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Zhao Y, Qin L, Pan H, Song T, Wang Y, Zhou X, Xiang Y, Li J, Liu Z, Sun Q, Guo J, Yan X, Tang B, Xu Q. Genetic analysis of transcription factors in dopaminergic neuronal development in Parkinson's disease. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:450-456. [PMID: 37341647 PMCID: PMC10876230 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic variants of dopaminergic transcription factor-encoding genes are suggested to be Parkinson's disease (PD) risk factors; however, no comprehensive analyses of these genes in patients with PD have been undertaken. Therefore, we aimed to genetically analyze 16 dopaminergic transcription factor genes in Chinese patients with PD. METHODS Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed using a Chinese cohort comprising 1917 unrelated patients with familial or sporadic early-onset PD and 1652 controls. Additionally, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed using another Chinese cohort comprising 1962 unrelated patients with sporadic late-onset PD and 1279 controls. RESULTS We detected 308 rare and 208 rare protein-altering variants in the WES and WGS cohorts, respectively. Gene-based association analyses of rare variants suggested that MSX1 is enriched in sporadic late-onset PD. However, the significance did not pass the Bonferroni correction. Meanwhile, 72 and 1730 common variants were found in the WES and WGS cohorts, respectively. Unfortunately, single-variant logistic association analyses did not identify significant associations between common variants and PD. CONCLUSIONS Variants of 16 typical dopaminergic transcription factors might not be major genetic risk factors for PD in Chinese patients. However, we highlight the complexity of PD and the need for extensive research elucidating its etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwen Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Lixia Qin
- Department of Neurology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Hongxu Pan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Tingwei Song
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yige Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Xiaoxia Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yaqin Xiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Jinchen Li
- Bioinformatics Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Centre for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Zhenhua Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Qiying Sun
- Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Jifeng Guo
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Bioinformatics Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Centre for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Xinxiang Yan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Bioinformatics Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Centre for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Bioinformatics Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Centre for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
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Wang X, Chen X, Liu G, Cai H, Le W. The Crucial Roles of Pitx3 in Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuron Development and Parkinson's Disease-Associated Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108614. [PMID: 37239960 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108614] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons, particularly in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), is one of the most prominent pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). To uncover the pathogenic mechanisms of mDA neuronal death during PD may provide therapeutic targets to prevent mDA neuronal loss and slow down the disease's progression. Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 3 (Pitx3) is selectively expressed in the mDA neurons as early as embryonic day 11.5 and plays a critical role in mDA neuron terminal differentiation and subset specification. Moreover, Pitx3-deficient mice exhibit some canonical PD-related features, including the profound loss of SNc mDA neurons, a dramatic decrease in striatal dopamine (DA) levels, and motor abnormalities. However, the precise role of Pitx3 in progressive PD and how this gene contributes to mDA neuronal specification during early stages remains unclear. In this review, we updated the latest findings on Pitx3 by summarizing the crosstalk between Pitx3 and its associated transcription factors in mDA neuron development. We further explored the potential benefits of Pitx3 as a therapeutic target for PD in the future. To better understand the transcriptional network of Pitx3 in mDA neuron development may provide insights into Pitx3-related clinical drug-targeting research and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Guangdong Liu
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Huaibin Cai
- Transgenic Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Weidong Le
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
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Genetics of cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2022; 269:195-226. [PMID: 35248195 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Presentation and progression of cognitive symptoms in Parkinson's disease are highly variable. PD is a genetically complex disorder with multiple genetic risk factors and understanding the role that genes play in cognitive outcomes is important for patient counseling and treatment. Currently, there are seven well-described genes that increase the risk for PD, with variable levels of penetrance: SNCA, LRRK2, VPS35, PRKN, PINK1, DJ1 and GBA. In addition, large, genome-wide association studies have identified multiple loci in our DNA which increase PD risk. In this chapter, we summarize what is currently known about each of the seven strongly-associated PD genes and select PD risk variants, including PITX3, TMEM106B, SNCA Rep1, APOɛ4, COMT and MAPT H1/H1, along with their respective relationships to cognition.
