-type (WT), heterozygous (HET), and homozygous (HOM) mutant mice of both sexes. Ethological assessment was conducted in an open-field environment to explore specific topographies of murine exploratory behavior across the extended course of interaction from initial exploration through subsequent habituation (the ethogram). During initial exploration, HET and HOM DISC1 mutants evidenced increased levels of locomotion and rearing to wall compared with WT. A HOM-specific increase in total rearing and a HET-specific increase in sifting behavior and reduction in rearing seated were also observed. Over subsequent habituation, locomotion, sniffing, total rearing, rearing to wall, rearing free, and rearing seated were increased in HET and HOM mutants vs. WT. Overall, grooming was increased in HOM relative to other genotypes. HET mice displayed a selective decrease in habituation of sifting behavior. These data demonstrate impairment in both initial exploratory and habituation of exploration in a novel environment in mice with mutation of DISC1. This is discussed in the context of the functional role of the gene vis à vis a schizophrenia phenotype as well as the value of ethologically based approaches to behavioral phenotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Walsh
- School of Physiotherapy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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Bradshaw NJ, Porteous DJ. DISC1-binding proteins in neural development, signalling and schizophrenia. Neuropharmacology 2012; 62:1230-41. [PMID: 21195721 PMCID: PMC3275753 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2010] [Revised: 12/17/2010] [Accepted: 12/22/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In the decade since Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) was first identified it has become one of the most convincing risk genes for major mental illness. As a multi-functional scaffold protein, DISC1 has multiple identified protein interaction partners that highlight pathologically relevant molecular pathways with potential for pharmaceutical intervention. Amongst these are proteins involved in neuronal migration (e.g. APP, Dixdc1, LIS1, NDE1, NDEL1), neural progenitor proliferation (GSK3β), neurosignalling (Girdin, GSK3β, PDE4) and synaptic function (Kal7, TNIK). Furthermore, emerging evidence of genetic association (NDEL1, PCM1, PDE4B) and copy number variation (NDE1) implicate several DISC1-binding partners as risk factors for schizophrenia in their own right. Thus, a picture begins to emerge of DISC1 as a key hub for multiple critical developmental pathways within the brain, disruption of which can lead to a variety of psychiatric illness phenotypes.
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Key Words
- disc1
- schizophrenia
- neurodevelopment
- signalling
- synapse
- association studies
- app, amyloid precursor protein
- atf4, activating transcription factor 4
- bace1, β-site app-cleaving enzyme-1
- bbs4, bardet–biedl syndrome 4
- cep290, centrosomal protein 290 kda
- cnv, copy number variation
- cre, camp response element
- dbz, disc1-binding zinc finger
- disc1, disrupted in schizophrenia 1
- dixdc1, dishevelled-axin domain containing-1
- fez1, fasciculation and elongation protein zeta 1
- glur, glutamate receptor
- gsk3β, glycogen synthase kinase 3β
- kal7, kalirin-7
- lef/tcf, lymphoid enhancer factor/t cell factor
- lis1, lissencephaly 1
- mtor, mammalian target of rapamycin
- nde1, nuclear distribution factor e homologue 1 or nuclear distribution element 1
- ndel1, nde-like 1
- nrg, neuregulin
- pacap, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide
- pcm1, pericentriolar material 1
- pcnt, pericentrin
- pde4, phosphodiesterase 4
- pi3 k, phosphatidylinositiol 3-kinase
- psd, post-synaptic density
- rac1, ras-related c3 botulinum toxin substrate 1
- tnik, traf2 and nck interacting kinase
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Bradshaw
- Medical Genetics Section, Molecular Medicine Centre, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH4 2XU, UK
