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Xie J, Wang Y, Ye C, Li XJ, Lin L. Distinctive Patterns of 5-Methylcytosine and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:636. [PMID: 38203806 PMCID: PMC10779130 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010636] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a highly heritable neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by cognitive and social dysfunction. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors are together implicated in the pathogenesis and development of schizophrenia. DNA methylation, 5-methycytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxylcytosine (5hmC) have been recognized as key epigenetic elements in neurodevelopment, ageing, and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, distinctive 5mC and 5hmC pattern and expression changes of related genes have been discovered in schizophrenia. Antipsychotic drugs that affect 5mC status can alleviate symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a critical role for DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Further exploring the signatures of 5mC and 5hmC in schizophrenia and developing precision-targeted epigenetic drugs based on this will provide new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Li Lin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (J.X.); (Y.W.); (C.Y.); (X.-J.L.)
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2
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Mueller-Buehl C, Wegrzyn D, Bauch J, Faissner A. Regulation of the E/I-balance by the neural matrisome. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1102334. [PMID: 37143468 PMCID: PMC10151766 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1102334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian cortex a proper excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance is fundamental for cognitive functions. Especially γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-releasing interneurons regulate the activity of excitatory projection neurons which form the second main class of neurons in the cortex. During development, the maturation of fast-spiking parvalbumin-expressing interneurons goes along with the formation of net-like structures covering their soma and proximal dendrites. These so-called perineuronal nets (PNNs) represent a specialized form of the extracellular matrix (ECM, also designated as matrisome) that stabilize structural synapses but prevent the formation of new connections. Consequently, PNNs are highly involved in the regulation of the synaptic balance. Previous studies revealed that the formation of perineuronal nets is accompanied by an establishment of mature neuronal circuits and by a closure of critical windows of synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, it has been shown that PNNs differentially impinge the integrity of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. In various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders alterations of PNNs were described and aroused more attention in the last years. The following review gives an update about the role of PNNs for the maturation of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons and summarizes recent findings about the impact of PNNs in different neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or epilepsy. A targeted manipulation of PNNs might provide an interesting new possibility to indirectly modulate the synaptic balance and the E/I ratio in pathological conditions.
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3
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Wang Y, Meng W, Liu Z, An Q, Hu X. Cognitive impairment in psychiatric diseases: Biomarkers of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1046692. [DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1046692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and major depressive disorder, place a huge health burden on society. Cognitive impairment is one of the core characteristics of psychiatric disorders and a vital determinant of social function and disease recurrence in patients. This review thus aims to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of cognitive impairment in major psychiatric disorders and identify valuable biomarkers for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of patients.
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4
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Cao Q, Wang J, Hao Y, Zhao F, Fu R, Yu Y, Wang J, Niu R, Bian S, Sun Z. Exercise Ameliorates Fluoride-induced Anxiety- and Depression-like Behavior in Mice: Role of GABA. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022; 200:678-688. [PMID: 33825162 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-021-02678-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Fluoride exposure caused anxiety- and depression-like behavior in mice. Meanwhile, exercise contributes to relieve anxiety and depression. However, the effects of exercise on anxiety- and depression-like behavior in fluorosis mice remain unclear. In the current study, thirty-six Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) female mice were randomly assigned to four groups: control group (C, gavage with distilled water); exercise group (E, gavage with distilled water and treadmill exercise (speed, 10 m/min; time, 30 min/day)); fluoride group (F, gavage with 24 mg/kg sodium fluoride (NaF)); and exercise plus fluoride group (EF, gavage with 24 mg/kg NaF and treadmill exercise). All treatments lasted for 8 weeks. A number of entries into and time spent in the open zone in the elevated zero maze (EZM), resting time in the tail suspension test (TST) and levels of serotonin (5-HT) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), were significantly altered in F when compared to C. Meanwhile, the anxiety-like behavior in the EZM and the depression-like behavior in the TST were significantly improved in EF when compared to group F. Exercise significantly enhanced fluoride-induced low GABA level, with less effect on the concentration of 5-HT. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expressions of GABA synthesis and transport-related proteins of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 65 and GAD67 and vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) were all strikingly decreased in F, while those in EF were increased. In conclusion, exercise ameliorates anxiety- and depression-like behavior in fluorosis mice through increasing the expressions of GABA synthesis and transport-related proteins, rather than 5-HT system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Cao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Jixiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Yanru Hao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Fangye Zhao
- Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Rong Fu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Yanghuan Yu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Jundong Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Ruiyan Niu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Shengtai Bian
- School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zilong Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China.
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi, China.
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5
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Sershen H, Guidotti A, Auta J, Drnevich J, Grayson DR, Veldic M, Meyers J, Youseff M, Zhubi A, Faurot K, Wu R, Zhao J, Jin H, Lajtha A, Davis JM, Smith RC. Gene Expression Of Methylation Cycle And Related Genes In Lymphocytes And Brain Of Patients With Schizophrenia And Non-Psychotic Controls. Biomark Neuropsychiatry 2021; 5. [PMID: 34368786 DOI: 10.1016/j.bionps.2021.100038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Some of the biochemical abnormalities underlying schizophrenia, involve differences in methylation and methylating enzymes, as well as other related target genes. We present results of a study of differences in mRNA expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and post-mortem brains of chronic schizophrenics (CSZ) and non-psychotic controls (NPC), emphasizing the differential effects of sex and antipsychotic drug treatment on mRNA findings. We studied mRNA expression in lymphocytes of 61 CSZ and 49 NPC subjects using qPCR assays with TaqMan probes to assess levels of DNMT, TET, GABAergic, NR3C1, BDNF mRNAs, and several additional targets identified in a recent RNA sequence analysis. In parallel we studied DNMT1 and GAD67 in samples of brain tissues from 19 CSZ, 26 NPC. In PBLs DNMT1 and DNMT3A mRNA levels were significantly higher in male CSZ vs NPC. No significant differences were detected in females. The GAD1, NR3C1 and CNTNAP2 mRNA levels were significantly higher in CSZ than NPC. In CSZ patients treated with clozapine, GAD-1 related, CNTNAP2, and IMPA2 mRNAs were significantly higher than in CSZ subjects not treated with clozapine. Differences between CSZ vs NPC in these mRNAs was primarily attributable to the clozapine treatment. In the brain samples, DNMT1 was significantly higher and GAD67 was significantly lower in CSZ than in NPC, but there were no significant sex differences in diagnostic effects. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex and drug treatment effects in assessing the substantive significance of differences in mRNAs between CSZ and NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Sershen
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York, USA.,NYU Langone Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alessandro Guidotti
- Psychiatric Institute University of Illinois, Department of Psychiatry, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - James Auta
- Psychiatric Institute University of Illinois, Department of Psychiatry, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jenny Drnevich
- High Performance Biological Computing group and the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center University of Illinois, Urbana, USA
| | - Dennis R Grayson
- Psychiatric Institute University of Illinois, Department of Psychiatry, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Marin Veldic
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Jordan Meyers
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Mary Youseff
- Harlem Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, US
| | - Adrian Zhubi
- Psychiatric Institute University of Illinois, Department of Psychiatry, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Keturah Faurot
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Renrong Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, and Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jingping Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, and Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hua Jin
- University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, San Diego, and VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Abel Lajtha
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York, USA.,NYU Langone Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, New York, New York, USA
| | - John M Davis
- Psychiatric Institute University of Illinois, Department of Psychiatry, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Robert C Smith
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York, USA.,NYU Langone Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, New York, New York, USA
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6
