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Konell HG, Junior LOM, Dos Santos AC, Salmon CEG. Assessment of U-Net in the segmentation of short tracts: Transferring to clinical MRI routine. Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 111:217-228. [PMID: 38754751 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2024.05.009] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Accurately studying structural connectivity requires precise tract segmentation strategies. The U-Net network has been widely recognized for its exceptional capacity in image segmentation tasks and provides remarkable results in large tract segmentation when high-quality diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data are used. However, short tracts, which are associated with various neurological diseases, pose specific challenges, particularly when high-quality DWI data acquisition within clinical settings is concerned. Here, we aimed to evaluate the U-Net network ability to segment short tracts by using DWI data acquired in different experimental conditions. To this end, we conducted three types of training experiments involving 350 healthy subjects and 11 white matter tracts, including the anterior, posterior, and hippocampal commissure, fornix, and uncinated fasciculus. In the first experiment, the model was exclusively trained with high-quality data of the Human Connectome Project (HCP) dataset. The second experiment focused on images of healthy subjects acquired from a local hospital dataset, representing a typical clinical routine acquisition. In the third experiment, a hybrid training approach was employed, combining data of the HCP and local hospital datasets. Then, the best model was also tested in unseen DWIs of 10 epilepsy patients of the local hospital and 10 healthy subjects acquired on a scanner from another company. The outcomes of the third experiment demonstrated a notable enhancement in performance when contrasted with the preceding trials. Specifically, the short tracts within the local hospital dataset achieved Dice scores ranging between 0.60 and 0.65. Similar intervals were obtained with HCP data in the first experiment, and a substantial improvement compared to the scores between 0.37 and 0.50 obtained with the local hospital dataset at the same experiment. This improvement persisted when the method was applied to diverse scenarios, including different scanner acquisitions and epilepsy patients. These results indicate that combining datasets from different sources, coupled with resolution standardization strengthens the neural network ability to generalize predictions across a spectrum of datasets. Nevertheless, short tract segmentation performance is intricately linked to the training composition, to validation, and to testing data. Moreover, curved tracts have intricate structural nature, which adds complexities to their segmenting. Although the network training approach tested herein has provided promising results, caution must be taken when extrapolating its application to datasets acquired under distinct experimental conditions, even in the case of higher-quality data or analysis of long or short tracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hohana Gabriela Konell
- Inbrain Lab, Department of Physics, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Luiz Otávio Murta Junior
- Medical Signals and Imaging Computing Lab, Department of Computing and Mathematics, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Antônio Carlos Dos Santos
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology and Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ernesto Garrido Salmon
- Inbrain Lab, Department of Physics, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology and Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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2
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Calixto C, Soldatelli MD, Li B, Pierotich L, Gholipour A, Warfield SK, Karimi D. White matter tract crossing and bottleneck regions in the fetal brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.20.603804. [PMID: 39091823 PMCID: PMC11291018 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.20.603804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
There is a growing interest in using diffusion MRI to study the white matter tracts and structural connectivity of the fetal brain. Recent progress in data acquisition and processing suggests that this imaging modality has a unique role in elucidating the normal and abnormal patterns of neurodevelopment in utero. However, there have been no efforts to quantify the prevalence of crossing tracts and bottleneck regions, important issues that have been extensively researched for adult brains. In this work, we determined the brain regions with crossing tracts and bottlenecks between 23 and 36 gestational weeks. We performed probabilistic tractography on 59 fetal brain scans and extracted a set of 51 distinct white tracts, which we grouped into 10 major tract bundle groups. We analyzed the results to determine the patterns of tract crossings and bottlenecks. Our results showed that 20-25% of the white matter voxels included two or three crossing tracts. Bottlenecks were more prevalent. Between 75-80% of the voxels were characterized as bottlenecks, with more than 40% of the voxels involving four or more tracts. The results of this study highlight the challenge of fetal brain tractography and structural connectivity assessment and call for innovative image acquisition and analysis methods to mitigate these problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Calixto
