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He Q, Li R, Zhong N, Ma J, Nie F, Zhang R. The role and molecular mechanisms of the early growth response 3 gene in schizophrenia. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2024; 195:e32969. [PMID: 38327141 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32969] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitating mental illness caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors play a major role in schizophrenia development. Early growth response 3 (EGR3) is a member of the EGR family, which is associated with schizophrenia. Accumulating studies have investigated the relationship between EGR3 and schizophrenia. However, the role of EGR3 in schizophrenia pathogenesis remains unclear. In the present review, we focus on the progress of research related to the role of EGR3 in schizophrenia, including association studies between EGR3 and schizophrenia, abnormal gene expressional analysis of EGR3 in schizophrenia, biological function studies of EGR3 in schizophrenia, the molecular regulatory mechanism of EGR3 and schizophrenia susceptibility candidate genes, and possible role of EGR3 in the immune system function in schizophrenia. In summary, EGR3 is a schizophrenia risk candidate factor and has comprehensive regulatory roles in schizophrenia pathogenesis. Further studies investigating the molecular mechanisms of EGR3 in schizophrenia are warranted for understanding the pathophysiology of this disorder as well as the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment and control of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi He
- School of Basic Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine, Shannxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ruochun Li
- Department of Medical Technology, Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Nannan Zhong
- Department of Medical Technology, Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Department of Electron Microscope, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fayi Nie
- School of Basic Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine, Shannxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Medical Technology, Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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2
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8p21.3 deletions are rare causes of non-syndromic autism spectrum disorder. Neurogenetics 2021; 22:207-213. [PMID: 33683518 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-021-00635-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A de novo 0.95 Mb 8p21.3 deletion had been identified in an individual with non-syndromic autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through high-resolution copy number variant analysis. Subsequent screening of in-house and publicly available databases resulted in the identification of six additional individuals with 8p21.3 deletions. Through case-based reasoning, we conclude that 8p21.3 deletions are rare causes of non-syndromic neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Based on literature data, we highlight six genes within the region of minimal overlap as potential ASD genes or genes for neuropsychiatric disorders: DMTN, EGR3, FGF17, LGI3, PHYHIP, and PPP3CC.
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Walker WH, Walton JC, DeVries AC, Nelson RJ. Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:28. [PMID: 32066704 PMCID: PMC7026420 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0694-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 370] [Impact Index Per Article: 92.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are internal manifestations of the solar day that permit adaptations to predictable environmental temporal changes. These ~24-h rhythms are controlled by molecular clockworks within the brain that are reset daily to precisely 24 h by exposure to the light-dark cycle. Information from the master clock in the mammalian hypothalamus conveys temporal information to the entire body via humoral and neural communication. A bidirectional relationship exists between mood disorders and circadian rhythms. Mood disorders are often associated with disrupted circadian clock-controlled responses, such as sleep and cortisol secretion, whereas disruption of circadian rhythms via jet lag, night-shift work, or exposure to artificial light at night, can precipitate or exacerbate affective symptoms in susceptible individuals. Evidence suggests strong associations between circadian rhythms and mental health, but only recently have studies begun to discover the direct interactions between the circadian system and mood regulation. This review provides an overview of disrupted circadian rhythms and the relationship to behavioral health and psychiatry. The focus of this review is delineating the role of disruption of circadian rhythms on mood disorders using human night shift studies, as well as jet lag studies to identify links. We also review animal models of disrupted circadian rhythms on affective responses. Lastly, we propose low-cost behavioral and lifestyle changes to improve circadian rhythms and presumably behavioral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Walker
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
| | - James C Walton
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - A Courtney DeVries
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