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Zhang L, Li Z, Liu Q, Shao M, Sun F, Su X, Song M, Zhang Y, Ding M, Lu Y, Liu J, Yang Y, Li M, Li W, Lv L. Weak Association Between the Glutamate Decarboxylase 1 Gene (GAD1) and Schizophrenia in Han Chinese Population. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:677153. [PMID: 34234640 PMCID: PMC8255988 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.677153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Schizophrenia (SZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder with high heritability, and genetic components are thought to be pivotal risk factors for this illness. The glutamate decarboxylase 1 gene (GAD1) was hypothesized to be a candidate risk locus for SZ given its crucial role in the GABAergic neurotransmission system, and previous studies have examined the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning the GAD1 gene with SZ. However, inconsistent results were obtained. We hence examined the associations between GAD1 SNPs and SZ in two independent case-control samples of Han Chinese ancestry. Materials and Methods Two Han Chinese SZ case-control samples, referred as the discovery sample and the replication sample, respectively, were recruited for the current study. The discovery sample comprised of 528 paranoid SZ cases (with age of first onset ≥ 18) and 528 healthy controls; the independent replication sample contained 1,256 early onset SZ cases (with age of first onset < 18) and 2,661 healthy controls. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between GAD1 SNPs and SZ. Results Ten SNPs covering GAD1 gene were analyzed in the discovery sample, and two SNPs showed nominal associations with SZ (rs2241165, P = 0.0181, OR = 1.261; rs2241164, P = 0.0225, OR = 1.219). SNP rs2241164 was also nominally significant in the independent replication sample (P = 0.0462, OR = 1.110), and the significance became stronger in a subsequent meta-analysis combining both discovery and replication samples (P = 0.00398, OR = 1.138). Nevertheless, such association could not survive multiple corrections, although the effect size of rs2241164 was comparable with other SZ risk loci identified in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in Han Chinese population. We also examined the associations between GAD1 SNPs and SZ in published datasets of SZ GWAS in East Asians and Europeans, and no significant associations were observed. Conclusion We observed weak associations between GAD1 SNPs and risk of SZ in Han Chinese populations. Further analyses in larger Han Chinese samples with more detailed phenotyping are necessary to elucidate the genetic correlation between GAD1 SNPs and SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luwen Zhang
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Minglong Shao
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Fuping Sun
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Xi Su
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Meng Song
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Minli Ding
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yanli Lu
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jiewei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yongfeng Yang
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Ming Li
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Wenqiang Li
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Luxian Lv
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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7
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Kogure M, Kanahara N, Miyazawa A, Oishi K, Nakata Y, Oda Y, Iyo M. Interacting Roles of COMT and GAD1 Genes in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: a Genetic Association Study of Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Controls. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 71:2575-2582. [PMID: 34125398 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-021-01866-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The projection from dopaminergic neurons to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) interneurons in the prefrontal cortex is involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. The impact of interacting effects between dopamine signals and the expression of GABA on the clinical phenotypes of schizophrenia has not been studied. Since these interactions could be closely involved in prefrontal cortex functions, patients with specific alleles of these relevant molecules (which lead to lower or vulnerable genetic functions) may develop treatment-refractory symptoms. We conducted a genetic association study focusing on COMT and GAD1 genes for a treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) group (n=171), a non-TRS group (n=592), and healthy controls (HC: n=447), and we examined allelic combinations specific to TRS. The results revealed that the percentage of subjects with Met allele of rs4680 on the COMT gene and C/C homozygote of rs3470934 on the GAD1 gene was significantly higher in the TRS group than the other two groups. There was no significant difference between the non-TRS group and HC groups. Considering the direction of functions of these single-nucleotide polymorphisms revealed by previous studies, we speculate that subjects with the Met/CC allelic combination could have a higher dopamine level and a lower expression of GABA in the prefrontal cortex. Our results suggest that an interaction between the dopaminergic signal and GABA signal intensities could differ between TRS patients and patients with other types of schizophrenia and healthy subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanobu Kogure
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Nobuhisa Kanahara
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
- Division of Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation, Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Atsuhiro Miyazawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Doujin-kai Kisarazu Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kengo Oishi
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Cyclic Innovation, Japan Agency for Medical Research Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Nakata
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yasunori Oda
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaomi Iyo
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
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8
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Dimitriadis SI. Reconfiguration of αmplitude driven dominant coupling modes (DoCM) mediated by α-band in adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 108:110073. [PMID: 32805332 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Electroencephalography (EEG) based biomarkers have been shown to correlate with the presence of psychotic disorders. Increased delta and decreased alpha power in psychosis indicate an abnormal arousal state. We investigated brain activity across the basic EEG frequencies and also dynamic functional connectivity of both intra and cross-frequency coupling that could reveal a neurophysiological biomarker linked to an aberrant modulating role of alpha frequency in adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). A dynamic functional connectivity graph (DFCG) has been estimated using the imaginary part of phase lag value (iPLV) and correlation of the envelope (corrEnv). We analyzed DFCG profiles of electroencephalographic resting state (eyes closed) recordings of healthy controls (HC) (n = 39) and SSDs subjects (n = 45) in basic frequency bands {δ,θ,α1,α2,β1,β2,γ}. In our analysis, we incorporated both intra and cross-frequency coupling modes. Adopting our recent Dominant Coupling Mode (DοCM) model leads to the construction of an integrated DFCG (iDFCG) that encapsulates the functional strength and the DοCM of every pair of brain areas. We revealed significantly higher ratios of delta/alpha1,2 power spectrum in SSDs subjects versus HC. The probability distribution (PD) of amplitude driven DoCM mediated by alpha frequency differentiated SSDs from HC with absolute accuracy (100%). The network Flexibility Index (FI) was significantly lower for subjects with SSDs compared to the HC group. Our analysis supports the central role of alpha frequency alterations in the neurophysiological mechanisms of SSDs. Currents findings open up new diagnostic pathways to clinical detection of SSDs and support the design of rational neurofeedback training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros I Dimitriadis
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Neuroinformatics Group, Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; School of Psychology, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences,Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences,Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
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9
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Yang J, Yang X, Tang K. Interneuron development and dysfunction. FEBS J 2021; 289:2318-2336. [PMID: 33844440 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Understanding excitation and inhibition balance in the brain begins with the tale of two basic types of neurons, glutamatergic projection neurons and GABAergic interneurons. The diversity of cortical interneurons is contributed by multiple origins in the ventral forebrain, various tangential migration routes, and complicated regulations of intrinsic factors, extrinsic signals, and activities. Abnormalities of interneuron development lead to dysfunction of interneurons and inhibitory circuits, which are highly associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and intellectual disability. In this review, we mainly discuss recent findings on the development of cortical interneuron and on neurodevelopmental disorders related to interneuron dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Yang
- Precise Genome Engineering Center, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, China
| | - Xiong Yang
- Precise Genome Engineering Center, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, China
| | - Ke Tang
- Precise Genome Engineering Center, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, China
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10
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Helgers SOA, Angelov S, Muschler MAN, Glahn A, Al-Afif S, Al Krinawe Y, Hermann EJ, Krauss JK, Frieling H, Schwabe K, Rhein M. Epigenetic Regulation of Neural Transmission after Cerebellar Fastigial Nucleus Lesions in Juvenile Rats. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 20:922-930. [PMID: 33834423 PMCID: PMC8674159 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01264-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Structural and functional abnormalities in the cerebellar midline region, including the fastigial nucleus, have been reported in neuropsychiatric disorders, also comprising the cerebellar cognitive affecting syndrome. In rats, early fastigial lesions reduce social interaction during development and lead to cognitive and emotional deficits in adults, accompanied by compromised neuronal network activity. Since epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, we investigated whether fastigial nucleus lesions in juvenile rats would impact epigenetic regulation of neural transmission. The fastigial nucleus was lesioned bilaterally in 23-day-old male rats. Sham-lesion and naïve rats served as controls. DNA methylation was investigated for target genes of the GABAergic, dopaminergic, glutamatergic and oxytocinergic systems in brain regions with anatomic connections to the fastigial nucleus, i.e., medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, striatum, thalamus, and sensorimotor cortex. Protein expression was examined for the respective target genes in case of altered DNA methylation between lesion and control groups. Lesioning of the fastigial nucleus led to significant differences in the epigenetic regulation of glutamate decarboxylase 1 and the oxytocin receptor in the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex. No differences were found for the other target genes and brain regions. Our findings indicate that epigenetic dysregulation after lesioning of the fastigial nucleus may influence long-term recovery and the emergence of behavioral changes. Together with previous behavioral and electrophysiological investigations of this rat model, these observations can play a role in the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Svilen Angelov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marc A N Muschler