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matheus D Soldatelli
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lana Pierotich
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ali Gholipour
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Simon K Warfield
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Davood Karimi
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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3
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Calixto C, Soldatelli MD, Jaimes C, Warfield SK, Gholipour A, Karimi D. A detailed spatio-temporal atlas of the white matter tracts for the fetal brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.26.590815. [PMID: 38712296 PMCID: PMC11071632 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.26.590815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
This study presents the construction of a comprehensive spatiotemporal atlas detailing the development of white matter tracts in the fetal brain using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI). Our research leverages data collected from fetal MRI scans conducted between 22 and 37 weeks of gestation, capturing the dynamic changes in the brain's microstructure during this critical period. The atlas includes 60 distinct white matter tracts, including commissural, projection, and association fibers. We employed advanced fetal dMRI processing techniques and tractography to map and characterize the developmental trajectories of these tracts. Our findings reveal that the development of these tracts is characterized by complex patterns of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), reflecting key neurodevelopmental processes such as axonal growth, involution of the radial-glial scaffolding, and synaptic pruning. This atlas can serve as a useful resource for neuroscience research and clinical practice, improving our understanding of the fetal brain and potentially aiding in the early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders. By detailing the normal progression of white matter tract development, the atlas can be used as a benchmark for identifying deviations that may indicate neurological anomalies or predispositions to disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Calixto
- Computational Radiology Laboratory (CRL), Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | | | - Camilo Jaimes
- Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Simon K Warfield
- Computational Radiology Laboratory (CRL), Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Ali Gholipour
- Computational Radiology Laboratory (CRL), Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Davood Karimi
- Computational Radiology Laboratory (CRL), Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
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4
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García-Bravo C, Martínez-Piédrola RM, García-Bravo S, Rodríguez-Pérez MP, Martín-Gómez AS, Fernández-Gómez G, Palacios-Ceña D. Living with and managing seizures among parents of children diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid syndrome: a qualitative study using in-depth interviews. Eur J Pediatr 2024; 183:253-262. [PMID: 37870610 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05285-6] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
To describe the experience of parents of children diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) in relation to epileptic seizures and/or convulsions, their daily management and impact on family life. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. The study included parents of children diagnosed with PMS by a medical specialist. Purposive sampling was used, and data were collected via in-depth interviews. A thematic analysis was performed on the data. This study was conducted according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. Thirty-two parents were recruited. Four themes were identified: (a) the first epileptic seizure, where the first seizure appears abruptly and unexpectedly; (b) living with seizures, seizures generate high concern about the evolution of the disease and the future of children with PMS; (c) treatment of epileptic seizures, obtaining an adequate treatment is a long process that involves decision making by parents; (d) the impact of epilepsy on the family, where there is a change in the functioning and relationships among family members. Conclusions: It is necessary to develop programs where parents can discuss treatment decisions with professionals and provide coping strategies for the management of epilepsy and seizures. What is Known: • Children with Phelan-McDermid syndrome may develop epilepsy. Parents receive insufficient information for the management and control of seizures. • Parents describe concerns about the evolution of epilepsy in their children's adulthood, along with the impact of seizures and/or convulsions on their children. What is New: • Epilepsy and seizures force the entire family to adapt their lifestyle and give up activities that can trigger seizures. • Parents pointed out the need to create programs to inform about the benefits and disadvantages of pharmacological treatments in order to improve decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina García-Bravo
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI) and Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science (Hum&QRinHS), 28922, Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Rosa Mª Martínez-Piédrola
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avenida de Atenas S/N, 28922, Alcorcón, Spain.
