1
|
Lin YY, Jbeily EH, Tjandra PM, Pride MC, Lopez-Torres M, Elmankabadi SB, Delman CM, Biris KK, Bang H, Silverman JL, Lee CA, Christiansen BA. Surgical restabilization reduces the progression of post-traumatic osteoarthritis initiated by ACL rupture in mice. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2024; 32:909-920. [PMID: 38697509 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE People who sustain joint injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture often develop post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). In human patients, ACL injuries are often treated with ACL reconstruction. However, it is still unclear how effective joint restabilization is for reducing the progression of PTOA. The goal of this study was to determine how surgical restabilization of a mouse knee joint following non-invasive ACL injury affects PTOA progression. DESIGN In this study, 187 mice were subjected to non-invasive ACL injury or no injury. After injury, mice underwent restabilization surgery, sham surgery, or no surgery. Mice were then euthanized on day 14 or day 49 after injury/surgery. Functional analyses were performed at multiple time points to assess voluntary movement, gait, and pain. Knees were analyzed ex vivo with micro-computed tomography, RT-PCR, and whole-joint histology to assess articular cartilage degeneration, synovitis, and osteophyte formation. RESULTS Both ACL injury and surgery resulted in loss of epiphyseal trabecular bone (-27-32%) and reduced voluntary movement at early time points. Joint restabilization successfully lowered OA score (-78% relative to injured at day 14, p < 0.0001), and synovitis scores (-37% relative to injured at day 14, p = 0.042), and diminished the formation of chondrophytes/osteophytes (-97% relative to injured at day 14, p < 0.001, -78% at day 49, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed that surgical knee restabilization was effective at reducing articular cartilage degeneration and diminishing chondrophyte/osteophyte formation after ACL injury in mice, suggesting that these processes are largely driven by joint instability in this mouse model. However, restabilization was not able to mitigate the early inflammatory response and the loss of epiphyseal trabecular bone, indicating that these processes are independent of joint instability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Yang Lin
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2301, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Elias H Jbeily
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2301, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Priscilla M Tjandra
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2301, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Michael C Pride
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 4625 2nd Ave, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Michael Lopez-Torres
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2301, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Seif B Elmankabadi
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2301, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Connor M Delman
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2301, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Kristin K Biris
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2301, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Heejung Bang
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical Sciences 1C, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 4625 2nd Ave, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Cassandra A Lee
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2301, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Blaine A Christiansen
- University of California Davis Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2301, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Huie EZ, Yang X, Rioult-Pedotti MS, Naik M, Huang YWA, Silverman JL, Marshall J. Peptidomimetic inhibitors targeting TrkB/PSD-95 signaling improves cognition and seizure outcomes in an Angelman Syndrome mouse model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.07.597833. [PMID: 38895218 PMCID: PMC11185757 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.07.597833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder with profoundly debilitating symptoms with no FDA-approved cure or therapeutic. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and its receptor TrkB, have a well-established role as regulators of synaptic plasticity, dendritic outgrowth, dendritic spine formation and maintenance. Previously, we reported that the association of PSD-95 with TrkB is critical for intact BDNF signaling in the AS mouse model, as illustrated by attenuated PLCγ and PI3K signaling and intact MAPK pathway signaling. These data suggest that drugs tailored to enhance the TrkB-PSD-95 interaction may provide a novel approach for the treatment of AS and a variety of NDDs. To evaluate this critical interaction, we synthesized a class of high-affinity PSD-95 ligands that bind specifically to the PDZ3 domain of PSD-95, denoted as Syn3 peptidomimetic ligands. We evaluated Syn3 and its analog D-Syn3 (engineered using dextrorotary (D)-amino acids) in vivo using the Ube3a exon 2 deletion mouse model of AS. Following systemic administration of Syn3 and D-Syn3, we demonstrated improvement in the seizure domain of AS. Learning and memory using the novel object recognition assay also illustrated improved cognition following Syn3 and D-Syn3, along with restored long-term potentiation. Finally, D-Syn3 treated mice showed a partial rescue in motor learning. Neither Syn3 nor D-Syn3 improved gross exploratory locomotion deficits, nor gait impairments that have been well documented in the AS rodent models. These findings highlight the need for further investigation of this compound class as a potential therapeutic for AS and other genetic NDDs.
Collapse
|
3
|
Bhalla K, Rosier K, Monnens Y, Meulemans S, Vervoort E, Thorrez L, Agostinis P, Meier DT, Rochtus A, Resnick JL, Creemers JWM. Similar metabolic pathways are affected in both Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome-22 and Prader-Willi Syndrome. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167175. [PMID: 38626828 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Loss of prolyl endopeptidase-like (PREPL) encoding a serine hydrolase with (thio)esterase activity leads to the recessive metabolic disorder Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome-22 (CMS22). It is characterized by severe neonatal hypotonia, feeding problems, growth retardation, and hyperphagia leading to rapid weight gain later in childhood. The phenotypic similarities with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) are striking, suggesting that similar pathways are affected. The aim of this study was to identify changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in mouse models for both disorders and to examine mitochondrial function in skin fibroblasts of patients and knockout cell lines. We have demonstrated that Prepl is downregulated in the brains of neonatal PWS-IC-p/+m mice. In addition, the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is similarly affected in both Prepl-/- and PWS-IC-p/+m mice resulting in defective orexigenic signaling and growth retardation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that mitochondrial function is altered in PREPL knockout HEK293T cells and can be rescued with the supplementation of coenzyme Q10. Finally, PREPL-deficient and PWS patient skin fibroblasts display defective mitochondrial bioenergetics. The mitochondrial dysfunction in PWS fibroblasts can be rescued by overexpression of PREPL. In conclusion, we provide the first molecular parallels between CMS22 and PWS, raising the possibility that PREPL substrates might become therapeutic targets for treating both disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kritika Bhalla
- Laboratory for Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karen Rosier
- Laboratory for Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yenthe Monnens
- Laboratory for Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sandra Meulemans
- Laboratory for Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen Vervoort
- Laboratory for Cell Death Research & Therapy, VIB, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieven Thorrez
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven Campus Kulak, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Patrizia Agostinis
- Laboratory for Cell Death Research & Therapy, VIB, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daniel T Meier
- Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anne Rochtus
- Department of Development and Regeneration, UZ Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - James L Resnick
- Department of Molecular genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - John W M Creemers
- Laboratory for Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Department of Human genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lin R, Mitsuhashi H, Fiori LM, Denniston R, Ibrahim EC, Belzung C, Mechawar N, Turecki G. SNORA69 is up-regulated in the lateral habenula of individuals with major depressive disorder. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8258. [PMID: 38589409 PMCID: PMC11001866 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58278-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex and potentially debilitating illness whose etiology and pathology remains unclear. Non-coding RNAs have been implicated in MDD, where they display differential expression in the brain and the periphery. In this study, we quantified small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) expression by small RNA sequencing in the lateral habenula (LHb) of individuals with MDD (n = 15) and psychiatrically-healthy controls (n = 15). We uncovered five snoRNAs that exhibited differential expression between MDD and controls (FDR < 0.01). Specifically, SNORA69 showed increased expression in MDD and was technically validated via RT-qPCR. We further investigated the expression of Snora69 in the LHb and peripheral blood of an unpredicted chronic mild stress (UCMS) mouse model of depression. Snora69 was specifically up-regulated in mice that underwent the UCMS paradigm. SNORA69 is known to guide pseudouridylation onto 5.8S and 18S rRNAs. We quantified the relative abundance of pseudouridines on 5.8S and 18S rRNA in human post-mortem LHb samples and found increased abundance of pseudouridines in the MDD group. Overall, our findings indicate the importance of brain snoRNAs in the pathology of MDD. Future studies characterizing SNORA69's role in MDD pathology is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rixing Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Haruka Mitsuhashi
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Laura M Fiori
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ryan Denniston
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - El Cherif Ibrahim
- CNRS, INT, Institute Neuroscience Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Catherine Belzung
- Imaging Brain and Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, INSERM, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ikrin AN, Moskalenko AM, Mukhamadeev RR, de Abreu MS, Kolesnikova TO, Kalueff AV. The emerging complexity of molecular pathways implicated in mouse self-grooming behavior. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 127:110840. [PMID: 37580009 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110840] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Rodent self-grooming is an important complex behavior, and its deficits are translationally relevant to a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we analyzed a comprehensive dataset of 227 genes whose mutations are known to evoke aberrant self-grooming in mice. Using these genes, we constructed the network of their established protein-protein interactions (PPI), yielding several distinct molecular clusters related to postsynaptic density, the Wnt signaling, transcription factors, neuronal cell cycle, NOS neurotransmission, microtubule regulation, neuronal differentiation/trafficking, neurodevelopment and mitochondrial function. Utilizing further bioinformatics analyses, we also identified novel central ('hub') proteins within these clusters, whose genes may also be implicated in aberrant self-grooming and other repetitive behaviors in general. Untangling complex molecular pathways of this important behavior using in silico approaches contributes to our understanding of related neurological disorders, and may suggest novel potential targets for their pharmacological or gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksey N Ikrin
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Genetic Technologies, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia; Neuroscience Department, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Anastasia M Moskalenko
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Genetic Technologies, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia; Neuroscience Department, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Radmir R Mukhamadeev
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics and Genomics, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia; Neuroscience Department, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Murilo S de Abreu
- Moscow Institute of Science and Technology, Dolgoprudny 197028, Russia.