- Department of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Randy J Nelson
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
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4
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Porcelli S, Lee SJ, Han C, Patkar AA, Albani D, Jun TY, Pae CU, Serretti A. Hot Genes in Schizophrenia: How Clinical Datasets Could Help to Refine their Role. J Mol Neurosci 2017; 64:273-286. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-017-1016-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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5
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Osier ND, Bales JW, Pugh B, Shin S, Wyrobek J, Puccio AM, Okonkwo DO, Ren D, Alexander S, Conley YP, Dixon CE. Variation in PPP3CC Genotype Is Associated with Long-Term Recovery after Severe Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma 2016; 34:86-96. [PMID: 27225880 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2015.4343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
After experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI), calcineurin is upregulated; blocking calcineurin is associated with improved outcomes. In humans, variation in the calcineurin A-gamma gene (PPP3CC) has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, though any role in TBI recovery remains unknown. This study examines associations between PPP3CC genotype and mortality, as well as gross functional status assessed at admission using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and at 3, 6, and 12 months after severe TBI using the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS). The following tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) in PPP3CC were genotyped: rs2443504, rs2461491, rs2469749, and rs10108011. The rs2443504 AA genotype was univariately associated with GCS (p = 0.022), GOS at 3, 6, and 12 months (p = 0.002, p = 0.034, and p = 0.004, respectively), and mortality (p = 0.007). In multivariate analysis controlling for age, sex, and GCS, the AA genotype of rs2443504 was associated with GOS at 3 (p = 0.02), and 12 months (p = 0.01), with a trend toward significance at 6 months (p = 0.05); the AA genotype also was associated with mortality in the multivariate model (p = 0.04). Further work is warranted to better understand the role of calcineurin, as well as the genes encoding it and their relevance to outcomes after brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole D Osier
- 1 Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,3 School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - James W Bales
- 2 Department of Neurosurgery, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington
| | - Bunny Pugh
- 1 Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,4 Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, Seton Hill University , Greensburg, Pennsylvania
| | - Samuel Shin
- 1 Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Julie Wyrobek
- 5 Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ava M Puccio
- 6 Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David O Okonkwo
- 6 Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Dianxu Ren
- 3 School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sheila Alexander
- 3 School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,7 School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yvette P Conley
- 3 School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,8 Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - C Edward Dixon
- 1 Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,6 Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,9 VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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6
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Pfaffenseller B, da Silva Magalhães PV, De Bastiani MA, Castro MAA, Gallitano AL, Kapczinski F, Klamt F. Differential expression of transcriptional regulatory units in the prefrontal cortex of patients with bipolar disorder: potential role of early growth response gene 3. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e805. [PMID: 27163206 PMCID: PMC5070056 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness with a strong genetic component. Despite its high degree of heritability, current genetic studies have failed to reveal individual loci of large effect size. In lieu of focusing on individual genes, we investigated regulatory units (regulons) in BD to identify candidate transcription factors (TFs) that regulate large groups of differentially expressed genes. Network-based approaches should elucidate the molecular pathways governing the pathophysiology of BD and reveal targets for potential therapeutic intervention. The data from a large-scale microarray study was used to reconstruct the transcriptional associations in the human prefrontal cortex, and results from two independent microarray data sets to obtain BD gene signatures. The regulatory network was derived by mapping the significant interactions between known TFs and all potential targets. Five regulons were identified in both transcriptional network models: early growth response 3 (EGR3), TSC22 domain family, member 4 (TSC22D4), interleukin enhancer-binding factor 2 (ILF2), Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) and MAP-kinase-activating death domain (MADD). With a high stringency threshold, the consensus across tests was achieved only for the EGR3 regulon. We identified EGR3 in the prefrontal cortex as a potential key target, robustly repressed in both BD signatures. Considering that EGR3 translates environmental stimuli into long-term changes in the brain, disruption in biological pathways involving EGR3 may induce an impaired response to stress and influence on risk for psychiatric disorders, particularly BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Pfaffenseller