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Singh KK, De Rienzo G, Drane L, Mao Y, Flood Z, Madison J, Ferreira M, Bergen S, King C, Sklar P, Sive H, Tsai LH. Common DISC1 polymorphisms disrupt Wnt/GSK3β signaling and brain development. Neuron 2012; 72:545-58. [PMID: 22099458 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Disrupted in Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) is a candidate gene for psychiatric disorders and has many roles during brain development. Common DISC1 polymorphisms (variants) are associated with neuropsychiatric phenotypes including altered cognition, brain structure, and function; however, it is unknown how this occurs. Here, we demonstrate using mouse, zebrafish, and human model systems that DISC1 variants are loss of function in Wnt/GSK3β signaling and disrupt brain development. The DISC1 variants A83V, R264Q, and L607F, but not S704C, do not activate Wnt signaling compared with wild-type DISC1 resulting in decreased neural progenitor proliferation. In zebrafish, R264Q and L607F could not rescue DISC1 knockdown-mediated aberrant brain development. Furthermore, human lymphoblast cell lines endogenously expressing R264Q displayed impaired Wnt signaling. Interestingly, S704C inhibited the migration of neurons in the developing neocortex. Our data demonstrate DISC1 variants impair Wnt signaling and brain development and elucidate a possible mechanism for their role in neuropsychiatric phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karun K Singh
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Chakravarty MM, Felsky D, Tampakeras M, Lerch JP, Mulsant BH, Kennedy JL, Voineskos AN. DISC1 and Striatal Volume: A Potential Risk Phenotype For mental Illness. Front Psychiatry 2012; 3:57. [PMID: 22723785 PMCID: PMC3378182 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 was originally discovered in a large Scottish family with abnormally high rates of severe mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. An accumulating body of evidence from genetic, postmortem, and animal data supports a role for DISC1 in different forms of mental illness. DISC1 may play an important role in determining structure and function of several brain regions. One brain region of particular importance for several mental disorders is the striatum, and DISC1 mutant mice have demonstrated an increase in dopamine (D2) receptors in this structure. However, association between DISC1 functional polymorphisms and striatal structure have not been examined in humans. We, therefore hypothesized that there would be a relationship between human striatal volume and DISC1 genotype, specifically in the Leu607Phe (rs6675281) and Ser704Cys (rs821618) single nucleotide polymorphisms. We tested our hypothesis by automatically identifying the striatum in 54 healthy volunteers recruited for this study. We also performed an exploratory analysis of cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and structure volume. Our results demonstrate that Phe allele carriers have larger striatal volume bilaterally (left striatum: p = 0.017; right striatum: p = 0.016). From the exploratory analyses we found that the Phe carriers also had larger left hemisphere volumes (p = 0.0074) and right occipital lobe surface area (p = 0.014) compared to LeuLeu homozygotes. However, these exploratory findings do not survive a conservative correction for multiple comparisons. Our findings demonstrate that a functional DISC1 variant influences striatal volumes. Taken together with animal data that this gene influences D2 receptor levels in striatum, a key risk pathway for mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may be conferred via DISC1's effects on the striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mallar Chakravarty
- Kimel Family Translational Imaging Genetics Research Laboratory, Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Toronto, ON, Canada
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Ameis SH, Szatmari P. Imaging-genetics in autism spectrum disorder: advances, translational impact, and future directions. Front Psychiatry 2012; 3:46. [PMID: 22615702 PMCID: PMC3351673 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2012] [Accepted: 04/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a group of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders that are unified by impairments in reciprocal social communication and a pattern of inflexible behaviors. Recent genetic advances have resolved some of the complexity of the genetic architecture underlying ASD by identifying several genetic variants that contribute to the disorder. Different etiological pathways associated with ASD may converge through effects on common molecular mechanisms, such as synaptogenesis, neuronal motility, and axonal guidance. Recently, with more sophisticated techniques, neuroimaging, and neuropathological studies have provided some consistency of evidence that altered structure, activity, and connectivity within complex neural networks is present in ASD, compared to typically developing children. The imaging-genetics approach promises to help bridge the gap between genetic variation, resultant biological effects on the brain, and production of complex neuropsychiatric symptoms. Here, we review recent findings from the developing field of imaging-genetics applied to ASD. Studies to date have indicated that relevant risk genes are associated with alterations in circuits that mediate socio-emotional, visuo-spatial, and language processing. Longitudinal studies ideally focused on early development, in conjunction with investigation for gene-gene, and gene-environment interactions may move the promise of imaging-genetics in ASD closer to the clinical domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie H Ameis
