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Sandoval SO, Méndez-Albelo NM, Xu Z, Zhao X. From wings to whiskers to stem cells: why every model matters in fragile X syndrome research. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:30. [PMID: 38872088 PMCID: PMC11177515 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-024-09545-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by epigenetic silencing of the X-linked fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) gene located on chromosome Xq27.3, which leads to the loss of its protein product, fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP). It is the most prevalent inherited form of intellectual disability and the highest single genetic cause of autism. Since the discovery of the genetic basis of FXS, extensive studies using animal models and human pluripotent stem cells have unveiled the functions of FMRP and mechanisms underlying FXS. However, clinical trials have not yielded successful treatment. Here we review what we have learned from commonly used models for FXS, potential limitations of these models, and recommendations for future steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraya O Sandoval
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Natasha M Méndez-Albelo
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Molecular Cellular Pharmacology Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Zhiyan Xu
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
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2
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Yang C, Huang YT, Yao YF, Fu JY, Long YS. Hippocampal proteome comparison of infant and adult Fmr1 deficiency mice reveals adult-related changes associated with postsynaptic density. J Proteomics 2024; 303:105202. [PMID: 38797434 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2024.105202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Deficiency in fragile X mental retardation 1 (Fmr1) leads to loss of its encoded protein FMRP and causes fragile X syndrome (FXS) by dysregulating its target gene expression in an age-related fashion. Using comparative proteomic analysis, this study identified 105 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the hippocampus of postnatal day 7 (P7) Fmr1-/y mice and 306 DEPs of P90 Fmr1-/y mice. We found that most DEPs in P90 hippocampus were not changed in P7 hippocampus upon FMRP absence, and some P90 DEPs exhibited diverse proteophenotypes with abnormal expression of protein isoform or allele variants. Bioinformatic analyses showed that the P7 DEPs were mainly enriched in fatty acid metabolism and oxidoreductase activity and nutrient responses; whereas the P90 PEPs (especially down-regulated DEPs) were primarily enriched in postsynaptic density (PSD), neuronal projection development and synaptic plasticity. Interestingly, 25 of 30 down-regulated PSD proteins present in the most enriched protein to protein interaction network, and 6 of them (ANK3, ATP2B2, DST, GRIN1, SHANK2 and SYNGAP1) are both FMRP targets and autism candidates. Therefore, this study suggests age-dependent alterations in hippocampal proteomes upon loss of FMRP that may be associated with the pathogenesis of FXS and its related disorders. SIGNIFICANCE: It is well known that loss of FMRP resulted from Fmr1 deficiency leads to fragile X syndrome (FXS), a common neurodevelopmental disorder accompanied by intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). FMRP exhibits distinctly spatiotemporal patterns in the hippocampus between early development and adulthood, which lead to distinct dysregulations of gene expression upon loss of FMRP at the two age stages potentially linked to age-related phenotypes. Therefore, comparison of hippocampal proteomes between infancy and adulthood is valuable to provide insights into the early causations and adult-dependent consequences for FXS and ASD. Using a comparative proteomic analysis, this study identified 105 and 306 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the hippocampi of postnatal day 7 (P7) and P90 Fmr1-/y mice, respectively. Few overlapping DEPs were identified between P7 and P90 stages, and the P7 DEPs were mainly enriched in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism and oxidoreduction, whereas the P90 DEPs were preferentially enriched in the regulation of synaptic formation and plasticity. Particularly, the up-regulated P90 proteins are primarily involved in immune responses and neurodegeneration, and the down-regulated P90 proteins are associated with postsynaptic density, neuron projection and synaptic plasticity. Our findings suggest that distinctly changed proteins in FMRP-absence hippocampus between infancy and adulthood may contribute to age-dependent pathogenesis of FXS and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui Yang
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Yu-Ting Huang
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Yi-Fei Yao
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Jun-Yi Fu
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China.
| | - Yue-Sheng Long
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China.
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3
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Henis M, Rücker T, Scharrenberg R, Richter M, Baltussen L, Hong S, Meka DP, Schwanke B, Neelagandan N, Daaboul D, Murtaza N, Krisp C, Harder S, Schlüter H, Kneussel M, Hermans-Borgmeyer I, de Wit J, Singh KK, Duncan KE, de Anda FC. The autism susceptibility kinase, TAOK2, phosphorylates eEF2 and modulates translation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadf7001. [PMID: 38608030 PMCID: PMC11014455 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf7001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Genes implicated in translation control have been associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). However, some important genetic causes of autism, including the 16p11.2 microdeletion, bear no obvious connection to translation. Here, we use proteomics, genetics, and translation assays in cultured cells and mouse brain to reveal altered translation mediated by loss of the kinase TAOK2 in 16p11.2 deletion models. We show that TAOK2 associates with the translational machinery and functions as a translational brake by phosphorylating eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). Previously, all signal-mediated regulation of translation elongation via eEF2 phosphorylation was believed to be mediated by a single kinase, eEF2K. However, we show that TAOK2 can directly phosphorylate eEF2 on the same regulatory site, but functions independently of eEF2K signaling. Collectively, our results reveal an eEF2K-independent signaling pathway for control of translation elongation and suggest altered translation as a molecular component in the etiology of some forms of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melad Henis
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, New Valley University, 72511 El-Kharga, Egypt
| | - Tabitha Rücker
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robin Scharrenberg
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Richter
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lucas Baltussen
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Shuai Hong
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Durga Praveen Meka
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Birgit Schwanke
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nagammal Neelagandan
- Neuronal Translational Control Group, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Falkenried 94, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Danie Daaboul
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nadeem Murtaza
- Krembil Research Institute, Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, Ontario M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4A9, Canada
| | - Christoph Krisp
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Mass Spectrometric Proteomics Group, Campus Forschung, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sönke Harder
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Mass Spectrometric Proteomics Group, Campus Forschung, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hartmut Schlüter
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Mass Spectrometric Proteomics Group, Campus Forschung, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Kneussel
- Institute of Neurogenetics, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Irm Hermans-Borgmeyer
- Transgenic Service Group, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Falkenried 94, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joris de Wit
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karun K. Singh
- Krembil Research Institute, Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, Ontario M5T 0S8, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Cir, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1 A8, Canada
| | - Kent E. Duncan
- Neuronal Translational Control Group, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Falkenried 94, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
- Evotec SE, Manfred Eigen Campus, Essener Bogen 7, 22419 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Froylan Calderón de Anda
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
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Kumar V, Lee KY, Acharya A, Babik MS, Christian-Hinman CA, Rhodes JS, Tsai NP. mGluR7 allosteric modulator AMN082 corrects protein synthesis and pathological phenotypes in FXS. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:506-522. [PMID: 38374465 PMCID: PMC10940663 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00038-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading cause of inherited autism and intellectual disabilities. Aberrant protein synthesis due to the loss of fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP) is the major defect in FXS, leading to a plethora of cellular and behavioral abnormalities. However, no treatments are available to date. In this study, we found that activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7) using a positive allosteric modulator named AMN082 represses protein synthesis through ERK1/2 and eIF4E signaling in an FMRP-independent manner. We further demonstrated that treatment of AMN082 leads to a reduction in neuronal excitability, which in turn ameliorates audiogenic seizure susceptibility in Fmr1 KO mice, the FXS mouse model. When evaluating the animals' behavior, we showed that treatment of AMN082 reduces repetitive behavior and improves learning and memory in Fmr1 KO mice. This study uncovers novel functions of mGluR7 and AMN082 and suggests the activation of mGluR7 as a potential therapeutic approach for treating FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipendra Kumar