- Department of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Glahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Shadi Al-Afif
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Yazeed Al Krinawe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Elvis J Hermann
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Joachim K Krauss
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Helge Frieling
- Department of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schwabe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mathias Rhein
- Department of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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11
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Richetto J, Meyer U. Epigenetic Modifications in Schizophrenia and Related Disorders: Molecular Scars of Environmental Exposures and Source of Phenotypic Variability. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:215-226. [PMID: 32381277 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications are increasingly recognized to play a role in the etiology and pathophysiology of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders with developmental origins. Here, we summarize clinical and preclinical findings of epigenetic alterations in schizophrenia and relevant disease models and discuss their putative origin. Recent findings suggest that certain schizophrenia risk loci can influence stochastic variation in gene expression through epigenetic processes, highlighting the intricate interaction between genetic and epigenetic control of neurodevelopmental trajectories. In addition, a substantial portion of epigenetic alterations in schizophrenia and related disorders may be acquired through environmental factors and may be manifested as molecular "scars." Some of these scars can influence brain functions throughout the entire lifespan and may even be transmitted across generations via epigenetic germline inheritance. Epigenetic modifications, whether caused by genetic or environmental factors, are plausible molecular sources of phenotypic heterogeneity and offer a target for therapeutic interventions. The further elucidation of epigenetic modifications thus may increase our knowledge regarding schizophrenia's heterogeneous etiology and pathophysiology and, in the long term, may advance personalized treatments through the use of biomarker-guided epigenetic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, and Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, and Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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12
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Miyata S, Kakizaki T, Fujihara K, Obinata H, Hirano T, Nakai J, Tanaka M, Itohara S, Watanabe M, Tanaka KF, Abe M, Sakimura K, Yanagawa Y. Global knockdown of glutamate decarboxylase 67 elicits emotional abnormality in mice. Mol Brain 2021; 14:5. [PMID: 33413507 PMCID: PMC7789591 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-00713-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Reduced expression of glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67), encoded by the Gad1 gene, is a consistent finding in postmortem brains of patients with several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. The dysfunction of GAD67 in the brain is implicated in the pathophysiology of these psychiatric disorders; however, the neurobiological consequences of GAD67 dysfunction in mature brains are not fully understood because the homozygous Gad1 knockout is lethal in newborn mice. We hypothesized that the tetracycline-controlled gene expression/suppression system could be applied to develop global GAD67 knockdown mice that would survive into adulthood. In addition, GAD67 knockdown mice would provide new insights into the neurobiological impact of GAD67 dysfunction. Here, we developed Gad1tTA/STOP−tetO biallelic knock-in mice using Gad1STOP−tetO and Gad1tTA knock-in mice, and compared them with Gad1+/+ mice. The expression level of GAD67 protein in brains of Gad1tTA/STOP−tetO mice treated with doxycycline (Dox) was decreased by approximately 90%. The GABA content was also decreased in the brains of Dox-treated Gad1tTA/STOP−tetO mice. In the open-field test, Dox-treated Gad1tTA/STOP−tetO mice exhibited hyper-locomotor activity and decreased duration spent in the center region. In addition, acoustic startle responses were impaired in Dox-treated Gad1tTA/STOP−tetO mice. These results suggest that global reduction in GAD67 elicits emotional abnormalities in mice. These GAD67 knockdown mice will be useful for elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms of emotional abnormalities, such as anxiety symptoms associated with psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeo Miyata
- Department of Genetic and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan.
| | - Toshikazu Kakizaki
- Department of Genetic and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Fujihara
- Department of Genetic and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hideru Obinata
- Laboratory for Analytical Instruments, Education and Research Support Center, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Touko Hirano
- Laboratory for Analytical Instruments, Education and Research Support Center, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Junichi Nakai
- Division of Oral Physiology, Department of Oral Function and Morphology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Mika Tanaka
- Laboratory for Behavioral Genetics, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Shigeyoshi Itohara
- Laboratory for Behavioral Genetics, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Kenji F Tanaka
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Manabu Abe
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, 951-8585, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakimura
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, 951-8585, Japan
| | - Yuchio Yanagawa
- Department of Genetic and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan.
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EEG Source Network for the Diagnosis of Schizophrenia and the Identification of Subtypes Based on Symptom Severity-A Machine Learning Approach. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9123934. [PMID: 33291657 PMCID: PMC7761931 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9123934] [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: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A precise diagnosis and a comprehensive assessment of symptom severity are important clinical issues in patients with schizophrenia (SZ). We investigated whether electroencephalography (EEG) features obtained from EEG source network analyses could be effectively applied to classify the SZ subtypes based on symptom severity. Sixty-four electrode EEG signals were recorded from 119 patients with SZ (53 males and 66 females) and 119 normal controls (NC, 51 males and 68 females) during resting-state with closed eyes. Brain network features (global and local clustering coefficient and global path length) were calculated from EEG source activities. According to positive, negative, and cognitive/disorganization symptoms, the SZ patients were divided into two groups (high and low) by positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS). To select features for classification, we used the sequential forward selection (SFS) method. The classification accuracy was evaluated using 10 by 10-fold cross-validation with the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier. The best classification accuracy was 80.66% for estimating SZ patients from the NC group. The best classification accuracy between low and high groups in positive, negative, and cognitive/disorganization symptoms were 88.10%, 75.25%, and 77.78%, respectively. The selected features well-represented the pathological brain regions of SZ. Our study suggested that resting-state EEG network features could successfully classify between SZ patients and the NC, and between low and high SZ groups in positive, negative, and cognitive/disorganization symptoms.
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Tendilla-Beltrán H, Sanchez-Islas NDC, Marina-Ramos M, Leza JC, Flores G. The prefrontal cortex as a target for atypical antipsychotics in schizophrenia, lessons of neurodevelopmental animal models. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 199:101967. [PMID: 33271238 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Prefrontal cortex (PFC) inflammatory imbalance, oxidative/nitrosative stress (O/NS) and impaired neuroplasticity in schizophrenia are thought to have neurodevelopmental origins. Animal models are not only useful to test this hypothesis, they are also effective to establish a relationship among brain disturbances and behavior with the atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) effects. Here we review data of PFC post-mortem and in vivo neuroimaging, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), and peripheral blood studies of inflammatory, O/NS, and neuroplasticity alterations in the disease as well as about their modulation by AAPs. Moreover, we reviewed the PFC alterations and the AAP mechanisms beyond their canonical antipsychotic action in four neurodevelopmental animal models relevant to the study of schizophrenia with a distinct approach in the generation of schizophrenia-like phenotypes, but all converge in O/NS and altered neuroplasticity in the PFC. These animal models not only reinforce the neurodevelopmental risk factor model of schizophrenia but also arouse some novel potential therapeutic targets for the disease including the reestablishment of the antioxidant response by the perineuronal nets (PNNs) and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) pathway, as well as the dendritic spine dynamics in the PFC pyramidal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiram Tendilla-Beltrán
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, Mexico; Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), CDMX, Mexico
| | | | - Mauricio Marina-Ramos
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Juan C Leza
- Departamento de Farmacología y Toxicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), UCM. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital, 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Flores
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, Mexico.
