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Bharadwaj R, Nath P, Phukan JK, Deb K, Gogoi V, Bhattacharyya DK, Barah P. Integrative ceRNA network analysis identifies unique and shared molecular signatures in Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 176:47-57. [PMID: 38843579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.05.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/29/2024]
Abstract
Bipolar Disorder (BPD) and Schizophrenia (SCZ) are complex psychiatric disorders with shared symptomatology and genetic risk factors. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these disorders is crucial for refining diagnostic criteria and guiding targeted treatments. In this study, publicly available RNA-seq data from post-mortem samples of the basal ganglia's striatum were analyzed using an integrative computational approach to identify differentially expressed (DE) transcripts associated with SCZ and BPD. The analysis aimed to reveal both shared and distinct genes and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and to construct competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks within the striatum. Furthermore, the functional implications of these identified transcripts are explored, alongside their presence in established databases such as BipEx and SCHEMA. A significant outcome of our analysis was the identification of 21 DEmRNAs and 1 DElncRNA shared between BPD and SCZ across the Caudate, Putamen, and Nucleus Accumbens. Another noteworthy finding was the identification of Hub nodes within the ceRNA networks that were linked to major psychosis. Particularly, MED19, HNRNPC, MAGED4B, KDM5A, GOLGA7, CHASERR, hsa-miR-4778-3p, hsa-miR-4739, and hsa-miR-4685-5p emerged as potential biomarkers. These findings shed light on the common and unique molecular signatures underlying BPD and SCZ, offering significant potential for the advancement of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies tailored to these psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachayita Bharadwaj
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Napaam, Sonitpur, 784028, Assam, India
| | - Prangan Nath
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Napaam, Sonitpur, 784028, Assam, India
| | - Jadab Kishore Phukan
- Department of Biochemistry, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH), Sonitpur, Tezpur, 784001, Assam, India
| | - Kunal Deb
- Department of Psychiatry, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH), Sonitpur, Tezpur, 784001, Assam, India
| | - Vijay Gogoi
- Department of Psychiatry, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH), Sonitpur, Tezpur, 784001, Assam, India
| | - Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Tezpur University, Napaam, Sonitpur, 784028, Assam, India
| | - Pankaj Barah
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Napaam, Sonitpur, 784028, Assam, India.
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Neff RC, Stangis KA, Beniwal U, Hergenreder T, Ye B, Murphy GG. Cognitive behavioral phenotyping of DSCAM heterozygosity as a model for autism spectrum disorder. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.03.597158. [PMID: 38895491 PMCID: PMC11185729 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.03.597158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
It is estimated that 1 in 36 children are affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States, which is nearly a twofold increase from a decade ago. Recent genetic studies have identified de novo loss-of-function (dnLoF) mutations in the Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (DSCAM) as a strong risk factor for ASD. Previous research has shown that DSCAM ablation confers social interaction deficits and perseverative behaviors in mouse models. However, it remains unknown to what extent DSCAM underexpression captures the full range of behaviors, specifically cognitive phenotypes, presented in ASD. Here, we conducted a comprehensive cognitive behavioral phenotyping which revealed that loss of one copy of DSCAM , as in the DSCAM 2J +/- mice, displayed hyperactivity, increased anxiety, and motor coordination impairments. Additionally, hippocampal-dependent learning and memory was affected, including working memory, long-term memory, and contextual fear learning. Interestingly, implicit learning processes remained intact. Therefore, DSCAM LoF produces autistic-like behaviors that are similar to human cases of ASD. These findings further support a role for DSCAM dnLoF mutations in ASD and suggest DSCAM 2J +/- as a suitable model for ASD research. Summary Statement Autism spectrum disorder represents a growing patient population. Loss of one copy of the DSCAM gene provides a promising mouse model that reproduces autistic-like behaviors for research and therapeutic testing.
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Her Y, Pascual DM, Goldstone-Joubert Z, Marcogliese PC. Variant functional assessment in Drosophila by overexpression: what can we learn? Genome 2024; 67:158-167. [PMID: 38412472 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2023-0135] [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] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The last decade has been highlighted by the increased use of next-generation DNA sequencing technology to identify novel human disease genes. A critical downstream part of this process is assigning function to a candidate gene variant. Functional studies in Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, have made a prominent contribution in annotating variant impact in an in vivo system. The use of patient-derived knock-in flies or rescue-based, "humanization", approaches are novel and valuable strategies in variant testing but have been recently widely reviewed. An often-overlooked strategy for determining variant impact has been GAL4/upstream activation sequence-mediated tissue-defined overexpression in Drosophila. This mini-review will summarize the recent contribution of ectopic overexpression of human reference and variant cDNA in Drosophila to assess variant function, interpret the consequence of the variant, and in some cases infer biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yina Her
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Danielle M Pascual
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Zoe Goldstone-Joubert
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Paul C Marcogliese
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Excellence in Neurodevelopment and Rehabilitation Research in Child Health (ENRRICH) Theme, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Zhuang H, Liang Z, Ma G, Qureshi A, Ran X, Feng C, Liu X, Yan X, Shen L. Autism spectrum disorder: pathogenesis, biomarker, and intervention therapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e497. [PMID: 38434761 PMCID: PMC10908366 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.497] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become a common neurodevelopmental disorder. The heterogeneity of ASD poses great challenges for its research and clinical translation. On the basis of reviewing the heterogeneity of ASD, this review systematically summarized the current status and progress of pathogenesis, diagnostic markers, and interventions for ASD. We provided an overview of the ASD molecular mechanisms identified by multi-omics studies and convergent mechanism in different genetic backgrounds. The comorbidities, mechanisms associated with important physiological and metabolic abnormalities (i.e., inflammation, immunity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction), and gut microbial disorder in ASD were reviewed. The non-targeted omics and targeting studies of diagnostic markers for ASD were also reviewed. Moreover, we summarized the progress and methods of behavioral and educational interventions, intervention methods related to technological devices, and research on medical interventions and potential drug targets. This review highlighted the application of high-throughput omics methods in ASD research and emphasized the importance of seeking homogeneity from heterogeneity and exploring the convergence of disease mechanisms, biomarkers, and intervention approaches, and proposes that taking into account individuality and commonality may be the key to achieve accurate diagnosis and treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbin Zhuang
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Zhiyuan Liang
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Guanwei Ma
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Ayesha Qureshi
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Xiaoqian Ran
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Chengyun Feng
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital of BaoanShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Xukun Liu
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Xi Yan
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Liming Shen
- College of Life Science and OceanographyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
