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Lv Y, Wen L, Hu WJ, Deng C, Ren HW, Bao YN, Su BW, Gao P, Man ZY, Luo YY, Li CJ, Xiang ZX, Wang B, Luan ZL. Schizophrenia in the genetic era: a review from development history, clinical features and genomic research approaches to insights of susceptibility genes. Metab Brain Dis 2024; 39:147-171. [PMID: 37542622 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-023-01271-x] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a devastating neuropsychiatric disorder affecting 1% of the world population and ranks as one of the disorders providing the most severe burden for society. Schizophrenia etiology remains obscure involving multi-risk factors, such as genetic, environmental, nutritional, and developmental factors. Complex interactions of genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in the etiology of schizophrenia. This review provides an overview of the historical origins, pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis, clinical symptoms and corresponding treatment of schizophrenia. In addition, as schizophrenia is a polygenic, genetic disorder caused by the combined action of multiple micro-effective genes, we further detail several approaches, such as candidate gene association study (CGAS) and genome-wide association study (GWAS), which are commonly used in schizophrenia genomics studies. A number of GWASs about schizophrenia have been performed with the hope to identify novel, consistent and influential risk genetic factors. Finally, some schizophrenia susceptibility genes have been identified and reported in recent years and their biological functions are also listed. This review may serve as a summary of past research on schizophrenia genomics and susceptibility genes (NRG1, DISC1, RELN, BDNF, MSI2), which may point the way to future schizophrenia genetics research. In addition, depending on the above discovery of susceptibility genes and their exact function, the development and application of antipsychotic drugs will be promoted in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Lv
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Lin Wen
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Wen-Juan Hu
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Chong Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116027, China
| | - Hui-Wen Ren
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Ya-Nan Bao
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Bo-Wei Su
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Ping Gao
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Zi-Yue Man
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Yi-Yang Luo
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Cheng-Jie Li
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Zhi-Xin Xiang
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Central hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116000, China.
| | - Zhi-Lin Luan
- Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
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Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 regulates ectopic neurogenesis in the mouse hilus after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. Neuroscience 2022; 494:69-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Sheardown E, Mech AM, Petrazzini MEM, Leggieri A, Gidziela A, Hosseinian S, Sealy IM, Torres-Perez JV, Busch-Nentwich EM, Malanchini M, Brennan CH. Translational relevance of forward genetic screens in animal models for the study of psychiatric disease. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104559. [PMID: 35124155 PMCID: PMC9016269 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders represent a significant burden in our societies. Despite the convincing evidence pointing at gene and gene-environment interaction contributions, the role of genetics in the etiology of psychiatric disease is still poorly understood. Forward genetic screens in animal models have helped elucidate causal links. Here we discuss the application of mutagenesis-based forward genetic approaches in common animal model species: two invertebrates, nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) and fruit flies (Drosophila sp.); and two vertebrates, zebrafish (Danio rerio) and mice (Mus musculus), in relation to psychiatric disease. We also discuss the use of large scale genomic studies in human populations. Despite the advances using data from human populations, animal models coupled with next-generation sequencing strategies are still needed. Although with its own limitations, zebrafish possess characteristics that make them especially well-suited to forward genetic studies exploring the etiology of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Sheardown
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Aleksandra M Mech
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | | | - Adele Leggieri
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Agnieszka Gidziela
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Saeedeh Hosseinian
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Ian M Sealy
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jose V Torres-Perez
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London and Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, 86 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Elisabeth M Busch-Nentwich
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Margherita Malanchini
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK
| | - Caroline H Brennan
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England, UK.
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4
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Glenn MJ, Batallán Burrowes AA, Yu W, Blackmer‐Raynolds L, Norchi A, Doak AL. Progression of behavioral deficits during periadolescent development differs in female and male DISC1 knockout rats. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 21:e12741. [PMID: 33960643 PMCID: PMC9744521 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the disrupted in schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) gene are associated with an increased risk of developing psychological disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Assessing the impact of knocking out genes, like DISC1, in animal models provides valuable insights into the relationship between the gene and behavioral outcomes. Previous research has relied on mouse models to assess these impacts, however these may not yield as reliable or rich a behavioral analysis as can be obtained using rats. Thus, the goal of the present study was to characterize the behavioral effects of a biallelic functional deletion of the DISC1 gene in the Sprague Dawley rat. Female and male wild type and DISC1 knockout rats were assessed beginning just prior to weaning and during the post-weaning periadolescent period. The primary outcomes evaluated were activity, anxiety, responses to novel objects and conspecifics, and prepulse inhibition. These behaviors were selected as analogous indices of psychological dysfunction in humans. The DISC1 knockout had significant effects on behavior, although the kind and magnitude of deficits was different for females and males: in females, effects included hyperactivity, aversion to novelty, and a modest prepulse inhibition deficit; in males, effects in anxiety and neophobia were mild but their prepulse inhibition deficit was large. These data confirm that the DISC1 knockout rat model is an excellent way to reproduce and study symptoms of psychological disorders and provides compelling evidence for differential consequences of its dysfunction for females and males in the progression and emergence of specific behavioral deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ariel A. Batallán Burrowes
- Department of PsychologyColby CollegeWatervilleMaineUSA,Present address:
Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of PsychologyConcordia UniversityMontréalQuébecCanada
| | - Waylin Yu
- Department of PsychologyColby CollegeWatervilleMaineUSA,Present address:
Department of Pharmacology, School of MedicineUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Lisa Blackmer‐Raynolds
- Department of PsychologyColby CollegeWatervilleMaineUSA,Present address:
Department of PhysiologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Amanda Norchi
- Department of PsychologyColby CollegeWatervilleMaineUSA
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Martis LS, Højgaard K, Holmes MC, Elfving B, Wiborg O. Vortioxetine ameliorates anhedonic-like behaviour and promotes strategic cognitive performance in a rodent touchscreen task. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9113. [PMID: 33907240 PMCID: PMC8079376 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88462-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression-associated cognitive impairments are among the most prevalent and persistent symptoms during remission from a depressive episode and a major risk factor for relapse. Consequently, development of antidepressant drugs, which also alleviate cognitive impairments, is vital. One such potential antidepressant is vortioxetine that has been postulated to exhibit both antidepressant and pro-cognitive effects. Hence, we tested vortioxetine for combined antidepressant and pro-cognitive effects in male Long-Evans rats exposed to the chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm. This well-established CMS paradigm evokes cognitive deficits in addition to anhedonia, a core symptom of depression. Learning and memory performance was assessed in the translational touchscreen version of the paired-associates learning task. To identify the mechanistic underpinning of the neurobehavioural results, transcriptional profiling of genes involved in the stress response, neuronal plasticity and genes of broad relevance in neuropsychiatric pathologies were assessed. Vortioxetine substantially relieved the anhedonic-like state in the CMS rats and promoted acquisition of the cognitive test independent of hedonic phenotype, potentially due to an altered cognitive strategy. Minor alterations in gene expression profiling in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were found. In summary, our findings suggest that vortioxetine exhibits an antidepressant effect as well as behavioural changes in a translational learning task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena-Sophie Martis
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kristoffer Højgaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Megan C Holmes
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Betina Elfving
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ove Wiborg
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
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Mahabaleshwarkar R, Lin D, Fishman J, Blair T, Hetherington T, Palmer P, Patel C, Benson C, Joshi K, Krull C, Tcheremissine OV. The Impact of Once-Monthly Paliperidone Palmitate on Healthcare Utilization Among Patients With Schizophrenia Treated in an Integrated Healthcare System: A Retrospective Mirror-Image Study. Adv Ther 2021; 38:1958-1974. [PMID: 33704681 PMCID: PMC7948675 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-021-01626-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Previous evidence demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia consumed substantial healthcare resources in an integrated healthcare system. This study evaluated the impact of initiating once-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP1M) on healthcare resource utilization (HRU) among patients with schizophrenia treated in a US integrated healthcare system. METHODS This retrospective study used electronic medical records from Atrium Health. Adults with at least two diagnoses of schizophrenia who received an initial PP1M dose between September 2009 and April 2019 (the corresponding date defined the index date) and at least one subsequent dose within 90 days were included. Additionally, patients were required to have received active care (at least one healthcare visit every 6 months) during 12-month pre- and post-index periods and at least one oral antipsychotic prescription during the 12-month pre-index period. Inpatient, emergency room (ER), and outpatient visits were compared over 12-month pre- versus post-index periods within the same cohort using McNemar's and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Findings were reported for all patients and separately in patients with at least one schizophrenia relapse (schizophrenia-related inpatient or ER visit) during the 12-month pre-index period. RESULTS The study cohort included 210 patients (mean age 34.2 years, 69.5% male, 39.1% had Medicaid). From the 12-month pre- to post-index period, the proportion of patients with visits and mean number of visits reduced for all-cause inpatient (67.6% to 22.4%, 1.2 to 0.4), 30-day readmission (12.4% to 2.4%, 0.2 to 0.1), and ER (68.6% to 45.7%, 2.3 to 1.2) visits, whereas the mean number of outpatient visits increased (8.7 to 11.6) (all P < 0.05). Similar trends were observed for mental health- and schizophrenia-related HRU. The trends in HRU in patients with prior relapse were similar with a higher extent of reduction in inpatient and ER use compared to the overall cohort. CONCLUSION Initiation of PP1M was associated with reduced acute HRU in patients with schizophrenia, indicating potential clinical and economic benefits, especially in patients with prior relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dee Lin
- Real World Value & Evidence, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Titusville, NJ, USA
| | - Jesse Fishman
- Value & Evidence Scientific Engagement, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Titusville, NJ, USA
| | - Todd Blair
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | | | - Pooja Palmer
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Charmi Patel
- Real World Value & Evidence, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Titusville, NJ, USA
| | - Carmela Benson
- Real World Value & Evidence, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Titusville, NJ, USA
| | - Kruti Joshi
- Real World Value & Evidence, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Titusville, NJ, USA
| | - Constance Krull
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, USA
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Dolleman-van der Weel MJ, Witter MP. The thalamic midline nucleus reuniens: potential relevance for schizophrenia and epilepsy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 119:422-439. [PMID: 33031816 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Anatomical, electrophysiological and behavioral studies in rodents have shown that the thalamic midline nucleus reuniens (RE) is a crucial link in the communication between hippocampal formation (HIP, i.e., CA1, subiculum) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), important structures for cognitive and executive functions. A common feature in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative brain diseases is a dysfunctional connectivity/communication between HIP and mPFC, and disturbances in the cognitive domain. Therefore, it is assumed that aberrant functioning of RE may contribute to behavioral/cognitive impairments in brain diseases characterized by cortico-thalamo-hippocampal circuit dysfunctions. In the human brain the connections of RE are largely unknown. Yet, recent studies have found important similarities in the functional connectivity of HIP-mPFC-RE in humans and rodents, making cautious extrapolating experimental findings from animal models to humans justifiable. The focus of this review is on a potential involvement of RE in schizophrenia and epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Dolleman-van der Weel
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim NO-7491, Norway.
