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Wu Y, Jarvis ED, Sarkar A. Bayesian semiparametric Markov renewal mixed models for vocalization syntax. Biostatistics 2024; 25:648-665. [PMID: 36583955 DOI: 10.1093/biostatistics/kxac050] [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: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Speech and language play an important role in human vocal communication. Studies have shown that vocal disorders can result from genetic factors. In the absence of high-quality data on humans, mouse vocalization experiments in laboratory settings have been proven useful in providing valuable insights into mammalian vocal development, including especially the impact of certain genetic mutations. Such data sets usually consist of categorical syllable sequences along with continuous intersyllable interval (ISI) times for mice of different genotypes vocalizing under different contexts. ISIs are of particular importance as increased ISIs can be an indication of possible vocal impairment. Statistical methods for properly analyzing ISIs along with the transition probabilities have however been lacking. In this article, we propose a class of novel Markov renewal mixed models that capture the stochastic dynamics of both state transitions and ISI lengths. Specifically, we model the transition dynamics and the ISIs using Dirichlet and gamma mixtures, respectively, allowing the mixture probabilities in both cases to vary flexibly with fixed covariate effects as well as random individual-specific effects. We apply our model to analyze the impact of a mutation in the Foxp2 gene on mouse vocal behavior. We find that genotypes and social contexts significantly affect the length of ISIs but, compared to previous analyses, the influences of genotype and social context on the syllable transition dynamics are weaker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Erich D Jarvis
- Vertebrate Genome Laboratory, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Abhra Sarkar
- Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712, USA
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2
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Crocco P, De Rango F, Bruno F, Malvaso A, Maletta R, Bruni AC, Passarino G, Rose G, Dato S. Genetic variability of FOXP2 and its targets CNTNAP2 and PRNP in frontotemporal dementia: A pilot study in a southern Italian population. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31624. [PMID: 38828303 PMCID: PMC11140708 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31624] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The Forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) is an evolutionary conserved transcription factor involved in the maintenance of neuronal networks, implicated in language disorders. Some evidence suggests a possible link between FOXP2 genetic variability and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) pathology and related endophenotypes. To shed light on this issue, we analysed the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FOXP2 and FTD in 113 patients and 223 healthy controls. In addition, we investigated SNPs in two putative targets of FOXP2, CNTNAP2, Contactin-associated protein-like 2 and PRNP, prion protein genes. Overall, 27 SNPs were selected by a tagging approach. FOXP2-rs17213159-C/T resulted associated with disease risk (OR = 2.16, P = 0.0004), as well as with age at onset and severity of dementia. Other FOXP2 markers were associated with semantic and phonological fluency scores, cognitive levels (MMSE) and neuropsychological tests. Associations with language, cognitive and brain atrophy measures were found with CNTNAP2 and PRNP genetic variability. Overall, although preliminary, results here presented suggest an influence of regulatory pathways centred on FOXP2 as a molecular background of FTD affecting neurological function of multiple brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolina Crocco
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Francesco De Rango
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Francesco Bruno
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Antonio Malvaso
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation – National Neurological Institute, Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Raffaele Maletta
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Amalia C. Bruni
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Passarino
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Rose
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Serena Dato
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
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3
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Ehweiner A, Duch C, Brembs B. Wings of Change: aPKC/FoxP-dependent plasticity in steering motor neurons underlies operant self-learning in Drosophila. F1000Res 2024; 13:116. [PMID: 38779314 PMCID: PMC11109550 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.146347.