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Du Y, Chen L, Li XS, Li XL, Xu XD, Tai SB, Yang GL, Tang Q, Liu H, Liu SH, Zhang SY, Cheng Y. Metabolomic Identification of Exosome-Derived Biomarkers for Schizophrenia: A Large Multicenter Study. Schizophr Bull 2020; 47:615-623. [PMID: 33159208 PMCID: PMC8084447 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes have been suggested as promising targets for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases, including schizophrenia (SCZ), but the potential role of exosome-derived metabolites in these diseases was rarely studied. Using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we performed the first metabolomic study of serum-derived exosomes from patients with SCZ. Our sample comprised 385 patients and 332 healthy controls recruited from 3 clinical centers and 4 independent cohorts. We identified 25 perturbed metabolites in patients that can be used to classify samples from patients and control participants with 95.7% accuracy (95% CI: 92.6%-98.9%) in the training samples (78 patients and 66 controls). These metabolites also showed good to excellent performance in differentiating between patients and controls in the 3 test sets of participants, with accuracies 91.0% (95% CI: 85.7%-96.3%; 107 patients and 62 controls), 82.7% (95% CI: 77.6%-87.9%; 104 patients and 142 controls), and 99.0% (95% CI: 97.7%-100%; 96 patients and 62 controls), respectively. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that these metabolites were enriched in pathways implicated in SCZ, such as glycerophospholipid metabolism. Taken together, our findings support a role for exosomal metabolite dysregulation in the pathophysiology of SCZ and indicate a strong potential for exosome-derived metabolites to inform the diagnosis of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Du
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Song Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiang-Dong Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, Urumqi Fourth People’s Hospital, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Shao-Bin Tai
- Department of Psychiatry, Huangshan Second People’s Hospital, Huangshan, An Hui, China
| | - Geng-Lin Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Urumqi Fourth People’s Hospital, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Quan Tang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Han Liu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Yao Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China,College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China,NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Research, Prevention, and Treatment, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health-Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China,To whom correspondence should be addressed; 27 South Zhongguancun Avenue, Beijing 100081, China; tel: 86-10-68931383, fax: 86-10-68936927, e-mail:
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Epigenomic Dysregulation in Schizophrenia: In Search of Disease Etiology and Biomarkers. Cells 2020; 9:cells9081837. [PMID: 32764320 PMCID: PMC7463953 DOI: 10.3390/cells9081837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with a complex array of signs and symptoms that causes very significant disability in young people. While schizophrenia has a strong genetic component, with heritability around 80%, there is also a very significant range of environmental exposures and stressors that have been implicated in disease development and neuropathology, such as maternal immune infection, obstetric complications, childhood trauma and cannabis exposure. It is postulated that epigenetic factors, as well as regulatory non-coding RNAs, mediate the effects of these environmental stressors. In this review, we explore the most well-known epigenetic marks, including DNA methylation and histone modification, along with emerging RNA mediators of epigenomic state, including miRNAs and lncRNAs, and discuss their collective potential for involvement in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia implicated through the postmortem analysis of brain tissue. Given that peripheral tissues, such as blood, saliva, and olfactory epithelium have the same genetic composition and are exposed to many of the same environmental exposures, we also examine some studies supporting the application of peripheral tissues for epigenomic biomarker discovery in schizophrenia. Finally, we provide some perspective on how these biomarkers may be utilized to capture a signature of past events that informs future treatment.
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Li H, Lin LY, Zhang Y, Lim Y, Rahman M, Beck A, Al-Hawwas M, Feng S, Bobrovskaya L, Zhou XF. Pro-BDNF Knockout Causes Abnormal Motor Behaviours and Early Death in Mice. Neuroscience 2020; 438:145-157. [PMID: 32413397 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family, best characterized for its survival and differentiative effects in the central nervous system. Pro-BDNF, known as the precursor of BDNF, is believed to have opposite functions to mature BDNF (mBDNF). The opposing effects of Pro-BDNF and mBDNF have led researchers to propose a 'yin' (Pro-BDNF) and 'yang' (mBDNF) model of which, the specific mechanism of its opposing functions is unclear and requires further investigation. In order to elucidate pro-BDNF's explicit role, we established a pro-BDNF knockout (KO) mouse model. This BDNF pro-domain KO mouse model showed significant weight loss, impaired righting reflex, abnormal motor behaviours and short lifespan (less than 22 days), mimicking a Huntington's disease (HD)-like phenotype. ELISA results showed BDNF pro-domain KO not only blocked pro-BDNF, but also significantly affected the level of mBDNF. Abnormal morphologic changes were found in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus in pro-BDNF KO mice, and western blot confirmed significant cell apoptosis in pro-BDNF KO mice brains. Furthermore, the expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase 65/67 (GAD65/67) was significantly reduced in pro-BDNF KO mice, indicating impaired inhibitory neurotransmission. Heterozygous (Het) mice showed impaired learning and memory capability and depressive-like behaviours, compared with wild type (WT) mice. Overall, these results support that pro-domain of BDNF is an indispensable part of the BDNF gene; without the proper formation of pro-BDNF, mBDNF cannot be produced successfully and function correctly on its own. Our study also supports the BDNF hypothesis in the pathogenesis of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Li
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Li-Ying Lin
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Yan Zhang
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Yoon Lim
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Mehreen Rahman
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Andrew Beck
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Mohammed Al-Hawwas
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Shiqing Feng
- Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Larisa Bobrovskaya
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Xin-Fu Zhou
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
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Hadizadeh H, Salehi M, Bozorgnia AR, Ahmadkhaniha HR. Lower folate levels in methamphetamine-induced psychosis: A cross-sectional study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 207:107682. [PMID: 31841749 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Folate deficiency is shown to be associated with schizophrenia. Folate profile in patients with psychosis due to stimulant use has not been investigated. We aim to determine whether there is an association between serum folate level and the presence of psychosis in patients with methamphetamine (METH) use disorder. METHODS Forty patients diagnosed with METH-use disorder were included in this cross-sectional study. Serum folate levels were measured using enzyme immunoassay technique and compared between psychotic and non-psychotic subgroups (N = 25 and 15, respectively). We designed a logistic regression model to measure the extent of any association and also to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS We detected lower serum folate level in the psychotics [3.4 (IQR = 5.3)] compared to non-psychotic METH users [8.9 (IQR = 2.5)], p = 0.01. The model demonstrated that every 1-unit increase in serum folate decreases the odds of presence of psychosis by 27% (R2 = 53.5%, CI 12-64%, p = 0.006). The observed difference was not associated with the duration of METH use, patient's age at first METH use, or concurrent use of other substances. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that low folate level in psychotic METH users does not correlate with previously established risk factors for meth-induced psychosis such as duration of use, age of onset of using, and poly-drug use. We assume that low folate levels may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasti Hadizadeh
- Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Department of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Clinical Research, Nikan Health Researchers Institute (NHRI), Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Salehi
- Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Department of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Clinical Research, Nikan Health Researchers Institute (NHRI), Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Reza Bozorgnia
- Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Department of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Ahmadkhaniha
- Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Department of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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19
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The regulation of glutamic acid decarboxylases in GABA neurotransmission in the brain. Arch Pharm Res 2019; 42:1031-1039. [PMID: 31786745 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-019-01196-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter that is required for the control of synaptic excitation/inhibition and neural oscillation. GABA is synthesized by glutamic acid decarboxylases (GADs) that are widely distributed and localized to axon terminals of inhibitory neurons as well as to the soma and, to a lesser extent, dendrites. The expression and activity of GADs is highly correlated with GABA levels and subsequent GABAergic neurotransmission at the inhibitory synapse. Dysregulation of GADs has been implicated in various neurological disorders including epilepsy and schizophrenia. Two isoforms of GADs, GAD67 and GAD65, are expressed from separate genes and have different regulatory processes and molecular properties. This review focuses on the recent advances in understanding the structure of GAD, its transcriptional regulation and post-transcriptional modifications in the central nervous system. This may provide insights into the pathological mechanisms underlying neurological diseases that are associated with GAD dysfunction.
