1
|
Indika NLR, Senarathne UD, Malvaso A, Darshana D, Owens SC, Mansouri B, Semenova Y, Bjørklund G. Abnormal Porphyrin Metabolism in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Therapeutic Implications. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:3851-3866. [PMID: 38032468 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03722-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a mosaic of neurodevelopmental conditions composed of early-onset social interaction and communication deficits, along with repetitive and/or restricted patterns of activities, behavior, and interests. ASD affects around 1% of children worldwide, with a male predominance. Energy, porphyrin, and neurotransmitter homeostasis are the key metabolic pathways affected by heavy metal exposure, potentially implicated in the pathogenesis of ASD. Exposure to heavy metals can lead to an altered porphyrin metabolism due to enzyme inhibition by heavy metals. Heavy metal exposure, inborn genetic susceptibility, and abnormal thiol and selenol metabolism may play a significant role in the urinary porphyrin profile anomalies observed in ASD. Altered porphyrin metabolism in ASD may also be associated with, vitamin B6 deficiency, hyperoxalemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, and hypomagnesemia. The present review considers the abnormal porphyrin metabolism in ASD in relation to the potential pathogenic mechanism and discusses the possible metabolic therapies such as vitamins, minerals, cofactors, and antioxidants that need to be explored in future research. Such targeted therapeutic therapies would bring about favorable outcomes such as improvements in core and co-occurring symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neluwa-Liyanage R Indika
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
| | - Udara D Senarathne
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Monash Health Pathology, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Antonio Malvaso
- IRCCS "C. Mondino" Foundation, National Neurological Institute, Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Dhanushka Darshana
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka
| | - Susan C Owens
- Autism Oxalate Project, Autism Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Borhan Mansouri
- Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Research Institute for Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Yuliya Semenova
- Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Toften 24, 8610, Mo i Rana, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zheng L, Jiao Y, Zhong H, Tan Y, Yin Y, Liu Y, Liu D, Wu M, Wang G, Huang J, Wang P, Qin M, Wang M, Xiao Y, Lv T, Luo Y, Hu H, Hou ST, Kui L. Human-derived fecal microbiota transplantation alleviates social deficits of the BTBR mouse model of autism through a potential mechanism involving vitamin B 6 metabolism. mSystems 2024; 9:e0025724. [PMID: 38780265 PMCID: PMC11237617 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00257-24] [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: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficiencies and stereotypic behaviors influenced by hereditary and/or environmental risk factors. There are currently no approved medications for treating the core symptoms of ASD. Human fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a potential intervention to improve autistic symptoms, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of human-derived FMT on behavioral and multi-omics profiles of the BTBR mice, an established model for ASD. FMT effectively alleviated the social deficits in the BTBR mice and normalized their distinct plasma metabolic profile, notably reducing the elevated long-chain acylcarnitines. Integrative analysis linked these phenotypic changes to specific Bacteroides species and vitamin B6 metabolism. Indeed, vitamin B6 supplementation improved the social behaviors in BTBR mice. Collectively, these findings shed new light on the interplay between FMT and vitamin B6 metabolism and revealed a potential mechanism underlying the therapeutic role of FMT in ASD.IMPORTANCEAccumulating evidence supports the beneficial effects of human fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the precise mechanism by which FMT induces a shift in the microbiota and leads to symptom improvement remains incompletely understood. This study integrated data from colon-content metagenomics, colon-content metabolomics, and plasma metabolomics to investigate the effects of FMT treatment on the BTBR mouse model for ASD. The analysis linked the amelioration of social deficits following FMT treatment to the restoration of mitochondrial function and the modulation of vitamin B6 metabolism. Bacterial species and compounds with beneficial roles in vitamin B6 metabolism and mitochondrial function may further contribute to improving FMT products and designing novel therapies for ASD treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lifeng Zheng
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Neuroscience, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Xbiome Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Yinming Jiao
- Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haolin Zhong
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Neuroscience, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan Tan
- Xbiome Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | | | | | - Ding Liu
- Xbiome Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Manli Wu
- Xbiome Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Guoyun Wang
- Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Ping Wang
- Shenzhen Institute for Drug Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Meirong Qin
- Shenzhen Institute for Drug Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mingbang Wang
- Microbiome Therapy Center, South China Hospital, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Center for Children’s Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Xiao
- Department of Hematology, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tiying Lv
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yangzi Luo
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Han Hu
- Xbiome Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Sheng-Tao Hou
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Neuroscience, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ling Kui
- Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fradkin Y, De Taboada L, Naeser M, Saltmarche A, Snyder W, Steingold E. Transcranial photobiomodulation in children aged 2-6 years: a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial assessing safety, efficacy, and impact on autism spectrum disorder symptoms and brain electrophysiology. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1221193. [PMID: 38737349 PMCID: PMC11086174 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1221193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Small pilot studies have suggested that transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) could help reduce symptoms of neurological conditions, such as depression, traumatic brain injury, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Objective To examine the impact of tPBM on the symptoms of ASD in children aged two to six years. Method We conducted a randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial involving thirty children aged two to six years with a prior diagnosis of ASD. We delivered pulses of near-infrared light (40 Hz, 850 nm) noninvasively to selected brain areas twice a week for eight weeks, using an investigational medical device designed for this purpose (Cognilum™, JelikaLite Corp., New York, United States). We used the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS, 2nd Edition) to assess and compare the ASD symptoms of participants before and after the treatment course. We collected electroencephalogram (EEG) data during each session from those participants who tolerated wearing the EEG cap. Results The difference in the change in CARS scores between the two groups was 7.23 (95% CI 2.357 to 12.107, p = 0.011). Seventeen of the thirty participants completed at least two EEGs and time-dependent trends were detected. In addition, an interaction between Active versus Sham and Scaled Time was observed in delta power (Coefficient = 7.521, 95% CI -0.517 to 15.559, p = 0.07) and theta power (Coefficient = -8.287, 95% CI -17.199 to 0.626, p = 0.07), indicating a potential trend towards a greater reduction in delta power and an increase in theta power over time with treatment in the Active group, compared to the Sham group. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the condition (Treatment vs. Sham) in the power of theta waves (net_theta) (Coefficient = 9.547, 95% CI 0.027 to 19.067, p = 0.049). No moderate or severe side effects or adverse effects were reported or observed during the trial. Conclusion These results indicate that tPBM may be a safe and effective treatment for ASD and should be studied in more depth in larger studies.Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04660552, identifier NCT04660552.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuliy Fradkin
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | | | - Margaret Naeser
- Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Csoka AB, El Kouhen N, Bennani S, Getachew B, Aschner M, Tizabi Y. Roles of Epigenetics and Glial Cells in Drug-Induced Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biomolecules 2024; 14:437. [PMID: 38672454 PMCID: PMC11048423 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040437] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe deficits in social communication and interaction, repetitive movements, abnormal focusing on objects, or activity that can significantly affect the quality of life of the afflicted. Neuronal and glial cells have been implicated. It has a genetic component but can also be triggered by environmental factors or drugs. For example, prenatal exposure to valproic acid or acetaminophen, or ingestion of propionic acid, can increase the risk of ASD. Recently, epigenetic influences on ASD have come to the forefront of investigations on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of this disorder. Epigenetics refers to DNA modifications that alter gene expression without making any changes to the DNA sequence. Although an increasing number of pharmaceuticals and environmental chemicals are being implicated in the etiology of ASD, here, we specifically focus on the molecular influences of the abovementioned chemicals on epigenetic alterations in neuronal and glial cells and their potential connection to ASD. We conclude that a better understanding of these phenomena can lead to more effective interventions in ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonei B. Csoka
- Department of Anatomy, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Nacer El Kouhen
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca 20100, Morocco
| | - Samia Bennani
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca 20100, Morocco
| | - Bruk Getachew
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shchelochkov OA, Farmer CA, Chlebowski C, Adedipe D, Ferry S, Manoli I, Pass A, McCoy S, Van Ryzin C, Sloan J, Thurm A, Venditti CP. Intellectual disability and autism in propionic acidemia: a biomarker-behavioral investigation implicating dysregulated mitochondrial biology. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:974-981. [PMID: 38200289 PMCID: PMC11176071 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02385-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Propionic acidemia (PA) is an autosomal recessive condition (OMIM #606054), wherein pathogenic variants in PCCA and PCCB impair the activity of propionyl-CoA carboxylase. PA is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, the correlates and mechanisms of these outcomes remain unknown. Using data from a subset of participants with PA enrolled in a dedicated natural history study (n = 33), we explored associations between neurodevelopmental phenotypes and laboratory parameters. Twenty (61%) participants received an ID diagnosis, and 12 of the 31 (39%) who were fully evaluated received the diagnosis of ASD. A diagnosis of ID, lower full-scale IQ (sample mean = 65 ± 26), and lower adaptive behavior composite scores (sample mean = 67 ± 23) were associated with several biomarkers. Higher concentrations of plasma propionylcarnitine, plasma total 2-methylcitrate, serum erythropoietin, and mitochondrial biomarkers plasma FGF21 and GDF15 were associated with a more severe ID profile. Reduced 1-13C-propionate oxidative capacity and decreased levels of plasma and urinary glutamine were also associated with a more severe ID profile. Only two parameters, increased serum erythropoietin and decreased plasma glutamine, were associated with ASD. Plasma glycine, one of the defining features of PA, was not meaningfully associated with either ID or ASD. Thus, while both ID and ASD were commonly observed in our PA cohort, only ID was robustly associated with metabolic parameters. Our results suggest that disease severity and associated mitochondrial dysfunction may play a role in CNS complications of PA and identify potential biomarkers and candidate surrogate endpoints.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oleg A Shchelochkov
- Organic Acid Research Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Cristan A Farmer
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Colby Chlebowski
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Dee Adedipe
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Susan Ferry
- Organic Acid Research Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Irini Manoli
- Organic Acid Research Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Alexandra Pass
- Organic Acid Research Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Samantha McCoy
- Organic Acid Research Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Carol Van Ryzin
- Organic Acid Research Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jennifer Sloan
- Organic Acid Research Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Audrey Thurm
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Charles P Venditti