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Motor learning is central to human existence, such as learning to speak or walk, sports moves, or rehabilitation after injury. Evidence suggests that all forms of motor learning share an evolutionarily conserved molecular plasticity pathway. Here, we present novel insights into the neural processes underlying operant self-learning, a form of motor learning in the fruit fly Drosophila. Methods We operantly trained wild type and transgenic Drosophila fruit flies, tethered at the torque meter, in a motor learning task that required them to initiate and maintain turning maneuvers around their vertical body axis (yaw torque). We combined this behavioral experiment with transgenic peptide expression, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated, spatio-temporally controlled gene knock-out and confocal microscopy. Results We find that expression of atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) in direct wing steering motoneurons co-expressing the transcription factor FoxP is necessary for this type of motor learning and that aPKC likely acts via non-canonical pathways. We also found that it takes more than a week for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of FoxP in adult animals to impair motor learning, suggesting that adult FoxP expression is required for operant self-learning. Conclusions Our experiments suggest that, for operant self-learning, a type of motor learning in Drosophila, co-expression of atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) and the transcription factor FoxP is necessary in direct wing steering motoneurons. Some of these neurons control the wing beat amplitude when generating optomotor responses, and we have discovered modulation of optomotor behavior after operant self-learning. We also discovered that aPKC likely acts via non-canonical pathways and that FoxP expression is also required in adult flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Ehweiner
- Institut für Zoologie - Neurogenetik, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Bavaria, 93040, Germany
| | - Carsten Duch
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology (iDN), Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
| | - Björn Brembs
- Institut für Zoologie - Neurogenetik, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Bavaria, 93040, Germany
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4
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Che F, Li C, Zhang L, Qian C, Mo L, Li B, Wu H, Wang L, Yang Y. Novel FOXP2 variant associated with speech and language dysfunction in a Chinese family and literature review. J Appl Genet 2024; 65:367-373. [PMID: 38418803 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-024-00849-0] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Since its initial identification, the Forkhead Box P2 gene (FOXP2) has maintained its singular status as the archetypal monogenic determinant implicated in Mendelian forms of human speech and language impairments. Despite the passage of two decades subsequent to its discovery, extant literature remains disproportionately sparse with regard to case-specific instances and loci of mutational perturbations. The objective of the current investigation centers on furnishing an enriched delineation of both its clinical manifestations and its mutational heterogeneity. Clinical phenotypes and peripheral blood samples were assiduously amassed from familial subjects. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing methodologies were deployed for the unambiguous identification of potential genetic variants and for corroborating their co-segregation within the family pedigree. An exhaustive review of published literature focusing on patients manifesting speech and language disorders consequent to FOXP2 genetic anomalies was also undertaken. The investigation yielded the identification of a novel heterozygous variant, c.661del (p.L221Ffs*41), localized within the FOXP2 gene in the proband, an inheritance from his symptomatic mother. The proband presented with an array of symptoms, encompassing dysarthric speech, deficits in instruction comprehension, and communicative impediments. In comparison, the mother exhibited attenuated symptoms, including rudimentary verbalization capabilities punctuated by pronounced stuttering and dysarthria. A comprehensive analysis of articles archived in the Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD) classified under "DM" disclosed the existence of 74 patients inclusive of the subjects under current examination, sub-divided into 19 patients with null variants, 5 patients with missense variants, and 50 patients with gross deletions or complex genomic rearrangements. A conspicuous predominance of delayed speech, impoverished current verbal abilities, verbal comprehension deficits, and learning difficulties were observed in patients harboring null or missense FOXP2 variants, as compared to their counterparts with gross deletions or complex rearrangements. Developmental delays, hypotonia, and craniofacial aberrations were exclusive to the latter cohort. The elucidated findings augment the existing corpus of knowledge on the genetic architecture influencing both the proband and his mother within this specified familial context. Of critical importance, these discoveries furnish a robust molecular framework conducive to the prenatal diagnostic evaluations of prospective progeny within this familial lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyu Che
- Shaanxi Institute for Pediatric Diseases, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Chenhao Li
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Liyu Zhang
- Shaanxi Institute for Pediatric Diseases, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Chenxi Qian
- Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lidangzhi Mo
- Shaanxi Institute for Pediatric Diseases, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Benchang Li
- Shaanxi Institute for Pediatric Diseases, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Haibin Wu
- Shaanxi Institute for Pediatric Diseases, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- Department of Child Health Care, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China.
| | - Ying Yang
- Shaanxi Institute for Pediatric Diseases, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China.