- Shenzhen‐Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science‐Shenzhen Fundamental Research InstitutionsShenzhenP. R. China
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Basu S, Ro EJ, Liu Z, Kim H, Bennett A, Kang S, Suh H. The Mef2c Gene Dose-Dependently Controls Hippocampal Neurogenesis and the Expression of Autism-Like Behaviors. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1058232023. [PMID: 38123360 PMCID: PMC10860657 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1058-23.2023] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the activity-dependent transcription factor MEF2C have been associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. Among these, autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related behavioral deficits are manifested. Multiple animal models that harbor mutations in Mef2c have provided compelling evidence that Mef2c is indeed an ASD gene. However, studies in mice with germline or global brain knock-out of Mef2c are limited in their ability to identify the precise neural substrates and cell types that are required for the expression of Mef2c-mediated ASD behaviors. Given the role of hippocampal neurogenesis in cognitive and social behaviors, in this study we aimed to investigate the role of Mef2c in the structure and function of newly generated dentate granule cells (DGCs) in the postnatal hippocampus and to determine whether disrupted Mef2c function is responsible for manifesting ASD behaviors. Overexpression of Mef2c (Mef2cOE ) arrested the transition of neurogenesis at progenitor stages, as indicated by sustained expression of Sox2+ in Mef2cOE DGCs. Conditional knock-out of Mef2c (Mef2ccko ) allowed neuronal commitment of Mef2ccko cells; however, Mef2ccko impaired not only dendritic arborization and spine formation but also synaptic transmission onto Mef2ccko DGCs. Moreover, the abnormal structure and function of Mef2ccko DGCs led to deficits in social interaction and social novelty recognition, which are key characteristics of ASD behaviors. Thus, our study revealed a dose-dependent requirement of Mef2c in the control of distinct steps of neurogenesis, as well as a critical cell-autonomous function of Mef2c in newborn DGCs in the expression of proper social behavior in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreetama Basu
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 44109, Ohio
| | - Eun Jeoung Ro
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 44109, Ohio
| | - Zhi Liu
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 44109, Ohio
| | - Hyunjung Kim
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta 30912, Georgia
| | - Aubrey Bennett
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta 30912, Georgia
| | - Seungwoo Kang
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta 30912, Georgia
| | - Hoonkyo Suh
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland 44109, Ohio
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Naylor PE, Bruno JL, Shrestha SB, Friedman M, Jo B, Reiss AL, Green T. Neuropsychiatric phenotypes in children with Noonan syndrome. Dev Med Child Neurol 2023; 65:1520-1529. [PMID: 37130201 PMCID: PMC10592553 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
AIM We investigated neuropsychiatric outcomes in children with Noonan syndrome and addressed limitations in previous research with a focus on prepubertal children, comparison to typically developing children, comprehensive neuropsychiatric evaluation, and controlling for overall cognitive abilities. METHOD Forty-five children with Noonan syndrome (mean = 8 years 6 months, SD = 2 years 2 months; 29 females) and 40 typically developing children (mean = 8 years 9 months, SD = 2 years; 22 females) were evaluated with objective, parent-report, and psychiatric interview measures. RESULTS Children with Noonan syndrome demonstrated elevated symptoms across attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (attention, hyperactivity, and inhibition), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (maintaining social relationships, behavioral rigidity, and sensory sensitivity), and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) (aggression) symptom clusters relative to typically developing children (all p < 0.05). Group differences in nearly all parent-report measures were significant after accounting for variations in intellectual functioning, suggesting that increased neurodevelopmental symptoms are not simply driven by overall intelligence. Twenty out of 42 children with Noonan syndrome met criteria for ADHD, eight out of 42 for ODD, and 11 out of 43 demonstrated clinically significant symptoms seen in children with ASD. INTERPRETATION Children with Noonan syndrome are at increased risk for a range of ADHD, ASD, and ODD associated symptoms. A dimensional approach reveals significant ASD symptoms in Noonan syndrome that do not emerge when using the currently accepted categorical diagnostic approach. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS Neuropsychiatric disorders occur in more than half of children with Noonan syndrome. Children with Noonan syndrome demonstrate highly variable neurodevelopmental symptom profiles. Children with Noonan syndrome display variable impairments in attention, hyperactivity, and inhibition. Specific social concerns include behavioral rigidity, transitions, and difficulties maintaining social relationships. Children with Noonan syndrome display variably elevated levels of aggression and emotional dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige E Naylor
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Bruno
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sharon Bade Shrestha
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Marcelle Friedman
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Booil Jo
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Allan L Reiss
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tamar Green
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Kelvington BA, Abel T. hnRNPH2 gain-of-function mutations reveal therapeutic strategies and a role for RNA granules in neurodevelopmental disorders. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e171499. [PMID: 37463443 DOI: 10.1172/jci171499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
hnRNPH2-related neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) is caused by mutations in the HNRNPH2 gene and is associated with substantial challenges, including developmental delay, intellectual disability, growth delay, and epilepsy. There is currently no therapeutic intervention available to those with hnRNPH2-related NDD that addresses its underlying mechanisms. In this issue of the JCI, Korff et al. studied specific gain-of-function mutations associated with hnRNPH2-related NDD, with the help of mouse models that recapitulate key features of the condition in humans. Their work paves the way for therapeutic approaches that aim to reduce the expression of mutant hnRNPH2 and highlights a role for disrupted RNA granules in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Hou B, Santaniello S, Tzingounis AV. KCNQ2 channels regulate the population activity of neonatal GABAergic neurons ex vivo. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1207539. [PMID: 37409016 PMCID: PMC10318362 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1207539] [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: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade KCNQ2 channels have arisen as fundamental and indispensable regulators of neonatal brain excitability, with KCNQ2 loss-of-function pathogenic variants being increasingly identified in patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. However, the mechanisms by which KCNQ2 loss-of-function variants lead to network dysfunction are not fully known. An important remaining knowledge gap is whether loss of KCNQ2 function alters GABAergic interneuron activity early in development. To address this question, we applied mesoscale calcium imaging ex vivo in postnatal day 4-7 mice lacking KCNQ2 channels in interneurons (Vgat-ires-cre;Kcnq2f/f;GCamp5). In the presence of elevated extracellular potassium concentrations, ablation of KCNQ2 channels from GABAergic cells increased the interneuron population activity in the hippocampal formation and regions of the neocortex. We found that this increased population activity depends on fast synaptic transmission, with excitatory transmission promoting the activity and GABAergic transmission curtailing it. Together, our data show that loss of function of KCNQ2 channels from interneurons increases the network excitability of the immature GABAergic circuits, revealing a new function of KCNQ2 channels in interneuron physiology in the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Hou
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Sabato Santaniello
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and CT Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Anastasios V. Tzingounis
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and CT Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