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20
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Alizadeh F, Davoodian N, Kazemi H, Ghasemi-Kasman M, Shaerzadeh F. Prenatal zinc supplementation attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced behavioral impairments in maternal immune activation model. Behav Brain Res 2019; 377:112247. [PMID: 31545978 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Maternal infection during pregnancy is considered a key risk factor for developing schizophrenia in offspring. There is evidence that maternal exposure to infectious agents is associated with fetal zinc deficiency. Due to the essential role of zinc in brain function and development, in the present study, we activated maternal immune system using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a model of schizophrenia to examine whether zinc supplementation throughout pregnancy can reverse LPS-induced deleterious effects. To test the hypothesis, pregnant rats were treated with intraperitoneal injection of either saline or LPS (0.5 mg/kg) at gestational day 15 and 16, and zinc supplementation (30 mg/kg) was administered throughout pregnancy by gavage. At postnatal day 60, Y-maze was used to evaluate working memory of offspring. Moreover, the expression levels of catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) and glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) were measured in the frontal cortex of the brain samples. Only male offspring prenatally exposed to LPS showed a significant impairment in working memory. In addition, prenatal LPS exposure causes a moderate decrease in GAD67 expression level in the male pups, while COMT expression was found unchanged. Interestingly, zinc supplementation restored the alterations in working memory as well as GAD67 mRNA level in the male rats. No alteration was detected for neither working memory nor COMT/GAD67 genes expression in female offspring. This study demonstrates that zinc supplementation during pregnancy can attenuate LPS-induced impairments in male pups. These results support the idea to consume zinc supplementation during pregnancy to limit neurodevelopmental deficits induced by infections in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Alizadeh
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Nahid Davoodian
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
| | - Haniyeh Kazemi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Maryam Ghasemi-Kasman
- Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Science, Babol, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Shaerzadeh
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine and McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
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Egervari G, Kozlenkov A, Dracheva S, Hurd YL. Molecular windows into the human brain for psychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:653-673. [PMID: 29955163 PMCID: PMC6310674 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0125-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Delineating the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders has been extremely challenging but technological advances in recent decades have facilitated a deeper interrogation of molecular processes in the human brain. Initial candidate gene expression studies of the postmortem brain have evolved into genome wide profiling of the transcriptome and the epigenome, a critical regulator of gene expression. Here, we review the potential and challenges of direct molecular characterization of the postmortem human brain, and provide a brief overview of recent transcriptional and epigenetic studies with respect to neuropsychiatric disorders. Such information can now be leveraged and integrated with the growing number of genome-wide association databases to provide a functional context of trait-associated genetic variants linked to psychiatric illnesses and related phenotypes. While it is clear that the field is still developing and challenges remain to be surmounted, these recent advances nevertheless hold tremendous promise for delineating the neurobiological underpinnings of mental diseases and accelerating the development of novel medication strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor Egervari
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Addiction Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Alexey Kozlenkov
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Stella Dracheva
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Yasmin L Hurd
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Addiction Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Magri C, Giacopuzzi E, La Via L, Bonini D, Ravasio V, Elhussiny MEA, Orizio F, Gangemi F, Valsecchi P, Bresciani R, Barbon A, Vita A, Gennarelli M. A novel homozygous mutation in GAD1 gene described in a schizophrenic patient impairs activity and dimerization of GAD67 enzyme. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15470. [PMID: 30341396 PMCID: PMC6195539 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33924-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, by whole exome sequencing of schizophrenia (SCZ) patients, we identified a subject that was homozygous for a novel missense substitution (c.391 A > G) in the glutamate acid decarboxylase 1 (GAD1) gene. GAD1 encodes for GAD67 enzyme, catalyzing the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from L-glutamic acid. Here, we studied the impact of this mutation on GAD67 activity, dimerization and subcellular localization. Biochemical assay revealed that c.391 A > G reduces GAD67 enzymatic activity by ~30%, probably due to the impaired homodimerization of homozygous mutants as highlighted by proximity ligation assays. The mutational screening of 120 genes of the "GABAergic system" in a cohort of 4,225 SCZ cases and 5,834 controls (dbGaP: phs000473.v1.p2), did not identify other cases that were homozygous for ultra-rare variants in GAD1, but highlighted an increased frequency of cases that were homozygous for rare variants in genes of the GABA system (SCZ: 0.14% vs. Controls: 0.00%; p-value = 0.0055). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the functional impact of c.391 A > G variant and its biological effect makes it a good candidate as risk variant for SCZ. This study also supports an involvement of ultra-rare variants in GABAergic genes in the etiopathogenesis of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Magri
- Unit of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Edoardo Giacopuzzi
- Unit of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luca La Via
- Unit of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniela Bonini
- Unit of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Viola Ravasio
- Unit of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mohammed E A Elhussiny
- Unit of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Flavia Orizio
- Unit of Biotechnology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Gangemi
- Unit of Physics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Valsecchi
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Bresciani
- Unit of Biotechnology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Barbon
- Unit of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonio Vita
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Gennarelli
- Unit of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Genetic Unit, IRCCS Centro S. Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
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Weng X, Liu F, Zhang H, Kan M, Wang T, Dong M, Liu Y. Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in infants born to gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2018; 142:10-18. [PMID: 29596946 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2018.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Offspring exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at a high risk for metabolic diseases. The mechanisms behind the association between offspring exposed to GDM in utero and an increased risk of health consequences later in life remain unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the changes in methylation levels in the foetuses of women with GDM and to explore the possible mechanisms linking maternal GDM with a high risk of metabolic diseases in offspring later in life. METHODS A genome-wide comparative methylome analysis on the umbilical cord blood of infants born to 30 women with GDM and 33 women with normal pregnancy was performed using Infinium HumanMethylation 450 BeadChip assays. A quantitative methylation analysis of 18 CpG dinucleotides was verified in the validation umbilical cord blood samples from 102 newborns exposed to GDM and 103 newborns who experienced normal pregnancy by MassARRAY EpiTYPER. RESULTS A total of 4485 differentially methylated sites (DMSs), including 2150 hypermethylated sites and 2335 hypomethylated sites, with a mean β-value difference of >0.05, were identified by the 450k array. Good agreement was observed between the massarray validation data and the 450k array data (R2 > 0.99; P < 0.0001). Thirty-seven CpGs (representing 20 genes) with a β-value difference of > 0.15 between the GDM and healthy groups were identified and showed potential as clinical biomarkers for GDM. "hsa04940: Type I diabetes mellitus" was the most significant Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, with a P-value = 3.20E-07 and 1.36E-02 in the hypermethylated and hypomethylated genepathway enrichment analyses, respectively. In the Gene Ontology (GO) pathway analyses, immune MHC (major histocompatibility complex)-related pathways and neuron development-related pathways were significantly enriched. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that GDM has epigenetic effects on genes that are preferentially involved in the Type I diabetes mellitus pathway, immune MHC-related pathways and neuron development-related pathways, with consequences on fetal growth and development, and provide supportive evidence that DNA methylation is involved in fetal metabolic programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Weng
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China; Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Fatao Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Mengyuan Kan
- Bio-X Center, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, PR China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Minyue Dong
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, PR China
| | - Yun Liu
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, PR China.
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Bator E, Latusz J, Wędzony K, Maćkowiak M. Adolescent environmental enrichment prevents the emergence of schizophrenia-like abnormalities in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2018; 28:97-108. [PMID: 29174863 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2017.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated whether exposure to an enriched environment (EE) during adolescence might affect the behavioural dysfunction (sensorimotor gating deficit, memory and social interaction impairments) and neurochemical changes (GAD67 expression, histone methylation) induced by methylazoxymethanol (MAM) in the MAM-E17 rat model of schizophrenia. EE was introduced for 7 days in early adolescence (days 23-29), and behavioural and biochemical studies were performed on adult rats at postnatal day 70. The results showed that exposure to EE prevented the development of adult behavioural deficits induced by prenatal MAM administration. EE also prevented the decrease in GAD67 mRNA and protein levels induced by MAM in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Moreover, EE inhibited the reductions in the amount of Gad1 bound to H3K4me3 and in the total H3K4me3 protein level induced by prenatal MAM administration in the adult mPFC. However, there was no effect of EE on behaviour or levels of the various neurochemical markers in adult rats prenatally treated with vehicle. Thus, these results indicate that EE exposure during early adolescence may inhibit the development of schizophrenia related symptoms through epigenetic mechanisms that regulate the expression of genes (e.g., Gad1) that are impaired in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Bator
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Joachim Latusz
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Wędzony
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Marzena Maćkowiak
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Smętna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland.