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5
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Nitrini R. Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 1. Dement Neuropsychol 2024; 18:e20240087P1. [PMID: 38628564 PMCID: PMC11019717 DOI: 10.1590/1980-5764-dn-2024-0087p1] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
This review is based on a conference presented in June 2023. Its main objective is to explain the cognitive differences between humans and non-human primates (NHPs) focusing on characteristics of their brains. It is based on the opinion of a clinical neurologist and does not intend to go beyond an overview of this complex topic. As language is the main characteristic differentiating humans from NHPs, this review is targeted at their brain networks related to language. NHPs have rudimentary forms of language, including primitive lexical/semantic signs. Humans have a much broader lexical/semantic repertory, but syntax is the most important characteristic, which is probably unique to Homo sapiens. Angular gyrus, Broca's area, temporopolar areas, and arcuate fascicle, are much more developed in humans. These differences may explain why NHPs did not develop a similar language to ours. Language had a profound influence on all other higher nervous activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Nitrini
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo SP, Brazil
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6
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Lambourne L, Mattioli K, Santoso C, Sheynkman G, Inukai S, Kaundal B, Berenson A, Spirohn-Fitzgerald K, Bhattacharjee A, Rothman E, Shrestha S, Laval F, Yang Z, Bisht D, Sewell JA, Li G, Prasad A, Phanor S, Lane R, Campbell DM, Hunt T, Balcha D, Gebbia M, Twizere JC, Hao T, Frankish A, Riback JA, Salomonis N, Calderwood MA, Hill DE, Sahni N, Vidal M, Bulyk ML, Fuxman Bass JI. Widespread variation in molecular interactions and regulatory properties among transcription factor isoforms. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.12.584681. [PMID: 38617209 PMCID: PMC11014633 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.12.584681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Most human Transcription factors (TFs) genes encode multiple protein isoforms differing in DNA binding domains, effector domains, or other protein regions. The global extent to which this results in functional differences between isoforms remains unknown. Here, we systematically compared 693 isoforms of 246 TF genes, assessing DNA binding, protein binding, transcriptional activation, subcellular localization, and condensate formation. Relative to reference isoforms, two-thirds of alternative TF isoforms exhibit differences in one or more molecular activities, which often could not be predicted from sequence. We observed two primary categories of alternative TF isoforms: "rewirers" and "negative regulators", both of which were associated with differentiation and cancer. Our results support a model wherein the relative expression levels of, and interactions involving, TF isoforms add an understudied layer of complexity to gene regulatory networks, demonstrating the importance of isoform-aware characterization of TF functions and providing a rich resource for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Lambourne
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaia Mattioli
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clarissa Santoso
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gloria Sheynkman
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sachi Inukai
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Babita Kaundal
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anna Berenson
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kerstin Spirohn-Fitzgerald
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anukana Bhattacharjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Elisabeth Rothman
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Florent Laval
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
- Laboratory of Viral Interactomes, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Zhipeng Yang
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deepa Bisht
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jared A Sewell
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guangyuan Li
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Anisa Prasad
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard College, Cambridge MA, USA
| | - Sabrina Phanor
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan Lane
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Toby Hunt
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dawit Balcha
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marinella Gebbia
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI), Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean-Claude Twizere
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
- Laboratory of Viral Interactomes, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Tong Hao
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adam Frankish
- Laboratory of Viral Interactomes, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Josh A Riback
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nathan Salomonis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Michael A Calderwood
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David E Hill
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nidhi Sahni
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Marc Vidal
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Martha L Bulyk
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Juan I Fuxman Bass
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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7