| | - M P Witter
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim NO-7491, Norway.
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Vázquez-Bourgon J, Ayesa-Arriola R, Fatjó-Vilas M, Roiz-Santiañez R, Fañanás L, Crespo-Facorro B. Effect of DISC1 Polymorphisms on the Long-term Course of Neurocognitive Deficits in Non-affective Psychosis. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 30:861-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractNeurocognitive deficits are core symptoms of schizophrenia that determine a poorer outcome. High variability in the progression of neuropsychological deficits in schizophrenia has been described. It is still unknown whether genetic variations can affect the course of cognitive deficits. Variations in the Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene have previously been associated with neurocognitive deficits. This study investigated the association between 3 DISC1 polymorphisms (rs6675281 (Leu607Phe), rs1000731, and rs821616 (Ser704Cys)) and long-term (3 years) cognitive performance. One-hundred-thirty-three Caucasian drug-naive patients experiencing a first episode of non-affective psychosis were genotyped. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and after 3 years of initiating treatment. Other clinical and socio-demographic variables were recorded to eliminate potential confounding effects. Patients carrying the A allele of rs1000731 exhibited a significant improvement in Working Memory and Attention domains, and the homozygosity of the A allele of rs821616 showed a significant improvement in Motor Dexterity performance over 3 years of follow-up. In conclusion, DISC1 gene variations may affect the course of cognitive deficits found in patients suffering from the first episode of non-affective psychosis.
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9
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Snezhkina AV, Lukyanova EN, Fedorova MS, Kalinin DV, Melnikova NV, Stepanov OA, Kiseleva MV, Kaprin AD, Pudova EA, Kudryavtseva AV. Novel Genes Associated with the Development of Carotid Paragangliomas. Mol Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893319040137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Segal-Gavish H, Barzilay R, Rimoni O, Offen D. Voluntary exercise improves cognitive deficits in female dominant-negative DISC1 transgenic mouse model of neuropsychiatric disorders. World J Biol Psychiatry 2019; 20:243-252. [PMID: 28593819 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2017.1323118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Physical exercise has gained increasing interest as a treatment modality that improves prognosis in psychiatric patients. The disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene is a candidate gene for major mental illness. In this study, we aimed to determine whether voluntary wheel running can improve cognitive deficits of dominant-negative DISC1 transgenic mice (DN-DISC1). METHODS DN-DISC1 and control mice (10-week-old male and female) were placed for 14 days in a cage with or without access to a running wheel. Two weeks later, mice underwent behavioural tests evaluating cognition and social approach and recognition. RESULTS Voluntary exercise improved performance in the novel object recognition test, restored the impairment in spatial memory in the Y maze, and reversed the deficit in social recognition memory in DN-DISC1 females. DN-DISC1 males did not exhibit behavioural deficits at baseline. Tissue analysis revealed that exercise induced a significant increase in hippocampal expression of doublecortin (DCX), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) only in DN-DISC1 females. CONCLUSIONS Voluntary exercise is beneficial in attenuating cognitive deficits observed in a rodent model relevant for neuropsychiatric disorders. The data add a preclinical aspect to the accumulating clinical data supporting the incorporation of physical exercise to patients' care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadar Segal-Gavish
- a Laboratory of Neuroscience , Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel
| | - Ran Barzilay
- a Laboratory of Neuroscience , Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.,b Research Unit , Geha Mental Health Center , Petach Tikva , Israel
| | - Ofri Rimoni
- a Laboratory of Neuroscience , Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel
| | - Daniel Offen
- a Laboratory of Neuroscience , Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel
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11
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Shokouhifar A, Askari N, Yazdani S, Mehrabadi JF. DISC1 gene polymorphisms and the risk of schizophrenia in an Iranian population: A preliminary study. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:1588-1597. [PMID: 30324622 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar illness are common psychological disorders with high heritability and variable phenotypes. The disrupted in schizophrenia 1 ( DISC1) gene, on chromosome 1q42, has an essential role in neurite outgrowth and cell signaling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs6675281, rs2255340, and rs2738864) with schizophrenia disorder. These three SNPs were chosen as they had been used in most of the previous studies. METHODS In a case-control study of Iranian population for the first time 778 blood samples were collected including, 402 schizophrenic patients and 376 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood using DNA extraction kit (BioFlux Co). The genotypes of rs6675281, rs2255340, and rs2738864 were detected by nested allele-specific multiplex polymersae chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS Our data revealed that the three SNPs are significantly associated with schizophrenia (rs2255349 C>T: confidence interval (CI), 2.115 to 3.268; P = 0.0000 OR: 2.629; rs2738864 C>T: CI, 1.538 to 2.339; P = 0.0000 OR: 1.897; rs6675281 C>T: CI, 2.788 to 4.662; P = 0.0009241 OR: 3.605). Through applying the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, we calculated the haplotype frequency, and finally performed haplotype analysis with Bonferroni correction and data preprocessing methods and the results showed rs66875281 to have the highest association. DISCUSSION Our findings primarily showed that DISC1 gene polymorphisms contribute to schizophrenia risk and have a significant association with this disorder among Iranian population. The strategy was found to be easy, rapid, specific, and consistent for the co-occurring detection of the DISC1 polymorphisms. We could finally confirm that the polymorphisms are related to schizophrenia studied in Iranian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Shokouhifar
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Genomic Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Mehrvarzan-e-Saba Gostar Medical Rehabilitation and Maintenance Center of Chronic Mental Patients, Karaj, Iran
| | - Nasrin Askari
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Mehrvarzan-e-Saba Gostar Medical Rehabilitation and Maintenance Center of Chronic Mental Patients, Karaj, Iran
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12
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Eachus H, Bright C, Cunliffe VT, Placzek M, Wood JD, Watt PJ. Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 is essential for normal hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis function. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:1992-2005. [PMID: 28334933 PMCID: PMC5437527 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders arise due to an interplay of genetic and environmental factors, including stress. Studies in rodents have shown that mutants for Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1), a well-accepted genetic risk factor for mental illness, display abnormal behaviours in response to stress, but the mechanisms through which DISC1 affects stress responses remain poorly understood. Using two lines of zebrafish homozygous mutant for disc1, we investigated behaviour and functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis, the fish equivalent of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Here, we show that the role of DISC1 in stress responses is evolutionarily conserved and that DISC1 is essential for normal functioning of the HPI axis. Adult zebrafish homozygous mutant for disc1 show aberrant behavioural responses to stress. Our studies reveal that in the embryo, disc1 is expressed in neural progenitor cells of the hypothalamus, a conserved region of the vertebrate brain that centrally controls responses to environmental stressors. In disc1 mutant embryos, proliferating rx3+ hypothalamic progenitors are not maintained normally and neuronal differentiation is compromised: rx3-derived ff1b+ neurons, implicated in anxiety-related behaviours, and corticotrophin releasing hormone (crh) neurons, key regulators of the stress axis, develop abnormally, and rx3-derived pomc+ neurons are disorganised. Abnormal hypothalamic development is associated with dysfunctional behavioural and neuroendocrine stress responses. In contrast to wild type siblings, disc1 mutant larvae show altered crh levels, fail to upregulate cortisol levels when under stress and do not modulate shoal cohesion, indicative of abnormal social behaviour. These data indicate that disc1 is essential for normal development of the hypothalamus and for the correct functioning of the HPA/HPI axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eachus
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.,The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Charlotte Bright
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Marysia Placzek
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jonathan D Wood
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.,Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Penelope J Watt
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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13
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Higashikubo B, Moore CI. Systematic examination of the impact of depolarization duration on thalamic reticular nucleus firing in vivo. Neuroscience 2017; 368:187-198. [PMID: 28965837 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is optimally positioned to regulate information processing and state dynamics in dorsal thalamus. Distinct inputs depolarize TRN on multiple time scales, including thalamocortical afferents, corticothalamic 'feedback', and neuromodulation. Here, we systematically tested the concurrent and after-effects of depolarization duration on TRN firing in vivo using selective optogenetic drive. In VGAT-ChR2 mice, we isolated TRN single units (SU: N = 100 neurons) that responded at brief latency (≤5 ms) to stimulation. These units, and multi-unit activity (MUA) on corresponding electrodes, were analyzed in detail. Consistent with prior findings in relay neurons, after light cessation, burst-like events occurred in 74% of MUA sites, and 16% of SU. Increasing optical duration from 2 to 330 ms enhanced this burst probability, and decreased the latency to the first burst after stimulation. During stimulation, neurons demonstrated a 'plateau' firing response lasting 20-30 ms in response to light, but significant heterogeneity existed in the minimal stimuli required to drive this response. Two distinct types were evident, more sensitive 'non-linear' neurons that were driven to the plateau response by 2 or 5 ms pulses, versus 'linear' neurons that fired proportionally to optical duration, and reached the plateau with ∼20-ms optical drive. Non-linear neurons showed higher evoked firing rates and burst probability, but spontaneous rate did not differ between types. These findings provide direct predictions for TRN responses to a range of natural depolarizing inputs, and a guide for the optical control of this key structure in studies of network function and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Higashikubo
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912-1978, USA
| | - Christopher I Moore
- Brown Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912-1978, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912-1978, USA.