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Kwan Young Lee
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Anirudh Acharya
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Matthew S Babik
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Catherine A Christian-Hinman
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Justin S Rhodes
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA
| | - Nien-Pei Tsai
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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5
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Niu W, Siciliano B, Wen Z. Modeling tuberous sclerosis complex with human induced pluripotent stem cells. World J Pediatr 2024; 20:208-218. [PMID: 35759110 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-022-00576-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder with a birth incidence of 1:6000 in the United States that is characterized by the growth of non-cancerous tumors in multiple organ systems including the brain, kidneys, lungs, and skin. Importantly, TSC is also associated with significant neurological manifestations including epilepsy, TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorders, intellectual disabilities, and autism spectrum disorder. Mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes are well-established causes of TSC, which lead to TSC1/TSC2 deficiency in organs and hyper-activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. Animal models have been widely used to study the effect of TSC1/2 genes on the development and function of the brain. Despite considerable progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying TSC in animal models, a human-specific model is urgently needed to investigate the effects of TSC1/2 mutations that are unique to human neurodevelopment. DATA SOURCES Literature reviews and research articles were published in PubMed-indexed journals. RESULTS Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which capture risk alleles that are identical to their donors and have the capacity to differentiate into virtually any cell type in the human body, pave the way for the empirical study of previously inaccessible biological systems such as the developing human brain. CONCLUSIONS In this review, we present an overview of the recent progress in modeling TSC with human iPSC models, the existing limitations, and potential directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weibo Niu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Research Building 447, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Benjamin Siciliano
- The Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Zhexing Wen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Research Building 447, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Research Building 447, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Research Building 447, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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6
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Weisz ED, Fenton AR, Jongens TA. PGC-1α integrates insulin signaling with mitochondrial physiology and behavior in a Drosophila model of Fragile X Syndrome. NPJ METABOLIC HEALTH AND DISEASE 2024; 2:2. [PMID: 38741938 PMCID: PMC11090494 DOI: 10.1038/s44324-024-00004-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most prevalent monogenetic form of intellectual disability and autism. Recently, dysregulation of insulin signaling (IS) and aberrations in mitochondrial function have emerged as robust, evolutionarily conserved components of FXS pathophysiology. However, the mechanisms by which altered IS and mitochondrial dysfunction impact behavior in the context of FXS remain elusive. Here, we show that normalization of IS improves mitochondrial volume and function in flies that lack expression of dfmr1, the Drosophila homolog of the causal gene of FXS in humans. Further, we demonstrate that dysregulation of IS underlies diminished expression of the mitochondrial master regulator PGC-1α/Spargel in dfmr1 mutant flies. These results are behaviorally relevant, as we show that pan-neuronal augmentation of PGC-1α/Spargel improves circadian behavior in dfmr1 mutants. Notably, we also show that modulation of PGC-1α/Spargel expression in wild-type flies phenocopies the dfmr1 mutant circadian defect. Taken together, the results presented herein provide a mechanistic link between mitochondrial function and circadian behavior both in FXS pathogenesis as well as more broadly at the interface between metabolism and behavioral output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana D. Weisz
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Adam R. Fenton
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Thomas A. Jongens
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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7
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Talvio K, Castrén ML. Astrocytes in fragile X syndrome. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 17:1322541. [PMID: 38259499 PMCID: PMC10800791 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1322541] [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: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes have an important role in neuronal maturation and synapse function in the brain. The interplay between astrocytes and neurons is found to be altered in many neurodevelopmental disorders, including fragile X syndrome (FXS) that is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. Transcriptional, functional, and metabolic alterations in Fmr1 knockout mouse astrocytes, human FXS stem cell-derived astrocytes as well as in in vivo models suggest autonomous effects of astrocytes in the neurobiology of FXS. Abnormalities associated with FXS astrocytes include differentiation of central nervous system cell populations, maturation and regulation of synapses, and synaptic glutamate balance. Recently, FXS-specific changes were found more widely in astrocyte functioning, such as regulation of inflammatory pathways and maintenance of lipid homeostasis. Changes of FXS astrocytes impact the brain homeostasis and function both during development and in the adult brain and offer opportunities for novel types of approaches for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maija L. Castrén
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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8
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Maussion G, Rocha C, Abdian N, Yang D, Turk J, Carrillo Valenzuela D, Pimentel L, You Z, Morquette B, Nicouleau M, Deneault E, Higgins S, Chen CXQ, Reintsch WE, Ho S, Soubannier V, Lépine S, Modrusan Z, Lund J, Stephenson W, Schubert R, Durcan TM. Transcriptional Dysregulation and Impaired Neuronal Activity in FMR1 Knock-Out and Fragile X Patients' iPSC-Derived Models. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14926. [PMID: 37834379 PMCID: PMC10573568 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by a repression of the FMR1 gene that codes the Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA binding protein involved in processes that are crucial for proper brain development. To better understand the consequences of the absence of FMRP, we analyzed gene expression profiles and activities of cortical neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and neurons obtained from FXS patients' induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) and IPSC-derived cells from FMR1 knock-out engineered using CRISPR-CAS9 technology. Multielectrode array recordings revealed in FMR1 KO and FXS patient cells, decreased mean firing rates; activities blocked by tetrodotoxin application. Increased expression of presynaptic mRNA and transcription factors involved in the forebrain specification and decreased levels of mRNA coding AMPA and NMDA subunits were observed using RNA sequencing on FMR1 KO neurons and validated using quantitative PCR in both models. Intriguingly, 40% of the differentially expressed genes were commonly deregulated between NPCs and differentiating neurons with significant enrichments in FMRP targets and autism-related genes found amongst downregulated genes. Our findings suggest that the absence of FMRP affects transcriptional profiles since the NPC stage, and leads to impaired activity and neuronal differentiation over time, which illustrates the critical role of FMRP protein in neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Maussion
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Cecilia Rocha
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Narges Abdian
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Dimitri Yang
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Julien Turk
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Dulce Carrillo Valenzuela
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Luisa Pimentel
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Zhipeng You
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Barbara Morquette
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Michael Nicouleau
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Eric Deneault
- Regulatory Research Division, Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Samuel Higgins
- Roche Sequencing, Computational Science and Informatics, Roche Molecular Systems, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA
| | - Carol X.-Q. Chen
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Wolfgang E. Reintsch
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Stanley Ho
- Research and Early Development, Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA
| | - Vincent Soubannier
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
| | - Sarah Lépine
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Rajib Schubert
- Research and Early Development, Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA
| | - Thomas M. Durcan
- The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (G.M.); (C.R.)