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Wirthlin ME, Schmid TA, Elie JE, Zhang X, Kowalczyk A, Redlich R, Shvareva VA, Rakuljic A, Ji MB, Bhat NS, Kaplow IM, Schäffer DE, Lawler AJ, Wang AZ, Phan BN, Annaldasula S, Brown AR, Lu T, Lim BK, Azim E, Clark NL, Meyer WK, Pond SLK, Chikina M, Yartsev MM, Pfenning AR. Vocal learning-associated convergent evolution in mammalian proteins and regulatory elements. Science 2024; 383:eabn3263. [PMID: 38422184 PMCID: PMC11313673 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn3263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Vocal production learning ("vocal learning") is a convergently evolved trait in vertebrates. To identify brain genomic elements associated with mammalian vocal learning, we integrated genomic, anatomical, and neurophysiological data from the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) with analyses of the genomes of 215 placental mammals. First, we identified a set of proteins evolving more slowly in vocal learners. Then, we discovered a vocal motor cortical region in the Egyptian fruit bat, an emergent vocal learner, and leveraged that knowledge to identify active cis-regulatory elements in the motor cortex of vocal learners. Machine learning methods applied to motor cortex open chromatin revealed 50 enhancers robustly associated with vocal learning whose activity tended to be lower in vocal learners. Our research implicates convergent losses of motor cortex regulatory elements in mammalian vocal learning evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E. Wirthlin
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
| | - Tobias A. Schmid
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Julie E. Elie
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Xiaomeng Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Amanda Kowalczyk
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
| | - Ruby Redlich
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Varvara A. Shvareva
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Ashley Rakuljic
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Maria B. Ji
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Ninad S. Bhat
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Irene M. Kaplow
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
| | - Daniel E. Schäffer
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Alyssa J. Lawler
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Andrew Z. Wang
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - BaDoi N. Phan
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
| | - Siddharth Annaldasula
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ashley R. Brown
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
| | - Tianyu Lu
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Byung Kook Lim
- Neurobiology section, Division of Biological Science, University of California, San Diego; La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Eiman Azim
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nathan L. Clark
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Wynn K. Meyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University; Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | | | - Maria Chikina
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Michael M. Yartsev
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Andreas R. Pfenning
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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8
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Alamin M, Humaira Sultana M, Babarinde IA, Azad AKM, Moni MA, Xu H. Single-cell RNA-seq data analysis reveals functionally relevant biomarkers of early brain development and their regulatory footprints in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae230. [PMID: 38739758 PMCID: PMC11089419 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae230] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The complicated process of neuronal development is initiated early in life, with the genetic mechanisms governing this process yet to be fully elucidated. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a potent instrument for pinpointing biomarkers that exhibit differential expression across various cell types and developmental stages. By employing scRNA-seq on human embryonic stem cells, we aim to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) crucial for early-stage neuronal development. Our focus extends beyond simply identifying DEGs. We strive to investigate the functional roles of these genes through enrichment analysis and construct gene regulatory networks to understand their interactions. Ultimately, this comprehensive approach aspires to illuminate the molecular mechanisms and transcriptional dynamics governing early human brain development. By uncovering potential links between these DEGs and intelligence, mental disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders, we hope to shed light on human neurological health and disease. In this study, we have used scRNA-seq to identify DEGs involved in early-stage neuronal development in hESCs. The scRNA-seq data, collected on days 26 (D26) and 54 (D54), of the in vitro differentiation of hESCs to neurons were analyzed. Our analysis identified 539 DEGs between D26 and D54. Functional enrichment of those DEG biomarkers indicated that the up-regulated DEGs participated in neurogenesis, while the down-regulated DEGs were linked to synapse regulation. The Reactome pathway analysis revealed that down-regulated DEGs were involved in the interactions between proteins located in synapse pathways. We also discovered interactions between DEGs and miRNA, transcriptional factors (TFs) and DEGs, and between TF and miRNA. Our study identified 20 significant transcription factors, shedding light on early brain development genetics. The identified DEGs and gene regulatory networks are valuable resources for future research into human brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Alamin