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Engmann O, Labonte B, Mitchell A, Bashtrykov P, Calipari ES, Rosenbluh C, Loh YHE, Walker DM, Burek D, Hamilton PJ, Issler O, Neve RL, Turecki G, Hurd Y, Chess A, Shen L, Mansuy I, Jeltsch A, Akbarian S, Nestler EJ. Cocaine-Induced Chromatin Modifications Associate With Increased Expression and Three-Dimensional Looping of Auts2. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 82:794-805. [PMID: 28577753 PMCID: PMC5671915 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to drugs of abuse alters the epigenetic landscape of the brain's reward regions, such as the nucleus accumbens. We investigated how combinations of chromatin modifications affect genes that regulate responses to cocaine. We focused on Auts2, a gene linked to human evolution and cognitive disorders, which displays strong clustering of cocaine-induced chromatin modifications in this brain region. METHODS We combined chromosome conformation capture, circularized chromosome conformation capture, and related approaches with behavioral paradigms relevant to cocaine phenotypes. Cell type-specific functions were assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and viral-mediated overexpression in Cre-dependent mouse lines. RESULTS We observed that Auts2 gene expression is increased by repeated cocaine administration specifically in D2-type medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens, an effect seen in male but not female mice. Auts2 messenger RNA expression was also upregulated postmortem in the nucleus accumbens of male human cocaine addicts. We obtained evidence that chromosomal looping, bypassing 1524 kb of linear genome, connects Auts2 to the Caln1 gene locus under baseline conditions. This looping was disrupted after repeated cocaine exposure, resulting in increased expression of both genes in D2-type medium spiny neurons. Cocaine exposure reduces binding of CCCTC-binding factor, a chromosomal scaffolding protein, and increases histone and DNA methylation at the Auts-Caln1 loop base in the nucleus accumbens. Cell type-specific overexpression of Auts2 or Caln1 in D2-type medium spiny neurons demonstrated that both genes promote cocaine reward. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that cocaine-induced alterations of neuronal three-dimensional genome organization destabilize higher order chromatin at specific loci that regulate responses to the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Engmann
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Benoit Labonte
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Amanda Mitchell
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pavel Bashtrykov
- Institute of Biochemistry, Stuttgart University, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Erin S. Calipari
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Chaggai Rosenbluh
- Departments of Developmental and Regenerative Biology and of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yong-Hwee E. Loh
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Deena M. Walker
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Dominika Burek
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Peter J. Hamilton
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Orna Issler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Rachael L. Neve
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Canada
| | - Yasmin Hurd
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew Chess
- Departments of Developmental and Regenerative Biology and of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Isabelle Mansuy
- University of Zurich / ETH Zurich, Brain Research Institute, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Institute of Biochemistry, Stuttgart University, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric J. Nestler
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
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Giacopuzzi E, Gennarelli M, Minelli A, Gardella R, Valsecchi P, Traversa M, Bonvicini C, Vita A, Sacchetti E, Magri C. Exome sequencing in schizophrenic patients with high levels of homozygosity identifies novel and extremely rare mutations in the GABA/glutamatergic pathways. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182778. [PMID: 28787007 PMCID: PMC5546675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Inbreeding is a known risk factor for recessive Mendelian diseases and previous studies have suggested that it could also play a role in complex disorders, such as psychiatric diseases. Recent inbreeding results in the presence of long runs of homozygosity (ROHs) along the genome, which are also defined as autozygosity regions. Genetic variants in these regions have two alleles that are identical by descent, thus increasing the odds of bearing rare recessive deleterious mutations due to a homozygous state. A recent study showed a suggestive enrichment of long ROHs in schizophrenic patients, suggesting that recent inbreeding could play a role in the disease. To better understand the impact of autozygosity on schizophrenia risk, we selected, from a cohort of 180 Italian patients, seven subjects with extremely high numbers of large ROHs that were likely due to recent inbreeding and characterized the mutational landscape within their ROHs using Whole Exome Sequencing and, gene set enrichment analysis. We identified a significant overlap (17%; empirical p-value = 0.0171) between genes inside ROHs affected by low frequency functional homozygous variants (107 genes) and the group of most promising candidate genes mutated in schizophrenia. Moreover, in four patients, we identified novel and extremely rare damaging mutations in the genes involved in neurodevelopment (MEGF8) and in GABA/glutamatergic synaptic transmission (GAD1, FMN1, ANO2). These results provide insights into the contribution of rare recessive mutations and inbreeding as risk factors for schizophrenia. ROHs that are likely due to recent inbreeding harbor a combination of predisposing low-frequency variants and extremely rare variants that have a high impact on pivotal biological pathways implicated in the disease. In addition, this study confirms that focusing on patients with high levels of homozygosity could be a useful prioritization strategy for discovering new high-impact mutations in genetically complex disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Giacopuzzi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Gennarelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Genetic Unit, IRCCS Centro S. Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Minelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rita Gardella
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Valsecchi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neuroscience Section, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Michele Traversa
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cristian Bonvicini
- Genetic Unit, IRCCS Centro S. Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonio Vita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neuroscience Section, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emilio Sacchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neuroscience Section, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Magri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Schizophrenia is a devastating disease that arises on the background of genetic predisposition and environmental risk factors, such as early life stress (ELS). In this study, we show that ELS-induced schizophrenia-like phenotypes in mice correlate with a widespread increase of histone-deacetylase 1 (Hdac1) expression that is linked to altered DNA methylation. Hdac1 overexpression in neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex, but not in the dorsal or ventral hippocampus, mimics schizophrenia-like phenotypes induced by ELS. Systemic administration of an HDAC inhibitor rescues the detrimental effects of ELS when applied after the manifestation of disease phenotypes. In addition to the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, mice subjected to ELS exhibit increased Hdac1 expression in blood. Moreover, Hdac1 levels are increased in blood samples from patients with schizophrenia who had encountered ELS, compared with patients without ELS experience. Our data suggest that HDAC1 inhibition should be considered as a therapeutic approach to treat schizophrenia.
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Early Social Isolation Stress and Perinatal NMDA Receptor Antagonist Treatment Induce Changes in the Structure and Neurochemistry of Inhibitory Neurons of the Adult Amygdala and Prefrontal Cortex. eNeuro 2017; 4:eN-NWR-0034-17. [PMID: 28466069 PMCID: PMC5411163 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0034-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The exposure to aversive experiences during early life influences brain development and leads to altered behavior. Moreover, the combination of these experiences with subtle alterations in neurodevelopment may contribute to the emergence of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. Recent hypotheses suggest that imbalances between excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) neurotransmission, especially in the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, may underlie their etiopathology. In order to understand better the neurobiological bases of these alterations, we studied the impact of altered neurodevelopment and chronic early-life stress on these two brain regions. Transgenic mice displaying fluorescent excitatory and inhibitory neurons, received a single injection of MK801 (NMDAR antagonist) or vehicle solution at postnatal day 7 and/or were socially isolated from the age of weaning until adulthood (3 months old). We found that anxiety-related behavior, brain volume, neuronal structure, and the expression of molecules related to plasticity and E/I neurotransmission in adult mice were importantly affected by early-life stress. Interestingly, many of these effects were potentiated when the stress paradigm was applied to mice perinatally injected with MK801 ("double-hit" model). These results clearly show the impact of early-life stress on the adult brain, especially on the structure and plasticity of inhibitory networks, and highlight the double-hit model as a valuable tool to study the contribution of early-life stress in the emergence of neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia.
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Lee B, Zhang Y, Kim Y, Kim S, Lee Y, Han K. Age-dependent decrease of GAD65/67 mRNAs but normal densities of GABAergic interneurons in the brain regions of Shank3-overexpressing manic mouse model. Neurosci Lett 2017; 649:48-54. [PMID: 28400125 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Dysfunction of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons is considered a major pathophysiological feature of various neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. The variants of SHANK3 gene, encoding a core scaffold protein of the excitatory postsynapse, have been associated with numerous brain disorders. It has been suggested that abnormalities of GABAergic interneurons could contribute to the SHANK3-related disorders, but the limitation of these studies is that they used mainly Shank3 knock-out mice. Notably, Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice, modeling human hyperkinetic disorders, also show reduced inhibitory synaptic transmission, abnormal electroencephalography, and spontaneous seizures. However, it has not been investigated whether these phenotypes of Shank3 transgenic mice are associated with GABAergic interneuron dysfunction, or solely due to the cell-autonomous postsynaptic changes of principal neurons. To address this issue, we investigated the densities of parvalbumin- and somatostatin-positive interneurons, and the mRNA and protein levels of GAD65/67 GABA-synthesizing enzymes in the medial prefrontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus of adult Shank3 transgenic mice. We found no significant difference in the measurements performed on wild-type versus Shank3 transgenic mice, except for the decreased GAD65 or GAD67 mRNAs in these brain regions. Interestingly, only GAD65 mRNA was decreased in the hippocampus, but not mPFC and striatum, of juvenile Shank3 transgenic mice which, unlike the adult mice, did not show behavioral hyperactivity. Together, our results suggest age-dependent decrease of GAD65/67 mRNAs but normal densities of certain GABAergic interneurons in the Shank3 transgenic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bokyoung Lee
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Yinhua Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Yoonhee Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Shinhyun Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Yeunkum Lee
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Kihoon Han
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea.