- Organic Acid Research Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Romagnolo A, Dematteis G, Scheper M, Luinenburg MJ, Mühlebner A, Van Hecke W, Manfredi M, De Giorgis V, Reano S, Filigheddu N, Bortolotto V, Tapella L, Anink JJ, François L, Dedeurwaerdere S, Mills JD, Genazzani AA, Lim D, Aronica E. Astroglial calcium signaling and homeostasis in tuberous sclerosis complex. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:48. [PMID: 38418708 PMCID: PMC10901927 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02711-3] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a multisystem genetic disorder characterized by the development of benign tumors in various organs, including the brain, and is often accompanied by epilepsy, neurodevelopmental comorbidities including intellectual disability and autism. A key hallmark of TSC is the hyperactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, which induces alterations in cortical development and metabolic processes in astrocytes, among other cellular functions. These changes could modulate seizure susceptibility, contributing to the progression of epilepsy and its associated comorbidities. Epilepsy is characterized by dysregulation of calcium (Ca2+) channels and intracellular Ca2+ dynamics. These factors contribute to hyperexcitability, disrupted synaptogenesis, and altered synchronization of neuronal networks, all of which contribute to seizure activity. This study investigates the intricate interplay between altered Ca2+ dynamics, mTOR pathway dysregulation, and cellular metabolism in astrocytes. The transcriptional profile of TSC patients revealed significant alterations in pathways associated with cellular respiration, ER and mitochondria, and Ca2+ regulation. TSC astrocytes exhibited lack of responsiveness to various stimuli, compromised oxygen consumption rate and reserve respiratory capacity underscoring their reduced capacity to react to environmental changes or cellular stress. Furthermore, our study revealed significant reduction of store operated calcium entry (SOCE) along with strong decrease of basal mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration and Ca2+ influx in TSC astrocytes. In addition, we observed alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential, characterized by increased depolarization in TSC astrocytes. Lastly, we provide initial evidence of structural abnormalities in mitochondria within TSC patient-derived astrocytes, suggesting a potential link between disrupted Ca2+ signaling and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings underscore the complexity of the relationship between Ca2+ signaling, mitochondria dynamics, apoptosis, and mTOR hyperactivation. Further exploration is required to shed light on the pathophysiology of TSC and on TSC associated neuropsychiatric disorders offering further potential avenues for therapeutic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Romagnolo
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Giulia Dematteis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Novara, Italy
| | - Mirte Scheper
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mark J Luinenburg
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Angelika Mühlebner
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wim Van Hecke
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marcello Manfredi
- Center on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), UPO, Novara, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, UPO, Novara, Italy
| | - Veronica De Giorgis
- Center on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), UPO, Novara, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, UPO, Novara, Italy
| | - Simone Reano
- Center on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), UPO, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Bortolotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Novara, Italy
| | - Laura Tapella
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Novara, Italy
| | - Jasper J Anink
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth François
- Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, UCB Pharma, Braine-L'Alleud, Belgium
| | | | - James D Mills
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL, London, UK
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter, UK
| | - Armando A Genazzani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Novara, Italy
| | - Dmitry Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Novara, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Heemstede, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Nisar S, Haris M. Neuroimaging genetics approaches to identify new biomarkers for the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4995-5008. [PMID: 37069342 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02060-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Autism-spectrum disorders (ASDs) are developmental disabilities that manifest in early childhood and are characterized by qualitative abnormalities in social behaviors, communication skills, and restrictive or repetitive behaviors. To explore the neurobiological mechanisms in ASD, extensive research has been done to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers through a neuroimaging genetics approach. Neuroimaging genetics helps to identify ASD-risk genes that contribute to structural and functional variations in brain circuitry and validate biological changes by elucidating the mechanisms and pathways that confer genetic risk. Integrating artificial intelligence models with neuroimaging data lays the groundwork for accurate diagnosis and facilitates the identification of early diagnostic biomarkers for ASD. This review discusses the significance of neuroimaging genetics approaches to gaining a better understanding of the perturbed neurochemical system and molecular pathways in ASD and how these approaches can detect structural, functional, and metabolic changes and lead to the discovery of novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabah Nisar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Radwan K, Wu G, Banks-Word K, Rosenberger R. An Open-Label Case Series of Glutathione Use for Symptomatic Management in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Med Sci (Basel) 2023; 11:73. [PMID: 37987328 PMCID: PMC10660524 DOI: 10.3390/medsci11040073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a type of neurodevelopmental disorder that has been diagnosed in an increasing number of children around the world. The existing data suggest that early diagnosis and intervention can improve ASD outcomes. The causes of ASD remain complex and unclear, and there are currently no clinical biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder. There is an increasing recognition that ASD might be associated with oxidative stress through several mechanisms including abnormal metabolism (lipid peroxidation) and the toxic buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glutathione acts as an antioxidant, a free radical scavenger and a detoxifying agent. This open-label pilot study investigates the tolerability and effectiveness of oral supplementation with OpitacTM gluthathione as a treatment for patients with ASD. The various aspects of glutathione OpitacTM glutathione bioavailability were examined when administered by oral routes. The absorption of glutathione from the gastrointestinal tract has been recently investigated. The results of this case series suggest that oral glutathione supplementation may improve oxidative markers, but this does not necessarily translate to the observed clinical improvement of subjects with ASD. The study reports a good safety profile of glutathione use, with stomach upset reported in four out of six subjects. This article discusses the role of the gut microbiome and redox balance in ASD and notes that a high baseline oxidative burden may make some patients poor responders to glutathione supplementation. In conclusion, an imbalance in redox reactions is only one of the many factors contributing to ASD, and further studies are necessary to investigate other factors, such as impaired neurotransmission, immune dysregulation in the brain, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karam Radwan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA (R.R.)
| | - Gary Wu
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA;
| | - Kamilah Banks-Word
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA (R.R.)
| | - Ryan Rosenberger
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA (R.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
El-Ansary A, Al-Ayadhi L. Effects of Walnut and Pumpkin on Selective Neurophenotypes of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study. Nutrients 2023; 15:4564. [PMID: 37960217 PMCID: PMC10647375 DOI: 10.3390/nu15214564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Special diets or nutritional supplements are regularly given to treat children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The increased consumption of particular foods has been demonstrated in numerous trials to lessen autism-related symptoms and comorbidities. A case study on a boy with moderate autism who significantly improved after three years of following a healthy diet consisting of pumpkin and walnuts was examined in this review in connection to a few different neurophenotypes of ASD. We are able to suggest that a diet high in pumpkin and walnuts was useful in improving the clinical presentation of the ASD case evaluated by reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered gut microbiota, all of which are etiological variables. Using illustrated figures, a full description of the ways by which a diet high in pumpkin and nuts could assist the included case is offered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Afaf El-Ansary
- Autism Center, Lotus Holistic Alternative Medical Center, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 110281, United Arab Emirates
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Laila Al-Ayadhi
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Perez Y, Velmeshev D, Wang L, White M, Siebert C, Baltazar J, Dutton NG, Wang S, Haeussler M, Chamberlain S, Kriegstein A. Single cell analysis of dup15q syndrome reveals developmental and postnatal molecular changes in autism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.22.559056. [PMID: 37790331 PMCID: PMC10543006 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.22.559056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Duplication 15q (dup15q) syndrome is the most common genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Due to a higher genetic and phenotypic homogeneity compared to idiopathic autism, dup15q syndrome provides a well-defined setting to investigate ASD mechanisms. Previous bulk gene expression studies identified shared molecular changes in ASD. However, how cell type specific changes compare across different autism subtypes and how they change during development is largely unknown. In this study, we used single cell and single nucleus mRNA sequencing of dup15q cortical organoids from patient iPSCs, as well as post-mortem patient brain samples. We find cell-type specific dysregulated programs that underlie dup15q pathogenesis, which we validate by spatial resolved transcriptomics using brain tissue samples. We find degraded identity and vulnerability of deep-layer neurons in fetal stage organoids and highlight increased molecular burden of postmortem upper-layer neurons implicated in synaptic signaling, a finding shared between idiopathic ASD and dup15q syndrome. Gene co-expression network analysis of organoid and postmortem excitatory neurons uncovers modules enriched with autism risk genes. Organoid developmental modules were involved in transcription regulation via chromatin remodeling, while postmortem modules were associated with synaptic transmission and plasticity. The findings reveal a shifting landscape of ASD cellular vulnerability during brain development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yonatan Perez
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Dmitry Velmeshev
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Current address: Bryan Research Building, Duke University, Durham, NC27710, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Matthew White
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Clara Siebert
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jennifer Baltazar
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Natalia Garcia Dutton
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Shaohui Wang
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | | | - Stormy Chamberlain
- Departments of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, 400 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6403, USA
| | - Arnold Kriegstein
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Newell AJ, Jima D, Reading B, Patisaul HB. Machine learning reveals common transcriptomic signatures across rat brain and placenta following developmental organophosphate ester exposure. Toxicol Sci 2023; 195:103-122. [PMID: 37399109 PMCID: PMC10695431 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxicogenomics is a critical area of inquiry for hazard identification and to identify both mechanisms of action and potential markers of exposure to toxic compounds. However, data generated by these experiments are highly dimensional and present challenges to standard statistical approaches, requiring strict correction for multiple comparisons. This stringency often fails to detect meaningful changes to low expression genes and/or eliminate genes with small but consistent changes particularly in tissues where slight changes in expression can have important functional differences, such as brain. Machine learning offers an alternative analytical approach for "omics" data that effectively sidesteps the challenges of analyzing highly dimensional data. Using 3 rat RNA transcriptome sets, we utilized an ensemble machine learning approach to predict developmental exposure to a mixture of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in brain (newborn cortex and day 10 hippocampus) and late gestation placenta of male and female rats, and identified genes that informed predictor performance. OPE exposure had sex specific effects on hippocampal transcriptome, and significantly impacted genes associated with mitochondrial transcriptional regulation and cation transport in females, including voltage-gated potassium and calcium channels and subunits. To establish if this holds for other tissues, RNAseq data from cortex and placenta, both previously published and analyzed via a more traditional pipeline, were reanalyzed with the ensemble machine learning methodology. Significant enrichment for pathways of oxidative phosphorylation and electron transport chain was found, suggesting a transcriptomic signature of OPE exposure impacting mitochondrial metabolism across tissue types and developmental epoch. Here we show how machine learning can complement more traditional analytical approaches to identify vulnerable "signature" pathways disrupted by chemical exposures and biomarkers of exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Newell