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | | | - Isaac Adeyemi Babarinde
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - A K M Azad
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Science, Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 11432, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Ali Moni
- Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Futures Institute, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia
| | - Haiming Xu
- Institute of Bioinformatics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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9
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He BH, Yang YH, Hsiao BW, Lin WT, Chuang YF, Chen SY, Liu FC. Foxp2 Is Required for Nucleus Accumbens-mediated Multifaceted Limbic Function. Neuroscience 2024; 542:33-46. [PMID: 38354901 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.02.004] [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: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The forkhead box protein P2 (Foxp2), initially identified for its role in speech and language development, plays an important role in neural development. Previous studies investigated the function of the Foxp2 gene by deleting or mutating Foxp2 from developmental stages. Little is known about its physiological function in adult brains. Although Foxp2 has been well studied in the dorsal striatum, its function in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of the ventral striatum remains elusive. Here, we examine the physiological function of Foxp2 in NAc of mouse brains. We conditionally knocked out Foxp2 by microinjections of AAV-EGFP-Cre viruses into the medial shell of NAc of Foxp2 floxed (cKO) mice. Immunostaining showed increased c-Fos positive cells in cKO NAc at basal levels, suggesting an abnormality in Foxp2-deficient NAc cells. Unbiased behavioral profiling of Foxp2 cKO mice showed abnormalities in limbic-associated function. Foxp2 cKO mice exhibited abnormal social novelty without preference for interaction with strangers and familiar mice. In appetitive reward learning, Foxp2 cKO mice failed to learn the time expectancy of food delivery. In fear learning, Foxp2 cKO mice exhibited abnormal increases in freezing levels in response to tone paired with foot shock during fear conditioning. The extinction of the fear response was also altered in Foxp2 cKO mice. In contrast, conditional knockout of Foxp2 in NAc did not affect locomotion, motor coordination, thermal pain sensation, anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Collectively, our study suggests that Foxp2 has a multifaceted physiological role in NAc in the regulation of limbic function in the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Han He
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hui Yang
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Bo-Wen Hsiao
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ting Lin
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fang Chuang
- Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Yun Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Chin Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan.
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10
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Peyrégne S, Slon V, Kelso J. More than a decade of genetic research on the Denisovans. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:83-103. [PMID: 37723347 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00643-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Denisovans, a group of now extinct humans who lived in Eastern Eurasia in the Middle and Late Pleistocene, were first identified from DNA sequences just over a decade ago. Only ten fragmentary remains from two sites have been attributed to Denisovans based entirely on molecular information. Nevertheless, there has been great interest in using genetic data to understand Denisovans and their place in human history. From the reconstruction of a single high-quality genome, it has been possible to infer their population history, including events of admixture with other human groups. Additionally, the identification of Denisovan DNA in the genomes of present-day individuals has provided insights into the timing and routes of dispersal of ancient modern humans into Asia and Oceania, as well as the contributions of archaic DNA to the physiology of present-day people. In this Review, we synthesize more than a decade of research on Denisovans, reconcile controversies and summarize insights into their population history and phenotype. We also highlight how our growing knowledge about Denisovans has provided insights into our own evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Peyrégne
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Viviane Slon
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory Research, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Janet Kelso
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
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11