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Kelvington BA, Nickl-Jockschat T, Abel T. Neurobiological insights into twice-exceptionality: Circuits, cells, and molecules. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2022; 195:107684. [PMID: 36174887 PMCID: PMC9888516 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107684] [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: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Twice-exceptional learners face a unique set of challenges arising from the intersection of extraordinary talent and disability. Neurobiology research has the capacity to complement pedagogical research and provide support for twice-exceptional learners. Very few studies have attempted to specifically address the neurobiological underpinnings of twice-exceptionality. However, neurobiologists have built a broad base of knowledge in nervous system function spanning from the level of neural circuits to the molecular basis of behavior. It is known that distinct neural circuits mediate different neural functions, which suggests that 2e learning may result from enhancement in one circuit and disruption in another. Neural circuits are known to adapt and change in response to experience, a cellular process known as neuroplasticity. Plasticity is controlled by a bidirectional connection between the synapse, where neural signals are received, and the nucleus, where regulated gene expression can return to alter synaptic function. Complex molecular mechanisms compose this connection in distinct neural circuits, and genetic alterations in these mechanisms are associated with both memory enhancements and psychiatric disorder. Understanding the consequences of these changes at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels will provide critical insights into the neurobiological bases of twice-exceptionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Kelvington
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Thomas Nickl-Jockschat
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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Zug R, Uller T. Evolution and dysfunction of human cognitive and social traits: A transcriptional regulation perspective. EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES 2022; 4:e43. [PMID: 37588924 PMCID: PMC10426018 DOI: 10.1017/ehs.2022.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary changes in brain and craniofacial development have endowed humans with unique cognitive and social skills, but also predisposed us to debilitating disorders in which these traits are disrupted. What are the developmental genetic underpinnings that connect the adaptive evolution of our cognition and sociality with the persistence of mental disorders with severe negative fitness effects? We argue that loss of function of genes involved in transcriptional regulation represents a crucial link between the evolution and dysfunction of human cognitive and social traits. The argument is based on the haploinsufficiency of many transcriptional regulator genes, which makes them particularly sensitive to loss-of-function mutations. We discuss how human brain and craniofacial traits evolved through partial loss of function (i.e. reduced expression) of these genes, a perspective compatible with the idea of human self-domestication. Moreover, we explain why selection against loss-of-function variants supports the view that mutation-selection-drift, rather than balancing selection, underlies the persistence of psychiatric disorders. Finally, we discuss testable predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Zug
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tobias Uller
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Fu JM, Satterstrom FK, Peng M, Brand H, Collins RL, Dong S, Wamsley B, Klei L, Wang L, Hao SP, Stevens CR, Cusick C, Babadi M, Banks E, Collins B, Dodge S, Gabriel SB, Gauthier L, Lee SK, Liang L, Ljungdahl A, Mahjani B, Sloofman L, Smirnov AN, Barbosa M, Betancur C, Brusco A, Chung BHY, Cook EH, Cuccaro ML, Domenici E, Ferrero GB, Gargus JJ, Herman GE, Hertz-Picciotto I, Maciel P, Manoach DS, Passos-Bueno MR, Persico AM, Renieri A, Sutcliffe JS, Tassone F, Trabetti E, Campos G, Cardaropoli S, Carli D, Chan MCY, Fallerini C, Giorgio E, Girardi AC, Hansen-Kiss E, Lee SL, Lintas C, Ludena Y, Nguyen R, Pavinato L, Pericak-Vance M, Pessah IN, Schmidt RJ, Smith M, Costa CIS, Trajkova S, Wang JYT, Yu MHC, Cutler DJ, De Rubeis S, Buxbaum JD, Daly MJ, Devlin B, Roeder K, Sanders SJ, Talkowski ME. Rare coding variation provides insight into the genetic architecture and phenotypic context of autism. Nat Genet 2022; 54:1320-1331. [PMID: 35982160 PMCID: PMC9653013 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01104-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 84.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Some individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) carry functional mutations rarely observed in the general population. We explored the genes disrupted by these variants from joint analysis of protein-truncating variants (PTVs), missense variants and copy number variants (CNVs) in a cohort of 63,237 individuals. We discovered 72 genes associated with ASD at false discovery rate (FDR) ≤ 0.001 (185 at FDR ≤ 0.05). De novo PTVs, damaging missense variants and CNVs represented 57.5%, 21.1% and 8.44% of association evidence, while CNVs conferred greatest relative risk. Meta-analysis with cohorts ascertained for developmental delay (DD) (n = 91,605) yielded 373 genes associated with ASD/DD at FDR ≤ 0.001 (664 at FDR ≤ 0.05), some of which differed in relative frequency of mutation between ASD and DD cohorts. The DD-associated genes were enriched in transcriptomes of progenitor and immature neuronal cells, whereas genes showing stronger evidence in ASD were more enriched in maturing neurons and overlapped with schizophrenia-associated genes, emphasizing that these neuropsychiatric disorders may share common pathways to risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack M Fu
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - F Kyle Satterstrom
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Minshi Peng
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Harrison Brand
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan L Collins
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shan Dong
- Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brie Wamsley
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lambertus Klei
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lily Wang
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephanie P Hao
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christine R Stevens
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caroline Cusick
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mehrtash Babadi
- Data Sciences Platform, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eric Banks
- Data Sciences Platform, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Brett Collins
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sheila Dodge
- Genomics Platform, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stacey B Gabriel
- Genomics Platform, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Laura Gauthier
- Data Sciences Platform, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samuel K Lee
- Data Sciences Platform, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lindsay Liang
- Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alicia Ljungdahl
- Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Behrang Mahjani
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laura Sloofman
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrey N Smirnov
- Data Sciences Platform, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mafalda Barbosa
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Catalina Betancur
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Paris, France
| | - Alfredo Brusco
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' University Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Brian H Y Chung
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Edwin H Cook
- Institute for Juvenile Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Michael L Cuccaro
- The John P Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Enrico Domenici
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, , University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - J Jay Gargus
- Center for Autism Research and Translation, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Gail E Herman
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Patricia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Dara S Manoach
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Rita Passos-Bueno
- Centro de Pesquisas sobre o Genoma Humano e Células tronco, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Interdepartmental Program 'Autism 0-90', 'Gaetano Martino' University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Alessandra Renieri
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Medical Genetics, , University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - James S Sutcliffe