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9
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Réthelyi JM, Vincze K, Schall D, Glennon J, Berkel S. The role of insulin/IGF1 signalling in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders - Evidence from human neuronal cell models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105330. [PMID: 37516219 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signalling play a central role in the development and maintenance of neurons in the brain, and human neurodevelopmental as well as neuropsychiatric disorders have been linked to impaired insulin and IGF1 signalling. This review focuses on the impairments of the insulin and IGF1 signalling cascade in the context of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, based on evidence from human neuronal cell models. Clear evidence was obtained for impaired insulin and IGF1 receptor downstream signalling in neurodevelopmental disorders, while the evidence for its role in neuropsychiatric disorders was less substantial. Human neuronal model systems can greatly add to our knowledge about insulin/IGF1 signalling in the brain, its role in restoring dendritic maturity, and complement results from clinical studies and animal models. Moreover, they represent a useful model for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Further research is needed to systematically investigate the exact role of the insulin/IGF1 signalling cascades in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, and to elucidate the respective therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- János M Réthelyi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Vincze
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Doctoral School of Mental Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dorothea Schall
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jeffrey Glennon
- Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Simone Berkel
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Interdisciplinary Centre of Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Germany.
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10
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Edwards N, Combrinck C, McCaughey-Chapman A, Connor B. Directly reprogrammed fragile X syndrome dorsal forebrain precursor cells generate cortical neurons exhibiting impaired neuronal maturation. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1254412. [PMID: 37810261 PMCID: PMC10552551 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1254412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The neurodevelopmental disorder fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common monogenic cause of intellectual disability associated with autism spectrum disorder. Inaccessibility to developing human brain cells is a major barrier to studying FXS. Direct-to-neural precursor reprogramming provides a unique platform to investigate the developmental profile of FXS-associated phenotypes throughout neural precursor and neuron generation, at a temporal resolution not afforded by post-mortem tissue and in a patient-specific context not represented in rodent models. Direct reprogramming also circumvents the protracted culture times and low efficiency of current induced pluripotent stem cell strategies. Methods We have developed a chemically modified mRNA (cmRNA) -based direct reprogramming protocol to generate dorsal forebrain precursors (hiDFPs) from FXS patient-derived fibroblasts, with subsequent differentiation to glutamatergic cortical neurons and astrocytes. Results We observed differential expression of mature neuronal markers suggesting impaired neuronal development and maturation in FXS- hiDFP-derived neurons compared to controls. FXS- hiDFP-derived cortical neurons exhibited dendritic growth and arborization deficits characterized by reduced neurite length and branching consistent with impaired neuronal maturation. Furthermore, FXS- hiDFP-derived neurons exhibited a significant decrease in the density of pre- and post- synaptic proteins and reduced glutamate-induced calcium activity, suggesting impaired excitatory synapse development and functional maturation. We also observed a reduced yield of FXS- hiDFP-derived neurons with a significant increase in FXS-affected astrocytes. Discussion This study represents the first reported derivation of FXS-affected cortical neurons following direct reprogramming of patient fibroblasts to dorsal forebrain precursors and subsequently neurons that recapitulate the key molecular hallmarks of FXS as it occurs in human tissue. We propose that direct to hiDFP reprogramming provides a unique platform for further study into the pathogenesis of FXS as well as the identification and screening of new drug targets for the treatment of FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bronwen Connor
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Brain Research, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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11
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Napier M, Reynolds K, Scott AL. Glial-mediated dysregulation of neurodevelopment in Fragile X Syndrome. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 173:187-215. [PMID: 37993178 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are highly involved in a multitude of developmental processes that are known to be dysregulated in Fragile X Syndrome. Here, we examine these processes individually and review the roles astrocytes play in contributing to the pathology of this syndrome. As a growing area of interest in the field, new and exciting insight is continually emerging. Understanding these glial-mediated roles is imperative for elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms at play, not only in Fragile X Syndrome, but also other ASD-related disorders. Understanding these roles will be central to the future development of effective, clinically-relevant treatments of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Napier
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - K Reynolds
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
| | - A L Scott
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
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12
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Rabeling A, Goolam M. Cerebral organoids as an in vitro model to study autism spectrum disorders. Gene Ther 2023; 30:659-669. [PMID: 35790793 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-022-00356-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a set of disorders characterised by social and communication deficits caused by numerous genetic lesions affecting brain development. Progress in ASD research has been hampered by the lack of appropriate models, as both 2D cell culture as well as animal models cannot fully recapitulate the developing human brain or the pathogenesis of ASD. Recently, cerebral organoids have been developed to provide a more accurate, 3D in vitro model of human brain development. Cerebral organoids have been shown to recapitulate the foetal brain gene expression profile, transcriptome, epigenome, as well as disease dynamics of both idiopathic and syndromic ASDs. They are thus an excellent tool to investigate development of foetal stage ASDs, as well as interventions that can reverse or rescue the altered phenotypes observed. In this review, we discuss the development of cerebral organoids, their recent applications in the study of both syndromic and idiopathic ASDs, their use as an ASD drug development platform, as well as limitations of their use in ASD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Rabeling
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Mubeen Goolam
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
- UCT Neuroscience Institute, Cape Town, South Africa.