- Bipolar Disorder Program, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil,Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - P V da Silva Magalhães
- Bipolar Disorder Program, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil,Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil,Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 2350 Ramiro Barcelos Street, Porto Alegre 90035 903, Brazil. E-mail:
| | - M A De Bastiani
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - M A A Castro
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná, Polytechnic Center, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - A L Gallitano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - F Kapczinski
- Bipolar Disorder Program, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil,Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - F Klamt
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Cottrell JR, Li B, Kyung JW, Ashford CJ, Mann JJ, Horvath TL, Ryan TA, Kim SH, Gerber DJ. Calcineurin Aγ is a Functional Phosphatase That Modulates Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis. J Biol Chem 2015; 291:1948-1956. [PMID: 26627835 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.705319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in PPP3CC, the gene that encodes the γ isoform of the calcineurin catalytic subunit, has been reported to be associated with schizophrenia. Because of its low expression level in most tissues, there has been little research devoted to the specific function of the calcineurin Aγ (CNAγ) versus the calcineurin Aα (CNAα) and calcineurin Aβ (CNAβ) catalytic isoforms. Consequently, we have a limited understanding of the role of altered CNAγ function in psychiatric disease. In this study, we demonstrate that CNAγ is present in the rodent and human brain and dephosphorylates a presynaptic substrate of calcineurin. Through a combination of immunocytochemistry and immuno-EM, we further show that CNAγ is localized to presynaptic terminals in hippocampal neurons. Critically, we demonstrate that RNAi-mediated knockdown of CNAγ leads to a disruption of synaptic vesicle cycling in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. These data indicate that CNAγ regulates a critical aspect of synaptic vesicle cycling and suggest that variation in PPP3CC may contribute to psychiatric disease by altering presynaptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bing Li
- From the Galenea Corporation, Wakefield, MA 01880
| | - Jae Won Kyung
- the Department of Physiology, Neurodegeneration Control Research Center, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, South Korea
| | | | - James J Mann
- From the Galenea Corporation, Wakefield, MA 01880
| | - Tamas L Horvath
- the Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, and
| | - Timothy A Ryan
- the Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10021
| | - Sung Hyun Kim
- the Department of Physiology, Neurodegeneration Control Research Center, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, South Korea.
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8
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Association of SNPs in EGR3 and ARC with Schizophrenia Supports a Biological Pathway for Schizophrenia Risk. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135076. [PMID: 26474411 PMCID: PMC4608790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously hypothesized a biological pathway of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity proteins that addresses the dual genetic and environmental contributions to schizophrenia. Accordingly, variations in the immediate early gene EGR3, and its target ARC, should influence schizophrenia susceptibility. We used a pooled Next-Generation Sequencing approach to identify variants across these genes in U.S. populations of European (EU) and African (AA) descent. Three EGR3 and one ARC SNP were selected and genotyped for validation, and three SNPs were tested for association in a replication cohort. In the EU group of 386 schizophrenia cases and 150 controls EGR3 SNP rs1877670 and ARC SNP rs35900184 showed significant associations (p = 0.0078 and p = 0.0275, respectively). In the AA group of 185 cases and 50 controls, only the ARC SNP revealed significant association (p = 0.0448). The ARC SNP did not show association in the Han Chinese (CH) population. However, combining the EU, AA, and CH groups revealed a highly significant association of ARC SNP rs35900184 (p = 2.353 x 10−7; OR [95% CI] = 1.54 [1.310–1.820]). These findings support previously reported associations between EGR3 and schizophrenia. Moreover, this is the first report associating an ARC SNP with schizophrenia and supports recent large-scale GWAS findings implicating the ARC complex in schizophrenia risk. These results support the need for further investigation of the proposed pathway of environmentally responsive, synaptic plasticity-related, schizophrenia genes.