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics and Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Flora Tassone
- MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Elisabetta Trabetti
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gabriele Campos
- Centro de Pesquisas sobre o Genoma Humano e Células tronco, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Simona Cardaropoli
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Diana Carli
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Marcus C Y Chan
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Chiara Fallerini
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Medical Genetics, , University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Elisa Giorgio
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Ana Cristina Girardi
- Centro de Pesquisas sobre o Genoma Humano e Células tronco, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Emily Hansen-Kiss
- Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX, USA
| | - So Lun Lee
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Carla Lintas
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University Campus Bio-medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Yunin Ludena
- MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Rachel Nguyen
- Center for Autism Research and Translation, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Pavinato
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Margaret Pericak-Vance
- The John P Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Isaac N Pessah
- MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca J Schmidt
- MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Moyra Smith
- Center for Autism Research and Translation, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Claudia I S Costa
- Centro de Pesquisas sobre o Genoma Humano e Células tronco, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Slavica Trajkova
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Jaqueline Y T Wang
- Centro de Pesquisas sobre o Genoma Humano e Células tronco, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mullin H C Yu
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - David J Cutler
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Silvia De Rubeis
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Mark J Daly
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Bernie Devlin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Kathryn Roeder
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Computational Biology Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Stephan J Sanders
- Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Michael E Talkowski
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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12
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Khan K, Ahram DF, Liu YP, Westland R, Sampogna RV, Katsanis N, Davis EE, Sanna-Cherchi S. Multidisciplinary approaches for elucidating genetics and molecular pathogenesis of urinary tract malformations. Kidney Int 2022; 101:473-484. [PMID: 34780871 PMCID: PMC8934530 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2021.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Advances in clinical diagnostics and molecular tools have improved our understanding of the genetically heterogeneous causes underlying congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). However, despite a sharp incline of CAKUT reports in the literature within the past 2 decades, there remains a plateau in the genetic diagnostic yield that is disproportionate to the accelerated ability to generate robust genome-wide data. Explanations for this observation include (i) diverse inheritance patterns with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity, (ii) rarity of single-gene drivers such that large sample sizes are required to meet the burden of proof, and (iii) multigene interactions that might produce either intra- (e.g., copy number variants) or inter- (e.g., effects in trans) locus effects. These challenges present an opportunity for the community to implement innovative genetic and molecular avenues to explain the missing heritability and to better elucidate the mechanisms that underscore CAKUT. Here, we review recent multidisciplinary approaches at the intersection of genetics, genomics, in vivo modeling, and in vitro systems toward refining a blueprint for overcoming the diagnostic hurdles that are pervasive in urinary tract malformation cohorts. These approaches will not only benefit clinical management by reducing age at molecular diagnosis and prompting early evaluation for comorbid features but will also serve as a springboard for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Khan
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA (current address)
| | - Dina F. Ahram
- Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Yangfan P. Liu
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rik Westland
- Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Amsterdam UMC- Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam, NL
| | | | - Nicholas Katsanis
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA (current address); Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
| | - Erica E. Davis
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA (current address).,Department of Pediatrics and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,To whom correspondence should be addressed: ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO: Simone Sanna-Cherchi, MD, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA; Phone: 212-851-4925; Fax: 212-851-5461; . Erica E. Davis, PhD, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Phone: 312-503-7662; Fax: 312-503-7343; , Nicholas Katsanis, PhD, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Phone: 312-503-7339; Fax: 312-503-7343;
| | - Simone Sanna-Cherchi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
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13
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Bruno JL, Shrestha SB, Reiss AL, Saggar M, Green T. Altered canonical and striatal-frontal resting state functional connectivity in children with pathogenic variants in the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:1542-1551. [PMID: 35087195 PMCID: PMC9106817 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01422-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Mounting evidence supports the role of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (Ras/MAPK) pathway in neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, the authors used a genetics-first approach to examine how Ras/MAPK pathogenic variants affect the functional organization of the brain and cognitive phenotypes including weaknesses in attention and inhibition. Functional MRI was used to examine resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) in association with Ras/MAPK pathogenic variants in children with Noonan syndrome (NS). Participants (age 4-12 years) included 39 children with NS (mean age 8.44, SD = 2.20, 25 females) and 49 typically developing (TD) children (mean age 9.02, SD = 9.02, 33 females). Twenty-eight children in the NS group and 46 in the TD group had usable MRI data and were included in final analyses. The results indicated significant hyperconnectivity for the NS group within canonical visual, ventral attention, left frontoparietal and limbic networks (p < 0.05 FWE). Higher connectivity within canonical left frontoparietal and limbic networks positively correlated with cognitive function within the NS but not the TD group. Further, the NS group demonstrated significant group differences in seed-based striatal-frontal connectivity (Z > 2.6, p < 0.05 FWE). Hyperconnectivity within canonical brain networks may represent an intermediary phenotype between Ras/MAPK pathogenic variants and cognitive phenotypes, including weaknesses in attention and inhibition. Altered striatal-frontal connectivity corresponds with smaller striatal volume and altered white matter connectivity previously documented in children with NS. These results may indicate delayed maturation and compensatory mechanisms and they are important for understanding the pathophysiology underlying cognitive phenotypes in NS and in the broader population of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Bruno
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Sharon B Shrestha
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Allan L Reiss
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Manish Saggar
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tamar Green
- Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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14