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13
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Milla LA, Corral L, Rivera J, Zuñiga N, Pino G, Nunez-Parra A, Cea-Del Rio CA. Neurodevelopment and early pharmacological interventions in Fragile X Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1213410. [PMID: 37599992 PMCID: PMC10433175 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1213410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder and the leading monogenic cause of autism and intellectual disability. For years, several efforts have been made to develop an effective therapeutic approach to phenotypically rescue patients from the disorder, with some even advancing to late phases of clinical trials. Unfortunately, none of these attempts have completely succeeded, bringing urgency to further expand and refocus research on FXS therapeutics. FXS arises at early stages of postnatal development due to the mutation and transcriptional silencing of the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 gene (FMR1) and consequent loss of the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein (FMRP) expression. Importantly, FMRP expression is critical for the normal adult nervous system function, particularly during specific windows of embryogenic and early postnatal development. Cellular proliferation, migration, morphology, axonal guidance, synapse formation, and in general, neuronal network establishment and maturation are abnormally regulated in FXS, underlying the cognitive and behavioral phenotypes of the disorder. In this review, we highlight the relevance of therapeutically intervening during critical time points of development, such as early postnatal periods in infants and young children and discuss past and current clinical trials in FXS and their potential to specifically target those periods. We also discuss potential benefits, limitations, and disadvantages of these pharmacological tools based on preclinical and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A. Milla
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lucia Corral
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jhanpool Rivera
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nolberto Zuñiga
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gabriela Pino
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexia Nunez-Parra
- Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Cell Physiology Center, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian A. Cea-Del Rio
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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14
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Shah S, Sharp KJ, Raju Ponny S, Lee J, Watts JK, Berry-Kravis E, Richter JD. Antisense oligonucleotide rescue of CGG expansion-dependent FMR1 mis-splicing in fragile X syndrome restores FMRP. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302534120. [PMID: 37364131 PMCID: PMC10319035 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302534120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant alternative splicing of mRNAs results in dysregulated gene expression in multiple neurological disorders. Here, we show that hundreds of mRNAs are incorrectly expressed and spliced in white blood cells and brain tissues of individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Surprisingly, the FMR1 (Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1) gene is transcribed in >70% of the FXS tissues. In all FMR1-expressing FXS tissues, FMR1 RNA itself is mis-spliced in a CGG expansion-dependent manner to generate the little-known FMR1-217 RNA isoform, which is comprised of FMR1 exon 1 and a pseudo-exon in intron 1. FMR1-217 is also expressed in FXS premutation carrier-derived skin fibroblasts and brain tissues. We show that in cells aberrantly expressing mis-spliced FMR1, antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment reduces FMR1-217, rescues full-length FMR1 RNA, and restores FMRP (Fragile X Messenger RibonucleoProtein) to normal levels. Notably, FMR1 gene reactivation in transcriptionally silent FXS cells using 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AzadC), which prevents DNA methylation, increases FMR1-217 RNA levels but not FMRP. ASO treatment of cells prior to 5-AzadC application rescues full-length FMR1 expression and restores FMRP. These findings indicate that misregulated RNA-processing events in blood could serve as potent biomarkers for FXS and that in those individuals expressing FMR1-217, ASO treatment may offer a therapeutic approach to mitigate the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Shah
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
| | - Kevin J. Sharp
- Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL60612
| | - Sithara Raju Ponny
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
| | - Jonathan Lee
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
| | - Jonathan K. Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
- Li Weibo Rare Disease Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
| | - Elizabeth Berry-Kravis
- Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL60612
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL60612
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL60612
| | - Joel D. Richter
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
- Li Weibo Rare Disease Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
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15
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D'Antoni C, Mautone L, Sanchini C, Tondo L, Grassmann G, Cidonio G, Bezzi P, Cordella F, Di Angelantonio S. Unlocking Neural Function with 3D In Vitro Models: A Technical Review of Self-Assembled, Guided, and Bioprinted Brain Organoids and Their Applications in the Study of Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10762. [PMID: 37445940 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the complexities of the human brain and its associated disorders poses a significant challenge in neuroscience. Traditional research methods have limitations in replicating its intricacies, necessitating the development of in vitro models that can simulate its structure and function. Three-dimensional in vitro models, including organoids, cerebral organoids, bioprinted brain models, and functionalized brain organoids, offer promising platforms for studying human brain development, physiology, and disease. These models accurately replicate key aspects of human brain anatomy, gene expression, and cellular behavior, enabling drug discovery and toxicology studies while providing insights into human-specific phenomena not easily studied in animal models. The use of human-induced pluripotent stem cells has revolutionized the generation of 3D brain structures, with various techniques developed to generate specific brain regions. These advancements facilitate the study of brain structure development and function, overcoming previous limitations due to the scarcity of human brain samples. This technical review provides an overview of current 3D in vitro models of the human cortex, their development, characterization, and limitations, and explores the state of the art and future directions in the field, with a specific focus on their applications in studying neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara D'Antoni
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenza Mautone
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Sanchini
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Tondo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Greta Grassmann
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biochemical Sciences "Alessandro Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Cidonio
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Bezzi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Federica Cordella
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
- D-Tails s.r.l., 00165 Rome, Italy
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16
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Kilpatrick S, Irwin C, Singh KK. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) and organoid models of autism: opportunities and limitations. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:217. [PMID: 37344450 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02510-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder caused by genetic or environmental perturbations during early development. Diagnoses are dependent on the identification of behavioral abnormalities that likely emerge well after the disorder is established, leaving critical developmental windows uncharacterized. This is further complicated by the incredible clinical and genetic heterogeneity of the disorder that is not captured in most mammalian models. In recent years, advancements in stem cell technology have created the opportunity to model ASD in a human context through the use of pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which can be used to generate 2D cellular models as well as 3D unguided- and region-specific neural organoids. These models produce profoundly intricate systems, capable of modeling the developing brain spatiotemporally to reproduce key developmental milestones throughout early development. When complemented with multi-omics, genome editing, and electrophysiology analysis, they can be used as a powerful tool to profile the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this complex disorder. In this review, we will explore the recent advancements in hPSC-based modeling, discuss present and future applications of the model to ASD research, and finally consider the limitations and future directions within the field to make this system more robust and broadly applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah Kilpatrick
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Courtney Irwin
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karun K Singh
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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17