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Skiba SA, Hansen A, McCall R, Byers A, Waldron S, Epping AJ, Taglialatela JP, Hudson ML. Linked OXTR Variants Are Associated with Social Behavior Differences in Bonobos ( Pan paniscus). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.22.573122. [PMID: 38187727 PMCID: PMC10769379 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.22.573122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in forkhead box protein P2 (FOXP2) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) genes have been associated with linguistic and social development in humans, as well as to symptom severity in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studying biobehavioral mechanisms in the species most closely related to humans can provide insights into the origins of human communication, and the impact of genetic variation on complex behavioral phenotypes. Here, we aimed to determine if bonobos (Pan paniscus) exhibit individual variation in FOXP2 and OXTR loci that have been associated with human social development and behavior. Although the ASD-related variants were reported in 13-41% of the human population, we did not find variation at these loci in our sample of 13 bonobos. However, we did identify a novel variant in bonobo FOXP2, as well as four novel variants in bonobo OXTR that were 17-184 base pairs from the human ASD variants. We also found the same linked, homozygous allelic combination across the 4 novel OXTR SNPs (homozygous TGTC) in 6 of the 13 bonobos, indicating that this combination may be under positive selection. When comparing the combined OXTR genotypes, we found significant group differences in social behavior; bonobos with zero copies of the TGTC combination were less social than bonobos with one copy of the TGTC combination. Taken together, our findings suggest that these OXTR variants may influence individual-level social behavior in bonobos and support the notion that linked genetic variants are promising risk factors for social communication deficits in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A. Skiba
- Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative (Ape Initiative), Des Moines, IA
| | - Alek Hansen
- Kennesaw State University, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw, GA
| | - Ryan McCall
- Kennesaw State University, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw, GA
| | - Azeeza Byers
- Kennesaw State University, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw, GA
- Kennesaw State University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Kennesaw, GA
| | - Sarah Waldron
- Kennesaw State University, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw, GA
| | - Amanda J. Epping
- Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative (Ape Initiative), Des Moines, IA
| | - Jared P. Taglialatela
- Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative (Ape Initiative), Des Moines, IA
- Kennesaw State University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Kennesaw, GA
| | - Martin L. Hudson
- Kennesaw State University, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw, GA
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12
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Boerma T, Ter Haar S, Ganga R, Wijnen F, Blom E, Wierenga CJ. What risk factors for Developmental Language Disorder can tell us about the neurobiological mechanisms of language development. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 154:105398. [PMID: 37741516 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105398] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Language is a complex multidimensional cognitive system that is connected to many neurocognitive capacities. The development of language is therefore strongly intertwined with the development of these capacities and their neurobiological substrates. Consequently, language problems, for example those of children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), are explained by a variety of etiological pathways and each of these pathways will be associated with specific risk factors. In this review, we attempt to link previously described factors that may interfere with language development to putative underlying neurobiological mechanisms of language development, hoping to uncover openings for future therapeutical approaches or interventions that can help children to optimally develop their language skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessel Boerma
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sita Ter Haar
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Cognitive Neurobiology and Helmholtz Institute, Department of Psychology, Utrecht University/Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Rachida Ganga
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Wijnen
- Institute for Language Sciences, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Elma Blom
- Department of Development and Education of youth in Diverse Societies (DEEDS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Language and Culture, The Arctic University of Norway UiT, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Corette J Wierenga
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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13
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Donald H, Blane A, Buthelezi S, Naicker P, Stoychev S, Majakwara J, Fanucchi S. Assessing the dynamics and macromolecular interactions of the intrinsically disordered protein YY1. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:BSR20231295. [PMID: 37815922 PMCID: PMC10611921 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231295] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