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada
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Brandon NJ, Sawa A. Linking neurodevelopmental and synaptic theories of mental illness through DISC1. Nat Rev Neurosci 2011; 12:707-22. [PMID: 22095064 DOI: 10.1038/nrn3120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 331] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in our understanding of the underlying genetic architecture of psychiatric disorders has blown away the diagnostic boundaries that are defined by currently used diagnostic manuals. The disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene was originally discovered at the breakpoint of an inherited chromosomal translocation, which segregates with major mental illnesses. In addition, many biological studies have indicated a role for DISC1 in early neurodevelopment and synaptic regulation. Given that DISC1 is thought to drive a range of endophenotypes that underlie major mental conditions, elucidating the biology of DISC1 may enable the construction of new diagnostic categories for mental illnesses with a more meaningful biological foundation.
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Soares DC, Carlyle BC, Bradshaw NJ, Porteous DJ. DISC1: Structure, Function, and Therapeutic Potential for Major Mental Illness. ACS Chem Neurosci 2011; 2:609-632. [PMID: 22116789 PMCID: PMC3222219 DOI: 10.1021/cn200062k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2011] [Accepted: 08/05/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
![]()
Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is well established
as a genetic risk factor across a spectrum of psychiatric disorders,
a role supported by a growing body of biological studies, making the
DISC1 protein interaction network an attractive therapeutic target.
By contrast, there is a relative deficit of structural information
to relate to the myriad biological functions of DISC1. Here, we critically
appraise the available bioinformatics and biochemical analyses on
DISC1 and key interacting proteins, and integrate this with the genetic
and biological data. We review, analyze, and make predictions regarding
the secondary structure and propensity for disordered regions within
DISC1, its protein-interaction domains, subcellular localization motifs,
and the structural and functional implications of common and ultrarare DISC1 variants associated with major mental illness. We
discuss signaling pathways of high pharmacological potential wherein
DISC1 participates, including those involving phosphodiesterase 4
(PDE4) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3). These predictions and
priority areas can inform future research in the translational and
potentially guide the therapeutic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh C. Soares
- Medical Genetics Section, Molecular
Medicine Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital,
Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom
| | - Becky C. Carlyle
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street,
Suite 901, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Nicholas J. Bradshaw
- Medical Genetics Section, Molecular
Medicine Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital,
Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Porteous
- Medical Genetics Section, Molecular
Medicine Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital,
Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom
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Raznahan A, Lee Y, Long R, Greenstein D, Clasen L, Addington A, Rapoport JL, Giedd JN. Common functional polymorphisms of DISC1 and cortical maturation in typically developing children and adolescents. Mol Psychiatry 2011; 16:917-26. [PMID: 20628343 PMCID: PMC3162084 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2010.