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14
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Potential synergistic action of 19 schizophrenia risk genes in the thalamus. Schizophr Res 2017; 180:64-69. [PMID: 27645107 PMCID: PMC5263182 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A goal of current schizophrenia (SZ) research is to understand how multiple risk genes work together with environmental factors to produce the disease. In schizophrenia, there is elevated delta frequency EEG power in the awake state, an elevation that can be mimicked in rodents by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist action in the thalamus. This thalamic delta can be blocked by dopamine D2 receptor antagonists, agents known to be therapeutic in SZ. Experiments suggest that these oscillations can interfere with brain function and may thus be causal in producing psychosis. Here we evaluate the question of whether well-established schizophrenia risk genes may interact to affect the delta generation process. We identify 19 risk genes that can plausibly work in a synergistic fashion to generate delta oscillations.
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15
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Kassan A, Egawa J, Zhang Z, Almenar-Queralt A, Nguyen QM, Lajevardi Y, Kim K, Posadas E, Jeste DV, Roth DM, Patel PM, Patel HH, Head BP. Caveolin-1 regulation of disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 as a potential therapeutic target for schizophrenia. J Neurophysiol 2017; 117:436-444. [PMID: 27832597 PMCID: PMC5253400 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00481.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disorder manifested in early adulthood. Disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) is a susceptible gene for schizophrenia (Hodgkinson et al. 2004; Millar et al. 2000; St Clair et al. 1990) implicated in neuronal development, brain maturation, and neuroplasticity (Brandon and Sawa 2011; Chubb et al. 2008). Therefore, DISC1 is a promising candidate gene for schizophrenia, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its role in the pathogenesis of the disease are still poorly understood. Interestingly, caveolin-1 (Cav-1), a cholesterol binding and scaffolding protein, regulates neuronal signal transduction and promotes neuroplasticity. In this study we examined the role of Cav-1 in mediating DISC1 expression in neurons in vitro and the hippocampus in vivo. Overexpressing Cav-1 specifically in neurons using a neuron-specific synapsin promoter (SynCav1) increased expression of DISC1 and proteins involved in synaptic plasticity (PSD95, synaptobrevin, synaptophysin, neurexin, and syntaxin 1). Similarly, SynCav1-transfected differentiated human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) exhibited increased expression of DISC1 and markers of synaptic plasticity. Conversely, hippocampi from Cav-1 knockout (KO) exhibited decreased expression of DISC1 and proteins involved in synaptic plasticity. Finally, SynCav1 delivery to the hippocampus of Cav-1 KO mice and Cav-1 KO neurons in culture restored expression of DISC1 and markers of synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, we found that Cav-1 coimmunoprecipitated with DISC1 in brain tissue. These findings suggest an important role by which neuron-targeted Cav-1 regulates DISC1 neurobiology with implications for synaptic plasticity. Therefore, SynCav1 might be a potential therapeutic target for restoring neuronal function in schizophrenia. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study is the first to demonstrate that caveolin-1 can regulate DISC1 expression in neuronal models. Furthermore, the findings are consistent across three separate neuronal models that include rodent neurons (in vitro and in vivo) and human differentiated neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. These findings justify further investigation regarding the modulatory role by caveolin on synaptic function and as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Kassan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Department of Psychiatry and the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Junji Egawa
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Zheng Zhang
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Angels Almenar-Queralt
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California; and
| | | | | | - Kaitlyn Kim
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | | | - Dilip V Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry and the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - David M Roth
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Piyush M Patel
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Hemal H Patel
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Brian P Head
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California;
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, California
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16
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Kang E, Wen Z, Song H, Christian KM, Ming GL. Adult Neurogenesis and Psychiatric Disorders. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2016; 8:cshperspect.a019026. [PMID: 26801682 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a019026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders continue to be among the most challenging disorders to diagnose and treat because there is no single genetic or anatomical locus that is causative for the disease. Current treatments are often blunt tools used to ameliorate the most severe symptoms, at the risk of disrupting functional neural systems. There is a critical need to develop new therapeutic strategies that can target circumscribed functional or anatomical domains of pathology. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis may be one such domain. Here, we review the evidence suggesting that adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays a role in emotional regulation and forms of learning and memory that include temporal and spatial memory encoding and context discrimination, and that its dysregulation is associated with psychiatric disorders, such as affective disorders, schizophrenia, and drug addiction. Further, adult neurogenesis has proven to be an effective model to investigate basic processes of neuronal development and converging evidence suggests that aberrant neural development may be an etiological factor, even in late-onset diseases. Constitutive neurogenesis in the hippocampus of the mature brain reflects large-scale plasticity unique to this region and could be a potential hub for modulation of a subset of cognitive and affective behaviors that are affected by multiple psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunchai Kang
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Zhexing Wen
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Hongjun Song
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Kimberly M Christian
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
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17
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Borkowska M, Millar JK, Price DJ. Altered Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 Function Affects the Development of Cortical Parvalbumin Interneurons by an Indirect Mechanism. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156082. [PMID: 27244370 PMCID: PMC4886955 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) gene has been linked to schizophrenia and related major mental illness. Mouse Disc1 has been implicated in brain development, mainly in the proliferation, differentiation, lamination, neurite outgrowth and synapse formation and maintenance of cortical excitatory neurons. Here, the effects of two loss-of-function point mutations in the mouse Disc1 sequence (Q31L and L100P) on cortical inhibitory interneurons were investigated. None of the mutations affected the overall number of interneurons. However, the 100P, but not the 31L, mutation resulted in a significant decrease in the numbers of interneurons expressing parvalbumin mRNA and protein across the sensory cortex. To investigate role of Disc1 in regulation of parvalbumin expression, mouse wild-type Disc-1 or the 100P mutant form were electroporated in utero into cortical excitatory neurons. Overexpression of wild-type Disc1 in these cells caused increased densities of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons in the electroporated area and in areas connected with it, whereas expression of Disc1-100P did not. We conclude that the 100P mutation prevents expression of parvalbumin by a normally sized cohort of interneurons and that altering Disc1 function in cortical excitatory neurons indirectly affects parvalbumin expression by cortical interneurons, perhaps as a result of altered functional input from the excitatory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Borkowska
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Integrative Physiology, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - J. Kirsty Millar
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Price
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Integrative Physiology, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, United Kingdom
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18
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Leung C, Jia Z. Mouse Genetic Models of Human Brain Disorders. Front Genet 2016; 7:40. [PMID: 27047540 PMCID: PMC4803727 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2016.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past three decades, genetic manipulations in mice have been used in neuroscience as a major approach to investigate the in vivo function of genes and their alterations. In particular, gene targeting techniques using embryonic stem cells have revolutionized the field of mammalian genetics and have been at the forefront in the generation of numerous mouse models of human brain disorders. In this review, we will first examine childhood developmental disorders such as autism, intellectual disability, Fragile X syndrome, and Williams-Beuren syndrome. We will then explore psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and lastly, neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. We will outline the creation of these mouse models that range from single gene deletions, subtle point mutations to multi-gene manipulations, and discuss the key behavioral phenotypes of these mice. Ultimately, the analysis of the models outlined in this review will enhance our understanding of the in vivo role and underlying mechanisms of disease-related genes in both normal brain function and brain disorders, and provide potential therapeutic targets and strategies to prevent and treat these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Leung
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, TorontoON, Canada; Program in Physiology, University of Toronto, TorontoON, Canada
| | - Zhengping Jia
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, TorontoON, Canada; Program in Physiology, University of Toronto, TorontoON, Canada
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19