| | - Tatiana O Kolesnikova
- Neuroscience Department, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- Neuroscience Department, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia; Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia; Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg 194021, Russia; Laboratory of Preclinical Bioscreening, Granov Russian Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Pesochny 197758, Russia; Neuroscience Group, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg 620002, Russia; Laboratory of Translational Biopsychiatry, Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk 630117, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gawade K, Raczynska KD. Imprinted small nucleolar RNAs: Missing link in development and disease? WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023:e1818. [PMID: 37722601 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
The 14q32.2 (DLK1-DIO3) and 15q11-q13 (SNURF-SNRPN) imprinted gene loci harbor the largest known small nucleolar RNA clusters expressed from the respective maternal and paternal alleles. Recent studies have demonstrated significant roles for the 15q11-q13 located SNORD115-SNORD116 C/D box snoRNAs in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a neurodevelopmental disorder. Even though the effect of SNORD116 deletion is apparent in the PWS phenotype, similar effects of a SNORD113-SNORD114 cluster deletion from the 14q32.2 locus in Kagami-Ogata syndrome (KOS14) and upregulation in Temple syndrome (TS14) remain to be explored. Moreover, apart from their probable involvement in neurodevelopmental disorders, snoRNAs from the SNORD113-SNORD114 cluster have been implicated in multiple biological processes, including pluripotency, development, cancers, and RNA modifications. Here we summarize the current understanding of the system to explore the possibility of a link between developmental disorders and C/D box snoRNA expression from the imprinted 14q32.2 locus. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development RNA Processing > Processing of Small RNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kishor Gawade
- Laboratory of RNA Processing, Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, Poland
- Center for Advanced Technology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna D Raczynska
- Laboratory of RNA Processing, Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, Poland
- Center for Advanced Technology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Oztan O, Zyga O, Stafford DEJ, Parker KJ. Linking oxytocin and arginine vasopressin signaling abnormalities to social behavior impairments in Prader-Willi syndrome. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 142:104870. [PMID: 36113782 PMCID: PMC11024898 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder. Global hypothalamic dysfunction is a core feature of PWS and has been implicated as a driver of many of PWS's phenotypic characteristics (e.g., hyperphagia-induced obesity, hypogonadism, short stature). Although the two neuropeptides (i.e., oxytocin [OXT] and arginine vasopressin [AVP]) most implicated in mammalian prosocial functioning are of hypothalamic origin, and social functioning is markedly impaired in PWS, there has been little consideration of how dysregulation of these neuropeptide signaling pathways may contribute to PWS's social behavior impairments. The present article addresses this gap in knowledge by providing a comprehensive review of the preclinical and clinical PWS literature-spanning endogenous neuropeptide measurement to exogenous neuropeptide administration studies-to better understand the roles of OXT and AVP signaling in this population. The preponderance of evidence indicates that OXT and AVP signaling are indeed dysregulated in PWS, and that these neuropeptide pathways may provide promising targets for therapeutic intervention in a patient population that currently lacks a pharmacological strategy for its debilitating social behavior symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ozge Oztan
- 1201 Welch Road, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Olena Zyga
- 1201 Welch Road, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Diane E J Stafford
- Center for Academic Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Karen J Parker
- 1201 Welch Road, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; 300 Pasteur Drive, Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ghosh-Swaby OR, Reichelt AC, Sheppard PAS, Davies J, Bussey TJ, Saksida LM. Metabolic hormones mediate cognition. Front Neuroendocrinol 2022; 66:101009. [PMID: 35679900 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.101009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent biochemical and behavioural evidence indicates that metabolic hormones not only regulate energy intake and nutrient content, but also modulate plasticity and cognition in the central nervous system. Disruptions in metabolic hormone signalling may provide a link between metabolic syndromes like obesity and diabetes, and cognitive impairment. For example, altered metabolic homeostasis in obesity is a strong determinant of the severity of age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease. Here we review the evidence that eating behaviours and metabolic hormones-particularly ghrelin, leptin, and insulin-are key players in the delicate regulation of neural plasticity and cognition. Caloric restriction and antidiabetic therapies, both of which affect metabolic hormone levels can restore metabolic homeostasis and enhance cognitive function. Thus, metabolic hormone pathways provide a promising target for the treatment of cognitive decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia R Ghosh-Swaby
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Neuroscience Program, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Amy C Reichelt
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide Medical School, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Paul A S Sheppard
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Davies
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Neuroscience Program, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Neuroscience Program, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Adhikari A, Buchanan FKB, Fenton TA, Cameron DL, Halmai JANM, Copping NA, Fink KD, Silverman JL. Touchscreen Cognitive Deficits, Hyperexcitability, and Hyperactivity in Males and Females Using Two Models of Cdkl5 Deficiency. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:3032-3050. [PMID: 35445702 PMCID: PMC9476626 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are the result of mutations on the X chromosome. One severe NDD resulting from mutations on the X chromosome is CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD). CDD is an epigenetic, X-linked NDD characterized by intellectual disability (ID), pervasive seizures and severe sleep disruption, including recurring hospitalizations. CDD occurs at a 4:1 ratio, with a female bias. CDD is driven by the loss of cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5), a serine/threonine kinase that is essential for typical brain development, synapse formation and signal transmission. Previous studies focused on male subjects from animal models, likely to avoid the complexity of X mosaicism. For the first time, we report translationally relevant behavioral phenotypes in young adult (8–20 weeks) females and males with robust signal size, including impairments in learning and memory, substantial hyperactivity and increased susceptibility to seizures/reduced seizure thresholds, in both sexes, and in two models of CDD preclinical mice, one with a general loss-of-function mutation and one that is a patient-derived mutation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Adhikari
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
| | - Fiona K B Buchanan
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
| | - Timothy A Fenton
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
| | - David L Cameron
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
| | - Julian A N M Halmai
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
| | - Nycole A Copping
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
| | - Kyle D Fink
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.,Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Petkova SP, Adhikari A, Berg EL, Fenton TA, Duis J, Silverman JL. Gait as a quantitative translational outcome measure in Angelman syndrome. Autism Res 2022; 15:821-833. [PMID: 35274462 PMCID: PMC9311146 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by developmental delay, lack of speech, seizures, intellectual disability, hypotonia, and motor coordination deficits. Motor abilities are an important outcome measure in AS as they comprise a broad repertoire of metrics including ataxia, hypotonia, delayed ambulation, crouched gait, and poor posture, and motor dysfunction affects nearly every individual with AS. Guided by collaborative work with AS clinicians studying gait, the goal of this study was to perform an in‐depth gait analysis using the automated treadmill assay, DigiGait. Our hypothesis is that gait presents a strong opportunity for a reliable, quantitative, and translational metric that can serve to evaluate novel pharmacological, dietary, and genetic therapies. In this study, we used an automated gait analysis system, in addition to standard motor behavioral assays, to evaluate components of motor, exploration, coordination, balance, and gait impairments across the lifespan in an AS mouse model. Our study demonstrated marked global motoric deficits in AS mice, corroborating previous reports. Uniquely, this is the first report of nuanced aberrations in quantitative spatial and temporal components of gait in AS mice compared to sex‐ and age‐matched wildtype littermates followed longitudinally using metrics that are analogous in AS individuals. Our findings contribute evidence toward the use of nuanced motor outcomes (i.e., gait) as valuable and translationally powerful metrics for therapeutic development for AS, as well as other genetic neurodevelopmental syndromes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stela P Petkova
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Anna Adhikari
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Berg
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Timothy A Fenton
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jessica Duis
- Section of Genetics & Inherited Metabolic Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anshutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduces Body Weight and Fat in Snord116m+/p- and Snord116m-/p- Mouse Models of Prader-Willi Syndrome. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14040860. [PMID: 35215509 PMCID: PMC8880678 DOI: 10.3390/nu14040860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Prader–Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a human genetic condition that affects up to 1 in 10,000 live births. Affected infants present with hypotonia and developmental delay. Hyperphagia and increasing body weight follow unless drastic calorie restriction is initiated. Recently, our laboratory showed that one of the genes in the deleted locus causative for PWS, Snord116, maintains increased expression of hypothalamic Nhlh2, a basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor. We have previously also shown that obese mice with a deletion of Nhlh2 respond to a conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) diet with weight and fat loss. In this study, we investigated whether mice with a paternal deletion of Snord116 (Snord116m+/p−) would respond similarly. We found that while Snord116m+/p− mice and mice with a deletion of both Snord116 alleles were not significantly obese on a high-fat diet, they did lose body weight and fat on a high-fat/CLA diet, suggesting that the genotype did not interfere with CLA actions. There were no changes in food intake or metabolic rate, and only moderate differences in exercise performance. RNA-seq and microbiome analyses identified hypothalamic mRNAs, and differentially populated gut bacteria, that support future mechanistic analyses. CLA may be useful as a food additive to reduce obesity in humans with PWS.