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2009] [Revised: 04/10/2010] [Accepted: 04/12/2010] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1), contains two common non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)--Leu607Phe and Ser704Cys--that modulate (i) facets of DISC1 molecular functioning important for cortical development, (ii) fronto-temporal cortical anatomy in adults and (iii) risk for diverse psychiatric phenotypes that often emerge during childhood and adolescence, and are associated with altered fronto-temporal cortical development. It remains unknown, however, if Leu607Phe and Ser704Cys influence cortical maturation before adulthood, and whether each SNP shows unique or overlapping effects. Therefore, we related genotype at Leu607Phe and Ser704Cys to cortical thickness (CT) in 255 typically developing individuals aged 9-22 years on whom 598 magnetic resonance imaging brain scans had been acquired longitudinally. Rate of cortical thinning varied with DISC1 genotype. Specifically, the rate of cortical thinning was attenuated in Phe-carrier compared with Leu-homozygous groups (in bilateral superior frontal and left angular gyri) and accelerated in Ser-homozygous compared with Cys-carrier groups (in left anterior cingulate and temporal cortices). Both SNPs additively predicted fixed differences in right lateral temporal CT, which were maximal between Phe-carrier/Ser-homozygous (thinnest) vs Leu-homozygous/Cys-carrier (thickest) groups. Leu607Phe and Ser704Cys genotype interacted to predict the rate of cortical thinning in right orbitofrontal, middle temporal and superior parietal cortices, wherein a significantly reduced rate of CT loss was observed in Phe-carrier/Cys-carrier participants only. Our findings argue for further examination of Leu607Phe and Ser704Cys interactions at a molecular level, and suggest that these SNPs might operate (in concert with other genetic and environmental factors) to shape risk for diverse phenotypes by impacting on the early maturation of fronto-temporal cortices.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Raznahan
- Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Kvajo M, McKellar H, Gogos JA. Avoiding mouse traps in schizophrenia genetics: lessons and promises from current and emerging mouse models. Neuroscience 2011; 211:136-64. [PMID: 21821099 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.07.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2011] [Revised: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 07/19/2011] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, but despite progress in identifying the genetic factors implicated in its development, the mechanisms underlying its etiology and pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Development of mouse models is critical for expanding our understanding of the causes of schizophrenia. However, translation of disease pathology into mouse models has proven to be challenging, primarily due to the complex genetic architecture of schizophrenia and the difficulties in the re-creation of susceptibility alleles in the mouse genome. In this review we highlight current research on models of major susceptibility loci and the information accrued from their analysis. We describe and compare the different approaches that are necessitated by diverse susceptibility alleles, and discuss their advantages and drawbacks. Finally, we discuss emerging mouse models, such as second-generation pathophysiology models based on innovative approaches that are facilitated by the information gathered from the current genetic mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kvajo
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Lazar NL, Neufeld RWJ, Cain DP. Contribution of nonprimate animal models in understanding the etiology of schizophrenia. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2011; 36:E5-29. [PMID: 21247514 PMCID: PMC3120891 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.100054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder that is characterized by positive and negative symptoms and cognitive impairments. The etiology of the disorder is complex, and it is thought to follow a multifactorial threshold model of inheritance with genetic and neurodevelop mental contributions to risk. Human studies are particularly useful in capturing the richness of the phenotype, but they are often limited to the use of correlational approaches. By assessing behavioural abnormalities in both humans and rodents, nonprimate animal models of schizophrenia provide unique insight into the etiology and mechanisms of the disorder. This review discusses the phenomenology and etiology of schizophrenia and the contribution of current nonprimate animal models with an emphasis on how research with models of neuro transmitter dysregulation, environmental risk factors, neurodevelopmental disruption and genetic risk factors can complement the literature on schizophrenia in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah L Lazar
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ont.