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Vachev TI, Stoyanova VK, Ivanov HY, Minkov IN, Popov NT. Investigation of fasciculation and elongation protein ζ-1 (FEZ1) in peripheral blood reveals differences in gene expression in patients with schizophrenia. Balkan J Med Genet 2015; 18:31-8. [PMID: 26929903 PMCID: PMC4768823 DOI: 10.1515/bjmg-2015-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by affective, neuromorphological and cognitive impairment, deteriorated social functioning and psychosis with underlying molecular abnormalities, including gene expression changes. Observations have suggested that fasciculation and elongation protein ζ-1 (FEZ1) may be implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Nevertheless, our current knowledge of the expression of FEZ1 in peripheral blood of schizophrenia patients remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristic gene expression patterns of FEZ1 in peripheral blood samples from schizophrenia patients. We performed quantitative reverse-transcriptase (qRT-PCR) analysis using peripheral blood from drug-free schizophrenia patients (n = 29) and age and gender-matched general population controls (n = 24). For the identification of FEZ1 gene expression patterns, we applied a comparative threshold cycle (CT) method. A statistically significant difference of FEZ1 mRNA level was revealed in schizophrenia subjects compared to healthy controls (p = 0.0034). To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first describing a down-regulation of FEZ1 gene expression in peripheral blood of patients with schizophrenia. Our results suggested a possible functional role of FEZ1 in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and confirmed the utility of peripheral blood samples for molecular profiling of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. The current study describes FEZ1 gene expression changes in peripheral blood of patients with schizophrenia with significantly down-regulation of FEZ1 mRNA. Thus, our results provide support for a model of SZ pathogenesis that includes the effects of FEZ1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- T I Vachev
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski", Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Department of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Medical University - Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - V K Stoyanova
- Department of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Medical University - Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - H Y Ivanov
- Department of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Medical University - Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - I N Minkov
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski", Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - N T Popov
- State Psychiatry Hospital Pazardzk, Pazardzk, Bulgaria
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20
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Gao R, Penzes P. Common mechanisms of excitatory and inhibitory imbalance in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Curr Mol Med 2015; 15:146-67. [PMID: 25732149 DOI: 10.2174/1566524015666150303003028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 327] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Revised: 12/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Schizophrenia (SCZ) are cognitive disorders with complex genetic architectures but overlapping behavioral phenotypes, which suggests common pathway perturbations. Multiple lines of evidence implicate imbalances in excitatory and inhibitory activity (E/I imbalance) as a shared pathophysiological mechanism. Thus, understanding the molecular underpinnings of E/I imbalance may provide essential insight into the etiology of these disorders and may uncover novel targets for future drug discovery. Here, we review key genetic, physiological, neuropathological, functional, and pathway studies that suggest alterations to excitatory/inhibitory circuits are keys to ASD and SCZ pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - P Penzes
- Department of Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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21
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Vaisburd S, Shemer Z, Yeheskel A, Giladi E, Gozes I. Risperidone and NAP protect cognition and normalize gene expression in a schizophrenia mouse model. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16300. [PMID: 26553741 PMCID: PMC4639790 DOI: 10.1038/srep16300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutated disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), a microtubule regulating protein, leads to schizophrenia and other psychiatric illnesses. It is hypothesized that microtubule stabilization may provide neuroprotection in schizophrenia. The NAP (NAPVSIPQ) sequence of activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) contains the SxIP motif, microtubule end binding (EB) protein target, which is critical for microtubule dynamics leading to synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection. Bioinformatics prediction for FDA approved drugs mimicking SxIP-like motif which displace NAP-EB binding identified Risperidone. Risperidone or NAP effectively ameliorated object recognition deficits in the mutated DISC1 mouse model. NAP but not Risperidone, reduced anxiety in the mutated mice. Doxycycline, which blocked the expression of the mutated DISC1, did not reverse the phenotype. Transcripts of Forkhead-BOX P2 (Foxp2), a gene regulating DISC1 and associated with human ability to acquire a spoken language, were increased in the hippocampus of the DISC1 mutated mice and were significantly lowered after treatment with NAP, Risperidone, or the combination of both. Thus, the combination of NAP and standard of care Risperidone in humans may protect against language disturbances associated with negative and cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinaya Vaisburd
- The Lily and Avraham Gildor Chair for the Investigation of Growth Factors, The Elton Laboratory for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Adams Super Center for Brain Studies, Tel Aviv University 69978, Israel
| | - Zeev Shemer
- The Lily and Avraham Gildor Chair for the Investigation of Growth Factors, The Elton Laboratory for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Adams Super Center for Brain Studies, Tel Aviv University 69978, Israel
| | - Adva Yeheskel
- The Bioinformatics Unit, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University 69978, Israel
| | - Eliezer Giladi
- The Lily and Avraham Gildor Chair for the Investigation of Growth Factors, The Elton Laboratory for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Adams Super Center for Brain Studies, Tel Aviv University 69978, Israel
| | - Illana Gozes
- The Lily and Avraham Gildor Chair for the Investigation of Growth Factors, The Elton Laboratory for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Adams Super Center for Brain Studies, Tel Aviv University 69978, Israel
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22
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Lee H, Kang E, GoodSmith D, Yoon DY, Song H, Knierim JJ, Ming GL, Christian KM. DISC1-mediated dysregulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in rats. Front Syst Neurosci 2015; 9:93. [PMID: 26161071 PMCID: PMC4479724 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2015.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis, the constitutive generation of new granule cells in the dentate gyrus of the mature brain, is a robust model of neural development and its dysregulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Previous studies in mice have shown that altered expression of Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 (Disc1), the mouse homolog of a risk gene for major psychiatric disorders, results in several distinct morphological phenotypes during neuronal development. Although there are advantages to using rats over mice for neurophysiological studies, genetic manipulations have not been widely utilized in rat models. Here, we used a retroviral-mediated approach to knockdown DISC1 expression in dividing cells in the rat dentate gyrus and characterized the morphological development of adult-born granule neurons. Consistent with earlier findings in mice, we show that DISC1 knockdown in adult-born dentate granule cells in rats resulted in accelerated dendritic growth, soma hypertrophy, ectopic dendrites, and mispositioning of new granule cells due to overextended migration. Our study thus demonstrates that the Disc1 genetic manipulation approach used in prior mouse studies is feasible in rats and that there is a conserved biological function of this gene across species. Extending gene-based studies of adult hippocampal neurogenesis from mice to rats will allow for the development of additional models that may be more amenable to behavioral and in vivo electrophysiological investigations. These models, in turn, can generate additional insight into the systems-level mechanisms of how risk genes for complex psychiatric disorders may impact adult neurogenesis and hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heekyung Lee
- Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eunchai Kang
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Douglas GoodSmith
- Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Do Yeon Yoon
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - James J Knierim
- Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD, USA ; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kimberly M Christian
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
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23
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Altered functional brain network connectivity and glutamate system function in transgenic mice expressing truncated Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1. Transl Psychiatry 2015; 5:e569. [PMID: 25989143 PMCID: PMC4471291 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2015.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Considerable evidence implicates DISC1 as a susceptibility gene for multiple psychiatric diseases. DISC1 has been intensively studied at the molecular, cellular and behavioral level, but its role in regulating brain connectivity and brain network function remains unknown. Here, we utilize a set of complementary approaches to assess the functional brain network abnormalities present in mice expressing a truncated Disc1 gene (Disc1tr Hemi mice). Disc1tr Hemi mice exhibited hypometabolism in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and reticular thalamus along with a reorganization of functional brain network connectivity that included compromised hippocampal-PFC connectivity. Altered hippocampal-PFC connectivity in Disc1tr Hemi mice was confirmed by electrophysiological analysis, with Disc1tr Hemi mice showing a reduced probability of presynaptic neurotransmitter release in the monosynaptic glutamatergic hippocampal CA1-PFC projection. Glutamate system dysfunction in Disc1tr Hemi mice was further supported by the attenuated cerebral metabolic response to the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine and decreased hippocampal expression of NMDAR subunits 2A and 2B in these animals. These data show that the Disc1 truncation in Disc1tr Hemi mice induces a range of translationally relevant endophenotypes underpinned by glutamate system dysfunction and altered brain connectivity.