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Dereje Jima
- Molecular Education, Technology, and Research Innovation Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Benjamin Reading
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Heather B Patisaul
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Siani-Rose M, McKee R, Cox S, Goldstein B, Abrams D, Taylor M, Kurek I. The Potential of Salivary Lipid-Based Cannabis-Responsive Biomarkers to Evaluate Medical Cannabis Treatment in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2023; 8:642-656. [PMID: 35343818 DOI: 10.1089/can.2021.0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions affecting social communication and social interaction. Medical cannabis (MC) treatment shows promising results as an approach to reduce behavioral difficulties, as determined mainly by subjective observations. We have recently shown the potential of cannabis-responsive biomarkers detected in saliva of children with ASD to objectively quantify the impact of successful MC treatment using a metabolomics approach. Since the pathology of ASD is associated with abnormal lipid metabolism, we used lipidomics on the same samples to (1) expand the repertoire of cannabis-responsive biomarkers and (2) provide preliminary insight into the role of MC on lipid metabolism. Materials and Methods: Saliva samples collected from children with ASD (n=15) treated with MC (both before and at the time of maximal impact of treatment) and an age-matched group of typically developing (TD) children (n=9) were subjected to untargeted lipidomics. The study was observational. Each child from the ASD group was receiving a unique individualized MC treatment regimen using off-the-shelf products as permitted by California law under physician supervision for at least 1 year. Doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ranged from 0.05 to 50 mg and cannabidiol (CBD) from 7.5 to 200 mg per treatment. The ASD group was evaluated for signs of improvement using parental brief Likert scale surveys. Results: Twenty-two potential lipid-based cannabis-responsive biomarkers exhibiting a shift toward the TD physiological levels in children with ASD after MC treatment were identified. Members from all five lipid subclasses known to be present in saliva were characterized. Preliminary lipid association network analysis suggests involvement of two subnetworks previously linked to (1) inflammation and/or redox regulation and (2) oxidative stress. The significant changes in sphingomyelin in this study and in N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) previously detected in the metabolomics analysis of the same saliva samples may indicate a role of MC in neuron function. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that lipid metabolites in saliva can potentially serve as cannabis-responsive biomarkers and objectively quantify the impact of MC treatment, and indicate a possible mechanism of action for MC. This preliminary study requires further investigation with a larger population and appropriate clinical trial monitoring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert McKee
- Cannformatics, Inc., San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Stephany Cox
- Cannformatics, Inc., San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Itzhak Kurek
- Cannformatics, Inc., San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Gundogdu BS, Gaitanis J, Adams JB, Rossignol DA, Frye RE. Age-Related Changes in Epilepsy Characteristics and Response to Antiepileptic Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1167. [PMID: 37511780 PMCID: PMC10381477 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13071167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the high prevalence of epilepsy in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is little information regarding whether seizure characteristics and treatment effectiveness change across age. Using an online survey, seizure characteristics, effectiveness of antiepileptic treatments, comorbidities, potential etiologies, and ASD diagnosis were collected from individuals with ASD and seizures. We previously reported overall general patterns of treatment effectiveness but did not examine the effect of seizure characteristics or age on antiepileptic treatment effectiveness. Such information would improve the personalized medicine approach to the treatment of seizures in ASD. Survey data from 570 individuals with ASD and clinical seizures were analyzed. Seizure severity (seizure/week) decreased with age of onset of seizures, plateauing in adolescence, with a greater reduction in generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizures with age. Seizure severity was worse in those with genetic disorders, neurodevelopmental regression (NDR) and poor sleep maintenance. Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine were reported to be more effective when seizures started in later childhood, while surgery and the Atkins/modified Atkins Diet (A/MAD) were reported to be more effective when seizures started early in life. A/MAD and the ketogenic diet were reported to be more effective in those with NDR. Interestingly, atypical Landau-Kleffner syndrome was associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and NDR, suggesting a novel syndrome. These interesting findings need to be verified in independent, prospectively collected cohorts, but nonetheless, these data provide insights into novel relationships that may assist in a better understanding of epilepsy in ASD and provide insight into personalizing epilepsy care in ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - John Gaitanis
- Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Hasbro Children's Hospital, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - James B Adams
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Daniel A Rossignol
- Rossignol Medical Center, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656, USA
- Autism Discovery and Treatment Foundation, Phoenix, AZ 85050, USA
| | - Richard E Frye
- Autism Discovery and Treatment Foundation, Phoenix, AZ 85050, USA
- Rossignol Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85050, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cieślik M, Zawadzka A, Czapski GA, Wilkaniec A, Adamczyk A. Developmental Stage-Dependent Changes in Mitochondrial Function in the Brain of Offspring Following Prenatal Maternal Immune Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087243. [PMID: 37108406 PMCID: PMC10138707 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) is an important risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. The aim of the current study was to investigate the development-dependent changes in the mitochondrial function of MIA-exposed offspring, which may contribute to autism-like deficits. MIA was evoked by the single intraperitoneal administration of lipopolysaccharide to pregnant rats at gestation day 9.5, and several aspects of mitochondrial function in fetuses and in the brains of seven-day-old pups and adolescent offspring were analyzed along with oxidative stress parameters measurement. It was found that MIA significantly increased the activity of NADPH oxidase (NOX), an enzyme generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the fetuses and in the brain of seven-day-old pups, but not in the adolescent offspring. Although a lower mitochondrial membrane potential accompanied by a decreased ATP level was already observed in the fetuses and in the brain of seven-day-old pups, persistent alterations of ROS, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and lower ATP generation with concomitant electron transport chain complexes downregulation were observed only in the adolescent offspring. We suggest that ROS observed in infancy are most likely of a NOX activity origin, whereas in adolescence, ROS are produced by damaged mitochondria. The accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria leads to the intense release of free radicals that trigger oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, resulting in an interlinked vicious cascade.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Cieślik
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Zawadzka
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grzegorz A Czapski
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Wilkaniec
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agata Adamczyk
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Senarathne UD, Indika NLR, Jezela-Stanek A, Ciara E, Frye RE, Chen C, Stepien KM. Biochemical, Genetic and Clinical Diagnostic Approaches to Autism-Associated Inherited Metabolic Disorders. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040803. [PMID: 37107561 PMCID: PMC10138025 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction, limited communication skills, and restrictive and repetitive behaviours. The pathophysiology of ASD is multifactorial and includes genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, whereas a causal relationship has been described between ASD and inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs). This review describes biochemical, genetic, and clinical approaches to investigating IMDs associated with ASD. The biochemical work-up includes body fluid analysis to confirm general metabolic and/or lysosomal storage diseases, while the advances and applications of genomic testing technology would assist with identifying molecular defects. An IMD is considered likely underlying pathophysiology in ASD patients with suggestive clinical symptoms and multiorgan involvement, of which early recognition and treatment increase their likelihood of achieving optimal care and a better quality of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Udara D. Senarathne
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Monash Health Pathology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Neluwa-Liyanage R. Indika
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Aleksandra Jezela-Stanek
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Ciara
- Department of Medical Genetics, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Richard E. Frye
- Autism Discovery and Treatment Foundation, Phoenix, AZ 85050, USA
| | - Cliff Chen
- Clinical Neuropsychology Department, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UK
| | - Karolina M. Stepien
- Adult Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Mark Holland Unit, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UK
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Effect of Adding l -Carnitine to Risperidone on Behavioral, Cognitive, Social, and Physical Symptoms in Children and Adolescents With Autism: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Clin Neuropharmacol 2023; 46:55-59. [PMID: 36735565 DOI: 10.1097/wnf.0000000000000544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The present research aimed to evaluate the effect of adding l -carnitine to risperidone in treating children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS In this randomized controlled clinical trial study, 50 ASD children and adolescents were divided into 2 groups: those receiving l -carnitine and risperidone (n = 25) and those receiving placebo and risperidone (n = 25). Treatment continued for 8 weeks, and participants were assessed at the beginning of the study, in the fourth and eighth weeks, by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). RESULTS l -Carnitine add-on therapy reduced the scores of total ABC and subscales of restlessness, lethargy and social isolation, stereotypic behavior, and inappropriate speech at weeks 4 and 8. There was a significant difference between the 2 groups in the score of total ABC and subscale of lethargy and social isolation. CONCLUSIONS According to the present study, adding l -carnitine to risperidone improves ASD symptoms.
Collapse
|
17
|
Boksha IS, Prokhorova TA, Tereshkina EB, Savushkina OK, Burbaeva GS. Differentiated Approach to Pharmacotherapy of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Biochemical Aspects. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2023; 88:303-318. [PMID: 37076279 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923030021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders caused by a complex interaction of numerous genetic and environmental factors and leading to deviations in the nervous system formation at the very early developmental stages. Currently, there are no accepted pharmacological treatments for the so-called core symptoms of ASD, such as social communication disorders and restricted and repetitive behavior patterns. Lack of knowledge about biological basis of ASD, absence of the clinically significant biochemical parameters reflecting abnormalities in the signaling cascades controlling the nervous system development and functioning, and lack of methods for selection of clinically and biologically homogeneous subgroups are considered as causes for the failure of clinical trials of ASD pharmacotherapy. This review considers the possibilities of applying differentiated clinical and biological approaches to the targeted search for ASD pharmacotherapy with emphasis on biochemical markers associated with ASD and attempts to stratify patients by biochemical parameters. The use of such approach as "the target-oriented therapy and assessment of the target status before and during the treatment to identify patients with a positive response to treatment" is discussed using the published results of clinical trials as examples. It is concluded that identification of biochemical parameters for selection of the distinct subgroups among the ASD patients requires research on large samples reflecting clinical and biological diversity of the patients with ASD, and use of unified approaches for such studies. An integrated approach, including clinical observation, clinical-psychological assessment of the patient behavior, study of medical history and description of individual molecular profiles should become a new strategy for stratifying patients with ASD for clinical pharmacotherapeutic trials, as well as for evaluating their efficiency.