Collapse
|
12
|
Deng P, Halmai JANM, Beitnere U, Cameron D, Martinez ML, Lee CC, Waldo JJ, Thongphanh K, Adhikari A, Copping N, Petkova SP, Lee RD, Lock S, Palomares M, O’Geen H, Carter J, Gonzalez CE, Buchanan FKB, Anderson JD, Fierro FA, Nolta JA, Tarantal AF, Silverman JL, Segal DJ, Fink KD. An in vivo Cell-Based Delivery Platform for Zinc Finger Artificial Transcription Factors in Pre-clinical Animal Models. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:789913. [PMID: 35153670 PMCID: PMC8829036 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.789913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc finger (ZF), transcription activator-like effectors (TALE), and CRISPR/Cas9 therapies to regulate gene expression are becoming viable strategies to treat genetic disorders, although effective in vivo delivery systems for these proteins remain a major translational hurdle. We describe the use of a mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)-based delivery system for the secretion of a ZF protein (ZF-MSC) in transgenic mouse models and young rhesus monkeys. Secreted ZF protein from mouse ZF-MSC was detectable within the hippocampus 1 week following intracranial or cisterna magna (CM) injection. Secreted ZF activated the imprinted paternal Ube3a in a transgenic reporter mouse and ameliorated motor deficits in a Ube3a deletion Angelman Syndrome (AS) mouse. Intrathecally administered autologous rhesus MSCs were well-tolerated for 3 weeks following administration and secreted ZF protein was detectable within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), midbrain, and spinal cord. This approach is less invasive when compared to direct intracranial injection which requires a surgical procedure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Deng
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Julian A. N. M. Halmai
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Ulrika Beitnere
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - David Cameron
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Michele L. Martinez
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Gene Therapy Center, and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Charles C. Lee
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Gene Therapy Center, and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer J. Waldo
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Krista Thongphanh
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Anna Adhikari
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Nycole Copping
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Stela P. Petkova
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Ruth D. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Samantha Lock
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Miranda Palomares
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Henriette O’Geen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jasmine Carter
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Casiana E. Gonzalez
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Fiona K. B. Buchanan
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Johnathan D. Anderson
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Fernando A. Fierro
- Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Jan A. Nolta
- Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Alice F. Tarantal
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Gene Therapy Center, and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jill L. Silverman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - David J. Segal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Kyle D. Fink
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Kyle D. Fink,
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Baldini L, Robert A, Charpentier B, Labialle S. Phylogenetic and molecular analyses identify SNORD116 targets involved in the Prader Willi syndrome. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 39:6454102. [PMID: 34893870 PMCID: PMC8789076 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The eutherian-specific SNORD116 family of repeated box C/D snoRNA genes is suspected to play a major role in the Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS), yet its molecular function remains poorly understood. Here, we combined phylogenetic and molecular analyses to identify candidate RNA targets. Based on the analysis of several eutherian orthologs, we found evidence of extensive birth-and-death and conversion events during SNORD116 gene history. However, the consequences for phylogenetic conservation were heterogeneous along the gene sequence. The standard snoRNA elements necessary for RNA stability and association with dedicated core proteins were the most conserved, in agreement with the hypothesis that SNORD116 generate genuine snoRNAs. In addition, one of the two antisense elements typically involved in RNA target recognition was largely dominated by a unique sequence present in at least one subset of gene paralogs in most species, likely the result of a selective effect. In agreement with a functional role, this ASE exhibited a hybridization capacity with putative mRNA targets that was strongly conserved in eutherians. Moreover, transient downregulation experiments in human cells showed that Snord116 controls the expression and splicing levels of these mRNAs. The functions of two of them, diacylglycerol kinase kappa and Neuroligin 3, extend the description of the molecular bases of PWS and reveal unexpected molecular links with the Fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laeya Baldini
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, IMoPA, F-54000 Nancy, France
| | - Anne Robert
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, IMoPA, F-54000 Nancy, France
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wang T, Li J, Yang L, Wu M, Ma Q. The Role of Long Non-coding RNAs in Human Imprinting Disorders: Prospective Therapeutic Targets. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:730014. [PMID: 34760887 PMCID: PMC8573313 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.730014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is a term used for an intergenerational epigenetic inheritance and involves a subset of genes expressed in a parent-of-origin-dependent way. Imprinted genes are expressed preferentially from either the paternally or maternally inherited allele. Long non-coding RNAs play essential roles in regulating this allele-specific expression. In several well-studied imprinting clusters, long non-coding RNAs have been found to be essential in regulating temporal- and spatial-specific establishment and maintenance of imprinting patterns. Furthermore, recent insights into the epigenetic pathological mechanisms underlying human genomic imprinting disorders suggest that allele-specific expressed imprinted long non-coding RNAs serve as an upstream regulator of the expression of other protein-coding or non-coding imprinted genes in the same cluster. Aberrantly expressed long non-coding RNAs result in bi-allelic expression or silencing of neighboring imprinted genes. Here, we review the emerging roles of long non-coding RNAs in regulating the expression of imprinted genes, especially in human imprinting disorders, and discuss three strategies targeting the central long non-coding RNA UBE3A-ATS for the purpose of developing therapies for the imprinting disorders Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome. In summary, a better understanding of long non-coding RNA-related mechanisms is key to the development of potential therapeutic targets for human imprinting disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingxuan Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianjian Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liuyi Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Manyin Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qing Ma
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Excessive Laughter-like Vocalizations, Microcephaly, and Translational Outcomes in the Ube3a Deletion Rat Model of Angelman Syndrome. J Neurosci 2021; 41:8801-8814. [PMID: 34475199 PMCID: PMC8528495 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0925-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disabilities, motor and balance deficits, impaired communication, and a happy, excitable demeanor with frequent laughter. We sought to elucidate a preclinical outcome measure in male and female rats that addressed communication abnormalities of AS and other neurodevelopmental disorders in which communication is atypical and/or lack of speech is a core feature. We discovered, and herein report for the first time, excessive laughter-like 50 kHz ultrasonic emissions in the Ube3a mat-/pat+ rat model of AS, which suggests an excitable, playful demeanor and elevated positive affect, similar to the demeanor of individuals with AS. Also in line with the AS phenotype, Ube3a mat-/pat+ rats demonstrated aberrant social interactions with a novel partner, distinctive gait abnormalities, impaired cognition, an underlying LTP deficit, and profound reductions in brain volume. These unique, robust phenotypes provide advantages compared with currently available mouse models and will be highly valuable as outcome measures in the evaluation of therapies for AS.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Angelman syndrome (AS) is a severe neurogenetic disorder for which there is no cure, despite decades of research using mouse models. This study used a recently developed rat model of AS to delineate disease-relevant outcome measures to facilitate therapeutic development. We found the rat to be a strong model of AS, offering several advantages over mouse models by exhibiting numerous AS-relevant phenotypes, including overabundant laughter-like vocalizations, reduced hippocampal LTP, and volumetric anomalies across the brain. These findings are unconfounded by detrimental motor abilities and background strain, issues plaguing mouse models. This rat model represents an important advancement in the field of AS, and the outcome metrics reported herein will be central to the therapeutic pipeline.