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24
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Pratt JA, Morris BJ. The thalamic reticular nucleus: a functional hub for thalamocortical network dysfunction in schizophrenia and a target for drug discovery. J Psychopharmacol 2015; 29:127-37. [PMID: 25586397 DOI: 10.1177/0269881114565805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The thalamus (comprising many distinct nuclei) plays a key role in facilitating sensory discrimination and cognitive processes through connections with the cortex. Impaired thalamocortical processing has long been considered to be involved in schizophrenia. In this review we focus on the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) providing evidence for it being an important communication hub between the thalamus and cortex and how it may play a key role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We first highlight the functional neuroanatomy, neurotransmitter localisation and physiology of the TRN. We then present evidence of the physiological roles of the TRN in relation to oscillatory activity, cognition and behaviour. Next we discuss the role of the TRN in rodent models of risk factors for schizophrenia (genetic and pharmacological) and provide evidence for TRN deficits in schizophrenia. Finally we discuss new drug targets for schizophrenia in relation to restoring TRN circuitry dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith A Pratt
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK Psychiatric Research Institute of Neuroscience in Glasgow (PsyRING), University of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Brian J Morris
- Psychiatric Research Institute of Neuroscience in Glasgow (PsyRING), University of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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25
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Schoenfeld TJ, Cameron HA. Adult neurogenesis and mental illness. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:113-28. [PMID: 25178407 PMCID: PMC4262910 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Revised: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence suggest that adult neurogenesis, the production of new neurons in adulthood, may play a role in psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Medications and other treatments for mental disorders often promote the proliferation of new neurons; the time course for maturation and integration of new neurons in circuitry parallels the delayed efficacy of psychiatric therapies; adverse and beneficial experiences similarly affect development of mental illness and neurogenesis; and ablation of new neurons in adulthood alters the behavioral impact of drugs in animal models. At present, the links between adult neurogenesis and depression seem stronger than those suggesting a relationship between new neurons and anxiety or schizophrenia. Yet, even in the case of depression there is currently no direct evidence for a causative role. This article reviews the data relating adult neurogenesis to mental illness and discusses where research needs to head in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Schoenfeld
- Section on Neuroplasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Heather A Cameron
- Section on Neuroplasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA,Section on Neuroplasticity, NIMH, 35 Convent Drive, Building 35/3C915, Bethesda, MD 20892-3718, USA, Tel: +1 301 496 3814, Fax: +1 301 480 4564, E-mail:
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Sprecher KE, Ferrarelli F, Benca RM. Sleep and plasticity in schizophrenia. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2015; 25:433-58. [PMID: 25608723 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2014_366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness with a worldwide prevalence of approximately 1%. Although the clinical features of the disorder were described over one hundred years ago, its neurobiology is still largely elusive despite several decades of research. Schizophrenia is associated with marked sleep disturbances and memory impairment. Above and beyond altered sleep architecture, sleep rhythms including slow waves and spindles are disrupted in schizophrenia. In the healthy brain, these rhythms reflect and participate in plastic processes during sleep. This chapter discusses evidence that schizophrenia patients exhibit dysfunction of sleep-mediated plasticity on a behavioral, cellular, and molecular level and offers suggestions on how the study of sleeping brain activity can shed light on the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate E Sprecher
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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Randall AD, Kurihara M, Brandon NJ, Brown JT. Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 and synaptic function in the mammalian central nervous system. Eur J Neurosci 2014; 39:1068-73. [PMID: 24712987 PMCID: PMC4232872 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Revised: 01/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene is found at the breakpoint of an inherited chromosomal translocation, and segregates with major mental illnesses. Its potential role in central nervous system (CNS) malfunction has triggered intensive investigation of the biological roles played by DISC1, with the hope that this may shed new light on the pathobiology of psychiatric disease. Such work has ranged from investigations of animal behavior to detailed molecular-level analysis of the assemblies that DISC1 forms with other proteins. Here, we discuss the evidence for a role of DISC1 in synaptic function in the mammalian CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Randall
- School of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter, The Hatherley Building, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK
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Booth CA, Brown JT, Randall AD. Neurophysiological modification of CA1 pyramidal neurons in a transgenic mouse expressing a truncated form of disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1. Eur J Neurosci 2014; 39:1074-90. [PMID: 24712988 PMCID: PMC4232873 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Revised: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
A t(1;11) balanced chromosomal translocation transects the Disc1 gene in a large Scottish family and produces genome-wide linkage to schizophrenia and recurrent major depressive disorder. This study describes our in vitro investigations into neurophysiological function in hippocampal area CA1 of a transgenic mouse (DISC1tr) that expresses a truncated version of DISC1 designed to reproduce aspects of the genetic situation in the Scottish t(1;11) pedigree. We employed both patch-clamp and extracellular recording methods in vitro to compare intrinsic properties and synaptic function and plasticity between DISC1tr animals and wild-type littermates. Patch-clamp analysis of CA1 pyramidal neurons (CA1-PNs) revealed no genotype dependence in multiple subthreshold parameters, including resting potential, input resistance, hyperpolarization-activated ‘sag’ and resonance properties. Suprathreshold stimuli revealed no alteration to action potential (AP) waveform, although the initial rate of AP production was higher in DISC1tr mice. No difference was observed in afterhyperpolarizing potentials following trains of 5–25 APs at 50 Hz. Patch-clamp analysis of synaptic responses in the Schaffer collateral commissural (SC) pathway indicated no genotype-dependence of paired pulse facilitation, excitatory postsynaptic potential summation or AMPA/NMDA ratio. Extracellular recordings also revealed an absence of changes to SC synaptic responses and indicated input–output and short-term plasticity were also unaltered in the temporoammonic (TA) input. However, in DISC1tr mice theta burst-induced long-term potentiation was enhanced in the SC pathway but completely lost in the TA pathway. These data demonstrate that expressing a truncated form of DISC1 affects intrinsic properties of CA1-PNs and produces pathway-specific effects on long-term synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clair A Booth
- School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
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Arime Y, Fukumura R, Miura I, Mekada K, Yoshiki A, Wakana S, Gondo Y, Akiyama K. Effects of background mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the Disc1 L100P behavioral phenotype associated with schizophrenia in mice. Behav Brain Funct 2014; 10:45. [PMID: 25487992 PMCID: PMC4295473 DOI: 10.1186/1744-9081-10-45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a promising candidate susceptibility gene for psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. Several previous studies reported that mice with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced L100P mutation in Disc1 showed some schizophrenia-related behavioral phenotypes. This line originally carried several thousands of ENU-induced point mutations in the C57BL/6 J strain and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the DBA/2 J inbred strain. Methods To investigate the effect of Disc1 L100P, background mutations and SNPs on phenotypic characterization, we performed behavioral analyses to better understand phenotypes of Disc1 L100P mice and comprehensive genetic analyses using whole-exome resequencing and SNP panels to map ENU-induced mutations and strain-specific SNPs, respectively. Results We found no differences in spontaneous or methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity, sociability or social novelty preference among Disc1 L100P/L100P, L100P/+ mutants and wild-type littermates. Whole-exome resequencing of the original G1 mouse identified 117 ENU-induced variants, including Disc1 L100P per se. Two females and three males from the congenic L100P strain after backcrossing to C57BL/6 J were deposited to RIKEN BioResource Center in 2008. We genotyped them with DBA/2 J × C57BL/6 J SNPs and found a number of the checked SNPs still remained. Conclusion These results suggest that causal attribution of the discrepancy in behavioral phenotypes to the Disc1 L100P mutant mouse line existing among different research groups needs to be cautiously investigated in further study by taking into account the effect(s) of other ENU-induced mutations and/or SNPs from DBA/2 J. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1744-9081-10-45) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kazufumi Akiyama
- Department of Biological Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, 800 Kitakobayashi, Mibu-machi, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
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Crabtree GW, Gogos JA. Synaptic plasticity, neural circuits, and the emerging role of altered short-term information processing in schizophrenia. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2014; 6:28. [PMID: 25505409 PMCID: PMC4243504 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2014.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity alters the strength of information flow between presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons and thus modifies the likelihood that action potentials in a presynaptic neuron will lead to an action potential in a postsynaptic neuron. As such, synaptic plasticity and pathological changes in synaptic plasticity impact the synaptic computation which controls the information flow through the neural microcircuits responsible for the complex information processing necessary to drive adaptive behaviors. As current theories of neuropsychiatric disease suggest that distinct dysfunctions in neural circuit performance may critically underlie the unique symptoms of these diseases, pathological alterations in synaptic plasticity mechanisms may be fundamental to the disease process. Here we consider mechanisms of both short-term and long-term plasticity of synaptic transmission and their possible roles in information processing by neural microcircuits in both health and disease. As paradigms of neuropsychiatric diseases with strongly implicated risk genes, we discuss the findings in schizophrenia and autism and consider the alterations in synaptic plasticity and network function observed in both human studies and genetic mouse models of these diseases. Together these studies have begun to point toward a likely dominant role of short-term synaptic plasticity alterations in schizophrenia while dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may be due to a combination of both short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg W. Crabtree
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia UniversityNew York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph A. Gogos
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia UniversityNew York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia UniversityNew York, NY, USA
