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Maurer JJ, Choi A, An I, Sathi N, Chung S. Sleep disturbances in autism spectrum disorder: Animal models, neural mechanisms, and therapeutics. Neurobiol Sleep Circadian Rhythms 2023; 14:100095. [PMID: 37188242 PMCID: PMC10176270 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbscr.2023.100095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep is crucial for brain development. Sleep disturbances are prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Strikingly, these sleep problems are positively correlated with the severity of ASD core symptoms such as deficits in social skills and stereotypic behavior, indicating that sleep problems and the behavioral characteristics of ASD may be related. In this review, we will discuss sleep disturbances in children with ASD and highlight mouse models to study sleep disturbances and behavioral phenotypes in ASD. In addition, we will review neuromodulators controlling sleep and wakefulness and how these neuromodulatory systems are disrupted in animal models and patients with ASD. Lastly, we will address how the therapeutic interventions for patients with ASD improve various aspects of sleep. Together, gaining mechanistic insights into the neural mechanisms underlying sleep disturbances in children with ASD will help us to develop better therapeutic interventions.
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Xu XJ, Lang JD, Yang J, Long B, Liu XD, Zeng XF, Tian G, You X. Differences of gut microbiota and behavioral symptoms between two subgroups of autistic children based on γδT cells-derived IFN-γ Levels: A preliminary study. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1100816. [PMID: 36875075 PMCID: PMC9975759 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1100816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are defined as a group of pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders, and the heterogeneity in the symptomology and etiology of ASD has long been recognized. Altered immune function and gut microbiota have been found in ASD populations. Immune dysfunction has been hypothesized to involve in the pathophysiology of a subtype of ASD. Methods A cohort of 105 ASD children were recruited and grouped based on IFN-γ levels derived from ex vivo stimulated γδT cells. Fecal samples were collected and analyzed with a metagenomic approach. Comparison of autistic symptoms and gut microbiota composition was made between subgroups. Enriched KEGG orthologues markers and pathogen-host interactions based on metagenome were also analyzed to reveal the differences in functional features. Results The autistic behavioral symptoms were more severe for children in the IFN-γ-high group, especially in the body and object use, social and self-help, and expressive language performance domains. LEfSe analysis of gut microbiota revealed an overrepresentation of Selenomonadales, Negatiyicutes, Veillonellaceae and Verrucomicrobiaceae and underrepresentation of Bacteroides xylanisolvens and Bifidobacterium longum in children with higher IFN-γ level. Decreased metabolism function of carbohydrate, amino acid and lipid in gut microbiota were found in the IFN-γ-high group. Additional functional profiles analyses revealed significant differences in the abundances of genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes between the two groups. And enriched phenotypes related to infection and gastroenteritis and underrepresentation of one gut-brain module associated with histamine degradation were also found in the IFN-γ-High group. Results of multivariate analyses revealed relatively good separation between the two groups. Conclusions Levels of IFN-γ derived from γδT cell could serve as one of the potential candidate biomarkers to subtype ASD individuals to reduce the heterogeneity associated with ASD and produce subgroups which are more likely to share a more similar phenotype and etiology. A better understanding of the associations among immune function, gut microbiota composition and metabolism abnormalities in ASD would facilitate the development of individualized biomedical treatment for this complex neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Jie Xu
- Medical Science Research Center, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Department of Scientific Research, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ji-Dong Lang
- Precision Medicine Center, Geneis Beijing Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Long
- Medical Science Research Center, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Department of Scientific Research, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xu-Dong Liu
- Medical Science Research Center, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Department of Scientific Research, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Zeng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Beijing, China
| | - Geng Tian
- Precision Medicine Center, Geneis Beijing Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Xin You
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Beijing, China.,Autism Special Fund, Peking Union Medical Foundation, Beijing, China
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Eissa N, Awad MA, Thomas SD, Venkatachalam K, Jayaprakash P, Zhong S, Stark H, Sadek B. Simultaneous Antagonism at H3R/D2R/D3R Reduces Autism-like Self-Grooming and Aggressive Behaviors by Mitigating MAPK Activation in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010526. [PMID: 36613969 PMCID: PMC9820264 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation in brain neurotransmitters underlies several neuropsychiatric disorders, e.g., autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Also, abnormalities in the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway pave the way for neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and altered learning phenotype in ASD. Therefore, the effects of chronic systemic administration of the multiple-targeting antagonist ST-713 at the histamine H3 receptor (H3R) and dopamine D2/D3 receptors (D2/D3R) on repetitive self-grooming, aggressive behaviors, and abnormalities in the MAPK pathway in BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice were assessed. The results showed that ST-713 (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) mitigated repetitive self-grooming and aggression in BTBR mice (all p < 0.05), and the ameliorative effects of the most promising dose of ST-713 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) on behaviors were completely abrogated by co-administration of the H3R agonist (R)-α-methylhistamine or the anticholinergic drug scopolamine. Moreover, the elevated levels of several MAPK pathway proteins and induced proinflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 were significantly suppressed following chronic administration of ST-713 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) (all p < 0.01). Furthermore, ST-713 significantly increased the levels of histamine and dopamine in hippocampal tissue of treated BTBR mice (all p < 0.01). The current observations signify the potential role of such multiple-targeting compounds, e.g., ST-713, in multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nermin Eissa
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 59911, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed Al Awad
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shilu Deepa Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Karthikkumar Venkatachalam
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Petrilla Jayaprakash
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sicheng Zhong
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Holger Stark
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Bassem Sadek
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence:
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Pathophysiological Studies of Monoaminergic Neurotransmission Systems in Valproic Acid-Induced Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030560. [PMID: 35327362 PMCID: PMC8945169 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030560] [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: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with complex etiology. The core syndromes of ASD are deficits in social communication and self-restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. Social communication relies on the proper integration of sensory and motor functions, which is tightly interwoven with the limbic function of reward, motivation, and emotion in the brain. Monoamine neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, are key players in the modulation of neuronal activity. Owing to their broad distribution, the monoamine neurotransmitter systems are well suited to modulate social communication by coordinating sensory, motor, and limbic systems in different brain regions. The complex and diverse functions of monoamine neurotransmission thus render themselves as primary targets of pathophysiological investigation of the etiology of ASD. Clinical studies have reported that children with maternal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) have an increased risk of developing ASD. Extensive animal studies have confirmed that maternal treatments of VPA include ASD-like phenotypes, including impaired social communication and repetitive behavior. Here, given that ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, we begin with an overview of the neural development of monoaminergic systems with their neurochemical properties in the brain. We then review and discuss the evidence of human clinical and animal model studies of ASD with a focus on the VPA-induced pathophysiology of monoamine neurotransmitter systems. We also review the potential interactions of microbiota and monoamine neurotransmitter systems in ASD pathophysiology. Widespread and complex changes in monoamine neurotransmitters are detected in the brains of human patients with ASD and validated in animal models. ASD animal models are not only essential to the characterization of pathogenic mechanisms, but also provide a preclinical platform for developing therapeutic approaches to ASD.
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