Collapse
|
18
|
Bhat RS, Alonazi M, Al-Daihan S, El-Ansary A. Prenatal SSRI Exposure Increases the Risk of Autism in Rodents via Aggravated Oxidative Stress and Neurochemical Changes in the Brain. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13020310. [PMID: 36837929 PMCID: PMC9963091 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13020310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use during pregnancy as a major autism risk factor are unclear. Here, brain neurochemical changes following fluoxetine exposure and in an autism model were compared to determine the effects on autism risk. The study was performed on neonatal male western albino rats which were divided into Groups one (control), two (propionic acid [PPA]-induced autism model), and three (prenatal SSRI-exposed newborn rats whose mothers were exposed to 5 mg/kg of fluoxetine over gestation days 10-20). SSRI (fluoxetine) induced significant neurochemical abnormalities in the rat brain by increasing lipid peroxide (MDA), Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and caspase-3 levels and by depleting Glutathione (GSH), Glutathione S-transferases (GST), Catalase, potassium (K+), and Creatine kinase (CK) levels, similarly to what has been discovered in the PPA model of autism when compared with control. Prenatal fluoxetine exposure plays a significant role in asset brain damage in newborns; further investigation of fluoxetine as an autism risk factor is thus warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramesa Shafi Bhat
- Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence:
| | - Mona Alonazi
- Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sooad Al-Daihan
- Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afaf El-Ansary
- Central Research Laboratory, Female Campus, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
The Rationale for Vitamin, Mineral, and Cofactor Treatment in the Precision Medical Care of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13020252. [PMID: 36836486 PMCID: PMC9964499 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13020252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder may exhibit nutritional deficiencies due to reduced intake, genetic variants, autoantibodies interfering with vitamin transport, and the accumulation of toxic compounds that consume vitamins. Importantly, vitamins and metal ions are essential for several metabolic pathways and for neurotransmitter functioning. The therapeutic benefits of supplementing vitamins, minerals (Zinc, Magnesium, Molybdenum, and Selenium), and other cofactors (coenzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, and tetrahydrobiopterin) are mediated through their cofactor as well as non-cofactor functions. Interestingly, some vitamins can be safely administered at levels far above the dose typically used to correct the deficiency and exert effects beyond their functional role as enzyme cofactors. Moreover, the interrelationships between these nutrients can be leveraged to obtain synergistic effects using combinations. The present review discusses the current evidence for using vitamins, minerals, and cofactors in autism spectrum disorder, the rationale behind their use, and the prospects for future use.
Collapse
|
20
|
Machine Learning-Based Blood RNA Signature for Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032082. [PMID: 36768401 PMCID: PMC9916487 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is crucial for providing appropriate treatments and parental guidance from an early age. Yet, ASD diagnosis is a lengthy process, in part due to the lack of reliable biomarkers. We recently applied RNA-sequencing of peripheral blood samples from 73 American and Israeli children with ASD and 26 neurotypically developing (NT) children to identify 10 genes with dysregulated blood expression levels in children with ASD. Machine learning (ML) analyzes data by computerized analytical model building and may be applied to building diagnostic tools based on the optimization of large datasets. Here, we present several ML-generated models, based on RNA expression datasets collected during our recently published RNA-seq study, as tentative tools for ASD diagnosis. Using the random forest classifier, two of our proposed models yield an accuracy of 82% in distinguishing children with ASD and NT children. Our proof-of-concept study requires refinement and independent validation by studies with far larger cohorts of children with ASD and NT children and should thus be perceived as starting point for building more accurate ML-based tools. Eventually, such tools may potentially provide an unbiased means to support the early diagnosis of ASD.
Collapse
|
21
|
Nabi SU, Rehman MU, Arafah A, Taifa S, Khan IS, Khan A, Rashid S, Jan F, Wani HA, Ahmad SF. Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders by Mitochondrial-targeted Drug: Future of Neurological Diseases Therapeutics. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1042-1064. [PMID: 36411568 PMCID: PMC10286588 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666221121095618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex etiology that might involve environmental and genetic variables. Recently, some epidemiological studies conducted in various parts of the world have estimated a significant increase in the prevalence of autism, with 1 in every 59 children having some degree of autism. Since autism has been associated with other clinical abnormalities, there is every possibility that a sub-cellular component may be involved in the progression of autism. The organelle remains a focus based on mitochondria's functionality and metabolic role in cells. Furthermore, the mitochondrial genome is inherited maternally and has its DNA and organelle that remain actively involved during embryonic development; these characteristics have linked mitochondrial dysfunction to autism. Although rapid stride has been made in autism research, there are limited studies that have made particular emphasis on mitochondrial dysfunction and autism. Accumulating evidence from studies conducted at cellular and sub-cellular levels has indicated that mitochondrial dysfunction's role in autism is more than expected. The present review has attempted to describe the risk factors of autism, the role of mitochondria in the progression of the disease, oxidative damage as a trigger point to initiate mitochondrial damage, genetic determinants of the disease, possible pathogenic pathways and therapeutic regimen in vogue and the developmental stage. Furthermore, in the present review, an attempt has been made to include the novel therapeutic regimens under investigation at different clinical trial stages and their potential possibility to emerge as promising drugs against ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Showkat Ul Nabi
- Large Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), Srinagar J&K, 190006, India
| | - Muneeb U. Rehman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Azher Arafah
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Taifa
- Large Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), Srinagar J&K, 190006, India
| | - Iqra Shafi Khan
- Large Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), Srinagar J&K, 190006, India
| | - Andleeb Khan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia
| | - Summya Rashid
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 173, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatimah Jan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CT University, Ludhiana, Ferozepur Road, Punjab, 142024, India
| | - Hilal Ahmad Wani
- Department of Biochemistry, Government Degree College Sumbal, Bandipora, J&K, India
| | - Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Cipriani C, Giudice M, Petrone V, Fanelli M, Minutolo A, Miele MT, Toschi N, Maracchioni C, Siracusano M, Benvenuto A, Coniglio A, Curatolo P, Mazzone L, Sandro G, Garaci E, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Matteucci C, Balestrieri E. Modulation of human endogenous retroviruses and cytokines expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from autistic children and their parents. Retrovirology 2022; 19:26. [PMID: 36451209 PMCID: PMC9709758 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-022-00603-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Putative pathogenic effects mediated by human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in neurological and psychiatric disorders in humans have been extensively described. HERVs may alter the development of the brain by means of several mechanisms, including modulation of gene expression, alteration of DNA stability, and activation of immune system. We recently demonstrated that autistic children and their mothers share high expression levels of some HERVs and cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) ex vivo, suggesting a close mother-child association in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). RESULTS In the present study, PBMCs from autistic children and their parents were exposed to stimulating factors (Interleukin-2/Phytohaemagglutinin) or drugs, as Valproic acid and Efavirenz. The results show that HERVs and cytokines expression can be modulated in vitro by different stimuli in PBMCs from autistic children and their mothers, while no significant changes were found in PBMCs ASD fathers or in controls individuals. In particular, in vitro exposure to interleukin-2/Phytohaemagglutinin or valproic acid induces the expression of several HERVs and cytokines while Efavirenz inhibits them. CONCLUSION Herein we show that autistic children and their mothers share an intrinsic responsiveness to in vitro microenvironmental changes in expressing HERVs and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Remarkably, the antiretroviral drug Efavirenz restores the expression of specific HERV families to values similar to those of the controls, also reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines but keeping the regulatory ones high. Our findings open new perspectives to study the role of HERVs in the biological mechanisms underlying Autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cipriani
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Giudice
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Vita Petrone
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Marialaura Fanelli
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Minutolo
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Martino T. Miele
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Toschi
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XMartinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Christian Maracchioni
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Siracusano
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Benvenuto
- grid.413009.fChild Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, System Medicine Department, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Coniglio
- grid.413009.fChild Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, System Medicine Department, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Curatolo
- grid.413009.fChild Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, System Medicine Department, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Mazzone
- grid.413009.fChild Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, System Medicine Department, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Grelli Sandro
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy ,Virology Unit, Policlinic of Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Garaci
- University San Raffaele, Rome, Italy ,grid.18887.3e0000000417581884IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sinibaldi-Vallebona
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy ,grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Matteucci
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Balestrieri
- grid.6530.00000 0001 2300 0941Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Mahony C, O'Ryan C. A molecular framework for autistic experiences: Mitochondrial allostatic load as a mediator between autism and psychopathology. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:985713. [PMID: 36506457 PMCID: PMC9732262 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.985713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular autism research is evolving toward a biopsychosocial framework that is more informed by autistic experiences. In this context, research aims are moving away from correcting external autistic behaviors and toward alleviating internal distress. Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) are associated with high rates of depression, suicidality and other comorbid psychopathologies, but this relationship is poorly understood. Here, we integrate emerging characterizations of internal autistic experiences within a molecular framework to yield insight into the prevalence of psychopathology in ASC. We demonstrate that descriptions of social camouflaging and autistic burnout resonate closely with the accepted definitions for early life stress (ELS) and chronic adolescent stress (CAS). We propose that social camouflaging could be considered a distinct form of CAS that contributes to allostatic overload, culminating in a pathophysiological state that is experienced as autistic burnout. Autistic burnout is thought to contribute to psychopathology via psychological and physiological mechanisms, but these remain largely unexplored by molecular researchers. Building on converging fields in molecular neuroscience, we discuss the substantial evidence implicating mitochondrial dysfunction in ASC to propose a novel role for mitochondrial allostatic load in the relationship between autism and psychopathology. An interplay between mitochondrial, neuroimmune and neuroendocrine signaling is increasingly implicated in stress-related psychopathologies, and these molecular players are also associated with neurodevelopmental, neurophysiological and neurochemical aspects of ASC. Together, this suggests an increased exposure and underlying molecular susceptibility to ELS that increases the risk of psychopathology in ASC. This article describes an integrative framework shaped by autistic experiences that highlights novel avenues for molecular research into mechanisms that directly affect the quality of life and wellbeing of autistic individuals. Moreover, this framework emphasizes the need for increased access to diagnoses, accommodations, and resources to improve mental health outcomes in autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Colleen O'Ryan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Yeo XY, Lim YT, Chae WR, Park C, Park H, Jung S. Alterations of presynaptic proteins in autism spectrum disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1062878. [DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1062878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The expanded use of hypothesis-free gene analysis methods in autism research has significantly increased the number of genetic risk factors associated with the pathogenesis of autism. A further examination of the implicated genes directly revealed the involvement in processes pertinent to neuronal differentiation, development, and function, with a predominant contribution from the regulators of synaptic function. Despite the importance of presynaptic function in synaptic transmission, the regulation of neuronal network activity, and the final behavioral output, there is a relative lack of understanding of the presynaptic contribution to the pathology of autism. Here, we will review the close association among autism-related mutations, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) phenotypes, and the altered presynaptic protein functions through a systematic examination of the presynaptic risk genes relating to the critical stages of synaptogenesis and neurotransmission.