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El-Hassar L, Simen AA, Duque A, Patel KD, Kaczmarek LK, Arnsten AF, Yeckel MF. Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 modulates medial prefrontal cortex pyramidal neuron activity through cAMP regulation of transient receptor potential C and small-conductance K+ channels. Biol Psychiatry 2014; 76:476-85. [PMID: 24560582 PMCID: PMC4104266 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Revised: 12/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a protein implicated in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and autism. To date, most of research examining DISC1 function has focused on its role in neurodevelopment, despite its presence throughout life. DISC1 also regulates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling by increasing type 4 phosphodiesterase catabolism of cAMP when cAMP concentrations are high. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that DISC1, through its regulation of cAMP, modulates I-SK and I-TRPC channel-mediated ionic currents that we have shown previously to regulate the activity of mature prefrontal cortical pyramidal neurons. METHODS We used patch-clamp recordings in prefrontal cortical slices from adult rats in which DISC1 function was reduced in vivo by short hairpin RNA viral knockdown or in vitro by dialysis of DISC1 antibodies. RESULTS We found that DISC1 disruption resulted in an increase of metabotropic glutamate receptor-induced intracellular calcium (Ca2+) waves, small-conductance K+ (SK)-mediated hyperpolarization and a decrease of transient receptor potential C (TRPC)-mediated sustained depolarization. Consistent with a role for DISC1 in regulation of cAMP signaling, forskolin-induced cAMP production also increased intracellular Ca2+ waves, I-SK and decreased I-TRPC. Lastly, inhibiting cAMP generation with guanfacine, an α2A-noradrenergic agonist, normalized the function of SK and TRPC channels. CONCLUSIONS Based on our findings, we propose that diminished DISC1 function, such as occurs in some mental disorders, can lead to the disruption of normal patterns of prefrontal cortex activity through the loss of cAMP regulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated intracellular Ca2+ waves, SK and TRPC channel activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynda El-Hassar
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Arthur A. Simen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine
| | - Alvaro Duque
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine
| | - Kiran D. Patel
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine
| | | | - Amy F.T. Arnsten
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine,The Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine
| | - Mark F. Yeckel
- Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine,The Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine
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Nakai T, Nagai T, Wang R, Yamada S, Kuroda K, Kaibuchi K, Yamada K. Alterations of GABAergic and dopaminergic systems in mutant mice with disruption of exons 2 and 3 of the Disc1 gene. Neurochem Int 2014; 74:74-83. [PMID: 24973713 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2014.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) has been widely associated with several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, mood disorders and autism. We previously reported that a deficiency of DISC1 may induce low anxiety and/or high impulsivity in mice with disruption of exons 2 and 3 of the Disc1 gene (Disc1(Δ2-3/Δ2-3)). It remains unclear, however, if deficiency of DISC1 leads to specific alterations in distinct neuronal systems. In the present study, to understand the role of DISC1 in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) interneurons and mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons, we investigated the number of parvalbumin (PV)-positive interneurons, methamphetamine (METH)-induced DA release and the expression levels of GABAA, DA transporter (DAT) and DA receptors in wild-type (Disc1(+/+)) and Disc1(Δ2-3/Δ2-3) mice. Female Disc1(Δ2-3/Δ2-3) mice showed a significant reduction of PV-positive interneurons in the hippocampus, while no apparent changes were observed in mRNA expression levels of GABAA receptor subunits. METH-induced DA release was significantly potentiated in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of female Disc1(Δ2-3/Δ2-3) mice, although there were no significant differences in the expression levels of DAT. Furthermore, the expression levels of DA receptor mRNA were upregulated in the NAc of female Disc1(Δ2-3/Δ2-3) mice. Male Disc1(Δ2-3/Δ2-3) mice showed no apparent differences in all experiments. DISC1 may play a critical role in gender-specific developmental alteration in GABAergic inhibitory interneurons and DAergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Nakai
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan
| | - Taku Nagai
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan
| | - Shinnosuke Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kuroda
- Department of Cell Pharmacology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan
| | - Kozo Kaibuchi
- Department of Cell Pharmacology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan
| | - Kiyofumi Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan.
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Na KS, Jung HY, Kim YK. The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the neuroinflammation and neurogenesis of schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 48:277-86. [PMID: 23123365 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 293] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2012] [Revised: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness with chronic symptoms and significant impairment in psychosocial functioning. Although novel antipsychotics have been developed, the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia are still unresponsive to pharmacotherapy. The high level of social impairment and a chronic deteriorating course suggest that schizophrenia likely has neurodegenerative characteristics. Inflammatory markers such as pro-inflammatory cytokines are well-known etiological factors for psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Inflammation in the central nervous system is closely related to neurodegeneration. In addition to pro-inflammatory cytokines, microglia also play an important role in the inflammatory process in the CNS. Uncontrolled activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglia can induce schizophrenia in tandem with genetic vulnerability and glutamatergic neurotransmitters. Several studies have investigated the possible effects of antipsychotics on inflammation and neurogenesis. Additionally, anti-inflammatory adjuvant therapy has been under investigation as a treatment option for schizophrenia. Further studies should consider the confounding effects of systemic factors such as metabolic syndrome and smoking. In addition, the unique mechanisms by which pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved in the etiopathology of schizophrenia should be investigated. In this article, we aimed to review (1) major findings regarding neuroinflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokine alterations in schizophrenia, (2) interactions between neuroinflammation and neurogenesis as possible neural substrates for schizophrenia, and (3) novel pharmacological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung-Sae Na
- Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Republic of Korea
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Shevelkin AV, Ihenatu C, Pletnikov MV. Pre-clinical models of neurodevelopmental disorders: focus on the cerebellum. Rev Neurosci 2014; 25:177-94. [PMID: 24523305 PMCID: PMC4052755 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2013-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 12/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the role of the cerebellum in non-motor behaviors. Abnormalities in the cerebellar structure have been demonstrated to produce changes in emotional, cognitive, and social behaviors resembling clinical manifestations observed in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia. Several animal models have been used to evaluate the effects of relevant environmental and genetic risk factors on the cerebellum development and function. However, very few models of ASD and schizophrenia selectively target the cerebellum and/or specific cell types within this structure. In this review, we critically evaluate the strength and weaknesses of these models. We will propose that the future progress in this field will require time- and cell type-specific manipulations of disease-relevant genes, not only selectively in the cerebellum, but also in frontal brain areas connected with the cerebellum. Such information can advance our knowledge of the cerebellar contribution to non-motor behaviors in mental health and disease.
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Ratta-Apha W, Hishimoto A, Mouri K, Shiroiwa K, Sasada T, Yoshida M, Supriyanto I, Ueno Y, Asano M, Shirakawa O, Togashi H, Takai Y, Sora I. Association analysis of the DISC1 gene with schizophrenia in the Japanese population and DISC1 immunoreactivity in the postmortem brain. Neurosci Res 2013; 77:222-7. [PMID: 24013095 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2013.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Revised: 08/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene plays a role in the regulation of neural development. Previous evidence from genetic association and biological studies implicates the DISC1 gene as having a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In the present study, we explored the association between DISC1 missense mutation rs821616 (Ser704Cys) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and four other SNPs (rs1772702, rs1754603, rs821621, rs821624) in the related haplotype block and schizophrenia in the Japanese population. We could not find a significant association of selected SNPs with schizophrenia after correction for multiple testing. We performed a meta-analysis of the Ser704Cys variant in schizophrenia using data from the present study and five previous Japanese population studies, and found no association with schizophrenia. We also examined DISC1 immunoreactivity in postmortem prefrontal cortex specimens of schizophrenia patients compared to control samples. The immunoreactivity revealed a significant decrease of DISC1 protein expression in the schizophrenia samples after ruling out potential confounding factors. However, the Ser704Cys variant did not show effects on DISC1 immunoreactivity. These results provide evidence that this functional genetic variation of DISC1 do not underlie the pathophysiology of schizophrenia in the Japanese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woraphat Ratta-Apha
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
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Konefal S, Elliot M, Crespi B. The adaptive significance of adult neurogenesis: an integrative approach. Front Neuroanat 2013; 7:21. [PMID: 23882188 PMCID: PMC3712125 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2013.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis in mammals is predominantly restricted to two brain regions, the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb (OB), suggesting that these two brain regions uniquely share functions that mediate its adaptive significance. Benefits of adult neurogenesis across these two regions appear to converge on increased neuronal and structural plasticity that subserves coding of novel, complex, and fine-grained information, usually with contextual components that include spatial positioning. By contrast, costs of adult neurogenesis appear to center on potential for dysregulation resulting in higher risk of brain cancer or psychological dysfunctions, but such costs have yet to be quantified directly. The three main hypotheses for the proximate functions and adaptive significance of adult neurogenesis, pattern separation, memory consolidation, and olfactory spatial, are not mutually exclusive and can be reconciled into a simple general model amenable to targeted experimental and comparative tests. Comparative analysis of brain region sizes across two major social-ecological groups of primates, gregarious (mainly diurnal haplorhines, visually-oriented, and in large social groups) and solitary (mainly noctural, territorial, and highly reliant on olfaction, as in most rodents) suggest that solitary species, but not gregarious species, show positive associations of population densities and home range sizes with sizes of both the hippocampus and OB, implicating their functions in social-territorial systems mediated by olfactory cues. Integrated analyses of the adaptive significance of adult neurogenesis will benefit from experimental studies motivated and structured by ecologically and socially relevant selective contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Konefal
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Centre for Research in Neuroscience, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General HospitalMontreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mick Elliot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Bernard Crespi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC, Canada