| | - Sara García-Bravo
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain, Physiocare Madrid, Physiotherapy Clinic, 28026, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mª Pilar Rodríguez-Pérez
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avenida de Atenas S/N, 28922, Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Ana San Martín-Gómez
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Hum&QRinHS), 28922, Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Gemma Fernández-Gómez
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avenida de Atenas S/N, 28922, Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Domingo Palacios-Ceña
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Hum&QRinHS), 28922, Alcorcón, Spain
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5
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Jesse S, Müller HP, Huppertz HJ, Andres S, Ludolph AC, Schön M, Boeckers TM, Kassubek J. Neurodegeneration or dysfunction in Phelan-McDermid syndrome? A multimodal approach with CSF and computational MRI. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:274. [PMID: 37670319 PMCID: PMC10481508 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02863-7] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) is a rare multisystem disease with global developmental delay and autistic features. Genetically, the disease is based on a heterozygous deletion of chromosome 22q13.3 with involvement of at least part of the SHANK3 gene or heterozygous pathogenic variants in SHANK3. Pathophysiologically, this syndrome has been regarded as a synaptopathy, but current data suggest an additional concept, since axonal functions of neurons are also impaired, thus, the specific pathophysiological processes in this disease are not yet fully understood. Since symptoms of the autism spectrum, regression, and stagnation in development occur, we investigated whether neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes may also play a role. To this end, we analysed biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and parameters from magnetic resonance imaging with high-resolution structural T1w volumetry and diffusion tensor imaging analysis in 19 Phelan-McDermid syndrome patients. RESULTS CSF showed no inflammation but abnormalities in tau protein and amyloid-ß concentrations, however, with no typical biomarker pattern as in Alzheimer's disease. It could be demonstrated that these CSF changes were correlated with integrity losses of the fibres in the corticospinal tract as well as in the splenium and dorsal part of the cingulum. High CSF levels of tau protein were associated with loss of integrity of fibres in the corticospinal tract; lower levels of amyloid-ß were associated with decreasing integrity of fibre tracts of the splenium and posterior cingulate gyrus. Volumetric investigations showed global atrophy of the white matter, but not the grey matter, and particularly not in temporal or mesiotemporal regions, as is typical in later stages of Alzheimer's disease. CONCLUSIONS In summary, alterations of neurodegenerative CSF markers in PMS individuals could be demonstrated which were correlated with structural connectivity losses of the corticospinal tract, the splenium, and the dorsal part of the cingulum, which can also be associated with typical clinical symptoms in these patients. These findings might represent a state of dysfunctional processes with ongoing degenerative and regenerative processes or a kind of accelerated aging. This study should foster further clinical diagnostics like tau- and amyloid-PET imaging as well as novel scientific approaches especially in basic research for further mechanistic proof.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jesse
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, D-89081, Ulm, Germany.
- German Centre of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany.
| | - Hans-Peter Müller
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, D-89081, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, D-89081, Ulm, Germany
- German Centre of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Schön
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- German Centre of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, D-89081, Ulm, Germany
- German Centre of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
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6
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García-Bravo C, Palacios-Ceña D, Huertas-Hoyas E, Pérez-Corrales J, Serrada-Tejeda S, Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres M, Gueita-Rodríguez J, Martínez-Piédrola RM. "Your Life Turns Upside Down": A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Parents with Children Diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 10:children10010073. [PMID: 36670624 PMCID: PMC9856272 DOI: 10.3390/children10010073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: Parents of children with rare diseases experience great uncertainty and employ different strategies to care for their children and cope with the disease. The purpose of the present study was to describe the perspective of parents with children with Phelan McDermid Syndrome (PMS). (2) Methods: A non-probabilistic purposeful sampling was used to perform this qualitative descriptive study. Thirty-two parents with children with PMS were interviewed. In-depth interviews and research field notes were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis. (3) Results: Four themes emerged from the data. "Understanding and accepting the disease" described how parents experienced their child's diagnosis and the lack of information. The second theme, called "Living day by day", highlighted the daily difficulties faced when caring for a child with PMS. The third theme, "Expectations versus reality", was based on the parents' expectations of parenthood and the reality they face. Expectations for the future are also included. Finally, "Pain and happiness" describes how parents alternate feelings of distress and suffering but also joy with what they learn from these experiences. (4) Conclusions: Health professionals can use these results to support parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina García-Bravo
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Domingo Palacios-Ceña
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-914888883
| | - Elisabet Huertas-Hoyas
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Jorge Pérez-Corrales
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Sergio Serrada-Tejeda
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Marta Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Javier Gueita-Rodríguez
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Rosa Mª Martínez-Piédrola
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
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7
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From Genes to Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081377. [PMID: 36011288 PMCID: PMC9407279 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, findings from genetic and other biological studies are starting to reveal the role of various molecular mechanisms that contribute to the etiology of ASD [...]