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Bock MA, Tanner CM. The epidemiology of cognitive function in Parkinson's disease. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2022; 269:3-37. [PMID: 35248199 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiology is the study of the distribution of disease in human populations, which is important in evaluating burden of illness, identifying modifiable risk factors, and planning for current and projected needs of the health care system. Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common serious neurodegenerative illness and is expected to further increase in prevalence. Cognitive changes are increasingly viewed as an integral non-motor feature in PD, emerging even in the prodromal phase of the disease. The prevalence of PD-MCI ranges from 20% to 40% depending on the population studied. The incidence of PD-dementia increases with duration of disease, with estimates growing from 3% to 30% of individuals followed for 5 years or less to over 80% after 20 years. There are several challenges in estimating the frequency of cognitive change, including only recently standardized diagnostic criteria, variation depending on exact neuropsychological evaluations performed, and differences in population sampling. Clinical features associated with cognitive decline include older age, increased disease duration and severity, early gait dysfunction, dysautonomia, hallucinations and other neuropsychiatric features, the presence of REM behavior disorder, and posterior predominant dysfunction on neuropsychological testing. There is increasing evidence that genetic risk factors, in particular GBA and MAPT mutations, contribute to cognitive change. Possible protective factors include higher cognitive reserve and regular exercise. Important sequelae of cognitive decline in PD include higher caregiver burden, decreased functional status, and increased risk of institutionalization and mortality. Many remaining uncertainties regarding the epidemiology of cognitive change in PD require future research, with improved biomarkers and more sensitive and convenient outcome measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Bock
- Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, United States; Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Center, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Caroline M Tanner
- Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Center, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, United States.
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Roles of Transcription Factors in the Development and Reprogramming of the Dopaminergic Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020845. [PMID: 35055043 PMCID: PMC8775916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The meso-diencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons regulate various critical processes in the mammalian nervous system, including voluntary movement and a wide range of behaviors such as mood, reward, addiction, and stress. mdDA neuronal loss is linked with one of the most prominent human movement neurological disorders, Parkinson’s disease (PD). How these cells die and regenerate are two of the most hotly debated PD research topics. As for the latter, it has been long known that a series of transcription factors (TFs) involves the development of mdDA neurons, specifying cell types and controlling developmental patterns. In vitro and in vivo, TFs regulate the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase, a dopamine transporter, vesicular monoamine transporter 2, and L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, all of which are critical for dopamine synthesis and transport in dopaminergic neurons (DA neurons). In this review, we encapsulate the molecular mechanism of TFs underlying embryonic growth and maturation of mdDA neurons and update achievements on dopaminergic cell therapy dependent on knowledge of TFs in mdDA neuronal development. We believe that a deeper understanding of the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that influence DA neurons’ fate and development in the midbrain could lead to a better strategy for PD cell therapy.
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Berry V, Ionides A, Pontikos N, Moore AT, Quinlan RA, Michaelides M. Variants in PAX6, PITX3 and HSF4 causing autosomal dominant congenital cataracts. Eye (Lond) 2021; 36:1694-1701. [PMID: 34345029 PMCID: PMC9307513 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-021-01711-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lens development is orchestrated by transcription factors. Disease-causing variants in transcription factors and their developmental target genes are associated with congenital cataracts and other eye anomalies. Methods Using whole exome sequencing, we identified disease-causing variants in two large British families and one isolated case with autosomal dominant congenital cataract. Bioinformatics analysis confirmed these disease-causing mutations as rare or novel variants, with a moderate to damaging pathogenicity score, with testing for segregation within the families using direct Sanger sequencing. Results Family A had a missense variant (c.184 G>A; p.V62M) in PAX6 and affected individuals presented with nuclear cataract. Family B had a frameshift variant (c.470–477dup; p.A160R*) in PITX3 that was also associated with nuclear cataract. A recurrent missense variant in HSF4 (c.341 T>C; p.L114P) was associated with congenital cataract in a single isolated case. Conclusions We have therefore identified novel variants in PAX6 and PITX3 that cause autosomal dominant congenital cataract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanita Berry