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Brauns S, Gollub RL, Roffman JL, Yendiki A, Ho BC, Wassink TH, Heinz A, Ehrlich S. DISC1 is associated with cortical thickness and neural efficiency. Neuroimage 2011; 57:1591-600. [PMID: 21642004 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.05.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2011] [Revised: 04/19/2011] [Accepted: 05/19/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is known to play a major role during brain development and is a candidate gene for schizophrenia. Cortical thickness is highly heritable and several MRI studies have shown widespread reductions of cortical thickness in patients with schizophrenia. Here, we investigated the effects of variation in DISC1 on cortical thickness. In a subsequent analysis we tested whether the identified DISC1 risk variant is also associated with neural activity during working memory functioning. METHODS We acquired structural MRI (sMRI), functional MRI (fMRI) and genotype data from 96 healthy volunteers. Separate cortical statistical maps for five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of DISC1 were generated to detect differences of cortical thickness in genotype groups across the entire cortical surface. Working-memory related load-dependent activation was measured during the Sternberg Item Recognition Paradigm and analyzed using a region-of-interest approach. RESULTS Phe allele carriers of the DISC1 SNP Leu607Phe had significantly reduced cortical thickness in the left supramarginal gyrus compared to Leu/Leu homozygotes. Neural activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during working memory task was increased in Phe allele carriers, whereas working memory performance did not differ between genotype groups. CONCLUSIONS This study provides convergent evidence for the effect of DISC1 risk variants on two independent brain-based intermediate phenotypes of schizophrenia. The same risk variant was associated with cortical thickness reductions and signs of neural inefficiency during a working memory task. Our findings provide further evidence for a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Brauns
- MGH/MIT/HMS Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129-2000, USA
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Arnsten AFT. Prefrontal cortical network connections: key site of vulnerability in stress and schizophrenia. Int J Dev Neurosci 2011; 29:215-23. [PMID: 21345366 PMCID: PMC3115784 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2011.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2010] [Revised: 02/02/2011] [Accepted: 02/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The symptoms of schizophrenia involve profound dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). PFC networks create our "mental sketch pad", and PFC dysfunction contributes to symptoms such as cognitive deficits, thought disorder, delusions and hallucinations. Neuropathological studies of schizophrenia have shown marked loss of dendritic spines in deep layer III, the sublayer where PFC microcircuits reside. The microcircuits consist of recurrent excitatory pyramidal cell networks that interconnect on spines, and excite each other via NMDA receptor signaling. The pyramidal cell persistent firing is sculpted by lateral inhibition from GABAergic basket and chandelier cells, thus creating tuned, persistent firing needed for accurate representational knowledge (i.e., working memory). The strength of pyramidal cell network connections is markedly and flexibly altered by intracellular signaling pathways in dendritic spines, a process called dynamic network connectivity (DNC). DNC proteins such as HCN channels are concentrated on dendritic spines in deep layer III. Under optimal conditions, network inputs to pyramidal cells are strengthened by noradrenergic alpha-2A inhibition of cAMP-HCN channel signaling, and sculpted by dopamine D1-cAMP-HCN channel weakening of inappropriate inputs. However, with stress exposure, high levels of cAMP-HCN channel signaling produces a collapse in network firing. With chronic stress exposure, spines reduce in size and are lost, and this process involves increased PKC signaling. Importantly, molecules that normally strengthen PFC networks connections and/or reverse the stress response, are often genetically altered in schizophrenia. As exposure to stress is a key factor in the precipitation of schizophrenic symptoms, these dysregulated signaling pathways in deep layer III may interact with already vulnerable circuitry to cause spine loss and the descent into illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy F T Arnsten
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale Medical School, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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Chakirova G, Whalley HC, Thomson PA, Hennah W, Moorhead TWJ, Welch KA, Giles S, Hall J, Johnstone EC, Lawrie SM, Porteous DJ, Brown VJ, McIntosh AM. The effects of DISC1 risk variants on brain activation in controls, patients with bipolar disorder and patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2011; 192:20-8. [PMID: 21376542 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2011.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2010] [Revised: 11/12/2010] [Accepted: 01/13/2011] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Three risk variants (rs1538979, rs821577, and rs821633) in the Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) gene have previously been associated with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in a recent collaborative analysis of European cohorts. In this study we examined the effects of these risk variants on brain activation during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the Hayling Sentence Completion Task (HSCT) in healthy volunteers (n=33), patients with schizophrenia (n=20) and patients with bipolar disorder (n=36). In the healthy controls the risk associated allele carriers of SNPs rs1538979 and rs821633 demonstrated decreased activation of the cuneus. Moreover, there was an effect of SNP rs1538979 in the pre/postcentral gyrus with decreased activation in healthy controls and increased activation in patients with schizophrenia. In the bipolar group there was decreased activation in the risk carriers of SNP rs821633 in the inferior parietal lobule and left cingulate cortex. Clusters in the precentral gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus and left cerebellum were found to be significant on examining the group × genotype interactions. These findings may provide a better understanding of the neural effects of DISC1 variants and on the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