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Zug R. Developmental disorders caused by haploinsufficiency of transcriptional regulators: a perspective based on cell fate determination. Biol Open 2022; 11:bio058896. [PMID: 35089335 PMCID: PMC8801891 DOI: 10.1242/bio.058896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many human birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders are caused by loss-of-function mutations in a single copy of transcription factor (TF) and chromatin regulator genes. Although this dosage sensitivity has long been known, how and why haploinsufficiency (HI) of transcriptional regulators leads to developmental disorders (DDs) is unclear. Here I propose the hypothesis that such DDs result from defects in cell fate determination that are based on disrupted bistability in the underlying gene regulatory network (GRN). Bistability, a crucial systems biology concept to model binary choices such as cell fate decisions, requires both positive feedback and ultrasensitivity, the latter often achieved through TF cooperativity. The hypothesis explains why dosage sensitivity of transcriptional regulators is an inherent property of fate decisions, and why disruption of either positive feedback or cooperativity in the underlying GRN is sufficient to cause disease. I present empirical and theoretical evidence in support of this hypothesis and discuss several issues for which it increases our understanding of disease, such as incomplete penetrance. The proposed framework provides a mechanistic, systems-level explanation of HI of transcriptional regulators, thus unifying existing theories, and offers new insights into outstanding issues of human disease. This article has an associated Future Leader to Watch interview with the author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Zug
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
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15
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Riemersma IW, Havekes R, Kas MJH. Spatial and Temporal Gene Function Studies in Rodents: Towards Gene-Based Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2021; 13:28. [PMID: 35052369 PMCID: PMC8774890 DOI: 10.3390/genes13010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that is characterized by differences in social interaction, repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and sensory differences beginning early in life. Especially sensory symptoms are highly correlated with the severity of other behavioral differences. ASD is a highly heterogeneous condition on multiple levels, including clinical presentation, genetics, and developmental trajectories. Over a thousand genes have been implicated in ASD. This has facilitated the generation of more than two hundred genetic mouse models that are contributing to understanding the biological underpinnings of ASD. Since the first symptoms already arise during early life, it is especially important to identify both spatial and temporal gene functions in relation to the ASD phenotype. To further decompose the heterogeneity, ASD-related genes can be divided into different subgroups based on common functions, such as genes involved in synaptic function. Furthermore, finding common biological processes that are modulated by this subgroup of genes is essential for possible patient stratification and the development of personalized early treatments. Here, we review the current knowledge on behavioral rodent models of synaptic dysfunction by focusing on behavioral phenotypes, spatial and temporal gene function, and molecular targets that could lead to new targeted gene-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martien J. H. Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Neurobiology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands; (I.W.R.); (R.H.)
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16
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Domingo A, Yadav R, Shah S, Hendriks WT, Erdin S, Gao D, O'Keefe K, Currall B, Gusella JF, Sharma N, Ozelius LJ, Ehrlich ME, Talkowski ME, Bragg DC. Dystonia-specific mutations in THAP1 alter transcription of genes associated with neurodevelopment and myelin. Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:2145-2158. [PMID: 34672987 PMCID: PMC8595948 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystonia is a neurologic disorder associated with an increasingly large number of genetic variants in many genes, resulting in characteristic disturbances in volitional movement. Dissecting the relationships between these mutations and their functional outcomes is critical in understanding the pathways that drive dystonia pathogenesis. Here we established a pipeline for characterizing an allelic series of dystonia-specific mutations. We used this strategy to investigate the molecular consequences of genetic variation in THAP1, which encodes a transcription factor linked to neural differentiation. Multiple pathogenic mutations associated with dystonia cluster within distinct THAP1 functional domains and are predicted to alter DNA-binding properties and/or protein interactions differently, yet the relative impact of these varied changes on molecular signatures and neural deficits is unclear. To determine the effects of these mutations on THAP1 transcriptional activity, we engineered an allelic series of eight alterations in a common induced pluripotent stem cell background and differentiated these lines into a panel of near-isogenic neural stem cells (n = 94 lines). Transcriptome profiling followed by joint analysis of the most robust signatures across mutations identified a convergent pattern of dysregulated genes functionally related to neurodevelopment, lysosomal lipid metabolism, and myelin. On the basis of these observations, we examined mice bearing Thap1-disruptive alleles and detected significant changes in myelin gene expression and reduction of myelin structural integrity relative to control mice. These results suggest that deficits in neurodevelopment and myelination are common consequences of dystonia-associated THAP1 mutations and highlight the potential role of neuron-glial interactions in the pathogenesis of dystonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aloysius Domingo
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; The Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rachita Yadav
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; The Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Shivangi Shah
- The Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - William T Hendriks
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; The Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Serkan Erdin
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Dadi Gao
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; The Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kathryn O'Keefe
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Benjamin Currall
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - James F Gusella
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Nutan Sharma
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; The Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Laurie J Ozelius
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; The Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Michelle E Ehrlich
- Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, and Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Michael E Talkowski
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; The Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - D Cristopher Bragg
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; The Collaborative Center for X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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17
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Genomic Aberrations Associated with the Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092317. [PMID: 34571966 PMCID: PMC8470284 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic studies are increasingly revealing that neurodevelopmental disorders are caused by underlying genomic alterations. Chromosomal microarray testing has been used to reliably detect minute changes in genomic copy numbers. The genes located in the aberrated regions identified in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders may be associated with the phenotypic features. In such cases, haploinsufficiency is considered to be the mechanism, when the deletion of a gene is related to neurodevelopmental delay. The loss-of-function mutation in such genes may be evaluated using next-generation sequencing. On the other hand, the patients with increased copy numbers of the genes may exhibit different clinical symptoms compared to those with loss-of-function mutation in the genes. In such cases, the additional copies of the genes are considered to have a dominant negative effect, inducing cell stress. In other cases, not the copy number changes, but mutations of the genes are responsible for causing the clinical symptoms. This can be explained by the dominant negative effects of the gene mutations. Currently, the diagnostic yield of genomic alterations using comprehensive analysis is less than 50%, indicating the existence of more subtle alterations or genomic changes in the untranslated regions. Copy-neutral inversions and insertions may be related. Hence, better analytical algorithms specialized for the detection of such alterations are required for higher diagnostic yields.