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Dias CM, Issac B, Sun L, Lukowicz A, Talukdar M, Akula SK, Miller MB, Walsh K, Rockowitz S, Walsh CA. Glial dysregulation in the human brain in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300052120. [PMID: 37252957 PMCID: PMC10265985 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300052120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Short trinucleotide expansions at the FMR1 locus are associated with the late-onset condition fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), which shows very different clinical and pathological features from fragile X syndrome (associated with longer expansions), with no clear molecular explanation for these marked differences. One prevailing theory posits that the shorter, premutation expansion uniquely causes extreme neurotoxic increases in FMR1 mRNA (i.e., four to eightfold increases), but evidence to support this hypothesis is largely derived from analysis of peripheral blood. We applied single-nucleus RNA sequencing to postmortem frontal cortex and cerebellum from 7 individuals with premutation and matched controls (n = 6) to assess cell type-specific molecular neuropathology. We found only modest upregulation (~1.3-fold) of FMR1 in some glial populations associated with premutation expansions. In premutation cases, we also identified decreased astrocyte proportions in the cortex. Differential expression and gene ontology analysis demonstrated altered neuroregulatory roles of glia. Using network analyses, we identified cell type-specific and region-specific patterns of FMR1 protein target gene dysregulation unique to premutation cases, with notable network dysregulation in the cortical oligodendrocyte lineage. We used pseudotime trajectory analysis to determine how oligodendrocyte development was altered and identified differences in early gene expression in oligodendrocyte trajectories in premutation cases specifically, implicating early cortical glial developmental perturbations. These findings challenge dogma regarding extremely elevated FMR1 increases in FXTAS and implicate glial dysregulation as a critical facet of premutation pathophysiology, representing potential unique therapeutic targets directly derived from the human condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M. Dias
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Pediatrics, Section of Genetics and Metabolism, and Denver Fragile X Clinic and Research Center, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO80045
| | - Biju Issac
- Research Computing, Department of Information Technology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Liang Sun
- Research Computing, Department of Information Technology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Abigail Lukowicz
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Pediatrics, Section of Genetics and Metabolism, and Denver Fragile X Clinic and Research Center, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO80045
| | - Maya Talukdar
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology MD/PhD Program, Program in Bioinformatics & Integrative Genomics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Shyam K. Akula
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology MD/PhD Program, Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Michael B. Miller
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Katherine Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Shira Rockowitz
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Research Computing, Department of Information Technology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Christopher A. Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- HHMI, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
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18
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Yang S, Hu H, Kung H, Zou R, Dai Y, Hu Y, Wang T, Lv T, Yu J, Li F. Organoids: The current status and biomedical applications. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e274. [PMID: 37215622 PMCID: PMC10192887 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) miniaturized versions of organs or tissues that are derived from cells with stem potential and can self-organize and differentiate into 3D cell masses, recapitulating the morphology and functions of their in vivo counterparts. Organoid culture is an emerging 3D culture technology, and organoids derived from various organs and tissues, such as the brain, lung, heart, liver, and kidney, have been generated. Compared with traditional bidimensional culture, organoid culture systems have the unique advantage of conserving parental gene expression and mutation characteristics, as well as long-term maintenance of the function and biological characteristics of the parental cells in vitro. All these features of organoids open up new opportunities for drug discovery, large-scale drug screening, and precision medicine. Another major application of organoids is disease modeling, and especially various hereditary diseases that are difficult to model in vitro have been modeled with organoids by combining genome editing technologies. Herein, we introduce the development and current advances in the organoid technology field. We focus on the applications of organoids in basic biology and clinical research, and also highlight their limitations and future perspectives. We hope that this review can provide a valuable reference for the developments and applications of organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Yang
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Haijie Hu
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Hengchung Kung
- Krieger School of Arts and SciencesJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Ruiqi Zou
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Yushi Dai
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Yafei Hu
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Tiantian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan ProvinceWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Tianrun Lv
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Jun Yu
- Departments of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Departments of OncologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Fuyu Li
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
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19
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Molinaro G, Huber KM, McCullagh EA, Thomson SR. Editorial: Recent advances in mechanisms and therapeutics for Fragile X Syndrome and autism. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1187799. [PMID: 37266542 PMCID: PMC10230571 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1187799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Molinaro
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Kimberly M. Huber
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Sophie R. Thomson
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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20
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Ren B, Burkovetskaya M, Jung Y, Bergdolt L, Totusek S, Martinez-Cerdeno V, Stauch K, Korade Z, Dunaevsky A. Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism, aberrant excitability and altered cell cycle of astrocytes in fragile X syndrome. Glia 2023; 71:1176-1196. [PMID: 36594399 PMCID: PMC10023374 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most prevalent heritable form of intellectual disability, is caused by the transcriptional silencing of the FMR1 gene. While neuronal contribution to FXS has been extensively studied in both animal and human-based models of FXS, the roles of astrocytes, a type of glial cells in the brain, are largely unknown. Here, we generated a human-based FXS model via differentiation of astrocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and characterized their development, function, and proteomic profiles. We identified shortened cell cycle, enhanced Ca2+ signaling, impaired sterol biosynthesis, and pervasive alterations in the proteome of FXS astrocytes. Our work identified astrocytic impairments that could contribute to the pathogenesis of FXS and highlight astrocytes as a novel therapeutic target for FXS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiyan Ren
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Maria Burkovetskaya
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Yoosun Jung
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Lara Bergdolt
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Steven Totusek
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Veronica Martinez-Cerdeno
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, MIND Institute, and Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine at UC Davis School of Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Kelly Stauch
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Zeljka Korade
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, CHRI, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Anna Dunaevsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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21
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Wang L, Owusu-Hammond C, Sievert D, Gleeson JG. Stem Cell-Based Organoid Models of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:622-631. [PMID: 36759260 PMCID: PMC10022535 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The past decade has seen an explosion in the identification of genetic causes of neurodevelopmental disorders, including Mendelian, de novo, and somatic factors. These discoveries provide opportunities to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms as well as potential gene-gene and gene-environment interactions to support novel therapies. Stem cell-based models, particularly human brain organoids, can capture disease-associated alleles in the context of the human genome, engineered to mirror disease-relevant aspects of cellular complexity and developmental timing. These models have brought key insights into neurodevelopmental disorders as diverse as microcephaly, autism, and focal epilepsy. However, intrinsic organoid-to-organoid variability, low levels of certain brain-resident cell types, and long culture times required to reach maturity can impede progress. Several recent advances incorporate specific morphogen gradients, mixtures of diverse brain cell types, and organoid engraftment into animal models. Together with nonhuman primate organoid comparisons, mechanisms of human neurodevelopmental disorders are emerging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Charlotte Owusu-Hammond
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - David Sievert
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Joseph G Gleeson
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California.