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Glausier JR, Lewis DA. GABA and schizophrenia: Where we stand and where we need to go. Schizophr Res 2017; 181:2-3. [PMID: 28179064 PMCID: PMC5365350 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jill R Glausier
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, Biomedical Science Tower W1654, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
| | - David A Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, Biomedical Science Tower W1654, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
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Yee JY, Nurjono M, Teo SR, Lee TS, Lee J. GAD1 Gene Expression in Blood of Patients with First-Episode Psychosis. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170805. [PMID: 28122016 PMCID: PMC5266282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, has often been studied in relation to its role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. GABA is synthesized from glutamate by glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), derived from two genes, GAD1 and GAD2. GAD1 is expressed as both GAD67 and GAD25 mRNA transcripts with the former reported to have a lower expression level in schizophrenia compared to healthy controls and latter was reported to be predominantly expressed fetally, suggesting a role in developmental process. In this study, GAD67 and GAD25 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in peripheral blood of subjects with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and from healthy controls. We observed low GAD25 and GAD67 gene expression levels in human peripheral blood. There was no difference in GAD25 and GAD67 gene expression level, and GAD25/GAD67 ratio between patients with FEP and healthy controls. PANSS negative symptoms were associated with levels of GAD25 mRNA transcripts in patients with FEP. While the current study provides information on GAD25 and GAD67 mRNA transcript levels in whole blood of FEP patients, further correlation and validation work between brain regions, cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood expression profiling are required to provide a better understanding of GAD25 and GAD67.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yin Yee
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
| | - Milawaty Nurjono
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stephanie Ruth Teo
- Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tih-Shih Lee
- Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jimmy Lee
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of General Psychiatry 1, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore
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Abstract
Schizophrenia is a highly heritable psychiatric condition that displays a complex phenotype. A multitude of genetic susceptibility loci have now been identified, but these fail to explain the high heritability estimates of schizophrenia. In addition, epidemiologically relevant environmental risk factors for schizophrenia may lead to permanent changes in brain function. In conjunction with genetic liability, these environmental risk factors-likely through epigenetic mechanisms-may give rise to schizophrenia, a clinical syndrome characterized by florid psychotic symptoms and moderate to severe cognitive impairment. These pathophysiological features point to the involvement of epigenetic processes. Recently, a wave of studies examining aberrant DNA modifications in schizophrenia was published. This chapter aims to comprehensively review the current findings, from both candidate gene studies and genome-wide approaches, on DNA methylation changes in schizophrenia.
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Mubarik A, Tohid H. Frontal lobe alterations in schizophrenia: a review. TRENDS IN PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY 2016; 38:198-206. [DOI: 10.1590/2237-6089-2015-0088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Objective: To highlight the changes in the frontal lobe of the human brain in people with schizophrenia. Methods: This was a qualitative review of the literature. Results: Many schizophrenic patients exhibit functional, structural, and metabolic abnormalities in the frontal lobe. Some patients have few or no alterations, while some have more functional and structural changes than others. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows structural and functional changes in volume, gray matter, white matter, and functional activity in the frontal lobe, but the mechanisms underlying these changes are not yet fully understood. Conclusion: When schizophrenia is studied as an essential topic in the field of neuropsychiatry, neuroscientists find that the frontal lobe is the most commonly involved area of the human brain. A clear picture of how this lobe is affected in schizophrenia is still lacking. We therefore recommend that further research be conducted to improve understanding of the pathophysiology of this psychiatric dilemma.
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Labouesse MA, Dong E, Grayson DR, Guidotti A, Meyer U. Maternal immune activation induces GAD1 and GAD2 promoter remodeling in the offspring prefrontal cortex. Epigenetics 2016; 10:1143-55. [PMID: 26575259 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2015.1114202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal infection during pregnancy increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring. In addition to its influence on other neuronal systems, this early-life environmental adversity has been shown to negatively affect cortical γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) functions in adult life, including impaired prefrontal expression of enzymes required for GABA synthesis. The underlying molecular processes, however, remain largely unknown. In the present study, we explored whether epigenetic modifications represent a mechanism whereby maternal infection during pregnancy can induce such GABAergic impairments in the offspring. We used an established mouse model of prenatal immune challenge that is based on maternal treatment with the viral mimetic poly(I:C). We found that prenatal immune activation increased prefrontal levels of 5-methylated cytosines (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylated cytosines (5hmC) in the promoter region of GAD1, which encodes the 67-kDa isoform of the GABA-synthesising enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67). The early-life challenge also increased 5mC levels at the promoter region of GAD2, which encodes the 65-kDa GAD isoform (GAD65). These effects were accompanied by elevated GAD1 and GAD2 promoter binding of methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) and by reduced GAD67 and GAD65 mRNA expression. Moreover, the epigenetic modifications at the GAD1 promoter correlated with prenatal infection-induced impairments in working memory and social interaction. Our study thus highlights that hypermethylation of GAD1 and GAD2 promoters may be an important molecular mechanism linking prenatal infection to presynaptic GABAergic impairments and associated behavioral and cognitive abnormalities in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erbo Dong
- b Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry; College of Medicine; University of Illinois at Chicago ; Chicago , Illinois , USA
| | - Dennis Robert Grayson
- b Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry; College of Medicine; University of Illinois at Chicago ; Chicago , Illinois , USA
| | - Alessandro Guidotti
- b Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry; College of Medicine; University of Illinois at Chicago ; Chicago , Illinois , USA
| | - Urs Meyer
- a Physiology and Behavior Laboratory; ETH Zurich ; Schwerzenbach , Switzerland.,c Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Zurich-Vetsuisse ; Zurich , Switzerland
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Steiner J, Brisch R, Schiltz K, Dobrowolny H, Mawrin C, Krzyżanowska M, Bernstein HG, Jankowski Z, Braun K, Schmitt A, Bogerts B, Gos T. GABAergic system impairment in the hippocampus and superior temporal gyrus of patients with paranoid schizophrenia: A post-mortem study. Schizophr Res 2016; 177:10-17. [PMID: 26922657 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 02/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is a key enzyme in GABA synthesis and alterations in GABAergic neurotransmission related to glial abnormalities are thought to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study aimed to identify potential differences regarding the neuropil expression of GAD between paranoid and residual schizophrenia. METHODS GAD65/67 immunostained histological sections were evaluated by quantitative densitometric analysis of GAD-immunoreactive (ir) neuropil. Regions of interest were the hippocampal formation (CA1 field and dentate gyrus [DG]), superior temporal gyrus (STG), and laterodorsal thalamic nucleus (LD). Data from 16 post-mortem schizophrenia patient samples (10 paranoid and 6 residual schizophrenia cases) were compared with those from 16 matched controls. RESULTS Overall, schizophrenia patients showed a lower GAD-ir neuropil density (P=0.014), particularly in the right CA1 (P=0.033). However, the diagnostic subgroups differed significantly (P<0.001), mainly because of lower right CA1 GAD-ir neuropil density in paranoid versus residual patients (P=0.036) and controls (P<0.003). Significant GAD-ir neuropil reduction was also detected in the right STG layer V of paranoid versus residual schizophrenia cases (P=0.042). GAD-ir neuropil density correlated positively with antipsychotic dosage, particularly in CA1 (right: r=0.850, P=0.004; left: r=0.800, P=0.010). CONCLUSION Our finding of decreased relative density of GAD-ir neuropil suggests hypofunction of the GABAergic system, particularly in hippocampal CA1 field and STG layer V of patients with paranoid schizophrenia. The finding that antipsychotic medication seems to counterbalance GABAergic hypofunction in schizophrenia patients suggests the possibility of exploring new treatment avenues which target this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Ralf Brisch
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Kolja Schiltz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Henrik Dobrowolny
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christian Mawrin
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Marta Krzyżanowska
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Hans-Gert Bernstein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Zbigniew Jankowski
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katharina Braun
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Zoology/Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM27), Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bernhard Bogerts
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tomasz Gos
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland; Department of Zoology/Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
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Fullard JF, Halene TB, Giambartolomei C, Haroutunian V, Akbarian S, Roussos P. Understanding the genetic liability to schizophrenia through the neuroepigenome. Schizophr Res 2016; 177:115-124. [PMID: 26827128 PMCID: PMC4963306 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium-Schizophrenia Workgroup (PGC-SCZ) recently identified 108 loci associated with increased risk for schizophrenia (SCZ). The vast majority of these variants reside within non-coding sequences of the genome and are predicted to exert their effects by affecting the mechanism of action of cis regulatory elements (CREs), such as promoters and enhancers. Although a number of large-scale collaborative efforts (e.g. ENCODE) have achieved a comprehensive mapping of CREs in human cell lines or tissue homogenates, it is becoming increasingly evident that many risk-associated variants are enriched for expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTLs) and CREs in specific tissues or cells. As such, data derived from previous research endeavors may not capture fully cell-type and/or region specific changes associated with brain diseases. Coupling recent technological advances in genomics with cell-type specific methodologies, we are presented with an unprecedented opportunity to better understand the genetics of normal brain development and function and, in turn, the molecular basis of neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we will outline ongoing efforts towards this goal and will discuss approaches with the potential to shed light on the mechanism(s) of action of cell-type specific cis regulatory elements and their putative roles in disease, with particular emphasis on understanding the manner in which the epigenome and CREs influence the etiology of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Fullard