Collapse
|
16
|
Berg EL, Petkova SP, Born HA, Adhikari A, Anderson AE, Silverman JL. Insulin-like growth factor-2 does not improve behavioral deficits in mouse and rat models of Angelman Syndrome. Mol Autism 2021; 12:59. [PMID: 34526125 PMCID: PMC8444390 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00467-1] [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: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder for which there is currently no cure or effective therapeutic. Since the genetic cause of AS is known to be dysfunctional expression of the maternal allele of ubiquitin protein ligase E3A (UBE3A), several genetic animal models of AS have been developed. Both the Ube3a maternal deletion mouse and rat models of AS reliably demonstrate behavioral phenotypes of relevance to AS and therefore offer suitable in vivo systems in which to test potential therapeutics. One promising candidate treatment is insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2), which has recently been shown to ameliorate behavioral deficits in the mouse model of AS and improve cognitive abilities across model systems. METHODS We used both the Ube3a maternal deletion mouse and rat models of AS to evaluate the ability of IGF-2 to improve electrophysiological and behavioral outcomes. RESULTS Acute systemic administration of IGF-2 had an effect on electrophysiological activity in the brain and on a metric of motor ability; however the effects were not enduring or extensive. Additional metrics of motor behavior, learning, ambulation, and coordination were unaffected and IGF-2 did not improve social communication, seizure threshold, or cognition. LIMITATIONS The generalizability of these results to humans is difficult to predict and it remains possible that dosing schemes (i.e., chronic or subchronic dosing), routes, and/or post-treatment intervals other than that used herein may show more efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Despite a few observed effects of IGF-2, our results taken together indicate that IGF-2 treatment does not profoundly improve behavioral deficits in mouse or rat models of AS. These findings shed cautionary light on the potential utility of acute systemic IGF-2 administration in the treatment of AS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L. Berg
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Stela P. Petkova
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Heather A. Born
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
- Gene Therapy Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Anna Adhikari
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Anne E. Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Jill L. Silverman
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhang K, Liu S, Gu W, Lv Y, Yu H, Gao M, Wang D, Zhao J, Li X, Gai Z, Zhao S, Liu Y, Yuan Y. Transmission of a Novel Imprinting Center Deletion Associated With Prader-Willi Syndrome Through Three Generations of a Chinese Family: Case Presentation, Differential Diagnosis, and a Lesson Worth Thinking About. Front Genet 2021; 12:630650. [PMID: 34504512 PMCID: PMC8421676 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.630650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic syndrome caused by the loss of function of genes in 15q11-q13 that are subject to regulation by genomic imprinting and expressed from the paternal allele only. The main clinical features of PWS patients are hypotonia during the neonatal and infantile stages, accompanied by delayed neuropsychomotor development, hyperphagia, obesity, hypogonadism, short stature, small hands and feet, mental disabilities, and behavioral problems. However, PWS has a clinical overlap with other disorders, especially those with other gene variations or chromosomal imbalances but sharing part of the similar clinical manifestations with PWS, which are sometimes referred to as Prader–Willi syndrome-like (PWS-like) disorders. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that significant obesity as a consequence of hyperphagia in PWS usually develops between the ages of 1 and 6 years, which makes early diagnosis difficult. Thus, PWS is often not clinically recognized in infants and, on the other hand, may be wrongly suspected in obese and intellectually disabled patients. Therefore, an accurate investigation is necessary to differentiate classical PWS from PWS-like phenotypes, which is imperative for further treatment. For PWS, it is usually sporadic, and very rare family history and affected siblings have been described. Here, we report the clinical and molecular findings in a three-generation family with a novel 550-kb microdeletion affecting the chromosome 15 imprinting center (IC). Overall, the present study finds that the symptoms of our patient are somewhat different from those of typical PWS cases diagnosed and given treatment in our hospital. The familial occurrence and clinical features were challenging to our diagnostic strategy. The microdeletion included a region within the complex small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide protein N (SNRPN) gene locus encompassing the PWS IC and was identified by using a variety of techniques. Haplotype studies suggest that the IC microdeletion was vertically transmitted from an unaffected paternal grandmother to an unaffected father and then caused PWS in two sibling grandchildren when the IC microdeletion was inherited paternally. Based on the results of our study, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was applied successfully to exclude imprinting deficiency in preimplantation embryos before transfer into the mother’s uterus. Our study may be especially instructive regarding accurate diagnosis, differential diagnosis, genetic counseling, and PGD for familial PWS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaihui Zhang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Research Institute, Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu Liu
- Children Inherited Metabolism and Endocrine Department, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjun Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuqiang Lv
- Pediatric Research Institute, Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Haihua Yu
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Min Gao
- Pediatric Research Institute, Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Pediatric Research Institute, Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jianyuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoying Li
- Pediatric Research Institute, Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhongtao Gai
- Pediatric Research Institute, Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shimin Zhao
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Pediatric Research Institute, Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yiyuan Yuan
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
SnoRNA in Cancer Progression, Metastasis and Immunotherapy Response. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10080809. [PMID: 34440039 PMCID: PMC8389557 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary A much larger number of small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) have been found encoded within our genomes than we ever expected to see. The activities of the snoRNAs were thought restricted to the nucleolus, where they were first discovered. Now, however, their significant number suggests that their functions are more diverse. Studies in cancers have shown snoRNA levels to associate with different stages of disease progression, including with metastasis. In addition, relationships between snoRNA levels and response to immunotherapies, have been reported. Emerging technologies now allow snoRNA to be targeted directly in cancers, and the therapeutic value of this is being explored. Abstract Small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) were one of our earliest recognised classes of non-coding RNA, but were largely ignored by cancer investigators due to an assumption that their activities were confined to the nucleolus. However, as full genome sequences have become available, many new snoRNA genes have been identified, and multiple studies have shown their functions to be diverse. The consensus now is that many snoRNA are dysregulated in cancers, are differentially expressed between cancer types, stages and metastases, and they can actively modify disease progression. In addition, the regulation of the snoRNA class is dominated by the cancer-supporting mTOR signalling pathway, and they may have particular significance to immune cell function and anti-tumour immune responses. Given the recent advent of therapeutics that can target RNA molecules, snoRNA have robust potential as drug targets, either solely or in the context of immunotherapies.
Collapse
|
19
|
Zahova SK, Humby T, Davies JR, Morgan JE, Isles AR. Comparison of mouse models reveals a molecular distinction between psychotic illness in PWS and schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:433. [PMID: 34417445 PMCID: PMC8379171 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01561-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations affecting paternal chromosome 15q11-q13, and characterized by hypotonia, hyperphagia, impaired cognition, and behavioural problems. Psychotic illness is a challenging problem for individuals with PWS and has different rates of prevalence in distinct PWS genotypes. Previously, we demonstrated behavioural and cognitive endophenotypes of relevance to psychiatric illness in a mouse model for one of the associated PWS genotypes, namely PWS-IC, in which deletion of the imprinting centre leads to loss of paternally imprinted gene expression and over-expression of Ube3a. Here we examine the broader gene expression changes that are specific to the psychiatric endophenotypes seen in this model. To do this we compared the brain transcriptomic profile of the PWS-IC mouse to the PWS-cr model that carries a deletion of the PWS minimal critical interval spanning the snoRNA Snord116 and Ipw. Firstly, we examined the same behavioural and cognitive endophenotypes of relevance to psychiatric illness in the PWS-cr mice. Unlike the PWS-IC mice, PWS-cr exhibit no differences in locomotor activity, sensory-motor gating, and attention. RNA-seq analysis of neonatal whole brain tissue revealed a greater number of transcriptional changes between PWS-IC and wild-type littermates than between PWS-cr and wild-type littermates. Moreover, the differentially expressed genes in the PWS-IC brain were enriched for GWAS variants of episodes of psychotic illness but, interestingly, not schizophrenia. These data illustrate the molecular pathways that may underpin psychotic illness in PWS and have implications for potential therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona K Zahova
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Trevor Humby
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jennifer R Davies
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Joanne E Morgan
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Anthony R Isles
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Mian-Ling Z, Yun-Qi C, Chao-Chun Z. Prader-Willi Syndrome: Molecular Mechanism and Epigenetic Therapy. Curr Gene Ther 2021; 20:36-43. [PMID: 32329685 DOI: 10.2174/1566523220666200424085336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is an imprinted neurodevelopmental disease characterized by cognitive impairments, developmental delay, hyperphagia, obesity, and sleep abnormalities. It is caused by a lack of expression of the paternally active genes in the PWS imprinting center on chromosome 15 (15q11.2-q13). Owing to the imprinted gene regulation, the same genes in the maternal chromosome, 15q11-q13, are intact in structure but repressed at the transcriptional level because of the epigenetic mechanism. The specific molecular defect underlying PWS provides an opportunity to explore epigenetic therapy to reactivate the expression of repressed PWS genes inherited from the maternal chromosome. The purpose of this review is to summarize the main advances in the molecular study of PWS and discuss current and future perspectives on the development of CRISPR/Cas9- mediated epigenome editing in the epigenetic therapy of PWS. Twelve studies on the molecular mechanism or epigenetic therapy of PWS were included in the review. Although our understanding of the molecular basis of PWS has changed fundamentally, there has been a little progress in the epigenetic therapy of PWS that targets its underlying genetic defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Mian-Ling
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chao Yun-Qi
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zou Chao-Chun
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Pellikaan K, van Woerden GM, Kleinendorst L, Rosenberg AGW, Horsthemke B, Grosser C, van Zutven LJCM, van Rossum EFC, van der Lely AJ, Resnick JL, Brüggenwirth HT, van Haelst MM, de Graaff LCG. The Diagnostic Journey of a Patient with Prader-Willi-Like Syndrome and a Unique Homozygous SNURF-SNRPN Variant; Bio-Molecular Analysis and Review of the Literature. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12060875. [PMID: 34200226 PMCID: PMC8227738 DOI: 10.3390/genes12060875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic condition characterized by hypotonia, intellectual disability, and hypothalamic dysfunction, causing pituitary hormone deficiencies and hyperphagia, ultimately leading to obesity. PWS is most often caused by the loss of expression of a cluster of genes on chromosome 15q11.2-13. Patients with Prader–Willi-like syndrome (PWLS) display features of the PWS phenotype without a classical PWS genetic defect. We describe a 46-year-old patient with PWLS, including hypotonia, intellectual disability, hyperphagia, and pituitary hormone deficiencies. Routine genetic tests for PWS were normal, but a homozygous missense variant NM_003097.3(SNRPN):c.193C>T, p.(Arg65Trp) was identified. Single nucleotide polymorphism array showed several large regions of homozygosity, caused by high-grade consanguinity between the parents. Our functional analysis, the ‘Pipeline for Rapid in silico, in vivo, in vitro Screening of Mutations’ (PRiSM) screen, showed that overexpression of SNRPN-p.Arg65Trp had a dominant negative effect, strongly suggesting pathogenicity. However, it could not be confirmed that the variant was responsible for the phenotype of the patient. In conclusion, we present a unique homozygous missense variant in SNURF-SNRPN in a patient with PWLS. We describe the diagnostic trajectory of this patient and the possible contributors to her phenotype in light of the current literature on the genotype–phenotype relationship in PWS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karlijn Pellikaan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (K.P.); (A.G.W.R.); (E.F.C.v.R.); (A.J.v.d.L.)
- Dutch Centre of Reference for Prader-Willi Syndrome, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Geeske M. van Woerden
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
- The ENCORE Expertise Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (L.J.C.M.v.Z.); (H.T.B.)
| | - Lotte Kleinendorst
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (L.K.); (M.M.v.H.)
| | - Anna G. W. Rosenberg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (K.P.); (A.G.W.R.); (E.F.C.v.R.); (A.J.v.d.L.)
