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Alonso A, Samanta A, van der Meij J, van den Brand L, Negwer M, Navarro Lobato I, Genzel L. Defensive and offensive behaviours in a Kleefstra syndrome mouse model. Anim Cogn 2023; 26:1131-1140. [PMID: 36877418 PMCID: PMC10345049 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01757-2] [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: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Kleefstra syndrome in humans is characterized by a general delay in development, intellectual disability and autistic features. The mouse model of this disease (Ehmt1±) expresses anxiety, autistic-like traits, and aberrant social interactions with non-cagemates. To investigate how Ehmt1± mice behave with unfamiliar conspecifics, we allowed adult, male animals to freely interact for 10 min in a neutral, novel environment within a host-visitor setting. In trials where the Ehmt1± mice were hosts, there were defensive and offensive behaviors. Our key finding was that Ehmt1± mice displayed defensive postures, attacking and biting; in contrast, wild-type (WT) interacting with other WT did not enact such behaviors. Further, if there was a fight between an Ehmt1± and a WT mouse, the Ehmt1± animal was the most aggressive and always initiated these behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Alonso
- Department of Neuroinformatics, Faculty of Science, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Anumita Samanta
- Department of Neuroinformatics, Faculty of Science, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline van der Meij
- Department of Neuroinformatics, Faculty of Science, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Liz van den Brand
- Department of Neuroinformatics, Faculty of Science, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Moritz Negwer
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, RadboudUMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Irene Navarro Lobato
- Department of Neuroinformatics, Faculty of Science, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa Genzel
- Department of Neuroinformatics, Faculty of Science, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Psychosis and autism without functional regression in a patient with Kleefstra syndrome. Psychiatr Genet 2023; 33:34-36. [PMID: 36617745 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Kleefstra syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by haploinsufficiency of the euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) gene. It is characterized by a variety of dysmorphic features, comorbid medical issues, and developmental delays/intellectual disability. Neuropsychiatric symptoms may also occur, including autistic features and psychosis, and are often accompanied by functional regression. However, the phenomenology of psychotic symptoms in this syndrome has not been well described in the literature. As such, in this brief report, we review the literature with respect to the occurrence of psychosis in Kleefstra syndrome and describe the symptom profile of a 35-year-old affected male with an intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia (in association with manic features). This is the first report of psychotic symptoms fully remitting in response to zuclopenthixol therapy in an individual with Kleefstra syndrome. This case is also unique as it demonstrates that functional regression does not necessarily coincide with the development of schizophrenia-like presentations in affected individuals.
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