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tobias B. Halene
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (VISN 3), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Vahram Haroutunian
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (VISN 3), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Panos Roussos
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics and Genomic Science and Institute for Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (VISN 3), James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
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Murphy E, Benítez-Burraco A. Bridging the Gap between Genes and Language Deficits in Schizophrenia: An Oscillopathic Approach. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:422. [PMID: 27601987 PMCID: PMC4993770 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is characterized by marked language deficits, but it is not clear how these deficits arise from the alteration of genes related to the disease. The goal of this paper is to aid the bridging of the gap between genes and schizophrenia and, ultimately, give support to the view that the abnormal presentation of language in this condition is heavily rooted in the evolutionary processes that brought about modern language. To that end we will focus on how the schizophrenic brain processes language and, particularly, on its distinctive oscillatory profile during language processing. Additionally, we will show that candidate genes for schizophrenia are overrepresented among the set of genes that are believed to be important for the evolution of the human faculty of language. These genes crucially include (and are related to) genes involved in brain rhythmicity. We will claim that this translational effort and the links we uncover may help develop an understanding of language evolution, along with the etiology of schizophrenia, its clinical/linguistic profile, and its high prevalence among modern populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot Murphy
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London London, UK
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39
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Crowley T, Cryan JF, Downer EJ, O'Leary OF. Inhibiting neuroinflammation: The role and therapeutic potential of GABA in neuro-immune interactions. Brain Behav Immun 2016; 54:260-277. [PMID: 26851553 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system, once thought to be a site of immunological privilege, has since been found to harbour immunocompetent cells and to communicate with the peripheral nervous system. In the central nervous system (CNS), glial cells display immunological responses to pathological and physiological stimuli through pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine signalling, antigen presentation and the clearing of cellular debris through phagocytosis. While this neuroinflammatory signalling can act to reduce neuronal damage and comprises a key facet of CNS homeostasis, persistent inflammation or auto-antigen-mediated immunoreactivity can induce a positive feedback cycle of neuroinflammation that ultimately results in necrosis of glia and neurons. Persistent neuroinflammation has been recognised as a major pathological component of virtually all neurodegenerative diseases and has also been a focus of research into the pathology underlying psychiatric disorders. Thus, pharmacological strategies to curb the pathological effects of persistent neuroinflammation are of interest for many disorders of the CNS. Accumulating evidence suggests that GABAergic activities are closely bound to immune processes and signals, and thus the GABAergic neurotransmitter system might represent an important therapeutic target in modulating neuroinflammation. Here, we review evidence that inflammation induces changes in the GABA neurotransmitter system in the CNS and that GABAergic signalling exerts a reciprocal influence over neuroinflammatory processes. Together, the data support the hypothesis that the GABA system is a potential therapeutic target in the modulation of central inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadhg Crowley
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - John F Cryan
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Eric J Downer
- School of Medicine, Discipline of Physiology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Olivia F O'Leary
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Ireland.
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40
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Bicks LK, Koike H, Akbarian S, Morishita H. Prefrontal Cortex and Social Cognition in Mouse and Man. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1805. [PMID: 26635701 PMCID: PMC4659895 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Social cognition is a complex process that requires the integration of a wide variety of behaviors, including salience, reward-seeking, motivation, knowledge of self and others, and flexibly adjusting behavior in social groups. Not surprisingly, social cognition represents a sensitive domain commonly disrupted in the pathology of a variety of psychiatric disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Schizophrenia (SCZ). Here, we discuss convergent research from animal models to human disease that implicates the prefrontal cortex (PFC) as a key regulator in social cognition, suggesting that disruptions in prefrontal microcircuitry play an essential role in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders with shared social deficits. We take a translational perspective of social cognition, and review three key behaviors that are essential to normal social processing in rodents and humans, including social motivation, social recognition, and dominance hierarchy. A shared prefrontal circuitry may underlie these behaviors. Social cognition deficits in animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD and SCZ have been linked to an altered balance of excitation and inhibition (E/I ratio) within the cortex generally, and PFC specifically. A clear picture of the mechanisms by which altered E/I ratio in the PFC might lead to disruptions of social cognition across a variety of behaviors is not well understood. Future studies should explore how disrupted developmental trajectory of prefrontal microcircuitry could lead to altered E/I balance and subsequent deficits in the social domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy K Bicks
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA
| | - Hiroyuki Koike
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA
| | - Hirofumi Morishita
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA ; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA
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Salminen A, Jouhten P, Sarajärvi T, Haapasalo A, Hiltunen M. Hypoxia and GABA shunt activation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Neurochem Int 2015; 92:13-24. [PMID: 26617286 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2015.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We have previously observed that the conversion of mild cognitive impairment to definitive Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with a significant increase in the serum level of 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate (2,4-DHBA). The metabolic generation of 2,4-DHBA is linked to the activation of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt, an alternative energy production pathway activated during cellular stress, when the function of Krebs cycle is compromised. The GABA shunt can be triggered by local hypoperfusion and subsequent hypoxia in AD brains caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) is a key enzyme in the GABA shunt, converting succinic semialdehyde (SSA) into succinate, a Krebs cycle intermediate. A deficiency of SSADH activity stimulates the conversion of SSA into γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), an alternative route from the GABA shunt. GHB can exert not only acute neuroprotective activities but unfortunately also chronic detrimental effects which may lead to cognitive impairment. Subsequently, GHB can be metabolized to 2,4-DHBA and secreted from the brain. Thus, the activation of the GABA shunt and the generation of GHB and 2,4-DHBA can have an important role in the early phase of AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antero Salminen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Paula Jouhten
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; EMBL European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Timo Sarajärvi
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Annakaisa Haapasalo
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Neurobiology, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Neulaniementie 2, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, FI-70029 KYS, Finland
| | - Mikko Hiltunen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, FI-70029 KYS, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland
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Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder with a heterogeneous genetic and neurobiological background that influences early brain development, and is expressed as a combination of psychotic symptoms - such as hallucinations, delusions and disorganization - and motivational and cognitive dysfunctions. The mean lifetime prevalence of the disorder is just below 1%, but large regional differences in prevalence rates are evident owing to disparities in urbanicity and patterns of immigration. Although gross brain pathology is not a characteristic of schizophrenia, the disorder involves subtle pathological changes in specific neural cell populations and in cell-cell communication. Schizophrenia, as a cognitive and behavioural disorder, is ultimately about how the brain processes information. Indeed, neuroimaging studies have shown that information processing is functionally abnormal in patients with first-episode and chronic schizophrenia. Although pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia can relieve psychotic symptoms, such drugs generally do not lead to substantial improvements in social, cognitive and occupational functioning. Psychosocial interventions such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, cognitive remediation and supported education and employment have added treatment value, but are inconsistently applied. Given that schizophrenia starts many years before a diagnosis is typically made, the identification of individuals at risk and those in the early phases of the disorder, and the exploration of preventive approaches are crucial.
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Harrison PJ. GABA circuitry, cells and molecular regulation in schizophrenia: life in the graveyard. Schizophr Res 2015; 167:108-10. [PMID: 25694185 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Harrison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK.
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