Collapse
|
25
|
Murtaza N, Cheng AA, Brown CO, Meka DP, Hong S, Uy JA, El-Hajjar J, Pipko N, Unda BK, Schwanke B, Xing S, Thiruvahindrapuram B, Engchuan W, Trost B, Deneault E, Calderon de Anda F, Doble BW, Ellis J, Anagnostou E, Bader GD, Scherer SW, Lu Y, Singh KK. Neuron-specific protein network mapping of autism risk genes identifies shared biological mechanisms and disease-relevant pathologies. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111678. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
26
|
Yoo T, Yoo YE, Kang H, Kim E. Age, brain region, and gene dosage-differential transcriptomic changes in Shank3-mutant mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1017512. [PMID: 36311023 PMCID: PMC9597470 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1017512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Shank3 is an abundant excitatory postsynaptic scaffolding protein implicated in various neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Phelan-McDermid syndrome, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia. Shank3-mutant mice show various molecular, synaptic, and behavioral deficits, but little is known about how transcriptomic phenotypes vary across different ages, brain regions, and gene dosages. Here, we report transcriptomic patterns in the forebrains of juvenile and adult homozygous Shank3-mutant mice that lack exons 14–16 and also the prefrontal, hippocampal, and striatal transcriptomes in adult heterozygous and homozygous Shank3-mutant mice. The juvenile and adult mutant transcriptomes show patterns opposite from and similar to those observed in ASD (termed reverse-ASD and ASD-like patterns), respectively. The juvenile transcriptomic changes accompany synaptic upregulations and ribosomal and mitochondrial downregulations, whereas the adult transcriptome show opposite changes. The prefrontal, hippocampal, and striatal transcriptomes show differential changes in ASD-related gene expressions and biological functions associated with synapse, ribosome, mitochondria, and spliceosome. These patterns also differ across heterozygous and homozygous Shank3-mutant mice. These results suggest age, brain region, and gene dosage-differential transcriptomic changes in Shank3-mutant mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taesun Yoo
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Ye-Eun Yoo
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hyojin Kang
- Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Eunjoon Kim,
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Trinchese G, Cimmino F, Cavaliere G, Catapano A, Fogliano C, Lama A, Pirozzi C, Cristiano C, Russo R, Petrella L, Meli R, Mattace Raso G, Crispino M, Avallone B, Mollica MP. The Hepatic Mitochondrial Alterations Exacerbate Meta-Inflammation in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:1990. [PMID: 36290713 PMCID: PMC9598797 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11101990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the liver in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental disabilities characterized by impairments in social interactions and repetitive behavioral patterns, has been poorly investigated. In ASD, it has been shown a dysregulation of gut-brain crosstalk, a communication system able to influence metabolic homeostasis, as well as brain development, mood and cognitive functions. The liver, with its key role in inflammatory and metabolic states, represents the crucial metabolic organ in this crosstalk. Indeed, through the portal vein, the liver receives not only nutrients but also numerous factors derived from the gut and visceral adipose tissue, which modulate metabolism and hepatic mitochondrial functions. Here, we investigated, in an animal model of ASD (BTBR mice), the involvement of hepatic mitochondria in the regulation of inflammatory state and liver damage. We observed increased inflammation and oxidative stress linked to hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction, steatotic hepatocytes, and marked mitochondrial fission in BTBR mice. Our preliminary study provides a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ASD and could open the way to identifying hepatic mitochondria as targets for innovative therapeutic strategies for the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Trinchese
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Fabiano Cimmino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Gina Cavaliere
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Angela Catapano
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Fogliano
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Adriano Lama
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Claudio Pirozzi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Claudia Cristiano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Russo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Lidia Petrella
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosaria Meli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Mattace Raso
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Task Force on Microbiome Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Marianna Crispino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Bice Avallone
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Pina Mollica
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Task Force on Microbiome Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Ilieva M, Aldana BI, Vinten KT, Hohmann S, Woofenden TW, Lukjanska R, Waagepetersen HS, Michel TM. Proteomic phenotype of cerebral organoids derived from autism spectrum disorder patients reveal disrupted energy metabolism, cellular components, and biological processes. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3749-3759. [PMID: 35618886 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01627-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The way in which brain morphology and proteome are remodeled during embryonal development, and how they are linked to the cellular metabolism, could be a key for elucidating the pathological mechanisms of certain neurodevelopmental disorders. Cerebral organoids derived from autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients were generated to capture critical time-points in the neuronal development, and metabolism and protein expression were investigated. The early stages of development, when neurogenesis commences (day in vitro 39), appeared to be a critical timepoint in pathogenesis. In the first month of development, increased size in ASD-derived organoids were detected in comparison to the controls. The size of the organoids correlates with the number of proliferating cells (Ki-67 positive cells). A significant difference in energy metabolism and proteome phenotype was also observed in ASD organoids at this time point, specifically, prevalence of glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation, decreased ATP production and mitochondrial respiratory chain activity, differently expressed cell adhesion proteins, cell cycle (spindle formation), cytoskeleton, and several transcription factors. Finally, ASD patients and controls derived organoids were clustered based on a differential expression of ten proteins-heat shock protein 27 (hsp27) phospho Ser 15, Pyk (FAK2), Elk-1, Rac1/cdc42, S6 ribosomal protein phospho Ser 240/Ser 244, Ha-ras, mTOR (FRAP) phospho Ser 2448, PKCα, FoxO3a, Src family phospho Tyr 416-at day 39 which could be defined as potential biomarkers and further investigated for potential drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirolyuba Ilieva
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. .,Psychiatry in the Region of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. .,Center for RNA Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Copenhagen SV, Denmark.
| | - Blanca Irene Aldana
- Neurometabolism Research Group, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kasper Tore Vinten
- Neurometabolism Research Group, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sonja Hohmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Psychiatry in the Region of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Thomas William Woofenden
- Neurometabolism Research Group, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Renate Lukjanska
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Psychiatry in the Region of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Helle S Waagepetersen
- Neurometabolism Research Group, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tanja Maria Michel
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Psychiatry in the Region of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Voinsky I, Zoabi Y, Shomron N, Harel M, Cassuto H, Tam J, Rose S, Scheck AC, Karim MA, Frye RE, Aran A, Gurwitz D. Blood RNA Sequencing Indicates Upregulated BATF2 and LY6E and Downregulated ISG15 and MT2A Expression in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179843. [PMID: 36077244 PMCID: PMC9456089 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in over 100 genes are implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). DNA SNPs, CNVs, and epigenomic modifications also contribute to ASD. Transcriptomics analysis of blood samples may offer clues for pathways dysregulated in ASD. To expand and validate published findings of RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) studies, we performed RNA-seq of whole blood samples from an Israeli discovery cohort of eight children with ASD compared with nine age- and sex-matched neurotypical children. This revealed 10 genes with differential expression. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we compared RNAs from whole blood samples of 73 Israeli and American children with ASD and 26 matched neurotypical children for the 10 dysregulated genes detected by RNA-seq. This revealed higher expression levels of the pro-inflammatory transcripts BATF2 and LY6E and lower expression levels of the anti-inflammatory transcripts ISG15 and MT2A in the ASD compared to neurotypical children. BATF2 was recently reported as upregulated in blood samples of Japanese adults with ASD. Our findings support an involvement of these genes in ASD phenotypes, independent of age and ethnicity. Upregulation of BATF2 and downregulation of ISG15 and MT2A were reported to reduce cancer risk. Implications of the dysregulated genes for pro-inflammatory phenotypes, immunity, and cancer risk in ASD are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irena Voinsky
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Yazeed Zoabi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Edmond J. Safra Center for Bioinformatics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Noam Shomron
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Edmond J. Safra Center for Bioinformatics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Moria Harel
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem 91031, Israel
| | | | - Joseph Tam
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Shannon Rose
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Adrienne C. Scheck
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Mohammad A. Karim
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Richard E. Frye
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
- Rossignol Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85050, USA
| | - Adi Aran
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem 91031, Israel
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (D.G.)