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9
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Gatt JM, Burton KLO, Williams LM, Schofield PR. Specific and common genes implicated across major mental disorders: a review of meta-analysis studies. J Psychiatr Res 2015; 60:1-13. [PMID: 25287955 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Major efforts have been directed at family-based association and case-control studies to identify the involvement of candidate genes in the major disorders of mental health. What remains unknown is whether candidate genes are associated with multiple disorders via pleiotropic mechanisms, and/or if other genes are specific to susceptibility for individual disorders. Here we undertook a review of genes that have been identified in prior meta-analyses examining specific genes and specific mental disorders that have core disruptions to emotional and cognitive function and contribute most to burden of illness- major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety disorders (AD, including panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder), schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A literature review was conducted up to end-March 2013 which included a total of 1519 meta-analyses across 157 studies reporting multiple genes implicated in one or more of the five disorders studied. A total of 134 genes (206 variants) were identified as significantly associated risk variants for MDD, AD, ADHD, SZ or BD. Null genetic effects were also reported for 195 genes (426 variants). 13 genetic variants were shared in common between two or more disorders (APOE e4, ACE Ins/Del, BDNF Val66Met, COMT Val158Met, DAOA G72/G30 rs3918342, DAT1 40-bp, DRD4 48-bp, SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR, HTR1A C1019G, MTHR C677T, MTHR A1298C, SLC6A4 VNTR and TPH1 218A/C) demonstrating evidence for pleiotrophy. Another 12 meta-analyses of GWAS studies of the same disorders were identified, with no overlap in genetic variants reported. This review highlights the progress that is being made in identifying shared and unique genetic mechanisms that contribute to the risk of developing several major psychiatric disorders, and identifies further steps for progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine M Gatt
- The Brain Dynamics Centre, Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia; Westmead Millennium Institute, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia; School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Karen L O Burton
- The Brain Dynamics Centre, Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia; Westmead Millennium Institute, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia; School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Leanne M Williams
- The Brain Dynamics Centre, Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-5717, USA
| | - Peter R Schofield
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia; School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Tokuoka H, Hatanaka T, Metzger D, Ichinose H. Nurr1 expression is regulated by voltage-dependent calcium channels and calcineurin in cultured hippocampal neurons. Neurosci Lett 2013; 559:50-5. [PMID: 24291696 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Nurr1 is an orphan nuclear transcription factor expressed in the brain. While Nurr1 is assumed to be an immediate early gene, it is not fully understood how Nurr1 expression is regulated in an activity-dependent manner in the central nervous system. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of Nurr1 expression in cultured hippocampal and cortical neurons. We found that upregulation of neural activity by high KCl and bicuculline enhances Nurr1 levels, while blockade of its activity by tetrodotoxin reduces Nurr1 levels. The induction of Nurr1 expression was mediated by voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs), as shown by cadmium and VDCC-specific inhibitors. Furthermore, calcineurin, but not calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) was critical for the induction. Thus, Nurr1 expression is regulated by VDCC and calcineurin in a cell-autonomous, neural activity-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Tokuoka
- Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takayuki Hatanaka
- Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Daniel Metzger
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch F-67400, France; CNRS UMR7104, Illkirch, France; INSERM U964, Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Hiroshi Ichinose
- Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
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Association of decreased prefrontal hemodynamic response during a verbal fluency task with EGR3 gene polymorphism in patients with schizophrenia and in healthy individuals. Neuroimage 2013; 85 Pt 1:527-34. [PMID: 23962955 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2013] [Revised: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 08/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The early growth response 3 (EGR3) gene is an immediate early gene that is expressed throughout the brain and has been suggested as a potential susceptibility gene for schizophrenia (SZ). EGR3 impairment is associated with various neurodevelopmental dysfunctions, and some animal studies have reported a role for EGR3 function in the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, EGR3 genotype variation may be reflected in prefrontal function. By using multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in an imaging genetics approach, we tested for an association between the EGR3 gene polymorphism and prefrontal hemodynamic response during a cognitive task in patients with SZ. We assessed 73 chronic patients with SZ and 73 age-, gender-, and genotype-matched healthy controls (HC) who provided written informed consent. We used NIRS to measure changes in prefrontal oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (oxyHb) during the letter version of a verbal fluency task (VFT). Statistical comparisons were performed among EGR3 genotype subgroups (rs35201266, GG/GA/AA). The AA genotype group showed significantly smaller oxyHb increases in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during the VFT than the GG and GA genotype groups; this was true for both patients with SZ and HC. Our findings provide in vivo human evidence of a significant influence of EGR3 polymorphisms on prefrontal hemodynamic activation level in healthy adults and in patients with SZ. Genetic variation in EGR3 may affect prefrontal function through neurodevelopment. This study illustrates the usefulness of NIRS in imaging genetics investigations on psychiatric disorders.