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK. .,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | - Alex Ionides
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Nikolas Pontikos
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Roy A Quinlan
- School of Biological and Medical Sciences, University of Durham, Durham, UK
| | - Michel Michaelides
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK. .,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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Reis LM, Semina EV. Genetic landscape of isolated pediatric cataracts: extreme heterogeneity and variable inheritance patterns within genes. Hum Genet 2018; 138:847-863. [PMID: 30187164 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-018-1932-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric cataract represents an important cause of pediatric visual impairment. While both genetic and environmental causes for pediatric cataract are known, a large proportion remains idiopathic. The purpose of this review is to discuss genes involved in isolated pediatric cataract, with a focus on variable inheritance patterns within genes. Mutations in over 52 genes are known to cause isolated pediatric cataract, with a major contribution from genes encoding for crystallins, transcription factors, membrane proteins, and cytoskeletal proteins. Interestingly, both dominant and recessive inheritance patterns have been reported for mutations in 13 different cataract genes. For some genes, dominant and recessive alleles represent distinct types of mutations, but for many, especially missense variants, there are no clear patterns to distinguish between dominant and recessive alleles. Further research into the functional effects of these mutations, as well as additional data on the frequency of the identified variants, is needed to clarify variant pathogenicity. Exome sequencing continues to be successful in identifying novel genes associated with congenital cataract but is hindered by the extreme genetic heterogeneity of this condition. The large number of idiopathic cases suggests that more genes and potentially novel mechanisms of gene disruption remain to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda M Reis
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Elena V Semina
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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Jellinger KA. Dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease-dementia: current concepts and controversies. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017; 125:615-650. [PMID: 29222591 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-017-1821-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease-dementia (PDD), although sharing many clinical, neurochemical and morphological features, according to DSM-5, are two entities of major neurocognitive disorders with Lewy bodies of unknown etiology. Despite considerable clinical overlap, their diagnosis is based on an arbitrary distinction between the time of onset of motor and cognitive symptoms: dementia often preceding parkinsonism in DLB and onset of cognitive impairment after onset of motor symptoms in PDD. Both are characterized morphologically by widespread cortical and subcortical α-synuclein/Lewy body plus β-amyloid and tau pathologies. Based on recent publications, including the fourth consensus report of the DLB Consortium, a critical overview is given. The clinical features of DLB and PDD include cognitive impairment, parkinsonism, visual hallucinations, and fluctuating attention. Intravitam PET and post-mortem studies revealed more pronounced cortical atrophy, elevated cortical and limbic Lewy pathologies (with APOE ε4), apart from higher prevalence of Alzheimer pathology in DLB than PDD. These changes may account for earlier onset and greater severity of cognitive defects in DLB, while multitracer PET studies showed no differences in cholinergic and dopaminergic deficits. DLB and PDD sharing genetic, neurochemical, and morphologic factors are likely to represent two subtypes of an α-synuclein-associated disease spectrum (Lewy body diseases), beginning with incidental Lewy body disease-PD-nondemented-PDD-DLB (no parkinsonism)-DLB with Alzheimer's disease (DLB-AD) at the most severe end, although DLB does not begin with PD/PDD and does not always progress to DLB-AD, while others consider them as the same disease. Both DLB and PDD show heterogeneous pathology and neurochemistry, suggesting that they share important common underlying molecular pathogenesis with AD and other proteinopathies. Cognitive impairment is not only induced by α-synuclein-caused neurodegeneration but by multiple regional pathological scores. Recent animal models and human post-mortem studies have provided important insights into the pathophysiology of DLB/PDD showing some differences, e.g., different spreading patterns of α-synuclein pathology, but the basic pathogenic mechanisms leading to the heterogeneity between both disorders deserve further elucidation. In view of the controversies about the nosology and pathogenesis of both syndromes, there remains a pressing need to differentiate them more clearly and to understand the processes leading these synucleinopathies to cause one disorder or the other. Clinical management of both disorders includes cholinesterase inhibitors, other pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies, but these have only a mild symptomatic effect. Currently, no disease-modifying therapies are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt A Jellinger
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, Alberichgasse 5/13, 1150, Vienna, Austria.
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