- Dutch Centre of Reference for Prader-Willi Syndrome, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Horsthemke
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.H.); (C.G.)
| | - Christian Grosser
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.H.); (C.G.)
- Praxis für Humangenetik Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Laura J. C. M. van Zutven
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (L.J.C.M.v.Z.); (H.T.B.)
| | - Elisabeth F. C. van Rossum
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (K.P.); (A.G.W.R.); (E.F.C.v.R.); (A.J.v.d.L.)
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aart J. van der Lely
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (K.P.); (A.G.W.R.); (E.F.C.v.R.); (A.J.v.d.L.)
| | - James L. Resnick
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Hennie T. Brüggenwirth
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (L.J.C.M.v.Z.); (H.T.B.)
| | - Mieke M. van Haelst
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (L.K.); (M.M.v.H.)
| | - Laura C. G. de Graaff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (K.P.); (A.G.W.R.); (E.F.C.v.R.); (A.J.v.d.L.)
- Dutch Centre of Reference for Prader-Willi Syndrome, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- The ENCORE Expertise Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Academic Centre for Growth Disorders, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-618843010
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Baldini L, Charpentier B, Labialle S. Emerging Data on the Diversity of Molecular Mechanisms Involving C/D snoRNAs. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:ncrna7020030. [PMID: 34066559 PMCID: PMC8162545 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7020030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Box C/D small nucleolar RNAs (C/D snoRNAs) represent an ancient family of small non-coding RNAs that are classically viewed as housekeeping guides for the 2′-O-methylation of ribosomal RNA in Archaea and Eukaryotes. However, an extensive set of studies now argues that they are involved in mechanisms that go well beyond this function. Here, we present these pieces of evidence in light of the current comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that control C/D snoRNA expression and function. From this inventory emerges that an accurate description of these activities at a molecular level is required to let the snoRNA field enter in a second age of maturity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Charpentier
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (S.L.); Tel.: +33-3-72-74-66-27 (B.C.); +33-3-72-74-66-51 (S.L.)
| | - Stéphane Labialle
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (S.L.); Tel.: +33-3-72-74-66-27 (B.C.); +33-3-72-74-66-51 (S.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Haigh JL, Adhikari A, Copping NA, Stradleigh T, Wade AA, Catta-Preta R, Su-Feher L, Zdilar I, Morse S, Fenton TA, Nguyen A, Quintero D, Agezew S, Sramek M, Kreun EJ, Carter J, Gompers A, Lambert JT, Canales CP, Pennacchio LA, Visel A, Dickel DE, Silverman JL, Nord AS. Deletion of a non-canonical regulatory sequence causes loss of Scn1a expression and epileptic phenotypes in mice. Genome Med 2021; 13:69. [PMID: 33910599 PMCID: PMC8080386 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00884-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genes with multiple co-active promoters appear common in brain, yet little is known about functional requirements for these potentially redundant genomic regulatory elements. SCN1A, which encodes the NaV1.1 sodium channel alpha subunit, is one such gene with two co-active promoters. Mutations in SCN1A are associated with epilepsy, including Dravet syndrome (DS). The majority of DS patients harbor coding mutations causing SCN1A haploinsufficiency; however, putative causal non-coding promoter mutations have been identified. METHODS To determine the functional role of one of these potentially redundant Scn1a promoters, we focused on the non-coding Scn1a 1b regulatory region, previously described as a non-canonical alternative transcriptional start site. We generated a transgenic mouse line with deletion of the extended evolutionarily conserved 1b non-coding interval and characterized changes in gene and protein expression, and assessed seizure activity and alterations in behavior. RESULTS Mice harboring a deletion of the 1b non-coding interval exhibited surprisingly severe reductions of Scn1a and NaV1.1 expression throughout the brain. This was accompanied by electroencephalographic and thermal-evoked seizures, and behavioral deficits. CONCLUSIONS This work contributes to functional dissection of the regulatory wiring of a major epilepsy risk gene, SCN1A. We identified the 1b region as a critical disease-relevant regulatory element and provide evidence that non-canonical and seemingly redundant promoters can have essential function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Haigh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Anna Adhikari
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Nycole A Copping
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Tyler Stradleigh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - A Ayanna Wade
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Rinaldo Catta-Preta
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Linda Su-Feher
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Iva Zdilar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Morse
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Timothy A Fenton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Anh Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Diana Quintero
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Samrawit Agezew
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Michael Sramek
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ellie J Kreun
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jasmine Carter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Andrea Gompers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jason T Lambert
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Cesar P Canales
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Len A Pennacchio
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
- Comparative Biochemistry Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Axel Visel
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
- Comparative Biochemistry Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Diane E Dickel
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
- Comparative Biochemistry Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| | - Alex S Nord
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Adhikari A, Copping NA, Beegle J, Cameron DL, Deng P, O'Geen H, Segal DJ, Fink KD, Silverman JL, Anderson JS. Functional rescue in an Angelman syndrome model following treatment with lentivector transduced hematopoietic stem cells. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1067-1083. [PMID: 33856035 PMCID: PMC8188406 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired communication skills, ataxia, motor and balance deficits, intellectual disabilities, and seizures. The genetic cause of AS is the neuronal loss of UBE3A expression in the brain. A novel approach, described here, is a stem cell gene therapy which uses lentivector-transduced hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to deliver functional UBE3A to affected cells. We have demonstrated both the prevention and reversal of AS phenotypes upon transplantation and engraftment of human CD34+ cells transduced with a Ube3a lentivector in a novel immunodeficient Ube3amat−/pat+ IL2rg−/y mouse model of AS. A significant improvement in motor and cognitive behavioral assays as well as normalized delta power measured by electroencephalogram was observed in neonates and adults transplanted with the gene modified cells. Human hematopoietic profiles observed in the lymphoid organs by detection of human immune cells were normal. Expression of UBE3A was detected in the brains of the adult treatment group following immunohistochemical staining illustrating engraftment of the gene-modified cells expressing UBE3A in the brain. As demonstrated with our data, this stem cell gene therapy approach offers a promising treatment strategy for AS, not requiring a critical treatment window.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Adhikari
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Nycole A Copping
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Julie Beegle
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - David L Cameron
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Neurology, Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Peter Deng
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Neurology, Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Henriette O'Geen
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Microbiology, UC Davis Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - David J Segal
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Microbiology, UC Davis Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kyle D Fink
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Neurology, Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Joseph S Anderson
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Kummerfeld DM, Raabe CA, Brosius J, Mo D, Skryabin BV, Rozhdestvensky TS. A Comprehensive Review of Genetically Engineered Mouse Models for Prader-Willi Syndrome Research. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3613. [PMID: 33807162 PMCID: PMC8037846 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurogenetic multifactorial disorder caused by the deletion or inactivation of paternally imprinted genes on human chromosome 15q11-q13. The affected homologous locus is on mouse chromosome 7C. The positional conservation and organization of genes including the imprinting pattern between mice and men implies similar physiological functions of this locus. Therefore, considerable efforts to recreate the pathogenesis of PWS have been accomplished in mouse models. We provide a summary of different mouse models that were generated for the analysis of PWS and discuss their impact on our current understanding of corresponding genes, their putative functions and the pathogenesis of PWS. Murine models of PWS unveiled the contribution of each affected gene to this multi-facetted disease, and also enabled the establishment of the minimal critical genomic region (PWScr) responsible for core symptoms, highlighting the importance of non-protein coding genes in the PWS locus. Although the underlying disease-causing mechanisms of PWS remain widely unresolved and existing mouse models do not fully capture the entire spectrum of the human PWS disorder, continuous improvements of genetically engineered mouse models have proven to be very powerful and valuable tools in PWS research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Delf-Magnus Kummerfeld
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| | - Carsten A. Raabe
- Research Group Regulatory Mechanisms of Inflammation, Institute of Medical Biochemistry (ZMBE), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
- Institute of Experimental Pathology (ZMBE), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| | - Juergen Brosius
- Institute of Experimental Pathology (ZMBE), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dingding Mo
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China;
| | - Boris V. Skryabin
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| | - Timofey S. Rozhdestvensky
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ellegood J, Petkova SP, Kinman A, Qiu LR, Adhikari A, Wade AA, Fernandes D, Lindenmaier Z, Creighton A, Nutter LMJ, Nord AS, Silverman JL, Lerch JP. Neuroanatomy and behavior in mice with a haploinsufficiency of AT-rich interactive domain 1B (ARID1B) throughout development. Mol Autism 2021; 12:25. [PMID: 33757588 PMCID: PMC7986278 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00432-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the causal mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) is chromatin modification and the genes that regulate chromatin. AT-rich interactive domain 1B (ARID1B), a chromatin modifier, has been linked to autism spectrum disorder and to affect rare and inherited genetic variation in a broad set of NDDs. METHODS A novel preclinical mouse model of Arid1b deficiency was created and validated to characterize and define neuroanatomical, behavioral and transcriptional phenotypes. Neuroanatomy was assessed ex vivo in adult animals and in vivo longitudinally from birth to adulthood. Behavioral testing was also performed throughout development and tested all aspects of motor, learning, sociability, repetitive behaviors, seizure susceptibility, and general milestones delays. RESULTS We validated decreased Arid1b mRNA and protein in Arid1b+/- mice, with signatures of increased axonal and synaptic gene expression, decreased transcriptional regulator and RNA processing expression in adult Arid1b+/- cerebellum. During neonatal development, Arid1b+/- mice exhibited robust impairments in ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and metrics of developmental growth. In addition, a striking sex effect was observed neuroanatomically throughout development. Behaviorally, as adults, Arid1b+/- mice showed low motor skills in open field exploration and normal three-chambered approach. Arid1b+/- mice had learning and memory deficits in novel object recognition but not in visual discrimination and reversal touchscreen tasks. Social interactions in the male-female social dyad with USVs revealed social deficits on some but not all parameters. No repetitive behaviors were observed. Brains of adult Arid1b+/- mice had a smaller cerebellum and a larger hippocampus and corpus callosum. The corpus callosum increase seen here contrasts previous reports which highlight losses in corpus callosum volume in mice and humans. LIMITATIONS The behavior and neuroimaging analyses were done on separate cohorts of mice, which did not allow a direct correlation between the imaging and behavioral findings, and the transcriptomic analysis was exploratory, with no validation of altered expression beyond Arid1b. CONCLUSIONS This study represents a full validation and investigation of a novel model of Arid1b+/- haploinsufficiency throughout development and highlights the importance of examining both sexes throughout development in NDDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), Hospital for Sick Children, 25 Orde Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada.