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12
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Sacchetti E, Scassellati C, Minelli A, Valsecchi P, Bonvicini C, Pasqualetti P, Galluzzo A, Pioli R, Gennarelli M. Schizophrenia susceptibility and NMDA-receptor mediated signalling: an association study involving 32 tagSNPs of DAO, DAOA, PPP3CC, and DTNBP1 genes. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2013; 14:33. [PMID: 23497497 PMCID: PMC3599832 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2350-14-33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Accepted: 11/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies supported associations between four NMDA-receptor-mediated signalling genes (D-amino acid oxidase, DAO; D-amino acid oxidase activator, DAOA; protein phosphatase 3 catalytic subunit gamma isoform, PPP3CC; dystrobrevin-binding protein 1, DTNBP1) and schizophrenia susceptibility, even though with contrasting results. METHODS In an attempt to replicate these findings for the first time in an Italian population, a panel of 32 tagSNPs was analysed in a representative case-control sample involving 879 subjects. RESULTS An association in the allele frequency was observed for the estimated PPP3CC CAG triplotype in the SNP window rs4872499 T/C-rs11780915 A/G-rs13271367 G/A (pcorrect = 0.001). Similarly, the clustered genotype frequencies of the estimated/phased CAG triplotype differed between cases and controls (p = 0.004), with the carriers having a higher frequency in the control population (p = 0.002, odd ratio OR = 0.59, 95% confident interval CI: 0.43-0.82).Following the phenotypic dissection strategy, the analysis of single SNPs evidenced a protective effect in males of rs11780915 and rs13271367 in PPP3CC gene (pcorrect = 0.02, pcorrect = 0.04 respectively). Moreover the estimated/phased GT diplotype (rs2070586A/G-rs3741775G/T) carriers of the DAO gene were more highly represented in female controls (p = 0.017, OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37-0.90), as were the estimated/phased CAG triplotype carriers of the PPP3CC gene in females (p = 0.01, OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.32-0.87). In addition, we performed an interaction analysis, and a 66% (p = 0.003, OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.17-0.70) lower risk of developing schizophrenia for female (CAG + GT) carriers versus non-CAG or -GT carriers was observed. For DTNBP1, we found a protective effect in males for the rs6459409 (pcorrect = 0.02) and the estimated/phased CT diplotype (rs6459409-rs9476886) carriers (p = 3x10-4, OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.30-0.70).In relation to diagnostic subtypes, the estimated/phased DAO GT diplotype and PPP3CC CAG triplotype female carriers were found to show relative risk ratio (RRR) values of 0.52 and 0.54 lower risk for a paranoid phenotype respectively. CONCLUSIONS Although the results are preliminary and needed replication in a larger sample, this study suggests that NMDA receptor-mediated signalling genes (DAO, PPP3CC, DTNBP1) might be involved in schizophrenia pathogenic mechanisms related to gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Sacchetti
- Psychiatric Unit, University of Brescia, School of Medicine, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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Cheng MC, Chuang YA, Lu CL, Chen YJ, Luu SU, Li JM, Hsu SH, Chen CH. Genetic and functional analyses of early growth response (EGR) family genes in schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2012; 39:149-55. [PMID: 22691714 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2012] [Revised: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 06/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Early growth response genes (EGR1, 2, 3, and 4) encode a family of nuclear proteins that function as transcriptional regulators. They are involved in the regulation of synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory, and are implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. METHODS We conducted a genetic association analysis of 14 SNPs selected from the EGR1, 2, 3, and 4 genes of 564 patients with schizophrenia and 564 control subjects. We also conducted Western blot analysis and promoter activity assay to characterize the EGR genes associated with schizophrenia RESULTS We did not detect a true genetic association of these 14 SNPs with schizophrenia in this sample. However, we observed a nominal over-representation of C/C genotype of rs9990 of EGR2 in female schizophrenia as compared to female control subjects (p=0.012, uncorrected for multiple testing). Further study showed that the average mRNA level of the EGR2 gene in the lymphoblastoid cell lines of female schizophrenia patients was significantly higher than that in female control subjects (p=0.002). We also detected a nominal association