| | - David Gurwitz
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (D.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Tanaka M, Szabó Á, Spekker E, Polyák H, Tóth F, Vécsei L. Mitochondrial Impairment: A Common Motif in Neuropsychiatric Presentation? The Link to the Tryptophan-Kynurenine Metabolic System. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162607. [PMID: 36010683 PMCID: PMC9406499 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nearly half a century has passed since the discovery of cytoplasmic inheritance of human chloramphenicol resistance. The inheritance was then revealed to take place maternally by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Later, a number of mutations in mtDNA were identified as a cause of severe inheritable metabolic diseases with neurological manifestation, and the impairment of mitochondrial functions has been probed in the pathogenesis of a wide range of illnesses including neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, a growing number of preclinical studies have revealed that animal behaviors are influenced by the impairment of mitochondrial functions and possibly by the loss of mitochondrial stress resilience. Indeed, as high as 54% of patients with one of the most common primary mitochondrial diseases, mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome, present psychiatric symptoms including cognitive impairment, mood disorder, anxiety, and psychosis. Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles which produce cellular energy and play a major role in other cellular functions including homeostasis, cellular signaling, and gene expression, among others. Mitochondrial functions are observed to be compromised and to become less resilient under continuous stress. Meanwhile, stress and inflammation have been linked to the activation of the tryptophan (Trp)-kynurenine (KYN) metabolic system, which observably contributes to the development of pathological conditions including neurological and psychiatric disorders. This review discusses the functions of mitochondria and the Trp-KYN system, the interaction of the Trp-KYN system with mitochondria, and the current understanding of the involvement of mitochondria and the Trp-KYN system in preclinical and clinical studies of major neurological and psychiatric diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Tanaka
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, University of Szeged (ELKH-SZTE), Tisza Lajos krt. 113, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Szabó
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Eleonóra Spekker
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, University of Szeged (ELKH-SZTE), Tisza Lajos krt. 113, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Helga Polyák
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Fanni Tóth
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, University of Szeged (ELKH-SZTE), Tisza Lajos krt. 113, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Vécsei
- ELKH-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Danube Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, University of Szeged (ELKH-SZTE), Tisza Lajos krt. 113, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +36-62-545-351
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Selective Probiotic Treatment Positively Modulates the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in the BTBR Mouse Model of Autism. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12060781. [PMID: 35741667 PMCID: PMC9220969 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12060781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown promise for the use of probiotics in modulating behaviour through the microbiota–gut–brain axis. In the present study, we assessed the impact of two probiotic strains in mitigating autism-related symptomology in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Male juvenile BTBR mice were randomized into: (1) control, (2) Lr probiotic (1 × 109 CFU/mL Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HA-114), and (3) Ls probiotic groups (1 × 109 CFU/mL Ligilactobacillus salivarius HA-118) (n = 18–21/group), receiving treatments in drinking water for 4 weeks. Gut microbiota profiling by 16S rRNA showed Lr, but not Ls supplementation, to increase microbial richness and phylogenetic diversity, with a rise in potential anti-inflammatory and butyrate-producing taxa. Assessing serum and brain metabolites, Lr and Ls supplementation produced distinct metabolic profiles, with Lr treatment elevating concentrations of potentially beneficial neuroactive compounds, such as 5-aminovaleric acid and choline. As mitochondrial dysfunction is often observed in ASD, we assessed mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. No differences were observed for either treatment. Both Lr and Ls treatment reduced behavioural deficits in social novelty preference. However, no changes in hyperactivity, repetitive behaviour, and sociability were observed. Results show Lr to impart positive changes along the microbiota–gut–brain axis, exhibiting beneficial effects on selected behaviour, gut microbial diversity, and metabolism in BTBR mice.
Collapse
|
32
|
Hamblin MR. Could Photobiomodulation Treat Autism Spectrum Disorder? Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg 2022; 40:367-369. [PMID: 35613405 DOI: 10.1089/photob.2022.0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Multivariate Analysis of Metabolomic and Nutritional Profiles among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12060923. [PMID: 35743708 PMCID: PMC9224818 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12060923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
There have been promising results regarding the capability of statistical and machine-learning techniques to offer insight into unique metabolomic patterns observed in ASD. This work re-examines a comparative study contrasting metabolomic and nutrient measurements of children with ASD (n = 55) against their typically developing (TD) peers (n = 44) through a multivariate statistical lens. Hypothesis testing, receiver characteristic curve assessment, and correlation analysis were consistent with prior work and served to underscore prominent areas where metabolomic and nutritional profiles between the groups diverged. Improved univariate analysis revealed 46 nutritional/metabolic differences that were significantly different between ASD and TD groups, with individual areas under the receiver operator curve (AUROC) scores of 0.6–0.9. Many of the significant measurements had correlations with many others, forming two integrated networks of interrelated metabolic differences in ASD. The TD group had 189 significant correlation pairs between metabolites, vs. only 106 for the ASD group, calling attention to underlying differences in metabolic processes. Furthermore, multivariate techniques identified potential biomarker panels with up to six metabolites that were able to attain a predictive accuracy of up to 98% for discriminating between ASD and TD, following cross-validation. Assessing all optimized multivariate models demonstrated concordance with prior physiological pathways identified in the literature, with some of the most important metabolites for discriminating ASD and TD being sulfate, the transsulfuration pathway, uridine (methylation biomarker), and beta-amino isobutyrate (regulator of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism).
Collapse
|
34
|
Shen L, Zhang H, Lin J, Gao Y, Chen M, Khan NU, Tang X, Hong Q, Feng C, Zhao Y, Cao X. A Combined Proteomics and Metabolomics Profiling to Investigate the Genetic Heterogeneity of Autistic Children. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:3529-3545. [PMID: 35348996 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02801-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become one of the most common neurological developmental disorders in children. However, the study of ASD diagnostic markers faces significant challenges due to the existence of heterogeneity. In this study, genetic testing was performed on children who were clinically diagnosed with ASD. Children with ASD susceptibility genes and healthy controls were studied. The proteomics of plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as well as plasma metabolomics were carried out. The results showed that although there was genetic heterogeneity in children with ASD, the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and differential metabolites in plasma could still effectively distinguish autistic children from controls. The mechanism associated with them focuses on several common and previously reported mechanisms of ASD. The biomarkers for ASD diagnosis could be found by taking differentially expressed proteins and differential metabolites into consideration. Integrating omics data, glycerophospholipid metabolism and N-glycan biosynthesis might play a critical role in the pathogenesis of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liming Shen
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, People's Republic of China
| | - Huajie Zhang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, People's Republic of China.,Brain Disease and Big Data Research Institute, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Lin
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, People's Republic of China.,Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Gao
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Baoan, Shenzhen, 518100, People's Republic of China
| | - Margy Chen
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Naseer Ullah Khan
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxiao Tang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Hong
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Baoan, Shenzhen, 518100, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengyun Feng
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Baoan, Shenzhen, 518100, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxi Zhao
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xueshan Cao
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Hassan WM, Al-Dbass A, Al-Ayadhi L, Bhat RS, El-Ansary A. Discriminant analysis and binary logistic regression enable more accurate prediction of autism spectrum disorder than principal component analysis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3764. [PMID: 35260688 PMCID: PMC8904630 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07829-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and restricted, repetitive behavior. Multiple studies have suggested mitochondrial dysfunction, glutamate excitotoxicity, and impaired detoxification mechanism as accepted etiological mechanisms of ASD that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention. In the current study, blood samples were collected from 40 people with autism and 40 control participants after informed consent and full approval from the Institutional Review Board of King Saud University. Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I (MRC1) were measured in plasma of both groups. Predictive models were established to discriminate individuals with ASD from controls. The predictive power of these five variables, individually and in combination, was compared using the area under a ROC curve (AUC). We compared the performance of principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA), and binary logistic regression (BLR) as ways to combine single variables and create the predictive models. K+ had the highest AUC (0.801) of any single variable, followed by GST, LDH, Na+, and MRC1, respectively. Combining the five variables resulted in higher AUCs than those obtained using single variables across all models. Both DA and BLR were superior to PCA and comparable to each other. In our study, the combination of Na+, K+, LDH, GST, and MRC1 showed the highest promise in discriminating individuals with autism from controls. These results provide a platform that can potentially be used to verify the efficacy of our models with a larger sample size or evaluate other biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wail M Hassan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Abeer Al-Dbass
- Biochemistry Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Laila Al-Ayadhi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Autism Research and Treatment Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ramesa Shafi Bhat
- Biochemistry Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afaf El-Ansary
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. .,Central Research Laboratory, Female Centre for Scientific and Medical Studies, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Kim J, Roh JD, Kim S, Kang H, Bae M, Kim E. Slc6a20a Heterozygous and Homozygous Mutant Mice Display Differential Behavioral and Transcriptomic Changes. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:857820. [PMID: 35321029 PMCID: PMC8936588 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.857820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
SLC6A20A is a proline and glycine transporter known to regulate glycine homeostasis and NMDA receptor (NMDAR) function in the brain. A previous study found increases in ambient glycine levels and NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in the brains of Slc6a20a-haploinsufficient mice, but it remained unknown whether Slc6a20a deficiency leads to disease-related behavioral deficits in mice. Here, we report that Slc6a20a heterozygous and homozygous mutant mice display differential behavioral phenotypes in locomotor, repetitive behavioral, and spatial and fear memory domains. In addition, these mice show differential transcriptomic changes in synapse, ribosome, mitochondria, autism, epilepsy, and neuron-related genes. These results suggest that heterozygous and homozygous Slc6a20a deletions in mice lead to differential changes in behaviors and transcriptomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junhyung Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Junyeop Daniel Roh
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seongbin Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hyojin Kang
- Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Mihyun Bae
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Eunjoon Kim,
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Lin J, Zhang K, Cao X, Zhao Y, Ullah Khan N, Liu X, Tang X, Chen M, Zhang H, Shen L. iTRAQ-Based Proteomics Analysis of Rat Cerebral Cortex Exposed to Valproic Acid before Delivery. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:648-663. [PMID: 35138800 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder characterized by social and communication difficulties. Valproic acid (VPA) injection during pregnancy elicits autism-like behavior in the offspring, making it a classic animal model of ASD. However, the mechanisms involved have not yet been determined. In this study, we used iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification) proteomics analysis of the cerebral cortex of a VPA rat model (VPA group) and controls (CON group). The results showed that 79 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified between the VPA group and the CON group. Based on bioinformatics analysis, the DEPs were mainly enriched at synapses, especially glutamatergic synapses and GABAergic synapses. Some DEPs were involved in energy metabolism, thyroid hormone synthesis pathway, and Na+-K+-ATPase. Cytoskeleton and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related proteins were also involved. Some DEPs matched either the ASD gene database or previous reports on cerebral cortical transcriptome studies in VPA rat models. Dysregulation of these DEPs in the cerebral cortex of VPA rats may be responsible for autism-like behavior in rats. We also found that some DEPs were associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, implying that these diseases share common signaling pathways and mechanisms. Moreover, increased expression of DEPs was associated with energy metabolism in the cerebral cortex of VPA rats, implying that ASD may be a distinct type of mitochondrial dysfunction that requires further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lin
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Kaoyuan Zhang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
| | - Xueshan Cao
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
| | - Yuxi Zhao
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
| | - Naseer Ullah Khan
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
| | - Xukun Liu
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxiao Tang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
- Brain Disease and Big Data Research Institute, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
| | - Margy Chen
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Huajie Zhang
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
| | - Liming Shen
- College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518071, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Patent highlights August-September 2021. Pharm Pat Anal 2022; 11:1-8. [PMID: 35109702 DOI: 10.4155/ppa-2021-0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A snapshot of noteworthy recent developments in the patent literature of relevance to pharmaceutical and medical research and development.