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22
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Cencelli G, Pacini L, De Luca A, Messia I, Gentile A, Kang Y, Nobile V, Tabolacci E, Jin P, Farace MG, Bagni C. Age-Dependent Dysregulation of APP in Neuronal and Skin Cells from Fragile X Individuals. Cells 2023; 12:758. [PMID: 36899894 PMCID: PMC10000963 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of monogenic intellectual disability and autism, caused by the absence of the functional fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMRP). FXS features include increased and dysregulated protein synthesis, observed in both murine and human cells. Altered processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), consisting of an excess of soluble APPα (sAPPα), may contribute to this molecular phenotype in mice and human fibroblasts. Here we show an age-dependent dysregulation of APP processing in fibroblasts from FXS individuals, human neural precursor cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and forebrain organoids. Moreover, FXS fibroblasts treated with a cell-permeable peptide that decreases the generation of sAPPα show restored levels of protein synthesis. Our findings suggest the possibility of using cell-based permeable peptides as a future therapeutic approach for FXS during a defined developmental window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Cencelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pacini
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine, UniCamillus, Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
| | - Anastasia De Luca
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Ilenia Messia
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonietta Gentile
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Roma, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Yunhee Kang
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Veronica Nobile
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Tabolacci
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Peng Jin
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Maria Giulia Farace
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Bagni
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
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23
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Barker CM, Miles KD, Doll CA. Fmrp regulates neuronal balance in embryonic motor circuit formation. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:962901. [PMID: 36408418 PMCID: PMC9669763 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.962901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor behavior requires the balanced production and integration of a variety of neural cell types. Motor neurons are positioned in discrete locations in the spinal cord, targeting specific muscles to drive locomotive contractions. Specialized spinal interneurons modulate and synchronize motor neuron activity to achieve coordinated motor output. Changes in the ratios and connectivity of spinal interneurons could drastically alter motor output by tipping the balance of inhibition and excitation onto target motor neurons. Importantly, individuals with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and associated autism spectrum disorders often have significant motor challenges, including repetitive behaviors and epilepsy. FXS stems from the transcriptional silencing of the gene Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1), which encodes an RNA binding protein that is implicated in a multitude of crucial neurodevelopmental processes, including cell specification. Our work shows that Fmrp regulates the formation of specific interneurons and motor neurons that comprise early embryonic motor circuits. We find that zebrafish fmr1 mutants generate surplus ventral lateral descending (VeLD) interneurons, an early-born cell derived from the motor neuron progenitor domain (pMN). As VeLD interneurons are hypothesized to act as central pattern generators driving the earliest spontaneous movements, this imbalance could influence the formation and long-term function of motor circuits driving locomotion. fmr1 embryos also show reduced expression of proteins associated with inhibitory synapses, including the presynaptic transporter vGAT and the postsynaptic scaffold Gephyrin. Taken together, we show changes in embryonic motor circuit formation in fmr1 mutants that could underlie persistent hyperexcitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase M. Barker
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Kaleb D. Miles
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Graduate School, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Caleb A. Doll
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
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24
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Miles KD, Doll CA. Chloride imbalance in Fragile X syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1008393. [PMID: 36312023 PMCID: PMC9596984 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1008393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental changes in ionic balance are associated with crucial hallmarks in neural circuit formation, including changes in excitation and inhibition, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis. Neuronal excitability is largely mediated by ionic concentrations inside and outside of the cell, and chloride (Cl-) ions are highly influential in early neurodevelopmental events. For example, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mature central nervous system (CNS). However, during early development GABA can depolarize target neurons, and GABAergic depolarization is implicated in crucial neurodevelopmental processes. This developmental shift of GABAergic neurotransmission from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing output is induced by changes in Cl- gradients, which are generated by the relative expression of Cl- transporters Nkcc1 and Kcc2. Interestingly, the GABA polarity shift is delayed in Fragile X syndrome (FXS) models; FXS is one of the most common heritable neurodevelopmental disorders. The RNA binding protein FMRP, encoded by the gene Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein-1 (Fmr1) and absent in FXS, appears to regulate chloride transporter expression. This could dramatically influence FXS phenotypes, as the syndrome is hypothesized to be rooted in defects in neural circuit development and imbalanced excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) neurotransmission. In this perspective, we summarize canonical Cl- transporter expression and investigate altered gene and protein expression of Nkcc1 and Kcc2 in FXS models. We then discuss interactions between Cl- transporters and neurotransmission complexes, and how these links could cause imbalances in inhibitory neurotransmission that may alter mature circuits. Finally, we highlight current therapeutic strategies and promising new directions in targeting Cl- transporter expression in FXS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caleb Andrew Doll
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
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25
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Susco SG, Ghosh S, Mazzucato P, Angelini G, Beccard A, Barrera V, Berryer MH, Messana A, Lam D, Hazelbaker DZ, Barrett LE. Molecular convergence between Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome identified using human pluripotent stem cell models. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111312. [PMID: 36070702 PMCID: PMC9465809 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), driven by an extra copy of chromosome 21 (HSA21), and fragile X syndrome (FXS), driven by loss of the RNA-binding protein FMRP, are two common genetic causes of intellectual disability and autism. Based upon the number of DS-implicated transcripts bound by FMRP, we hypothesize that DS and FXS may share underlying mechanisms. Comparing DS and FXS human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) and glutamatergic neuron models, we identify increased protein expression of select targets and overlapping transcriptional perturbations. Moreover, acute upregulation of endogenous FMRP in DS patient cells using CRISPRa is sufficient to significantly reduce expression levels of candidate proteins and reverse 40% of global transcriptional perturbations. These results pinpoint specific molecular perturbations shared between DS and FXS that can be leveraged as a strategy for target prioritization; they also provide evidence for the functional relevance of previous associations between FMRP targets and disease-implicated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara G Susco
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sulagna Ghosh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Patrizia Mazzucato
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Gabriella Angelini
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Amanda Beccard
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Victor Barrera
- Bioinformatics Core, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Martin H Berryer
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Angelica Messana
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Daisy Lam
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Dane Z Hazelbaker
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Lindy E Barrett
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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26
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Human Brain Organoid: A Versatile Tool for Modeling Neurodegeneration Diseases and for Drug Screening. Stem Cells Int 2022; 2022:2150680. [PMID: 36061149 PMCID: PMC9436613 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2150680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials serve as the fundamental prerequisite for clinical therapy of human disease, which is primarily based on biomedical studies in animal models. Undoubtedly, animal models have made a significant contribution to gaining insight into the developmental and pathophysiological understanding of human diseases. However, none of the existing animal models could efficiently simulate the development of human organs and systems due to a lack of spatial information; the discrepancy in genetic, anatomic, and physiological basis between animals and humans limits detailed investigation. Therefore, the translational efficiency of the research outcomes in clinical applications was significantly weakened, especially for some complex, chronic, and intractable diseases. For example, the clinical trials for human fragile X syndrome (FXS) solely based on animal models have failed such as mGluR5 antagonists. To mimic the development of human organs more faithfully and efficiently translate in vitro biomedical studies to clinical trials, extensive attention to organoids derived from stem cells contributes to a deeper understanding of this research. The organoids are a miniaturized version of an organ generated in vitro, partially recapitulating key features of human organ development. As such, the organoids open a novel avenue for in vitro models of human disease, advantageous over the existing animal models. The invention of organoids has brought an innovative breakthrough in regeneration medicine. The organoid-derived human tissues or organs could potentially function as invaluable platforms for biomedical studies, pathological investigation of human diseases, and drug screening. Importantly, the study of regeneration medicine and the development of therapeutic strategies for human diseases could be conducted in a dish, facilitating in vitro analysis and experimentation. Thus far, the pilot breakthrough has been made in the generation of numerous types of organoids representing different human organs. Most of these human organoids have been employed for in vitro biomedical study and drug screening. However, the efficiency and quality of the organoids in recapitulating the development of human organs have been hindered by engineering and conceptual challenges. The efficiency and quality of the organoids are essential for downstream applications. In this article, we highlight the application in the modeling of human neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as FXS, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), and organoid-based drug screening. Additionally, challenges and weaknesses especially for limits of the brain organoid models in modeling late onset NDDs such as AD and PD., and future perspectives regarding human brain organoids are addressed.