of 4 SNPs (rs6747506, rs6718289, rs2229294, and rs3813226) of the EGR4 gene that form strong linkage disequilibrium with schizophrenia in males. Reporter gene assay showed that the haplotype T-A derived from rs6747506 and rs6718289 at the promoter region had significantly reduced promoter activity compared with the haplotype A-G. CONCLUSION Our data suggest a tendency of gender-specific association of EGR2 and EGR4 in schizophrenia, with an elevated expression of EGR2 in lympoblastoid cell lines of female schizophrenia patients and a reduced EGR4 gene expression in male schizophrenia patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Chih Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Mental Health Research Center, Yuli Veterans Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
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Paek MJ, Kang UG. How many genes are involved in schizophrenia? A simple simulation. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2012; 38:302-9. [PMID: 22561393 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2012] [Revised: 04/16/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
We attempted to estimate how many genes are involved in schizophrenia using a simulation based on the polygenic threshold model. The basic assumptions were as follows: (1) All genes involved are transmitted independently; (2) every locus is composed of two alleles - one pathogenic and the other non-pathogenic; (3) all pathogenic alleles are dominant; (4) the two alleles at any locus are in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) in the general population (GP) but not within the patient (PP) or non-patient (NP) subpopulations; (5) the number of affected loci determines the disease genetically; and (6) only a fraction of genetically determined individuals actually becomes ill. A range of the total number of disease-related genes (N) and threshold genetic load (T) was set for the simulation. Assuming that the number of affected loci follows a binomial distribution, the mean gene frequencies satisfying a disease prevalence of 1.12% in the GP were sought for various N and T combinations. Based on these gene frequencies, the odds ratio and the incidence rate in relatives under random mating were calculated. These results were then compared with real genetic epidemiologic data to obtain best-fit estimates for N and T. The results indicated that a polygenic threshold model with an N greater than 100 and a T in the range of 0.3-0.8 fits the empirical data. It was estimated that at least several hundreds of study subjects are required to yield a statistically significant frequency difference for a single gene between the patient and the control groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung Jae Paek
- Department of Psychiatry, The Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
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15
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Family-based association study of early growth response gene 3 with child bipolar I disorder. J Affect Disord 2012; 138:387-96. [PMID: 22370066 PMCID: PMC3349283 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2012.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk for relapse of child bipolar I disorder (BP-I) is highly correlated with environmental factors. Immediate early genes of the early growth response (EGR) gene family are activated at high levels in the brain in response to environmental events, including stress, and mediate numerous neurobiological processes that have been associated with mental illness risk. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in EGR genes are associated with the risk to develop child bipolar I disorder. METHODS To investigate whether EGR genes may influence susceptibility to child bipolar I disorder (BP-I), we used Family Based Association Tests to examine whether SNPs in each of the EGR genes were associated with illness in 49 families. RESULTS Two SNPs in EGR3 displayed nominally significant associations with child BP-I (p=0.027 and p=0.028); though neither was statistically significant following correction for multiple comparisons. Haplotype association analysis indicated that these SNPs are in linkage disequilibrium (LD). None of the SNPs tested in EGR1, EGR2, or EGR4 was associated with child BP-I. LIMITATIONS This study was limited by small sample size, which resulted in it being underpowered to detect a significant association after correction for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed a preliminary finding suggesting that EGR3, a gene that translates environmental stimuli into long-term changes in the brain, warrants further investigation for association with risk for child BP-I disorder in a larger sample. Such studies may help reveal mechanisms by which environment can interact with genetic predisposition to influence this severe mental illness.