| | - S P Petkova
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - A Kinman
- Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), Hospital for Sick Children, 25 Orde Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - L R Qiu
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - A Adhikari
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - A A Wade
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - D Fernandes
- Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), Hospital for Sick Children, 25 Orde Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Z Lindenmaier
- Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), Hospital for Sick Children, 25 Orde Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - A Creighton
- The Centre for Phenogenomics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - L M J Nutter
- The Centre for Phenogenomics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - A S Nord
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - J L Silverman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - J P Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), Hospital for Sick Children, 25 Orde Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Mendiola AJP, LaSalle JM. Epigenetics in Prader-Willi Syndrome. Front Genet 2021; 12:624581. [PMID: 33659026 PMCID: PMC7917289 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.624581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 1 in 20,000 individuals worldwide. Symptom progression in PWS is classically characterized by two nutritional stages. Stage 1 is hypotonia characterized by poor muscle tone that leads to poor feeding behavior causing failure to thrive in early neonatal life. Stage 2 is followed by the development of extreme hyperphagia, also known as insatiable eating and fixation on food that often leads to obesity in early childhood. Other major features of PWS include obsessive-compulsive and hoarding behaviors, intellectual disability, and sleep abnormalities. PWS is genetic disorder mapping to imprinted 15q11.2-q13.3 locus, specifically at the paternally expressed SNORD116 locus of small nucleolar RNAs and noncoding host gene transcripts. SNORD116 is processed into several noncoding components and is hypothesized to orchestrate diurnal changes in metabolism through epigenetics, according to functional studies. Here, we review the current status of epigenetic mechanisms in PWS, with an emphasis on an emerging role for SNORD116 in circadian and sleep phenotypes. We also summarize current ongoing therapeutic strategies, as well as potential implications for more common human metabolic and psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Janine M. LaSalle
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Copping NA, Silverman JL. Abnormal electrophysiological phenotypes and sleep deficits in a mouse model of Angelman Syndrome. Mol Autism 2021; 12:9. [PMID: 33549123 PMCID: PMC7866697 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00416-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by impaired communication, motor and balance deficits, intellectual disabilities, recurring seizures and abnormal sleep patterns. The genetic cause of AS is neuronal-specific loss of expression of UBE3A (ubiquitin-protein ligase E6-AP), an imprinted gene. Seizure and sleep disorders are highly prevalent (> 80%) in the AS population. The present experiments were designed to identify translational, neurophysiological outcome measures in a model of AS. Methods We used the exon-2 deletion mouse (Ube3a-del) on a C57BL/6J background to assess seizure, sleep and electrophysiological phenotypes. Seizure susceptibility has been reported in Ube3a-del mice with a variety of seizure induction methods. Here, we provoked seizures by a single high-dose injection of 80 mg/kg pentylenetetrazole. Novel experiments included the utilization of wireless telemetry devices to acquire global electroencephalogram (EEG) and neurophysiological data on electrographic seizures, power spectra, light–dark cycles, sleep stages and sleep spindles in Ube3a-del and WT mice. Results Ube3a-del mice exhibited reduced seizure threshold compared to WT. EEG illustrated that Ube3a-del mice had increased epileptiform spiking activity and delta power, which corroborates findings from other laboratories and recapitulates clinical reports in AS. This is the first report to use a cortical surface-based recording by a wireless telemetry device over tethered/fixed head-mount depth recordings. Less time in both paradoxical and slow-wave sleep, longer latencies to paradoxical sleep stages and total less sleep time in Ube3a-del mice were observed compared to WT. For the first time, we detected fewer sleep spindles in the AS mouse model. Limitations This study was limited to the exon 2 deletion mouse model, and future work will investigate the rat model of AS, containing a complete Ube3a deletion and pair EEG with behavior. Conclusions Our data enhance rigor and translatability as our study provides important corroboration of previous reports on epileptiform and elevated delta power. For the first time we report neurophysiological phenotypes collected via translational methodology. Furthermore, this is the first report of reduced sleep spindles, a critical marker of memory consolidation during sleep, in an AS model. Our results are useful outcomes for therapeutic testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N A Copping
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001B, Research II Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - J L Silverman
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Room 1001B, Research II Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperphagia, hypotonia, learning disability, as well as a range of psychiatric conditions. The conservation of the PWS genetic interval on chromosome 15q11-q13 in human, and a cluster of genes on mouse chromosome 7, has facilitated the use of mice as animal models for PWS. Some models faithfully mimic the loss of all gene expression from the paternally inherited PWS genetic interval, whereas others target smaller regions or individual genes. Collectively, these models have provided insight into the mechanisms, many of which lead to alterations in hypothalamic function, underlying the core symptoms of PWS, including growth retardation, hyperphagia and metabolism, reproductive maturation and endophenotypes of relevance to behavioral and psychiatric problems. Here we review and summarize these studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Zahova
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony R Isles
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Salles J, Lacassagne E, Eddiry S, Franchitto N, Salles JP, Tauber M. What can we learn from PWS and SNORD116 genes about the pathophysiology of addictive disorders? Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:51-59. [PMID: 33082508 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00917-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Addictive disorders have been much investigated and many studies have underlined the role of environmental factors such as social interaction in the vulnerability to and maintenance of addictive behaviors. Research on addiction pathophysiology now suggests that certain behavioral disorders are addictive, one example being food addiction. Yet, despite the growing body of knowledge on addiction, it is still unknown why only some of the individuals exposed to a drug become addicted to it. This observation has prompted the consideration of genetic heritage, neurodevelopmental trajectories, and gene-environment interactions in addiction vulnerability. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder in which children become addicted to food and show early social impairment. PWS is caused by the deficiency of imprinted genes located on the 15q11-q13 chromosome. Among them, the SNORD116 gene was identified as the minimal gene responsible for the PWS phenotype. Several studies have also indicated the role of the Snord116 gene in animal and cellular models to explain PWS pathophysiology and phenotype (including social impairment and food addiction). We thus present here the evidence suggesting the potential involvement of the SNORD116 gene in addictive disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Salles
- Université de Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,CHU de Toulouse, Service de psychiatrie et psychologie, psychiatrie Toulouse, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,CHU de Toulouse, Institut des Handicaps Neurologiques, Psychiatriques et Sensoriels, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Emmanuelle Lacassagne
- Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Sanaa Eddiry
- Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolas Franchitto
- Université de Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,CHU de Toulouse, Service d'addictologie clinique, urgences réanimation médecine, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Salles
- Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Maithé Tauber
- Université de Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France. .,Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France. .,CHU de Toulouse, Institut des Handicaps Neurologiques, Psychiatriques et Sensoriels, F-31000, Toulouse, France. .,CHU de Toulouse, Centre de référence du Syndrome de Prader-Willi et autres syndromes avec troubles du comportement alimentaire, Unité d'endocrinologie, obésités, maladies osseuses, génétique et gynécologie médicale, F-31000, Toulouse, France.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Berg EL, Pedersen LR, Pride MC, Petkova SP, Patten KT, Valenzuela AE, Wallis C, Bein KJ, Wexler A, Lein PJ, Silverman JL. Developmental exposure to near roadway pollution produces behavioral phenotypes relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders in juvenile rats. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:289. [PMID: 32807767 PMCID: PMC7431542 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-00978-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies consistently implicate traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) and/or proximity to heavily trafficked roads as risk factors for developmental delays and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs); however, there are limited preclinical data demonstrating a causal relationship. To test the effects of TRAP, pregnant rat dams were transported to a vivarium adjacent to a major freeway tunnel system in northern California where they were exposed to TRAP drawn directly from the face of the tunnel or filtered air (FA). Offspring remained housed under the exposure condition into which they were born and were tested in a variety of behavioral assays between postnatal day 4 and 50. To assess the effects of near roadway exposure, offspring of dams housed in a standard research vivarium were tested at the laboratory. An additional group of dams was transported halfway to the facility and then back to the laboratory to control for the effect of potential transport stress. Near roadway exposure delayed growth and development of psychomotor reflexes and elicited abnormal activity in open field locomotion. Near roadway exposure also reduced isolation-induced 40-kHz pup ultrasonic vocalizations, with the TRAP group having the lowest number of call emissions. TRAP affected some components of social communication, evidenced by reduced neonatal pup ultrasonic calling and altered juvenile reciprocal social interactions. These findings confirm that living in close proximity to highly trafficked roadways during early life alters neurodevelopment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L. Berg
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Lauren R. Pedersen
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Michael C. Pride
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Stela P. Petkova
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Kelley T. Patten
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA USA
| | - Anthony E. Valenzuela
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA USA
| | - Christopher Wallis
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Air Quality Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Keith J. Bein
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Air Quality Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Anthony Wexler
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Air Quality Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Pamela J. Lein
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA USA
| | - Jill L. Silverman