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27
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Jiang CC, Lin LS, Long S, Ke XY, Fukunaga K, Lu YM, Han F. Signalling pathways in autism spectrum disorder: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:229. [PMID: 35817793 PMCID: PMC9273593 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01081-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent and complex neurodevelopmental disorder which has strong genetic basis. Despite the rapidly rising incidence of autism, little is known about its aetiology, risk factors, and disease progression. There are currently neither validated biomarkers for diagnostic screening nor specific medication for autism. Over the last two decades, there have been remarkable advances in genetics, with hundreds of genes identified and validated as being associated with a high risk for autism. The convergence of neuroscience methods is becoming more widely recognized for its significance in elucidating the pathological mechanisms of autism. Efforts have been devoted to exploring the behavioural functions, key pathological mechanisms and potential treatments of autism. Here, as we highlight in this review, emerging evidence shows that signal transduction molecular events are involved in pathological processes such as transcription, translation, synaptic transmission, epigenetics and immunoinflammatory responses. This involvement has important implications for the discovery of precise molecular targets for autism. Moreover, we review recent insights into the mechanisms and clinical implications of signal transduction in autism from molecular, cellular, neural circuit, and neurobehavioural aspects. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives are discussed with regard to novel strategies predicated on the biological features of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chen Jiang
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Li-Shan Lin
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Sen Long
- Department of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Mental Health Center Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Ke
- Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Kohji Fukunaga
- Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Ying-Mei Lu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Feng Han
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. .,Institute of Brain Science, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China. .,Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China.
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28
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Lee A, Xu J, Wen Z, Jin P. Across Dimensions: Developing 2D and 3D Human iPSC-Based Models of Fragile X Syndrome. Cells 2022; 11:1725. [PMID: 35681419 PMCID: PMC9179297 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. FXS is caused by a cytosine-guanine-guanine (CGG) trinucleotide repeat expansion in the untranslated region of the FMR1 gene leading to the functional loss of the gene's protein product FMRP. Various animal models of FXS have provided substantial knowledge about the disorder. However, critical limitations exist in replicating the pathophysiological mechanisms. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provide a unique means of studying the features and processes of both normal and abnormal human neurodevelopment in large sample quantities in a controlled setting. Human iPSC-based models of FXS have offered a better understanding of FXS pathophysiology specific to humans. This review summarizes studies that have used hiPSC-based two-dimensional cellular models of FXS to reproduce the pathology, examine altered gene expression and translation, determine the functions and targets of FMRP, characterize the neurodevelopmental phenotypes and electrophysiological features, and, finally, to reactivate FMR1. We also provide an overview of the most recent studies using three-dimensional human brain organoids of FXS and end with a discussion of current limitations and future directions for FXS research using hiPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azalea Lee
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
- MD/PhD Program, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jie Xu
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
| | - Zhexing Wen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Peng Jin
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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29
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D’Incal C, Broos J, Torfs T, Kooy RF, Vanden Berghe W. Towards Kinase Inhibitor Therapies for Fragile X Syndrome: Tweaking Twists in the Autism Spectrum Kinase Signaling Network. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081325. [PMID: 35456004 PMCID: PMC9029738 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Absence of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) causes autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability, commonly referred to as the Fragile X syndrome. FMRP is a negative regulator of protein translation and is essential for neuronal development and synapse formation. FMRP is a target for several post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation and methylation, which tightly regulate its cellular functions. Studies have indicated the involvement of FMRP in a multitude of cellular pathways, and an absence of FMRP was shown to affect several neurotransmitter receptors, for example, the GABA receptor and intracellular signaling molecules such as Akt, ERK, mTOR, and GSK3. Interestingly, many of these molecules function as protein kinases or phosphatases and thus are potentially amendable by pharmacological treatment. Several treatments acting on these kinase-phosphatase systems have been shown to be successful in preclinical models; however, they have failed to convincingly show any improvements in clinical trials. In this review, we highlight the different protein kinase and phosphatase studies that have been performed in the Fragile X syndrome. In our opinion, some of the paradoxical study conclusions are potentially due to the lack of insight into integrative kinase signaling networks in the disease. Quantitative proteome analyses have been performed in several models for the FXS to determine global molecular processes in FXS. However, only one phosphoproteomics study has been carried out in Fmr1 knock-out mouse embryonic fibroblasts, and it showed dysfunctional protein kinase and phosphatase signaling hubs in the brain. This suggests that the further use of phosphoproteomics approaches in Fragile X syndrome holds promise for identifying novel targets for kinase inhibitor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio D’Incal
- Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.D.); (J.B.); (T.T.)