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18
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Kim SS. Recent trends in autism spectrum disorder research using text mining of PubMed: importance of early detection. Clin Exp Pediatr 2021; 64:339-340. [PMID: 33171035 PMCID: PMC8255513 DOI: 10.3345/cep.2020.01564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Seung Soo Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea
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19
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Yanagishita T, Hirade T, Shimojima Yamamoto K, Funatsuka M, Miyamoto Y, Maeda M, Yanagi K, Kaname T, Nagata S, Nagata M, Ishihara Y, Miyashita Y, Asano Y, Sakata Y, Kosaki K, Yamamoto T. HECW2-related disorder in four Japanese patients. Am J Med Genet A 2021; 185:2895-2902. [PMID: 34047014 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The HECT, C2, and WW domain containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 2 gene (HECW2) is involved in protein ubiquitination. Several genes associated with protein ubiquitination have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. HECW2-related disorder has been established through the identification of de novo variants in HECW2 in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders with hypotonia, seizures, and absent language. Recently, we identified novel HECW2 variants in four Japanese patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. Regarding motor development, two of the patients cannot walk, whereas the other two can walk with an unsteady gait, owing to hypotonia. All HECW2 variants, including those that were previously reported, are missense, and no loss-of-function variants have been identified. Most of the identified variants are located around the HECT domain. These findings suggest that the dominant negative effects of missense variants around the HECT domain may be the mechanism underlying HECW2-related disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoe Yanagishita
- Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.,Institute of Medical Genetics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya Hirade
- Department of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Keiko Shimojima Yamamoto
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Processing, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Funatsuka
- Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yusaku Miyamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Makiko Maeda
- Department of Pediatrics, Saga Medical and Welfare Center for the Challenged, Saga, Japan
| | - Kumiko Yanagi
- Department of Genome Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tadashi Kaname
- Department of Genome Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Nagata
- Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miho Nagata
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Yasuki Ishihara
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Yohei Miyashita
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan.,Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Asano
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Yasushi Sakata
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Kenjiro Kosaki
- Center for Medical Genetics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Yamamoto
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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20
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Jeanne M, Demory H, Moutal A, Vuillaume ML, Blesson S, Thépault RA, Marouillat S, Halewa J, Maas SM, Motazacker MM, Mancini GMS, van Slegtenhorst MA, Andreou A, Cox H, Vogt J, Laufman J, Kostandyan N, Babikyan D, Hancarova M, Bendova S, Sedlacek Z, Aldinger KA, Sherr EH, Argilli E, England EM, Audebert-Bellanger S, Bonneau D, Colin E, Denommé-Pichon AS, Gilbert-Dussardier B, Isidor B, Küry S, Odent S, Redon R, Khanna R, Dobyns WB, Bézieau S, Honnorat J, Lohkamp B, Toutain A, Laumonnier F. Missense variants in DPYSL5 cause a neurodevelopmental disorder with corpus callosum agenesis and cerebellar abnormalities. Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:951-961. [PMID: 33894126 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The collapsin response mediator protein (CRMP) family proteins are intracellular mediators of neurotrophic factors regulating neurite structure/spine formation and are essential for dendrite patterning and directional axonal pathfinding during brain developmental processes. Among this family, CRMP5/DPYSL5 plays a significant role in neuronal migration, axonal guidance, dendrite outgrowth, and synapse formation by interacting with microtubules. Here, we report the identification of missense mutations in DPYSL5 in nine individuals with brain malformations, including corpus callosum agenesis and/or posterior fossa abnormalities, associated with variable degrees of intellectual disability. A recurrent de novo p.Glu41Lys variant was found in eight unrelated patients, and a p.Gly47Arg variant was identified in one individual from the first family reported with Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome. Functional analyses of the two missense mutations revealed impaired dendritic outgrowth processes in young developing hippocampal primary neuronal cultures. We further demonstrated that these mutations, both located in the same loop on the surface of DPYSL5 monomers and oligomers, reduced the interaction of DPYSL5 with neuronal cytoskeleton-associated proteins MAP2 and βIII-tubulin. Our findings collectively indicate that the p.Glu41Lys and p.Gly47Arg variants impair DPYSL5 function on dendritic outgrowth regulation by preventing the formation of the ternary complex with MAP2 and βIII-tubulin, ultimately leading to abnormal brain development. This study adds DPYSL5 to the list of genes implicated in brain malformation and in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Médéric Jeanne
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 37032 Tours, France; Service de Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 37044 Tours, France
| | - Hélène Demory
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 37032 Tours, France
| | - Aubin Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Marie-Laure Vuillaume
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 37032 Tours, France; Service de Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 37044 Tours, France
| | - Sophie Blesson
- Service de Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 37044 Tours, France
| | | | | | - Judith Halewa
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 37032 Tours, France
| | - Saskia M Maas
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M Mahdi Motazacker
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Laboratory of Genome Diagnostics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Grazia M S Mancini
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, 30125 CN Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marjon A van Slegtenhorst
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, 30125 CN Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Avgi Andreou
- West Midlands Regional Clinical Genetics Service, Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Birmingham BT15 2TG, UK; Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Birmingham BT15 2TG, UK
| | - Helene Cox
- West Midlands Regional Clinical Genetics Service, Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Birmingham BT15 2TG, UK; Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Birmingham BT15 2TG, UK
| | - Julie Vogt
- West Midlands Regional Clinical Genetics Service, Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Birmingham BT15 2TG, UK; Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Birmingham BT15 2TG, UK
| | - Jason Laufman
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, OH 44308-1062, USA
| | - Natella Kostandyan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, and Center of Medical Genetics and Primary Health Care, Yerevan 0001, Armenia
| | - Davit Babikyan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, and Center of Medical Genetics and Primary Health Care, Yerevan 0001, Armenia
| | - Miroslava Hancarova
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Charles University 2(nd) Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague 15006, Czech Republic
| | - Sarka Bendova
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Charles University 2(nd) Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague 15006, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Sedlacek
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Charles University 2(nd) Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague 15006, Czech Republic
| | - Kimberly A Aldinger
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Elliott H Sherr
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Weill Institute of Neuroscience and Institute of Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Emanuela Argilli
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Weill Institute of Neuroscience and Institute of Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Eleina M England
- Center for Mendelian Genomics, Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Séverine Audebert-Bellanger
- Service de Génétique Médicale et de Biologie de la Reproduction, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 29200 Brest, France
| | - Dominique Bonneau
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Angers University Hospital and UMR CNRS 6015-INSERM 1083, University of Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Estelle Colin
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Angers University Hospital and UMR CNRS 6015-INSERM 1083, University of Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Denommé-Pichon
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, UMR Inserm 1231, Team Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21070 Dijon, France
| | - Brigitte Gilbert-Dussardier
- Service de Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 86021 Poitiers, France; Equipe d'Accueil 3808, Université de Poitiers, 86034 Poitiers, France
| | - Bertrand Isidor
- Service de Génétique Médicale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 44093 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'Institut du Thorax, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Sébastien Küry
- Service de Génétique Médicale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 44093 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'Institut du Thorax, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Sylvie Odent
- Service de Génétique Clinique, Centre Référence Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement, Centre Labellisé pour les Anomalies du Développement Ouest, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, 35203 Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS, UMR 6290, Université de Rennes, 35043 Rennes, France
| | - Richard Redon
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'Institut du Thorax, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - William B Dobyns
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98015, USA
| | - Stéphane Bézieau
- Service de Génétique Médicale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 44093 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, l'Institut du Thorax, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Jérôme Honnorat
- French Reference Center on Autoimmune Encephalitis, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Institut NeuroMyoGene, Inserm U1217/CNRS UMR 5310, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Bernhard Lohkamp
- Division of Molecular Structural Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annick Toutain
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 37032 Tours, France; Service de Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 37044 Tours, France
| | - Frédéric Laumonnier
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 37032 Tours, France; Service de Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 37044 Tours, France.