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Lopez SJ, Laufer BI, Beitnere U, Berg EL, Silverman JL, O'Geen H, Segal DJ, LaSalle JM. Imprinting effects of UBE3A loss on synaptic gene networks and Wnt signaling pathways. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3842-3852. [PMID: 31625566 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin E3 ligase 3A (UBE3A) encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase whose loss from the maternal allele causes the neurodevelopmental disorder Angelman syndrome (AS). Previous studies of UBE3A function have not examined full Ube3a deletion in mouse, the complexity of imprinted gene networks in brain nor the molecular basis of systems-level cognitive dysfunctions in AS. We therefore utilized a systems biology approach to elucidate how UBE3A loss impacts the early postnatal brain in a novel CRISPR/Cas9-engineered rat Angelman model of a complete Ube3a deletion. Strand-specific transcriptome analysis of offspring from maternally or paternally inherited Ube3a deletions revealed the expected parental expression patterns of Ube3a sense and antisense transcripts by postnatal day 2 (P2) in hypothalamus and day 9 (P9) in cortex, compared to wild-type littermates. The dependency of genome-wide effects on parent-of-origin, Ube3a genotype and time (P2 and P9) was investigated through transcriptome (RNA sequencing of cortex and hypothalamus) and methylome (whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of hypothalamus). Weighted gene co-expression and co-methylation network analyses identified co-regulated networks in maternally inherited Ube3a deletion offspring enriched in postnatal developmental processes including Wnt signaling, synaptic regulation, neuronal and glial functions, epigenetic regulation, ubiquitin, circadian entrainment and splicing. Furthermore, we showed that loss of the paternal Ube3a antisense transcript resulted in both unique and overlapping dysregulated gene pathways with maternal loss, predominantly at the level of differential methylation. Together, these results provide a holistic examination of the molecular impacts of UBE3A loss in brain, supporting the existence of interactive epigenetic networks between maternal and paternal transcripts at the Ube3a locus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Jesse Lopez
- Medical Immunology and Microbiology, University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Integrative Genetics and Genomics, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Benjamin I Laufer
- Medical Immunology and Microbiology, University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Ulrika Beitnere
- Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Berg
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.,Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacromento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.,Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacromento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Henriette O'Geen
- Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - David J Segal
- Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Integrative Genetics and Genomics, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Janine M LaSalle
- Medical Immunology and Microbiology, University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Integrative Genetics and Genomics, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Petkova SP, Pride M, Klocke C, Fenton TA, White J, Lein PJ, Ellegood J, Lerch JP, Silverman JL, Waldau B. Cyclin D2-knock-out mice with attenuated dentate gyrus neurogenesis have robust deficits in long-term memory formation. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8204. [PMID: 32424171 PMCID: PMC7235216 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65090-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurobehavioral studies have produced contradictory findings concerning the function of neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus. Previous studies have proved inconsistent across several behavioral endpoints thought to be dependent on dentate neurogenesis, including memory acquisition, short-term and long-term retention of memory, pattern separation, and reversal learning. We hypothesized that the main function of dentate neurogenesis is long-term memory formation because we assumed that a newly formed and integrated neuron would have a long-term impact on the local neural network. We used a cyclin D2-knock-out (cyclin D2−/−) mouse model of endogenously deficient dentate neurogenesis to test this hypothesis. We found that cyclin D2−/− mice had robust and sustained loss of long-term memory in two separate behavioral tasks, Morris water maze (MWM) and touchscreen intermediate pattern separation. Moreover, after adjusting for differences in brain volumes determined by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, reduced dentate neurogenesis moderately correlated with deficits in memory retention after 24 hours. Importantly, cyclin D2−/− mice did not show deficits in learning acquisition in a touchscreen paradigm of intermediate pattern separation or MWM platform location, indicating intact short-term memory. Further evaluation of cyclin D2−/− mice is necessary to confirm that deficits are specifically linked to dentate gyrus neurogenesis since cyclin D2−/− mice also have a reduced size of the olfactory bulb, hippocampus, cerebellum and cortex besides reduced dentate gyrus neurogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stela P Petkova
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, US
| | - Michael Pride
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, US
| | - Carolyn Klocke
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, 95616, US
| | - Timothy A Fenton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, US
| | - Jeannine White
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, Sacramento, CA, 95817, US
| | - Pamela J Lein
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, 95616, US.,MIND Institute, UC Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, US
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3H7, Canada.,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience,The University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Jill L Silverman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, US.,MIND Institute, UC Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, US
| | - Ben Waldau
- Department of Neurological Surgery, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, 95817, US.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Pace M, Colombi I, Falappa M, Freschi A, Bandarabadi M, Armirotti A, Encarnación BM, Adamantidis AR, Amici R, Cerri M, Chiappalone M, Tucci V. Loss of Snord116 alters cortical neuronal activity in mice: a preclinical investigation of Prader–Willi syndrome. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:2051-2064. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by metabolic alteration and sleep abnormalities mostly related to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disturbances. The disease is caused by genomic imprinting defects that are inherited through the paternal line. Among the genes located in the PWS region on chromosome 15 (15q11-q13), small nucleolar RNA 116 (Snord116) has been previously associated with intrusions of REM sleep into wakefulness in humans and mice. Here, we further explore sleep regulation of PWS by reporting a study with PWScrm+/p− mouse line, which carries a paternal deletion of Snord116. We focused our study on both macrostructural electrophysiological components of sleep, distributed among REMs and nonrapid eye movements. Of note, here, we study a novel electroencephalography (EEG) graphoelements of sleep for mouse studies, the well-known spindles. EEG biomarkers are often linked to the functional properties of cortical neurons and can be instrumental in translational studies. Thus, to better understand specific properties, we isolated and characterized the intrinsic activity of cortical neurons using in vitro microelectrode array. Our results confirm that the loss of Snord116 gene in mice influences specific properties of REM sleep, such as theta rhythms and, for the first time, the organization of REM episodes throughout sleep–wake cycles. Moreover, the analysis of sleep spindles present novel specific phenotype in PWS mice, indicating that a new catalog of sleep biomarkers can be informative in preclinical studies of PWS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pace
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour (GEB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Ilaria Colombi
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour (GEB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Riabilitazione, Oftalmologia, Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Matteo Falappa
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour (GEB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Riabilitazione, Oftalmologia, Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Andrea Freschi
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour (GEB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Mojtaba Bandarabadi
- Centre for Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern 3010, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Analytical Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
| | | | - Antoine R Adamantidis
- Centre for Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern 3010, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, Inselspital University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern 3010, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Amici
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Matteo Cerri
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Michela Chiappalone
- Rehab Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Valter Tucci
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour (GEB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Bratkovič T, Božič J, Rogelj B. Functional diversity of small nucleolar RNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:1627-1651. [PMID: 31828325 PMCID: PMC7038934 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are short non-protein-coding RNAs with a long-recognized role in tuning ribosomal and spliceosomal function by guiding ribose methylation and pseudouridylation at targeted nucleotide residues of ribosomal and small nuclear RNAs, respectively. SnoRNAs are increasingly being implicated in regulation of new types of post-transcriptional processes, for example rRNA acetylation, modulation of splicing patterns, control of mRNA abundance and translational efficiency, or they themselves are processed to shorter stable RNA species that seem to be the principal or alternative bioactive isoform. Intriguingly, some display unusual cellular localization under exogenous stimuli, or tissue-specific distribution. Here, we discuss the new and unforeseen roles attributed to snoRNAs, focusing on the presumed mechanisms of action. Furthermore, we review the experimental approaches to study snoRNA function, including high resolution RNA:protein and RNA:RNA interaction mapping, techniques for analyzing modifications on targeted RNAs, and cellular and animal models used in snoRNA biology research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomaž Bratkovič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva cesta 7, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Božič
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biotechnology, Jamova cesta 39, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Biomedical Research Institute BRIS, Puhova ulica 10, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Rogelj