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8
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Malara M, Lutz AK, Incearap B, Bauer HF, Cursano S, Volbracht K, Lerner JJ, Pandey R, Delling JP, Ioannidis V, Arévalo AP, von Bernhardi JE, Schön M, Bockmann J, Dimou L, Boeckers TM. SHANK3 deficiency leads to myelin defects in the central and peripheral nervous system. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:371. [PMID: 35726031 PMCID: PMC9209365 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04400-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Mutations or deletions of the SHANK3 gene are causative for Phelan–McDermid syndrome (PMDS), a syndromic form of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). We analyzed Shank3Δ11(−/−) mice and organoids from PMDS individuals to study effects on myelin. SHANK3 was found to be expressed in oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells, and MRI analysis of Shank3Δ11(−/−) mice revealed a reduced volume of the corpus callosum as seen in PMDS patients. Myelin proteins including myelin basic protein showed significant temporal and regional differences with lower levels in the CNS but increased amounts in the PNS of Shank3Δ11(−/−) animals. Node, as well as paranode, lengths were increased and ultrastructural analysis revealed region-specific alterations of the myelin sheaths. In PMDS hiPSC-derived cerebral organoids we observed an altered number and delayed maturation of myelinating cells. These findings provide evidence that, in addition to a synaptic deregulation, impairment of myelin might profoundly contribute to the clinical manifestation of SHANK3 deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariagiovanna Malara
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, IGradU, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anne-Kathrin Lutz
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Berra Incearap
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, IGradU, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Helen Friedericke Bauer
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, IGradU, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Silvia Cursano
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Katrin Volbracht
- Molecular and Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Ulm University, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Joanna Janina Lerner
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, IGradU, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rakshita Pandey
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jan Philipp Delling
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Valentin Ioannidis
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andrea Pérez Arévalo
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Michael Schön
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bockmann
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Leda Dimou
- Molecular and Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Ulm University, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
- DZNE, Ulm Site, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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9
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Golden CEM, Wang VX, Harony-Nicolas H, Hof PR, Buxbaum JD. Reduced brain volume and white matter alterations in Shank3-deficient rats. Autism Res 2021; 14:1837-1842. [PMID: 34313403 PMCID: PMC9292834 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Mutations and deletions in the SHANK3 gene cause the major neurodevelopmental features of Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS), which is characterized by intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and sensory hyporeactivity. SHANK3 encodes a key structural component of excitatory synapses important for synaptogenesis. Clinical assessments and limited brain imaging studies of patients with PMS have uncovered regional volume reductions and white matter thinning. While these impairments have been replicated ex vivo in pups of a rat model, brain structure has not been assessed in rats in vivo or in adults. We assessed the brain structure of heterozygous and homozygous adult Shank3-deficient male rats in comparison to wild-type littermates with magnetic resonance imaging using both anatomical assessments and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Shank3-deficient rats showed a reduction in overall brain size and the absolute volume of the neocortex, piriform cortex, thalamus, forebrain, inferior and superior colliculi, internal capsule, and anterior commissure. The superior colliculus was decreased in relative volume. DTI revealed that axial diffusion and fractional anisotropy were reduced in the external capsule and mean diffusion was increased in the fornix, suggesting that restriction of diffusion perpendicular to the axis of the axonal fibers was impaired in these white matter tracts. Therefore, Shank3-deficient rats replicate the reduced brain volume and altered white matter phenotypes present in PMS. Our results indicate that the loss of a glutamatergic synaptic protein, Shank3, has structural consequences at the level of the whole brain. The brain regions that were altered represent potential cross-species structural biomarkers that warrant further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla E M Golden
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Victoria X Wang
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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10
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Neklyudova AK, Portnova GV, Rebreikina AB, Voinova VY, Vorsanova SG, Iourov IY, Sysoeva OV. 40-Hz Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR) as a Biomarker of Genetic Defects in the SHANK3 Gene: A Case Report of 15-Year-Old Girl with a Rare Partial SHANK3 Duplication. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041898. [PMID: 33673024 PMCID: PMC7917917 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
SHANK3 encodes a scaffold protein involved in postsynaptic receptor density in glutamatergic synapses, including those in the parvalbumin (PV)+ inhibitory neurons—the key players in the generation of sensory gamma oscillations, such as 40-Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR). However, 40-Hz ASSR was not studied in relation to SHANK3 functioning. Here, we present a 15-year-old girl (SH01) with previously unreported duplication of the first seven exons of the SHANK3 gene (22q13.33). SH01’s electroencephalogram (EEG) during 40-Hz click trains of 500 ms duration binaurally presented with inter-trial intervals of 500–800 ms were compared with those from typically developing children (n = 32). SH01 was diagnosed with mild mental retardation and learning disabilities (F70.88), dysgraphia, dyslexia, and smaller vocabulary than typically developing (TD) peers. Her clinical phenotype resembled the phenotype of previously described patients with 22q13.33 microduplications (≈30 reported so far). SH01 had mild autistic symptoms but below the threshold for ASD diagnosis and microcephaly. No seizures or MRI abnormalities were reported. While SH01 had relatively preserved auditory event-related potential (ERP) with slightly attenuated P1, her 40-Hz ASSR was totally absent significantly deviating from TD’s ASSR. The absence of 40-Hz ASSR in patients with microduplication, which affected the SHANK3 gene, indicates deficient temporal resolution of the auditory system, which might underlie language problems and represent a neurophysiological biomarker of SHANK3 abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia K. Neklyudova
- Laboratory of Human Higher Nervous Activity, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Science, 117485 Moscow, Russia; (A.K.N.); (G.V.P.); (A.B.R.)