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Jitse Broos
- Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.D.); (J.B.); (T.T.)
| | - Thierry Torfs
- Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.D.); (J.B.); (T.T.)
| | - R. Frank Kooy
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Wim Vanden Berghe
- Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (C.D.); (J.B.); (T.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +0032-(0)-32-652-657
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30
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Chakraborty A, Grageda A, Kuznetsov VA, Feng W. A Double Jeopardy: Loss of FMRP Results in DSB and Down-regulated DNA Repair. 21ST CENTURY PATHOLOGY 2022; 2:125. [PMID: 36688938 PMCID: PMC9850805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of the molecular functions of the nucleocytoplasmic FMRP protein, which, if absent or dysfunctional, causes the fragile X syndrome (FXS), largely revolves around its involvement in protein translation regulation in the cytoplasm. Recent studies have begun honing in on the nuclear and genomic functions of FMRP. We have shown that during DNA replication stress, cells derived from FXS patients sustain increased level of R-loop formation and DNA double strand breaks. Here, we describe a transcriptomic analysis of these cells in order to identify those genes most impacted by the loss of FMRP with and without replication stress. We show that FMRP loss causes transcriptomic changes previously reported in untreated conditions. Importantly, we also show that replication stress, in addition to causing excess of DSB, results in down-regulation of transcription in virtually all DNA repair pathways. This finding suggests that despite normal DNA damage response, FXS patient-derived cells experience R-loop-induced DNA breakage as well as impaired DNA repair functions, effectively a double jeopardy. We suggest that it is imperative to deepen the understanding of the nuclear functions, particularly a genome protective function, of FMRP, which will lead to discoveries of novel therapeutic interventions for the FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arijita Chakraborty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA,Tessera Therapeutics, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andre Grageda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA,Department of Urology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Vladimir A. Kuznetsov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA,Department of Urology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Wenyi Feng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA,Corresponding Author: Wenyi Feng, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA;
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31
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Bhattacharya A, Choi WWY, Muffat J, Li Y. Modeling Developmental Brain Diseases Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Brain Organoids - Progress and Perspective. J Mol Biol 2021; 434:167386. [PMID: 34883115 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Developmental brain diseases encompass a group of conditions resulting from genetic or environmental perturbations during early development. Despite the increased research attention in recent years following recognition of the prevalence of these diseases, there is still a significant lack of knowledge of their etiology and treatment options. The genetic and clinical heterogeneity of these diseases, in addition to the limitations of experimental animal models, contribute to this difficulty. In this regard, the advent of brain organoid technology has provided a new means to study the cause and progression of developmental brain diseases in vitro. Derived from human pluripotent stem cells, brain organoids have been shown to recapitulate key developmental milestones of the early human brain. Combined with technological advancements in genome editing, tissue engineering, electrophysiology, and multi-omics analysis, brain organoids have expanded the frontiers of human neurobiology, providing valuable insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of normal and pathological brain development. This review will summarize the current progress of applying brain organoids to model human developmental brain diseases and discuss the challenges that need to be overcome to further advance their utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afrin Bhattacharya
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; The University of Toronto, Department of Molecular Genetics, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Wendy W Y Choi
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; The University of Toronto, Department of Molecular Genetics, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Julien Muffat
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; The University of Toronto, Department of Molecular Genetics, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Yun Li
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; The University of Toronto, Department of Molecular Genetics, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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Zein-Sabatto H, Lerit DA. The Identification and Functional Analysis of mRNA Localizing to Centrosomes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:782802. [PMID: 34805187 PMCID: PMC8595238 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.782802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Centrosomes are multifunctional organelles tasked with organizing the microtubule cytoskeleton required for genome stability, intracellular trafficking, and ciliogenesis. Contributing to the diversity of centrosome functions are cell cycle-dependent oscillations in protein localization and post-translational modifications. Less understood is the role of centrosome-localized messenger RNA (mRNA). Since its discovery, the concept of nucleic acids at the centrosome was controversial, and physiological roles for centrosomal mRNAs remained muddled and underexplored. Over the past decades, however, transcripts, RNA-binding proteins, and ribosomes were detected at the centrosome in various organisms and cell types, hinting at a conservation of function. Indeed, recent work defines centrosomes as sites of local protein synthesis, and defined mRNAs were recently implicated in regulating centrosome functions. In this review, we summarize the evidence for the presence of mRNA at the centrosome and the current work that aims to unravel the biological functions of mRNA localized to centrosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dorothy A. Lerit
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Kang Y, Zhou Y, Li Y, Han Y, Xu J, Niu W, Li Z, Liu S, Feng H, Huang W, Duan R, Xu T, Raj N, Zhang F, Dou J, Xu C, Wu H, Bassell GJ, Warren ST, Allen EG, Jin P, Wen Z. A human forebrain organoid model of fragile X syndrome exhibits altered neurogenesis and highlights new treatment strategies. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:1377-1391. [PMID: 34413513 PMCID: PMC8484073 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00913-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by the loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein that can regulate the translation of specific mRNAs. In this study, we developed an FXS human forebrain organoid model and observed that the loss of FMRP led to dysregulated neurogenesis, neuronal maturation and neuronal excitability. Bulk and single-cell gene expression analyses of FXS forebrain organoids revealed that the loss of FMRP altered gene expression in a cell-type-specific manner. The developmental deficits in FXS forebrain organoids could be rescued by inhibiting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway but not the metabotropic glutamate pathway disrupted in the FXS mouse model. We identified a large number of human-specific mRNAs bound by FMRP. One of these human-specific FMRP targets, CHD2, contributed to the altered gene expression in FXS organoids. Collectively, our study revealed molecular, cellular and electrophysiological abnormalities associated with the loss of FMRP during human brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhee Kang
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;,Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ying Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Scieces, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;,Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Yujing Li
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;,Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Yanfei Han
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Scieces, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jie Xu
- The Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Emory University, GA 30322, USA
| | - Weibo Niu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Scieces, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ziyi Li
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Shiying Liu
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, OH 44106, USA
| | - Hao Feng
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, OH 44106, USA
| | - Wen Huang
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Ranhui Duan
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Tianmin Xu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Nisha Raj
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Feiran Zhang
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Juan Dou
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Scieces, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Chongchong Xu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Scieces, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Gary J Bassell
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Stephen T Warren
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Emily G Allen
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Peng Jin
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;,To whom correspondence should be addressed: (P.J.) and (Z.W.)
| | - Zhexing Wen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Scieces, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;,Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;,To whom correspondence should be addressed: (P.J.) and (Z.W.)
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