Collapse
|
39
|
Rong P, Zhao S, Fu Q, Chen M, Yang L, Song Y, Zhang X, Ma R. Case report: One child with an autism spectrum disorder who had chronically elevated serum levels of CK and CK-MB. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:995237. [PMID: 36147964 PMCID: PMC9485572 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.995237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Some patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit elevated serum creatine kinase levels, which are believed to be associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Although a few articles have reported this situation in the past and the increase mostly ranges from 100 to 300 U/L, there is a paucity of previous study focusing on the serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme. This article discusses a 5-year-old girl with ASD, whose serum creatine kinase and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme have been rising for nearly 2 years, fluctuating at 584-993 and 111-625 U/L respectively. Except for behavioral and language symptoms associated with ASD, the child appears normal in other aspects. The child's laboratory tests showed no abnormality, except that the serum levels of lactic acid was slightly higher than normal (1.89 mmol/L, normal 1.33-1.78 mmol/L). The child was prescribed with a traditional Chinese medicine during the process and the serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme level decreased dramatically to 111 U/L after the treatment. This study firstly recorded the serum creatine kinase levels and the MB isoenzyme in patients with autism spectrum disorder for nearly 2 years, indicating that patients with ASD may experience long-term increases in serum creatine kinase and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme, and that the traditional Chinese medicine decoction Xinfukang can temporarily reduce the serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme level in patients. Nevertheless, the effect is not sustained. Therefore, it is of great importance to conduct long-term longitudinal studies so as to elucidate the potential mechanism responsible for long-term elevation of serum creatine kinase level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Rong
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuyi Zhao
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Qianfang Fu
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Mengrui Chen
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Libin Yang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yifei Song
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Xilian Zhang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Rong Ma
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Aishworiya R, Valica T, Hagerman R, Restrepo B. An Update on Psychopharmacological Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:248-262. [PMID: 35029811 PMCID: PMC9130393 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01183-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
While behavioral interventions remain the mainstay of treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), several potential targeted treatments addressing the underlying neurophysiology of ASD have emerged in the last few years. These are promising for the potential to, in future, become part of the mainstay treatment in addressing the core symptoms of ASD. Although it is likely that the development of future targeted treatments will be influenced by the underlying heterogeneity in etiology, associated genetic mechanisms influencing ASD are likely to be the first targets of treatments and even gene therapy in the future for ASD. In this article, we provide a review of current psychopharmacological treatment in ASD including those used to address common comorbidities of the condition and upcoming new targeted approaches in autism management. Medications including metformin, arbaclofen, cannabidiol, oxytocin, bumetanide, lovastatin, trofinetide, and dietary supplements including sulforophane and N-acetylcysteine are discussed. Commonly used medications to address the comorbidities associated with ASD including atypical antipsychotics, serotoninergic agents, alpha-2 agonists, and stimulant medications are also reviewed. Targeted treatments in Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic disorder leading to ASD, provide a model for new treatments that may be helpful for other forms of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramkumar Aishworiya
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
| | - Tatiana Valica
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Association for Children With Autism, Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Randi Hagerman
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4610 X St, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Bibiana Restrepo
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4610 X St, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Zawadzka A, Cieślik M, Adamczyk A. The Role of Maternal Immune Activation in the Pathogenesis of Autism: A Review of the Evidence, Proposed Mechanisms and Implications for Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111516. [PMID: 34768946 PMCID: PMC8584025 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease that is characterized by a deficit in social interactions and communication, as well as repetitive and restrictive behaviors. Increasing lines of evidence suggest an important role for immune dysregulation and/or inflammation in the development of ASD. Recently, a relationship between inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported in the brain tissue of individuals with ASD. Some recent studies have also reported oxidative stress and mitochondrial abnormalities in animal models of maternal immune activation (MIA). This review is focused on the hypothesis that MIA induces microglial activation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, a deleterious trio in the brain that can lead to neuroinflammation and neurodevelopmental pathologies in offspring. Infection during pregnancy activates the mother’s immune system to release proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, TNF-α, and others. Furthermore, these cytokines can directly cross the placenta and enter the fetal circulation, or activate resident immune cells, resulting in an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6. Proinflammatory cytokines that cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) may initiate a neuroinflammation cascade, starting with the activation of the microglia. Inflammatory processes induce oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction that, in turn, may exacerbate oxidative stress in a self-perpetuating vicious cycle that can lead to downstream abnormalities in brain development and behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Magdalena Cieślik
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (A.A.); Tel.: +48-22-6086420 (M.C.); +48-22-6086572 (A.A.)
| | - Agata Adamczyk
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (A.A.); Tel.: +48-22-6086420 (M.C.); +48-22-6086572 (A.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Yoo YE, Lee S, Kim W, Kim H, Chung C, Ha S, Park J, Chung Y, Kang H, Kim E. Early Chronic Memantine Treatment-Induced Transcriptomic Changes in Wild-Type and Shank2-Mutant Mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:712576. [PMID: 34594187 PMCID: PMC8477010 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.712576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Shank2 is an excitatory postsynaptic scaffolding protein strongly implicated in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Shank2-mutant mice with a homozygous deletion of exons 6 and 7 (Shank2-KO mice) show decreased NMDA receptor (NMDAR) function and autistic-like behaviors at juvenile [∼postnatal day (P21)] and adult (>P56) stages that are rescued by NMDAR activation. However, at ∼P14, these mice show the opposite change – increased NMDAR function; moreover, suppression of NMDAR activity with early, chronic memantine treatment during P7–21 prevents NMDAR hypofunction and autistic-like behaviors at later (∼P21 and >P56) stages. To better understand the mechanisms underlying this rescue, we performed RNA-Seq gene-set enrichment analysis of forebrain transcriptomes from wild-type (WT) and Shank2-KO juvenile (P25) mice treated early and chronically (P7–21) with vehicle or memantine. Vehicle-treated Shank2-KO mice showed upregulation of synapse-related genes and downregulation of ribosome- and mitochondria-related genes compared with vehicle-treated WT mice. They also showed a transcriptomic pattern largely opposite that observed in ASD (reverse-ASD pattern), based on ASD-related/risk genes and cell-type–specific genes. In memantine-treated Shank2-KO mice, chromatin-related genes were upregulated; mitochondria, extracellular matrix (ECM), and actin-related genes were downregulated; and the reverse-ASD pattern was weakened compared with that in vehicle-treated Shank2-KO mice. In WT mice, memantine treatment, which does not alter NMDAR function, upregulated synaptic genes and downregulated ECM genes; memantine-treated WT mice also exhibited a reverse-ASD pattern. Therefore, early chronic treatment of Shank2-KO mice with memantine alters expression of chromatin, mitochondria, ECM, actin, and ASD-related genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Eun Yoo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea.,Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seungjoon Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Woohyun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hyosang Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Changuk Chung
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seungmin Ha
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jinsu Park
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yeonseung Chung
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hyojin Kang
- Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea.,Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Jacobs RA, Aboouf MA, Koester-Hegmann C, Muttathukunnel P, Laouafa S, Arias-Reyes C, Thiersch M, Soliz J, Gassmann M, Schneider Gasser EM. Erythropoietin promotes hippocampal mitochondrial function and enhances cognition in mice. Commun Biol 2021; 4:938. [PMID: 34354241 PMCID: PMC8342552 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02465-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) improves neuronal mitochondrial function and cognition in adults after brain injury and in those afflicted by psychiatric disorders. However, the influence of EPO on mitochondria and cognition during development remains unexplored. We previously observed that EPO stimulates hippocampal-specific neuronal maturation and synaptogenesis early in postnatal development in mice. Here we show that EPO promotes mitochondrial respiration in developing postnatal hippocampus by increasing mitochondrial content and enhancing cellular respiratory potential. Ultrastructurally, mitochondria profiles and total vesicle content were greater in presynaptic axon terminals, suggesting that EPO enhances oxidative metabolism and synaptic transmission capabilities. Behavioural tests of hippocampus-dependent memory at early adulthood, showed that EPO improves spatial and short-term memory. Collectively, we identify a role for EPO in the murine postnatal hippocampus by promoting mitochondrial function throughout early postnatal development, which corresponds to enhanced cognition by early adulthood. Robert Jacobs, Mostafa Aboouf, et al. examined the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) in hippocampal mitochondrial function and memory in two mouse models: one overexpressing EPO in the brain, and juvenile mice treated during three days with a high dose of intraperitoneal EPO. Their results suggest that erythropoietin in the neonatal brain may impact spatial memory by increasing mitochondrial content.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Jacobs
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Human Physiology & Nutrition, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | - Mostafa A Aboouf
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIPH), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Christina Koester-Hegmann
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paola Muttathukunnel
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sofien Laouafa
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Christian Arias-Reyes
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Markus Thiersch
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIPH), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jorge Soliz
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Max Gassmann
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIPH), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Edith M Schneider Gasser
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ), Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
A O, U M, Lf B, A GC. Energy metabolism in childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. EBioMedicine 2021; 69:103474. [PMID: 34256347 PMCID: PMC8324816 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Whereas energy function in the aging brain and their related neurodegenerative diseases has been explored in some detail, there is limited knowledge about molecular mechanisms and brain networks of energy metabolism during infancy and childhood. In this review we describe current insights on physiological brain energetics at prenatal and neonatal stages, and in childhood. We then describe the main groups of inborn errors of energy metabolism affecting the brain. Of note, scarce basic neuroscience research in this field limits the opportunity for these disorders to provide paradigms of energy utilization during neurodevelopment. Finally, we report energy metabolism disturbances in well-known non-metabolic neurodevelopmental disorders. As energy metabolism is a fundamental biological function, brain energy utilization is likely altered in most neuropediatric diseases. Precise knowledge on mechanisms of brain energy disturbance will open the possibility of metabolic modulation therapies regardless of disease etiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oyarzábal A
- Neurometabolic Unit and Laboratory of Synaptic Metabolism. IPR, CIBERER (ISCIII) and MetabERN, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Musokhranova U
- Neurometabolic Unit and Laboratory of Synaptic Metabolism. IPR, CIBERER (ISCIII) and MetabERN, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barros Lf
- Center for Scientific Studies - CECs, Valdivia 5110466, Chile
| | - García-Cazorla A
- Neurometabolic Unit and Laboratory of Synaptic Metabolism. IPR, CIBERER (ISCIII) and MetabERN, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
An mtDNA mutant mouse demonstrates that mitochondrial deficiency can result in autism endophenotypes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2021429118. [PMID: 33536343 PMCID: PMC8017921 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021429118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have increasingly been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, corroborated by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) germline and somatic variants being found in ASD patients. If mitochondrial defects can generate ASD, then specific mtDNA mutations should induce ASD endophenotypes in mice. We tested this prediction by introduction of an mtDNA ND6 gene missense mutation (ND6P25L) into the mouse germline and found ASD endophenotypes. The ND6P25L mice exhibit impaired social interaction, compulsive behavior, and increased anxiety. They have reduced electroencephalographic delta and theta wave power, increased predilection to seizures, but without diminution of hippocampal interneurons. These endophenotypes correlate with impaired cortical and hippocampal mitochondrial respiration and increased reactive oxygen species production. Thus, mitochondrial defects can be sufficient to produce ASD phenotypes. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by a deficit in social communication, pathologic repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and electroencephalogram (EEG) aberrations. While exhaustive analysis of nuclear DNA (nDNA) variation has revealed hundreds of copy number variants (CNVs) and loss-of-function (LOF) mutations, no unifying hypothesis as to the pathophysiology of ASD has yet emerged. Based on biochemical and physiological analyses, it has been hypothesized that ASD may be the result of a systemic mitochondrial deficiency with brain-specific manifestations. This proposal has been supported by recent mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses identifying both germline and somatic mtDNA variants in ASD. If mitochondrial defects do predispose to ASD, then mice with certain mtDNA mutations should present with autism endophenotypes. To test this prediction, we examined a mouse strain harboring an mtDNA ND6 gene missense mutation (P25L). This mouse manifests impaired social interactions, increased repetitive behaviors and anxiety, EEG alterations, and a decreased seizure threshold, in the absence of reduced hippocampal interneuron numbers. EEG aberrations were most pronounced in the cortex followed by the hippocampus. Aberrations in mitochondrial respiratory function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also most pronounced in the cortex followed by the hippocampus, but absent in the olfactory bulb. These data demonstrate that mild systemic mitochondrial defects can result in ASD without apparent neuroanatomical defects and that systemic mitochondrial mutations can cause tissue-specific brain defects accompanied by regional neurophysiological alterations.