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva cesta 7, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biotechnology, Jamova cesta 39, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Biomedical Research Institute BRIS, Puhova ulica 10, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Berg EL, Pride MC, Petkova SP, Lee RD, Copping NA, Shen Y, Adhikari A, Fenton TA, Pedersen LR, Noakes LS, Nieman BJ, Lerch JP, Harris S, Born HA, Peters MM, Deng P, Cameron DL, Fink KD, Beitnere U, O'Geen H, Anderson AE, Dindot SV, Nash KR, Weeber EJ, Wöhr M, Ellegood J, Segal DJ, Silverman JL. Translational outcomes in a full gene deletion of ubiquitin protein ligase E3A rat model of Angelman syndrome. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:39. [PMID: 32066685 PMCID: PMC7026078 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0720-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by developmental delay, impaired communication, motor deficits and ataxia, intellectual disabilities, microcephaly, and seizures. The genetic cause of AS is the loss of expression of UBE3A (ubiquitin protein ligase E6-AP) in the brain, typically due to a deletion of the maternal 15q11-q13 region. Previous studies have been performed using a mouse model with a deletion of a single exon of Ube3a. Since three splice variants of Ube3a exist, this has led to a lack of consistent reports and the theory that perhaps not all mouse studies were assessing the effects of an absence of all functional UBE3A. Herein, we report the generation and functional characterization of a novel model of Angelman syndrome by deleting the entire Ube3a gene in the rat. We validated that this resulted in the first comprehensive gene deletion rodent model. Ultrasonic vocalizations from newborn Ube3am-/p+ were reduced in the maternal inherited deletion group with no observable change in the Ube3am+/p- paternal transmission cohort. We also discovered Ube3am-/p+ exhibited delayed reflex development, motor deficits in rearing and fine motor skills, aberrant social communication, and impaired touchscreen learning and memory in young adults. These behavioral deficits were large in effect size and easily apparent in the larger rodent species. Low social communication was detected using a playback task that is unique to rats. Structural imaging illustrated decreased brain volume in Ube3am-/p+ and a variety of intriguing neuroanatomical phenotypes while Ube3am+/p- did not exhibit altered neuroanatomy. Our report identifies, for the first time, unique AS relevant functional phenotypes and anatomical markers as preclinical outcomes to test various strategies for gene and molecular therapies in AS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E L Berg
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - M C Pride
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - S P Petkova
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - R D Lee
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - N A Copping
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Y Shen
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - A Adhikari
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - T A Fenton
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - L R Pedersen
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - L S Noakes
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - B J Nieman
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J P Lerch
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - S Harris
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - H A Born
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M M Peters
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - P Deng
- Stem Cell Program, Institute for Regenerative Cures, and Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - D L Cameron
- Stem Cell Program, Institute for Regenerative Cures, and Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - K D Fink
- Stem Cell Program, Institute for Regenerative Cures, and Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - U Beitnere
- MIND Institute, Genome Center, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - H O'Geen
- MIND Institute, Genome Center, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - A E Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S V Dindot
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - K R Nash
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - E J Weeber
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - M Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - J Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - D J Segal
- MIND Institute, Genome Center, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - J L Silverman
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Tan Q, Potter KJ, Burnett LC, Orsso CE, Inman M, Ryman DC, Haqq AM. Prader-Willi-Like Phenotype Caused by an Atypical 15q11.2 Microdeletion. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11020128. [PMID: 31991769 PMCID: PMC7073628 DOI: 10.3390/genes11020128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a 17-year-old boy who met most of the major Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) diagnostic criteria, including infantile hypotonia and poor feeding followed by hyperphagia, early-onset morbid obesity, delayed development, and characteristic facial features. However, unlike many children with PWS, he had spontaneous onset of puberty and reached a tall adult stature without growth hormone replacement therapy. A phenotype-driven genetic analysis using exome sequencing identified a heterozygous microdeletion of 71 kb in size at chr15:25,296,613-25,367,633, genome build hg 19. This deletion does not affect the SNURF-SNRPN locus, but results in the loss of several of the PWS-associated non-coding RNA species, including the SNORD116 cluster. We compared with six previous reports of patients with PWS who carried small atypical deletions encompassing the snoRNA SNORD116 cluster. These patients share similar core symptoms of PWS while displaying some atypical features, suggesting that other genes in the region may make lesser phenotypic contributions. Altogether, these rare cases provide convincing evidence that loss of the paternal copy of the SNORD116 snoRNA is sufficient to cause most of the major clinical features of PWS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiming Tan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada;
| | - Kathryn J. Potter
- University of Alberta Hospital, Stollery Children’s Hospital, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada;
| | | | - Camila E. Orsso
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada;
| | - Mark Inman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8, Canada;
| | - Davis C. Ryman
- Levo Therapeutics, Inc., Skokie, IL 60077, USA; (L.C.B.); (D.C.R.)
| | - Andrea M. Haqq
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada;
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(780)-492-0015
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Copping NA, Adhikari A, Petkova SP, Silverman JL. Genetic backgrounds have unique seizure response profiles and behavioral outcomes following convulsant administration. Epilepsy Behav 2019; 101:106547. [PMID: 31698263 PMCID: PMC6901115 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Three highly utilized strains of mice, common for preclinical genetic studies, were evaluated for seizure susceptibility and behavioral outcomes common to the clinical phenotypes of numerous psychiatric disorders following repeated low-dose treatment with either a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor antagonist (pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)) or a glutamate agonist (kainic acid (KA)). Effects of strain and treatment were evaluated with classic seizure scoring and a tailored behavior battery focused on behavioral domains common in neuropsychiatric research: learning and memory, social behavior, and motor abilities, as well as seizure susceptibility and/or resistance. Seizure response was induced by a single daily treatment of either PTZ (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) or KA (5 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 days. Pentylenetetrazole-treated FVB/NJ and C57BL/6NJ strains of mice showed strong, clear seizure responses. This also resulted in cognitive and social deficits, and increased susceptibility to a high dose of PTZ. Kainic acid-treated FVB/NJ and C57BL/6NJ strains of mice had a robust seizure response, which resulted in hyperactivity. Pentylenetetrazole-treated C57BL/6J mice demonstrated mild hyperactivity, while KA-treated C57BL/6J displayed cognitive deficits and resistance to a high dose of KA but no social deficits. Overall, a uniquely different seizure response profile was detected in the C57BL/6J strain with few observable instances of seizure response despite repeated convulsant administration by two mechanisms. This work illustrated that differing background genetic strains have unique seizure susceptibility profiles and distinct social and cognitive behavior following PTZ and/or KA treatment and that it is, therefore, necessary to consider strain differences before attributing behavioral phenotypes to gene(s) of interest during preclinical evaluations of genetic mouse models, especially when outcome measures are focused on cognitive and/or social behaviors common to the clinical features of numerous neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nycole Ashley Copping
- University of California, Davis, MIND Institute, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Anna Adhikari
- University of California, Davis, MIND Institute, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Stela Pavlova Petkova
- University of California, Davis, MIND Institute, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jill Lynn Silverman
- University of California, Davis, MIND Institute, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Lei M, Mitsuhashi S, Miyake N, Ohta T, Liang D, Wu L, Matsumoto N. Translocation breakpoint disrupting the host SNHG14 gene but not coding genes or snoRNAs in typical Prader-Willi syndrome. J Hum Genet 2019; 64:647-652. [PMID: 30988409 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-019-0596-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a well-known imprinting disorder arising from a loss of paternally imprinted gene(s) at 15q11.2-q13. We report a typical PWS patient with a balanced reciprocal translocation, 46, XY, t(15;19)(q11.2;q13.3). After Illumina whole-genome sequencing, we used BreakDancer-1.45 software to predict candidate breakpoints and manually investigated via the Integrated Genome Viewer. Breakpoint PCR followed by Sanger sequencing determined the t(15;19) breakpoints. We investigated the expression of upstream/centromeric and downstream/telomeric genes of the 15q11.2 breakpoint by reverse transcriptase PCR, using total RNA extracted from the patient's lymphoblasts. Of note, the expression of paternally expressed genes PWAR6, SNORD109A/B, SNORD116, IPW, and PWAR1, downstream of the breakpoint, was abolished. Interestingly, the breakpoint did not destroy protein coding genes or individual snoRNAs. These results indicate that these genes may play a major role in the PWS phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Lei
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Fukuura 3-9, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.,China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Satomi Mitsuhashi
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Fukuura 3-9, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Noriko Miyake
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Fukuura 3-9, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Tohru Ohta
- Institute of Health Science, Health Science University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Desheng Liang
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lingqian Wu
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Naomichi Matsumoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Fukuura 3-9, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Carias KV, Wevrick R. Preclinical Testing in Translational Animal Models of Prader-Willi Syndrome: Overview and Gap Analysis. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2019; 13:344-358. [PMID: 30989085 PMCID: PMC6447752 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder causing endocrine, musculoskeletal, and neurological dysfunction. PWS is caused by the inactivation of contiguous genes, complicating the development of targeted therapeutics. Clinical trials are now underway in PWS, with more trials to be implemented in the next few years. PWS-like endophenotypes are recapitulated in gene-targeted mice in which the function of one or more PWS genes is disrupted. These animal models can guide priorities for clinical trials or provide information about efficacy of a compound within the context of the specific disease. We now review the current status of preclinical studies that measure the effect of therapeutics on PWS-like endophenotypes. Seven categories of therapeutics (oxytocin and related compounds, K+-ATP channel agonists, melanocortin 4 receptor agonists, incretin mimetics and/or GLP-1 receptor agonists, cannabinoids, ghrelin agents, and Caralluma fimbriata [cactus] extract) have been tested for their effect on endophenotypes in both PWS animal models and clinical trials. Many other therapeutics have been tested in clinical trials, but not preclinical models of PWS or vice versa. Fostering dialogs among investigators performing preclinical validation of animal models and those implementing clinical studies will accelerate the discovery and translation of therapies into clinical practice in PWS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Vanessa Carias
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Rachel Wevrick
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|