YY1 is a ubiquitously expressed, intrinsically disordered transcription factor involved in neural development. The oligomeric state of YY1 varies depending on the environment. These structural changes may alter its DNA binding ability and hence its transcriptional activity. Just as YY1's oligomeric state can impact its role in transcription, so does its interaction with other proteins such as FOXP2. The aim of this work is to study the structure and dynamics of YY1 so as to determine the influence of oligomerisation and associations with FOXP2 on its DNA binding mechanism. The results confirm that YY1 is primarily a disordered protein, but it does consist of certain specific structured regions. We observed that YY1 quaternary structure is a heterogenous mixture of oligomers, the overall size of which is dependent on ionic strength. Both YY1 oligomerisation and its dynamic behaviour are further subject to changes upon DNA binding, whereby increases in DNA concentration result in a decrease in the size of YY1 oligomers. YY1 and the FOXP2 forkhead domain were found to interact with each other both in isolation and in the presence of YY1-specific DNA. The heterogeneous, dynamic multimerisation of YY1 identified in this work is, therefore likely to be important for its ability to make heterologous associations with other proteins such as FOXP2. The interactions that YY1 makes with itself, FOXP2 and DNA form part of an intricate mechanism of transcriptional regulation by YY1, which is vital for appropriate neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Donald
- Protein Structure-Function Unit, School of molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Jan Smuts Ave, Braamfontein, 2050 Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Ashleigh Blane
- Protein Structure-Function Unit, School of molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Jan Smuts Ave, Braamfontein, 2050 Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Sindisiwe Buthelezi
- CSIR Biosciences, CSIR, Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, 0001 Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Previn Naicker
- CSIR Biosciences, CSIR, Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, 0001 Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Stoyan Stoychev
- CSIR Biosciences, CSIR, Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, 0001 Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Jacob Majakwara
- School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Jan Smuts Ave, Braamfontein, 2050 Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Sylvia Fanucchi
- Protein Structure-Function Unit, School of molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Jan Smuts Ave, Braamfontein, 2050 Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
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14
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Zhu X, Chen C, Wei D, Xu Y, Liang S, Jia W, Li J, Qu Y, Zhai J, Zhang Y, Wu P, Hao Q, Zhang L, Zhang W, Yang X, Pan L, Qi R, Li Y, Wang F, Yi R, Yang Z, Wang J, Zhao Y. FOXP2 confers oncogenic effects in prostate cancer. eLife 2023; 12:e81258. [PMID: 37668356 PMCID: PMC10513481 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81258] [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] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification oncogenes is fundamental to revealing the molecular basis of cancer. Here, we found that FOXP2 is overexpressed in human prostate cancer cells and prostate tumors, but its expression is absent in normal prostate epithelial cells and low in benign prostatic hyperplasia. FOXP2 is a FOX transcription factor family member and tightly associated with vocal development. To date, little is known regarding the link of FOXP2 to prostate cancer. We observed that high FOXP2 expression and frequent amplification are significantly associated with high Gleason score. Ectopic expression of FOXP2 induces malignant transformation of mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts and human prostate epithelial cell RWPE-1. Conversely, FOXP2 knockdown suppresses the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. Transgenic overexpression of FOXP2 in the mouse prostate causes prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Overexpression of FOXP2 aberrantly activates oncogenic MET signaling and inhibition of MET signaling effectively reverts the FOXP2-induced oncogenic phenotype. CUT&Tag assay identified FOXP2-binding sites located in MET and its associated gene HGF. Additionally, the novel recurrent FOXP2-CPED1 fusion identified in prostate tumors results in high expression of truncated FOXP2, which exhibit a similar capacity for malignant transformation. Together, our data indicate that FOXP2 is involved in tumorigenicity of prostate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoquan Zhu
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Chao Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking UniversityShenzhenChina
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical CenterHong KongChina
| | - Dong Wei
- Department of Urology, Beijing Hospital, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yong Xu
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjingChina
- Department of Urology, Second Hospital of Tianjing Medical UniversityTianjingChina
| | - Siying Liang
- Genetic Testing Center, Qingdao Women and Children's HospitalQingdaoChina
| | - Wenlong Jia
- Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Jian Li
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yanchun Qu
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjingChina
| | - Jianpo Zhai
- Department of Urology, Beijing Jishuitan HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Yaoguang Zhang
- Department of Urology, Beijing Hospital, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Pengjie Wu
- Department of Urology, Beijing Hospital, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Qiang Hao
- Department of Urology, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Linlin Zhang
- School of Nursing, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Hospital, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xinyu Yang
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of UrologyBeijingChina
| | - Lin Pan
- Clinical Institute of China-Japan Friendship HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Ruomei Qi
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yao Li
- Department of Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical ScienceBeijingChina
| | - Feiliang Wang