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A family-based association study of the EGR3 gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia. YI CHUAN = HEREDITAS 2012; 34:307-14. [DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1005.2012.00307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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17
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Zhang R, Lu S, Meng L, Min Z, Tian J, Valenzuela RK, Guo T, Tian L, Zhao W, Ma J. Genetic evidence for the association between the early growth response 3 (EGR3) gene and schizophrenia. PLoS One 2012; 7:e30237. [PMID: 22276163 PMCID: PMC3262808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2011] [Accepted: 12/16/2011] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, two genome scan meta-analysis studies have found strong evidence for the association of loci on chromosome 8p with schizophrenia. The early growth response 3 (EGR3) gene located in chromosome 8p21.3 was also found to be involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. However, subsequent studies failed to replicate this finding. To investigate the genetic role of EGR3 in Chinese patients, we genotyped four SNPs (average interval ∼2.3 kb) in the chromosome region of EGR3 in 470 Chinese schizophrenia patients and 480 healthy control subjects. The SNP rs35201266 (located in intron 1 of EGR3) showed significant differences between cases and controls in both genotype frequency distribution (P = 0.016) and allele frequency distribution (P = 0.009). Analysis of the haplotype rs35201266-rs3750192 provided significant evidence for association with schizophrenia (P = 0.0012); a significant difference was found for the common haplotype AG (P = 0.0005). Furthermore, significant associations were also found in several other two-, and three-SNP tests of haplotype analyses. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant association between rs35201266 and schizophrenia (P = 0.0001). In summary, our study supports the association of EGR3 with schizophrenia in our Han Chinese sample, and further functional exploration of the EGR3 gene will contribute to the molecular basis for the complex network underlying schizophrenia pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shemin Lu
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Liesu Meng
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zixin Min
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Juan Tian
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Robert K. Valenzuela
- Arizona Health Science Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Tingwei Guo
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Lifang Tian
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenxiang Zhao
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who exhibit chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and marked fluctuation of behavioral symptoms exhibit distinct innate immune abnormalities and transcriptional profiles of peripheral blood (PB) monocytes. J Neuroimmunol 2011; 238:73-80. [PMID: 21803429 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2011.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2011] [Revised: 06/26/2011] [Accepted: 07/06/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Innate/adaptive immune responses and transcript profiles of peripheral blood monocytes were studied in ASD children who exhibit fluctuating behavioral symptoms following infection and other immune insults (ASD/Inf, N=30). The ASD/Inf children with persistent gastrointestinal symptoms (ASD/Inf+GI, N=19), revealed less production of proinflammatory and counter-regulatory cytokines with stimuli of innate immunity and marked changes in transcript profiles of monocytes as compared to ASD/no-Inf (N=28) and normal (N=26) controls. This included a 4-5 fold up-regulation of chemokines (CCL2 and CCL7), consistent with the production of more CCL2 by ASD/Inf+GI cells. These results indicate dysregulated innate immune defense in the ASD/Inf+GI children, rendering them more vulnerable to common microbial infection/dysbiosis and possibly subsequent behavioral changes.
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Beaulieu JM, Gainetdinov RR. The physiology, signaling, and pharmacology of dopamine receptors. Pharmacol Rev 2011; 63:182-217. [PMID: 21303898 DOI: 10.1124/pr.110.002642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1789] [Impact Index Per Article: 137.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled dopamine receptors (D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5) mediate all of the physiological functions of the catecholaminergic neurotransmitter dopamine, ranging from voluntary movement and reward to hormonal regulation and hypertension. Pharmacological agents targeting dopaminergic neurotransmission have been clinically used in the management of several neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Huntington's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD(1)), and Tourette's syndrome. Numerous advances have occurred in understanding the general structural, biochemical, and functional properties of dopamine receptors that have led to the development of multiple pharmacologically active compounds that directly target dopamine receptors, such as antiparkinson drugs and antipsychotics. Recent progress in understanding the complex biology of dopamine receptor-related signal transduction mechanisms has revealed that, in addition to their primary action on cAMP-mediated signaling, dopamine receptors can act through diverse signaling mechanisms that involve alternative G protein coupling or through G protein-independent mechanisms via interactions with ion channels or proteins that are characteristically implicated in receptor desensitization, such as β-arrestins. One of the future directions in managing dopamine-related pathologic conditions may involve a transition from the approaches that directly affect receptor function to a precise targeting of postreceptor intracellular signaling modalities either directly or through ligand-biased signaling pharmacology. In this comprehensive review, we discuss dopamine receptor classification, their basic structural and genetic organization, their distribution and functions in the brain and the periphery, and their regulation and signal transduction mechanisms. In addition, we discuss the abnormalities of dopamine receptor expression, function, and signaling that are documented in human disorders and the current pharmacology and emerging trends in the development of novel therapeutic agents that act at dopamine receptors and/or on related signaling events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Martin Beaulieu
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval–Centre de Recherche de l'Université Laval Robert-Giffard, Québec-City, Québec, Canada
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