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Zhou M, Li W, Huang S, Song J, Kim JY, Tian X, Kang E, Sano Y, Liu C, Balaji J, Wu S, Zhou Y, Zhou Y, Parivash SN, Ehninger D, He L, Song H, Ming GL, Silva AJ. mTOR Inhibition ameliorates cognitive and affective deficits caused by Disc1 knockdown in adult-born dentate granule neurons. Neuron 2013; 77:647-54. [PMID: 23439118 PMCID: PMC3586374 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Abnormalities during brain development are thought to cause psychiatric illness and other neurodevelopmental disorders. However, developmental processes such as neurogenesis continue in restricted brain regions of adults, and disruptions of these processes could contribute to the phenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders. As previously reported, we show that Disc1 knockdown specifically in adult-born dentate gyrus (DG) neurons results in increased mTOR signaling, hyperexcitability, and neuronal structure deficits. Disc1 knockdown also resulted in pronounced cognitive and affective deficits, which could be reversed when the affected DG neurons were inactivated. Importantly, reversing increases in mTOR signaling with an FDA-approved inhibitor both prevented and treated these behavioral deficits, even when associated structural deficits were not reversed. Our findings suggest that a component of the affective and cognitive phenotypes in neurodevelopmental disorders may be caused by disruptions in adult-born neurons. Consequently, treatments directed at this cell population may have a significant impact on these phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miou Zhou
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Weidong Li
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Bio-X Institute, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Wuxi Mental Health Center, 156 Qian Rong Road, Wuxi 214151, PR China
| | - Shan Huang
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Juan Song
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Human Genetics Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ju Young Kim
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Xiaoli Tian
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Eunchai Kang
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yoshitake Sano
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Cindy Liu
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - J. Balaji
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Shumin Wu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Yu Zhou
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Bio-X Institute, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Wuxi Mental Health Center, 156 Qian Rong Road, Wuxi 214151, PR China
| | - Sherveen N. Parivash
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Dan Ehninger
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Lin He
- Bio-X Institute, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hongjun Song
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Human Genetics Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Guo-li Ming
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alcino J Silva
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095
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Trost S, Platz B, Usher J, Scherk H, Wobrock T, Ekawardhani S, Meyer J, Reith W, Falkai P, Gruber O. DISC1 (disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1) is associated with cortical grey matter volumes in the human brain: a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) study. J Psychiatr Res 2013; 47:188-96. [PMID: 23140672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2012.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2012] [Revised: 08/08/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
DISC1 (Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1), one of the top candidate genes for schizophrenia, has been associated with a range of major mental illnesses over the last two decades. DISC1 is crucially involved in neurodevelopmental processes of the human brain. Several haplotypes and single nucleotide polymorphisms of DISC1 have been associated with changes of grey matter volumes in brain regions known to be altered in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of DISC1 on grey matter volumes in human subjects using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). 114/113 participating subjects (psychiatric patients and healthy controls) were genotyped with respect to two at-risk SNPs of DISC1, rs6675281 and rs821616. All participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI data was statistically analyzed using voxel-based morphometry. We found significant alterations of grey matter volumes in prefrontal and temporal brain regions in association with rs6675281 and rs821616. These effects of DISC1 polymorphisms on brain morphology provide further support for an involvement of DISC1 in the neurobiology of major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Trost
- Centre for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany.
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Thomson PA, Malavasi ELV, Grünewald E, Soares DC, Borkowska M, Millar JK. DISC1 genetics, biology and psychiatric illness. FRONTIERS IN BIOLOGY 2013; 8:1-31. [PMID: 23550053 PMCID: PMC3580875 DOI: 10.1007/s11515-012-1254-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are highly heritable, and in many individuals likely arise from the combined effects of genes and the environment. A substantial body of evidence points towards DISC1 being one of the genes that influence risk of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, and functional studies of DISC1 consequently have the potential to reveal much about the pathways that lead to major mental illness. Here, we review the evidence that DISC1 influences disease risk through effects upon multiple critical pathways in the developing and adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pippa A Thomson
- The Centre for Molecular Medicine at the Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
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40
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DISC1-related signaling pathways in adult neurogenesis of the hippocampus. Gene 2013; 518:223-30. [PMID: 23353011 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2012] [Revised: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 01/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a multifunctional scaffold protein which plays an important role in neurogenesis and neural development in the adult brain, especially in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. Accumulated research has unveiled the role of DISC1 in several aspects of neural development and neurogenesis, such as neuronal maturation, proliferation, migration, positioning, differentiation, dendritic growth, axonal outgrowth, and synaptic plasticity. Studies on the function of this protein have explored multiple facets, including variants and missense mutants in genetics, proteins interactivity and signaling pathways in molecular biology, and pathogenesis and treatment targets of major mental illness, and more. In this review, we present several signaling pathways discussed in recent research, such as the AKT signaling pathway, GABA signaling pathway, GSK3β signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and NMDA-R signaling pathway. DISC1 interacts, directly or indirectly, with these signaling pathways and they co-regulate the process of adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
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41
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Functional role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis as a therapeutic strategy for mental disorders. Neural Plast 2012; 2012:854285. [PMID: 23346419 PMCID: PMC3549353 DOI: 10.1155/2012/854285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2012] [Revised: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 11/30/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis, the process of generating new neurons from neural stem cells, plays significant roles in synaptic plasticity, memory, and mood regulation. In the mammalian brain, it continues to occur well into adulthood in discrete regions, namely, the hippocampus and olfactory bulb. During the past decade, significant progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms regulating adult hippocampal neurogenesis and its role in the etiology of mental disorders. In addition, adult hippocampal neurogenesis is highly correlated with the remission of the antidepressant effect. In this paper, we discuss three major psychiatric disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and drug addiction, in light of preclinical evidence used in establishing the neurobiological significance of adult neurogenesis. We interpret the significance of these results and pose questions that remain unanswered. Potential treatments which include electroconvulsive therapy, deep brain stimulation, chemical antidepressants, and exercise therapy are discussed. While consensus lacks on specific mechanisms, we highlight evidence which indicates that these treatments may function via an increase in neural progenitor proliferation and changes to the hippocampal circuitry. Establishing a significant role of adult neurogenesis in the pathogenicity of psychiatric disorders may hold the key to potential strategies toward effective treatment.
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Kim JY, Liu CY, Zhang F, Duan X, Wen Z, Song J, Feighery E, Lu B, Rujescu D, St Clair D, Christian K, Callicott JH, Weinberger DR, Song H, Ming GL. Interplay between DISC1 and GABA signaling regulates neurogenesis in mice and risk for schizophrenia. Cell 2012; 148:1051-64. [PMID: 22385968 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2010] [Revised: 09/15/2011] [Accepted: 12/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
How extrinsic stimuli and intrinsic factors interact to regulate continuous neurogenesis in the postnatal mammalian brain is unknown. Here we show that regulation of dendritic development of newborn neurons by Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) during adult hippocampal neurogenesis requires neurotransmitter GABA-induced, NKCC1-dependent depolarization through a convergence onto the AKT-mTOR pathway. In contrast, DISC1 fails to modulate early-postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis when conversion of GABA-induced depolarization to hyperpolarization is accelerated. Extending the period of GABA-induced depolarization or maternal deprivation stress restores DISC1-dependent dendritic regulation through mTOR pathway during early-postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis. Furthermore, DISC1 and NKCC1 interact epistatically to affect risk for schizophrenia in two independent case control studies. Our study uncovers an interplay between intrinsic DISC1 and extrinsic GABA signaling, two schizophrenia susceptibility pathways, in controlling neurogenesis and suggests critical roles of developmental tempo and experience in manifesting the impact of susceptibility genes on neuronal development and risk for mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Young Kim
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Abstract
Schizophrenia is a prevalent complex trait disorder manifested by severe neurocognitive dysfunctions and lifelong disability. During the past few years several studies have provided direct evidence for the involvement of different signaling pathways in schizophrenia. In this review, we mainly focus on AKT/GSK3 signaling pathway in schizophrenia. The original study on the involvement of this pathway in schizophrenia was published by Emamian et al. in 2004. This study reported convergent evidence for a decrease in AKT1 protein levels and levels of phosphorylation of GSK-3β in the peripheral lymphocytes and brains of individuals with schizophrenia; a significant association between schizophrenia and an AKT1 haplotype; and a greater sensitivity to the sensorimotor gating-disruptive effect of amphetamine, conferred by AKT1 deficiency. It also showed that haloperidol can induce a stepwise increase in regulatory phosphorylation of AKT1 in the brains of treated mice that could compensate for the impaired function of this signaling pathway in schizophrenia. Following this study, several independent studies were published that not only confirmed the association of this signaling pathway with schizophrenia across different populations, but also shed light on the mechanisms by which AKT/GSK3 pathway may contribute to the development of this complex disorder. In this review, following an introduction on the role of AKT in human diseases and its functions in neuronal and non-neuronal cells, a review on the results of studies published on AKT/GSK3 signaling pathway in schizophrenia after the original 2004 paper will be provided. A brief review on other signaling pathways involved in schizophrenia and the possible connections with AKT/GSK3 signaling pathway will be discussed. Moreover, some possible molecular mechanisms acting through this pathway will be discussed besides the mechanisms by which they may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Finally, different transcription factors related to schizophrenia will be reviewed to see how hypo-activity of AKT signaling pathway may impact such transcriptional mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Effat S Emamian
- Advanced Technologies for Novel Therapeutics (ATNT), Newark NJ, USA.