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21
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Halewa J, Marouillat S, Dixneuf M, Thépault RA, Ung DC, Chatron N, Gérard B, Ghoumid J, Lesca G, Till M, Smol T, Couque N, Ruaud L, Chune V, Grotto S, Verloes A, Vuillaume ML, Toutain A, Raynaud M, Laumonnier F. Novel missense mutations in PTCHD1 alter its plasma membrane subcellular localization and cause intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. Hum Mutat 2021; 42:848-861. [PMID: 33856728 PMCID: PMC8359977 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The X-linked PTCHD1 gene, encoding a synaptic membrane protein, has been involved in neurodevelopmental disorders with the description of deleterious genomic microdeletions or truncating coding mutations. Missense variants were also identified, however, without any functional evidence supporting their pathogenicity level. We investigated 13 missense variants of PTCHD1, including eight previously described (c.152G>A,p.(Ser51Asn); c.217C>T,p.(Leu73Phe); c.517A>G,p.(Ile173Val); c.542A>C,p.(Lys181Thr); c.583G>A,p.(Val195Ile); c.1076A>G,p.(His359Arg); c.1409C>A,p.(Ala470Asp); c.1436A>G,p.(Glu479Gly)), and five novel ones (c.95C>T,p.(Pro32Leu); c.95C>G,p.(Pro32Arg); c.638A>G,p.(Tyr213Cys); c.898G>C,p.(Gly300Arg); c.928G>C,p.(Ala310Pro)) identified in male patients with intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Interestingly, several of these variants involve amino acids localized in structural domains such as transmembrane segments. To evaluate their potentially deleterious impact on PTCHD1 protein function, we performed in vitro overexpression experiments of the wild-type and mutated forms of PTCHD1-GFP in HEK 293T and in Neuro-2a cell lines as well as in mouse hippocampal primary neuronal cultures. We found that six variants impaired the expression level of the PTCHD1 protein, and were retained in the endoplasmic reticulum suggesting abnormal protein folding. Our functional analyses thus provided evidence of the pathogenic impact of missense variants in PTCHD1, which reinforces the involvement of the PTCHD1 gene in ID and in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Halewa
- UMR1253, iBrain, INSERM, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | | | - Manon Dixneuf
- UMR1253, iBrain, INSERM, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | | | - Dévina C Ung
- UMR1253, iBrain, INSERM, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Nicolas Chatron
- Department of Genetics, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Institut NeuroMyoGène, CNRS UMR-5310, INSERM U-1217, Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Bénédicte Gérard
- Laboratoire de diagnostic génétique, Institut de Génétique Médicale d'Alsace, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jamal Ghoumid
- EA7364 RADEME, Clinique de Génétique Guy Fontaine, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Gaëtan Lesca
- Department of Genetics, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Institut NeuroMyoGène, CNRS UMR-5310, INSERM U-1217, Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Marianne Till
- Department of Genetics, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Thomas Smol
- EA7364 RADEME, Institut de Génétique Médicale, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Nathalie Couque
- Department of Genetics, APHP-Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Lyse Ruaud
- Department of Genetics, APHP-Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France.,INSERM, UMR1141, Denis Diderot School of Medicine, Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Chune
- Department of Genetics, APHP-Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Grotto
- Department of Genetics, APHP-Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France.,INSERM, UMR1141, Denis Diderot School of Medicine, Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Alain Verloes
- Department of Genetics, APHP-Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France.,INSERM, UMR1141, Denis Diderot School of Medicine, Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Laure Vuillaume
- UMR1253, iBrain, INSERM, University of Tours, Tours, France.,Service de Génétique, Centre hospitalier régional universitaire de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Annick Toutain
- UMR1253, iBrain, INSERM, University of Tours, Tours, France.,Service de Génétique, Centre hospitalier régional universitaire de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Martine Raynaud
- UMR1253, iBrain, INSERM, University of Tours, Tours, France.,Service de Génétique, Centre hospitalier régional universitaire de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Frédéric Laumonnier
- UMR1253, iBrain, INSERM, University of Tours, Tours, France.,Service de Génétique, Centre hospitalier régional universitaire de Tours, Tours, France
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22
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Jequier Gygax M, Maillard AM, Favre J. Could Gait Biomechanics Become a Marker of Atypical Neuronal Circuitry in Human Development?-The Example of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:624522. [PMID: 33796508 PMCID: PMC8009281 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.624522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This perspective paper presents converging recent knowledge in neurosciences (motor neurophysiology, neuroimaging and neuro cognition) and biomechanics to outline the relationships between maturing neuronal network, behavior, and gait in human development. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) represents a particularly relevant neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) to study these convergences, as an early life condition presenting with sensorimotor and social behavioral alterations. ASD diagnosis relies solely on behavioral criteria. The absence of biological marker in ASD is a main challenge, and hampers correlations between behavioral development and standardized data such as brain structure alterations, brain connectivity, or genetic profile. Gait, as a way to study motor system development, represents a well-studied, early life ability that can be characterized through standardized biomechanical analysis. Therefore, developmental gait biomechanics might appear as a possible motor phenotype and biomarker, solid enough to be correlated to neuronal network maturation, in normal and atypical developmental trajectories—like in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Jequier Gygax
- Service des Troubles du Spectre de l'Autisme, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anne M Maillard
- Service des Troubles du Spectre de l'Autisme, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Favre
- Swiss BioMotion Lab, Department of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne (CHUV-UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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23