Collapse
|
46
|
Zarate YA, Vernon HJ, Bosanko KA, Ramani PK, Gokden M, Writzl K, Meznaric M, Vipotnik Vesnaver T, Ramakrishnaiah R, Osredkar D. Case Report: SATB2-Associated Syndrome Overlapping With Clinical Mitochondrial Disease Presentation: Report of Two Cases. Front Genet 2021; 12:692087. [PMID: 34234817 PMCID: PMC8257052 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.692087] [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: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
SATB2-associated syndrome (SAS) is an autosomal dominant neurogenetic multisystemic disorder. We describe two individuals with global developmental delay and hypotonia who underwent an extensive evaluation to rule out an underlying mitochondrial disorder before their eventual diagnosis of SAS. Although the strict application of the clinical mitochondrial disease score only led to the designation of "possible" mitochondrial disorder for these two individuals, other documented abnormalities included nonspecific neuroimaging findings on magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, decreased complex I activity on muscle biopsy for patient 2, and variation in the size and relative proportion of types of muscle fibers in the muscle biopsies that were aligned with mitochondrial diseases. SAS should be in the differential diagnoses of mitochondrial disorders, and broad-spectrum diagnostic tests such as exome sequencing need to be considered early in the evaluation process of undiagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuri A Zarate
- Section of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Hilary J Vernon
- Department of Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Katherine A Bosanko
- Section of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Praveen K Ramani
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Murat Gokden
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Karin Writzl
- Clinical Institute of Medical Genetics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marija Meznaric
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Raghu Ramakrishnaiah
- Division of Neuroradiology and Pediatric Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Damjan Osredkar
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Lee S, Kang H, Jung H, Kim E, Lee E. Gene Dosage- and Age-Dependent Differential Transcriptomic Changes in the Prefrontal Cortex of Shank2-Mutant Mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:683196. [PMID: 34177464 PMCID: PMC8226033 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.683196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Shank2 is an abundant postsynaptic scaffolding protein that is known to regulate excitatory synapse assembly and synaptic transmission and has been implicated in various neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Previous studies on Shank2-mutant mice provided mechanistic insights into their autistic-like phenotypes, but it remains unclear how transcriptomic patterns are changed in brain regions of the mutant mice in age- and gene dosage-dependent manners. To this end, we performed RNA-Seq analyses of the transcripts from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of heterozygous and homozygous Shank2-mutant mice lacking exons 6 and 7 at juvenile (week 3) and adult (week 12) stages. Juvenile heterozygous Shank2-mutant mice showed upregulation of glutamate synapse-related genes, downregulation of ribosomal and mitochondrial genes, and transcriptomic changes that are opposite to those observed in ASD (anti-ASD) such as upregulation of ASD_down (downregulated in ASD), GABA neuron-related, and oligodendrocyte-related genes. Juvenile homozygous Shank2 mice showed upregulation of chromatin-related genes and transcriptomic changes that are in line with those occurring in ASD (pro-ASD) such as downregulation of ASD_down, GABA neuron-related, and oligodendrocyte-related genes. Adult heterozygous and homozygous Shank2-mutant mice both exhibited downregulation of ribosomal and mitochondrial genes and pro-ASD transcriptomic changes. Therefore, the gene dosage- and age-dependent effects of Shank2 deletions in mice include differential transcriptomic changes across distinct functional contexts, including synapses, chromatin, ribosomes, mitochondria, GABA neurons, and oligodendrocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seungjoon Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hyojin Kang
- Division of National Supercomputing, KISTI, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hwajin Jung
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea.,Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Eunee Lee
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea.,Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Mitochondrial Fatty Acid β-Oxidation and Resveratrol Effect in Fibroblasts from Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11060510. [PMID: 34199819 PMCID: PMC8229571 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11060510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have an increase in blood acyl-carnitine (AC) concentrations indicating a mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation (mtFAO) impairment. However, there are no data on systematic mtFAO analyses in ASD. We analyzed tritiated palmitate oxidation rates in fibroblasts from patients with ASD before and after resveratrol (RSV) treatment, according to methods used for the diagnosis of congenital defects in mtFAO. ASD participants (N = 10, 60%; male; mean age (SD) 7.4 (3.2) years) were divided in two age-equivalent groups based on the presence (N = 5) or absence (N = 5) of elevated blood AC levels. In addition, electron transport chain (ETC) activity in fibroblasts and muscle biopsies and clinical characteristics were compared between the ASD groups. Baseline fibroblast mtFAO was not significantly different in patients in comparison with control values. However, ASD patients with elevated AC exhibited significantly decreased mtFAO rates, muscle ETC complex II activity, and fibroblast ETC Complex II/III activity (p < 0.05), compared with patients without an AC signature. RSV significantly increased the mtFAO activity in all study groups (p = 0.001). The highest mtFAO changes in response to RSV were observed in fibroblasts from patients with more severe symptoms on the Social Responsiveness Scale total (p = 0.001) and Awareness, Cognition, Communication and Motivation subscales (all p < 0.01). These findings suggested recognition of an ASD patient subset characterized by an impaired mtFAO flux associated with abnormal blood AC. The study elucidated that RSV significantly increased fibroblast mtFAO irrespective of plasma AC status, and the highest changes to RSV effects on mtFAO were observed in the more severely affected patients.
Collapse
|
49
|
Ferreira ML, Loyacono N. Rationale of an Advanced Integrative Approach Applied to Autism Spectrum Disorder: Review, Discussion and Proposal. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11060514. [PMID: 34199906 PMCID: PMC8230111 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11060514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The rationale of an Advanced Integrative Model and an Advanced Integrative Approach is presented. In the context of Allopathic Medicine, this model introduces the evaluation, clinical exploration, diagnosis, and treatment of concomitant medical problems to the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. These may be outside or inside the brain. The concepts of static or chronic, dynamic encephalopathy and condition for Autism Spectrum Disorder are defined in this model, which looks at the response to the treatments of concomitant medical problemsto the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. (1) Background: Antecedents and rationale of an Advanced Integrative Model and of an Advanced Integrative Approach are presented; (2) Methods: Concomitant medical problems to the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and a discussion of the known responses of their treatments are presented; (3) Results: Groups in Autism are defined and explained, related to the responses of the treatments of the concomitant medical problems to ASD and (4) Conclusions: The analysis in the framework of an Advanced Integrative Model of three groups including the concepts of static encephalopathy; chronic, dynamic encephalopathy and condition for Autism Spectrum Disorder explains findings in the field, previously not understood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolás Loyacono
- TEA-Enfoque Integrador Group, Bahía Blanca 8000, Argentina;
- SANyTA (Sociedad Argentina de Neurodesarrollo y Trastornos Asociados), Migueletes 681, Piso 2, Departamento 2, BUE-Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1426, Argentina
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +54-911-5825-5209
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Systems Biology Reveals S-Nitrosylation-Dependent Regulation of Mitochondrial Functions in Mice with Shank3 Mutation Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11060677. [PMID: 34064215 PMCID: PMC8224296 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder manifested in repetitive behavior, abnormalities in social interactions, and communication. The pathogenesis of this disorder is not clear, and no effective treatment is currently available. Protein S-nitrosylation (SNO), the nitric oxide (NO)-mediated posttranslational modification, targets key proteins implicated in synaptic and neuronal functions. Previously, we have shown that NO and SNO are involved in the ASD mouse model based on the Shank3 mutation. The energy supply to the brain mostly relies on oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria. Recent studies show that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are involved in ASD pathology. In this work, we performed SNO proteomics analysis of cortical tissues of the Shank3 mouse model of ASD with the focus on mitochondrial proteins and processes. The study was based on the SNOTRAP technology followed by systems biology analysis. This work revealed that 63 mitochondrial proteins were S-nitrosylated and that several mitochondria-related processes, including those associated with oxidative phosphorylation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, were enriched. This study implies that aberrant SNO signaling induced by the Shank3 mutation can target a wide range of mitochondria-related proteins and processes that may contribute to the ASD pathology. It is the first study to investigate the role of NO-dependent mitochondrial functions in ASD.
Collapse
|