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Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is necessary for the correct migration of cortical interneurons. J Neurosci 2012; 32:738-45. [PMID: 22238109 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5036-11.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a prominent susceptibility gene for major psychiatric disorders. Previous work indicated that DISC1 plays an important role during neuronal proliferation and differentiation in the cerebral cortex and that it affects the positioning of radial migrating pyramidal neurons. Here we show that in mice, DISC1 is necessary for the migration of the cortical interneurons generated in the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE). RT-PCR, in situ hybridizations, and immunocytochemical data revealed expression of DISC1 transcripts and protein in MGE-derived cells. To study the possible functional role of DISC1 during tangential migration, we performed in utero and ex utero electroporation to suppress DISC1 in the MGE in vivo and in vitro. Results indicate that after DISC1 knockdown, the proportion of tangentially migrating MGE neurons that reached their cortical target was strongly reduced. In addition, there were profound alterations in the morphology of DISC1-deficient neurons, which exhibited longer and less branched leading processes than control cells. These findings provide a possible link between clinical studies reporting alterations of cortical interneurons in schizophrenic patients and the current notion of schizophrenia as a neurodevelopmental disorder.
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45
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Brandon NJ, Sawa A. Linking neurodevelopmental and synaptic theories of mental illness through DISC1. Nat Rev Neurosci 2011; 12:707-22. [PMID: 22095064 DOI: 10.1038/nrn3120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 331] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in our understanding of the underlying genetic architecture of psychiatric disorders has blown away the diagnostic boundaries that are defined by currently used diagnostic manuals. The disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene was originally discovered at the breakpoint of an inherited chromosomal translocation, which segregates with major mental illnesses. In addition, many biological studies have indicated a role for DISC1 in early neurodevelopment and synaptic regulation. Given that DISC1 is thought to drive a range of endophenotypes that underlie major mental conditions, elucidating the biology of DISC1 may enable the construction of new diagnostic categories for mental illnesses with a more meaningful biological foundation.
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46
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Altered axonal targeting and short-term plasticity in the hippocampus of Disc1 mutant mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:E1349-58. [PMID: 22049344 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1114113108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Carefully designed animal models of genetic risk factors are likely to aid our understanding of the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Here, we study a mouse strain with a truncating lesion in the endogenous Disc1 ortholog designed to model the effects of a schizophrenia-predisposing mutation and offer a detailed account of the consequences that this mutation has on the development and function of a hippocampal circuit. We uncover widespread and cumulative cytoarchitectural alterations in the dentate gyrus during neonatal and adult neurogenesis, which include errors in axonal targeting and are accompanied by changes in short-term plasticity at the mossy fiber/CA3 circuit. We also provide evidence that cAMP levels are elevated as a result of the Disc1 mutation, leading to altered axonal targeting and dendritic growth. The identified structural alterations are, for the most part, not consistent with the growth-promoting and premature maturation effects inferred from previous RNAi-based Disc1 knockdown. Our results provide support to the notion that modest disturbances of neuronal connectivity and accompanying deficits in short-term synaptic dynamics is a general feature of schizophrenia-predisposing mutations.
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Stone WS, Hsi X. Declarative memory deficits and schizophrenia: Problems and prospects. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2011; 96:544-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2011.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Revised: 03/24/2011] [Accepted: 04/08/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Kuroda K, Yamada S, Tanaka M, Iizuka M, Yano H, Mori D, Tsuboi D, Nishioka T, Namba T, Iizuka Y, Kubota S, Nagai T, Ibi D, Wang R, Enomoto A, Isotani-Sakakibara M, Asai N, Kimura K, Kiyonari H, Abe T, Mizoguchi A, Sokabe M, Takahashi M, Yamada K, Kaibuchi K. Behavioral alterations associated with targeted disruption of exons 2 and 3 of the Disc1 gene in the mouse. Hum Mol Genet 2011; 20:4666-83. [PMID: 21903668 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddr400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a promising candidate gene for susceptibility to psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. DISC1 appears to be involved in neurogenesis, neuronal migration, axon/dendrite formation and synapse formation; during these processes, DISC1 acts as a scaffold protein by interacting with various partners. However, the lack of Disc1 knockout mice and a well-characterized antibody to DISC1 has made it difficult to determine the exact role of DISC1 in vivo. In this study, we generated mice lacking exons 2 and 3 of the Disc1 gene and prepared specific antibodies to the N- and C-termini of DISC1. The Disc1 mutant mice are viable and fertile, and no gross phenotypes, such as disorganization of the brain's cytoarchitecture, were observed. Western blot analysis revealed that the DISC1-specific antibodies recognize a protein with an apparent molecular mass of ~100 kDa in brain extracts from wild-type mice but not in brain extracts from DISC1 mutant mice. Immunochemical studies demonstrated that DISC1 is mainly localized to the vicinity of the Golgi apparatus in hippocampal neurons and astrocytes. A deficiency of full-length Disc1 induced a threshold shift in the induction of long-term potentiation in the dentate gyrus. The Disc1 mutant mice displayed abnormal emotional behavior as assessed by the elevated plus-maze and cliff-avoidance tests, thereby suggesting that a deficiency of full-length DISC1 may result in lower anxiety and/or higher impulsivity. Based on these results, we suggest that full-length Disc1-deficient mice and DISC1-specific antibodies are powerful tools for dissecting the pathophysiological functions of DISC1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Kuroda
- Department of Cell Pharmacology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
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49
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Moens LN, De Rijk P, Reumers J, Van den Bossche MJA, Glassee W, De Zutter S, Lenaerts AS, Nordin A, Nilsson LG, Medina Castello I, Norrback KF, Goossens D, Van Steen K, Adolfsson R, Del-Favero J. Sequencing of DISC1 pathway genes reveals increased burden of rare missense variants in schizophrenia patients from a northern Swedish population. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23450. [PMID: 21853134 PMCID: PMC3154939 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2011] [Accepted: 07/18/2011] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, DISC1 has emerged as one of the most credible and best supported candidate genes for schizophrenia and related neuropsychiatric disorders. Furthermore, increasing evidence--both genetic and functional--indicates that many of its protein interaction partners are also involved in the development of these diseases. In this study, we applied a pooled sample 454 sequencing strategy, to explore the contribution of genetic variation in DISC1 and 10 of its interaction partners (ATF5, Grb2, FEZ1, LIS-1, PDE4B, NDE1, NDEL1, TRAF3IP1, YWHAE, and ZNF365) to schizophrenia susceptibility in an isolated northern Swedish population. Mutation burden analysis of the identified variants in a population of 486 SZ patients and 514 control individuals, revealed that non-synonymous rare variants with a MAF<0.01 were significantly more present in patients compared to controls (8.64% versus 4.7%, P = 0.018), providing further evidence for the involvement of DISC1 and some of its interaction partners in psychiatric disorders. This increased burden of rare missense variants was even more striking in a subgroup of early onset patients (12.9% versus 4.7%, P = 0.0004), highlighting the importance of studying subgroups of patients and identifying endophenotypes. Upon investigation of the potential functional effects associated with the identified missense variants, we found that ∼90% of these variants reside in intrinsically disordered protein regions. The observed increase in mutation burden in patients provides further support for the role of the DISC1 pathway in schizophrenia. Furthermore, this study presents the first evidence supporting the involvement of mutations within intrinsically disordered protein regions in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. As many important biological functions depend directly on the disordered state, alteration of this disorder in key pathways may represent an intriguing new disease mechanism for schizophrenia and related neuropsychiatric diseases. Further research into this unexplored domain will be required to elucidate the role of the identified variants in schizophrenia etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotte N Moens
- Applied Molecular Genomics Group, Department of Molecular Genetics, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Flanders, Belgium
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Kvajo M, McKellar H, Gogos JA. Avoiding mouse traps in schizophrenia genetics: lessons and promises from current and emerging mouse models. Neuroscience 2011; 211:136-64. [PMID: 21821099 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.07.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2011] [Revised: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 07/19/2011] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, but despite progress in identifying the genetic factors implicated in its development, the mechanisms underlying its etiology and pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Development of mouse models is critical for expanding our understanding of the causes of schizophrenia. However, translation of disease pathology into mouse models has proven to be challenging, primarily due to the complex genetic architecture of schizophrenia and the difficulties in the re-creation of susceptibility alleles in the mouse genome. In this review we highlight current research on models of major susceptibility loci and the information accrued from their analysis. We describe and compare the different approaches that are necessitated by diverse susceptibility alleles, and discuss their advantages and drawbacks. Finally, we discuss emerging mouse models, such as second-generation pathophysiology models based on innovative approaches that are facilitated by the information gathered from the current genetic mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kvajo
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
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