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O'Tuathaigh CMP, Desbonnet L, Moran PM, Waddington JL. Susceptibility genes for schizophrenia: mutant models, endophenotypes and psychobiology. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2011; 12:209-50. [PMID: 22367925 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2011_194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is characterised by a multifactorial aetiology that involves genetic liability interacting with epigenetic and environmental factors to increase risk for developing the disorder. A consensus view is that the genetic component involves several common risk alleles of small effect and/or rare but penetrant copy number variations. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence for broader, overlapping genetic-phenotypic relationships in psychosis; for example, the same susceptibility genes also confer risk for bipolar disorder. Phenotypic characterisation of genetic models of candidate risk genes and/or putative pathophysiological processes implicated in schizophrenia, as well as examination of epidemiologically relevant gene × environment interactions in these models, can illuminate molecular and pathobiological mechanisms involved in schizophrenia. The present chapter outlines both the evidence from phenotypic studies in mutant mouse models related to schizophrenia and recently described mutant models addressing such gene × environment interactions. Emphasis is placed on evaluating the extent to which mutant phenotypes recapitulate the totality of the disease phenotype or model selective endophenotypes. We also discuss new developments and trends in relation to the functional genomics of psychosis which might help to inform on the construct validity of mutant models of schizophrenia and highlight methodological challenges in phenotypic evaluation that relate to such models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colm M P O'Tuathaigh
- Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland,
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Johnstone M, Thomson PA, Hall J, McIntosh AM, Lawrie SM, Porteous DJ. DISC1 in schizophrenia: genetic mouse models and human genomic imaging. Schizophr Bull 2011; 37:14-20. [PMID: 21149852 PMCID: PMC3004186 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbq135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia and related disorders have a major genetic component. Several large-scale studies have uncovered a number of possible candidate genes, but these have yet to be consistently replicated and their underlying biological function remains elusive. One exception is 'Disrupted in schizophrenia 1' (DISC1), a gene locus originally identified in a large Scottish family, showing a heavy burden of major mental illnesses associated with a balanced t(1;11)(q42.1;q14.3) chromosome translocation. Substantial genetic and biological research on DISC1 has been reported in the intervening 10 years: DISC1 is now recognized as a genetic risk factor for a spectrum of psychiatric disorders and DISC1 impacts on many aspects of central nervous system (CNS) function, including neurodevelopment, neurosignaling, and synaptic functioning. Evidence has emerged from genetic studies showing a relationship between DISC1 and quantitative traits, including working memory, cognitive aging, gray matter volume in the prefrontal cortex, and abnormalities in hippocampal structures and function. DISC1 interacts with numerous proteins also involved in neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth, cytoskeletal modulation, and signal transduction, some of which have been reported as independent genetic susceptibility factors for psychiatric morbidity. Here, we focus on the growing literature relating genetic variation in the DISC1 pathway to functional and structural studies of the brain in humans and in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Johnstone
- Department of Psychiatry, The Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK
- Medical Genetics Section, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh Molecular Medicine Centre, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Pippa A. Thomson
- Medical Genetics Section, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh Molecular Medicine Centre, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Department of Psychiatry, The Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK
- Medical Genetics Section, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh Molecular Medicine Centre, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Andrew M. McIntosh
- Department of Psychiatry, The Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK
- Medical Genetics Section, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh Molecular Medicine Centre, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Stephen M. Lawrie
- Department of Psychiatry, The Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK
| | - David J. Porteous
- Medical Genetics Section, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh Molecular Medicine Centre, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
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