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Springer K, Varghese N, Tzingounis AV. Flexible Stoichiometry: Implications for KCNQ2- and KCNQ3-Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Dev Neurosci 2021; 43:191-200. [PMID: 33794528 PMCID: PMC8440324 DOI: 10.1159/000515495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 pathogenic channel variants have been associated with a spectrum of developmentally regulated diseases that vary in age of onset, severity, and whether it is transient (i.e., benign familial neonatal seizures) or long-lasting (i.e., developmental and epileptic encephalopathy). KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 channels have also emerged as a target for novel antiepileptic drugs as their activation could reduce epileptic activity. Consequently, a great effort has taken place over the last 2 decades to understand the mechanisms that control the assembly, gating, and modulation of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 channels. The current view that KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 channels assemble as heteromeric channels (KCNQ2/3) forms the basis of our understanding of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 channelopathies and drug design. Here, we review the evidence that supports the formation of KCNQ2/3 heteromers in neurons. We also highlight functional and transcriptomic studies that suggest channel composition might not be necessarily fixed in the nervous system, but rather is dynamic and flexible, allowing some neurons to express KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 homomers. We propose that to fully understand KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 channelopathies, we need to adopt a more flexible view of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 channel stoichiometry, which might differ across development, brain regions, cell types, and disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Springer
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nissi Varghese
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Anastasios V Tzingounis
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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24
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Hu C, Feng P, Yang Q, Xiao L. Clinical and Neurobiological Aspects of TAO Kinase Family in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:655037. [PMID: 33867937 PMCID: PMC8044823 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.655037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the complexity of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), from their genotype to phenotype, in the last few decades substantial progress has been made in understanding their pathophysiology. Recent accumulating evidence shows the relevance of genetic variants in thousand and one (TAO) kinases as major contributors to several NDDs. Although it is well-known that TAO kinases are a highly conserved family of STE20 kinase and play important roles in multiple biological processes, the emerging roles of TAO kinases in neurodevelopment and NDDs have yet to be intensively discussed. In this review article, we summarize the potential roles of the TAO kinases based on structural and biochemical analyses, present the genetic data from clinical investigations, and assess the mechanistic link between the mutations of TAO kinases, neuropathology, and behavioral impairment in NDDs. We then offer potential perspectives from basic research to clinical therapies, which may contribute to fully understanding how TAO kinases are involved in NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Hu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pan Feng
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qian Yang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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25
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Brennand KJ, Talkowski ME. Xenopus models suggest convergence of gene signatures on neurogenesis in autism. Neuron 2021; 109:743-745. [PMID: 33662268 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Willsey et al. dissect phenotypes associated with in vivo disruption of ten ASD-associated genes using a hypothesis-free, parallelized approach in Xenopus tropicalis. These studies continue to implicate cortical neurons in ASD pathogenesis and suggest a convergence on functions related to neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen J Brennand
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Michael E Talkowski
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research and Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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26
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Calderoni S, Ricca I, Balboni G, Cagiano R, Cassandrini D, Doccini S, Cosenza A, Tolomeo D, Tancredi R, Santorelli FM, Muratori F. Evaluation of Chromosome Microarray Analysis in a Large Cohort of Females with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Single Center Italian Study. J Pers Med 2020; 10:E160. [PMID: 33050239 PMCID: PMC7720139 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10040160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) encompass a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders resulting from the complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Thanks to the chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) in clinical practice, the accurate identification and characterization of submicroscopic deletions/duplications (copy number variants, CNVs) associated with ASD was made possible. However, the widely acknowledged excess of males on the autism spectrum reflects on a paucity of CMA studies specifically focused on females with ASD (f-ASD). In this framework, we aim to evaluate the frequency of causative CNVs in a single-center cohort of idiopathic f-ASD. Among the 90 f-ASD analyzed, we found 20 patients with one or two potentially pathogenic CNVs, including those previously associated with ASD (located at 16p13.2 16p11.2, 15q11.2, and 22q11.21 regions). An exploratory genotype/phenotype analysis revealed that the f-ASD with causative CNVs had statistically significantly lower restrictive and repetitive behaviors than those without CNVs or with non-causative CNVs. Future work should focus on further understanding of f-ASD genetic underpinnings, taking advantage of next-generation sequencing technologies, with the ultimate goal of contributing to precision medicine in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Calderoni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (R.C.); (A.C.); (R.T.); (F.M.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Savi, 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ivana Ricca
- Molecular Medicine, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, via dei Giacinti 2, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (I.R.); (D.C.); (S.D.); (D.T.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Giulia Balboni
- Department of Philosophy, Social and Human Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Piazza G. Ermini 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Romina Cagiano
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (R.C.); (A.C.); (R.T.); (F.M.)
| | - Denise Cassandrini
- Molecular Medicine, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, via dei Giacinti 2, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (I.R.); (D.C.); (S.D.); (D.T.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Stefano Doccini
- Molecular Medicine, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, via dei Giacinti 2, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (I.R.); (D.C.); (S.D.); (D.T.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Angela Cosenza
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (R.C.); (A.C.); (R.T.); (F.M.)
| | - Deborah Tolomeo
- Molecular Medicine, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, via dei Giacinti 2, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (I.R.); (D.C.); (S.D.); (D.T.); (F.M.S.)
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 6-50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Raffaella Tancredi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (R.C.); (A.C.); (R.T.); (F.M.)
| | - Filippo Maria Santorelli
- Molecular Medicine, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, via dei Giacinti 2, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (I.R.); (D.C.); (S.D.); (D.T.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Filippo Muratori
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, Calambrone, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (R.C.); (A.C.); (R.T.); (F.M.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Savi, 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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