| | - Galina V. Portnova
- Laboratory of Human Higher Nervous Activity, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Science, 117485 Moscow, Russia; (A.K.N.); (G.V.P.); (A.B.R.)
| | - Anna B. Rebreikina
- Laboratory of Human Higher Nervous Activity, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Science, 117485 Moscow, Russia; (A.K.N.); (G.V.P.); (A.B.R.)
| | - Victoria Yu Voinova
- Veltischev Research and Clinical Institute for Pediatrics of the Pirogov, Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, 125412 Moscow, Russia; (V.Y.V.); (S.G.V.); (I.Y.I.)
- Mental Health Research Center, 117152 Moscow, Russia
| | - Svetlana G. Vorsanova
- Veltischev Research and Clinical Institute for Pediatrics of the Pirogov, Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, 125412 Moscow, Russia; (V.Y.V.); (S.G.V.); (I.Y.I.)
- Mental Health Research Center, 117152 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan Y. Iourov
- Veltischev Research and Clinical Institute for Pediatrics of the Pirogov, Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, 125412 Moscow, Russia; (V.Y.V.); (S.G.V.); (I.Y.I.)
- Mental Health Research Center, 117152 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga V. Sysoeva
- Laboratory of Human Higher Nervous Activity, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Science, 117485 Moscow, Russia; (A.K.N.); (G.V.P.); (A.B.R.)
- Correspondence:
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Jesse S, Huppertz HJ, Ludolph AC, Kassubek J. Focal Cortical Dysplasia: Relevant for Seizures in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome? Pediatr Neurol 2021; 115:7-9. [PMID: 33310146 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jesse
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| | | | | | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Liu C, Li D, Yang H, Li H, Xu Q, Zhou B, Hu C, Li C, Wang Y, Qiao Z, Jiang YH, Xu X. Altered striatum centered brain structures in SHANK3 deficient Chinese children with genotype and phenotype profiling. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 200:101985. [PMID: 33388374 PMCID: PMC8572121 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
SHANK3 deficiency represents one of the most replicated monogenic risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and SHANK3 caused ASD presents a unique opportunity to understand the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of ASD. In this study, genetic tests, comprehensive clinical and neurobehavioral evaluations, as well as multimodal structural MRI using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were conducted in SHANK3 group (N = 14 with SHANK3 defects), ASD controls (N = 26 with idiopathic ASD without SHANK3 defects) and typically developing (TD) controls (N = 32). Phenotypically, we reported several new features in Chinese SHANK3 deficient children including anteverted nares, sensory stimulation seeking, dental abnormalities and hematological problems. In SHANK3 group, VBM revealed decreased grey matter volumes mainly in dorsal striatum, amygdala, hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus; TBSS demonstrated decreased fractional anisotropy in multiple tracts involving projection, association and commissural fibers, including middle cerebral peduncle, corpus callosum, superior longitudinal fasciculus, corona radiata, external and internal capsule, and posterior thalamic radiation, etc. We report that the disrupted striatum centered brain structures are associated with SHANK3 deficient children. Study of subjects with monogenic cause offer specific insights into the neuroimaging studies of ASD. The discovery may support a path for future functional connectivity studies to allow for more in-depth understandings of the abnormal neural circuits and the underlying neuropathological mechanisms for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxue Liu
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongyun Li
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Haowei Yang
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Huiping Li
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiong Xu
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingrui Zhou
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunchun Hu
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyang Li
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongwei Qiao
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Department of Genetics, Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Heaven CT 06520 USA.
| | - Xiu Xu
- Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, 399 Wanyuan Road, Shanghai, China.
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