- The Department of Ultrasonography, Beijing Hospital, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Rui Yi
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Ze Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jianye Wang
- Department of Urology, Beijing Hospital, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yanyang Zhao
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingChina
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15
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Wesseldijk LW, Ullén F, Mosing MA. Music and Genetics. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105302. [PMID: 37400010 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105302] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The first part of this review provides a brief historical background of behavior genetic research and how twin and genotype data can be utilized to study genetic influences on individual differences in human behavior. We then review the field of music genetics, from its emergence to large scale twin studies and the recent, first molecular genetic studies of music-related traits. In the second part of the review, we discuss the wider utility of twin and genotype data beyond estimating heritability and gene-finding. We present four examples of music studies that utilized genetically informative samples to analyze causality and gene-environmental interplay for music skills. Overall, research in the field of music genetics has gained much momentum over the last decade and its findings highlight the importance of studying both environmental and genetic factors and particularly their interplay, paving the way for exciting and fruitful times to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura W Wesseldijk
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Fredrik Ullén
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Miriam A Mosing
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
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16
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Lin LC, Cole RC, Greenlee JDW, Narayanan NS. A Pilot Study of Ex Vivo Human Prefrontal RNA Transcriptomics in Parkinson's Disease. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:3037-3046. [PMID: 36952070 PMCID: PMC10566549 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01334-8] [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: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) can dramatically change cortical neurophysiology. The molecular basis for PD-related cortical changes is unclear because gene expression data are usually derived from postmortem tissue collected at the end of a complex disease and they profoundly change in the minutes after death. Here, we studied cortical changes in tissue from the prefrontal cortex of living PD patients undergoing deep-brain stimulation implantation surgery. We examined 780 genes using the NanoString nCounter platform and found that 40 genes were differentially expressed between PD (n = 12) and essential tremor (ET; n = 9) patients. One of these 40 genes, STAT1, correlated with intraoperative 4-Hz rhythms and intraoperative performance of an oddball reaction-time task. Using a pre-designed custom panel of 780 targets, we compared these intraoperative data with those from a separate cohort of fresh-frozen tissue from the same frontal region in postmortem human PD donors (n = 6) and age-matched neurotypical controls (n = 6). This cohort revealed 279 differentially expressed genes. Fifteen of the 40 intraoperative PD-specific genes overlapped with postmortem PD-specific genes, including CALB2 and FOXP2. Transcriptomic analyses identified pathway changes in PD that had not been previously observed in postmortem cases. These molecular signatures of cortical function and dysfunction may help us better understand cognitive and neuropsychiatric aspects of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Chun Lin
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Neurology, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | | | - Jeremy D W Greenlee
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Nandakumar S Narayanan
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
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17
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Kuo HY, Chen SY, Huang RC, Takahashi H, Lee YH, Pang HY, Wu CH, Graybiel AM, Liu FC. Speech- and language-linked FOXP2 mutation targets protein motors in striatal neurons. Brain 2023; 146:3542-3557. [PMID: 37137515 PMCID: PMC10393416 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human speech and language are among the most complex motor and cognitive abilities. The discovery of a mutation in the transcription factor FOXP2 in KE family members with speech disturbances has been a landmark example of the genetic control of vocal communication in humans. Cellular mechanisms underlying this control have remained unclear. By leveraging FOXP2 mutation/deletion mouse models, we found that the KE family FOXP2R553H mutation directly disables intracellular dynein-dynactin 'protein motors' in the striatum by induction of a disruptive high level of dynactin1 that impairs TrkB endosome trafficking, microtubule dynamics, dendritic outgrowth and electrophysiological activity in striatal neurons alongside vocalization deficits. Dynactin1 knockdown in mice carrying FOXP2R553H mutations rescued these cellular abnormalities and improved vocalization. We suggest that FOXP2 controls vocal circuit formation by regulating protein motor homeostasis in striatal neurons, and that its disruption could contribute to the pathophysiology of FOXP2 mutation/deletion-associated speech disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Ying Kuo
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Yun Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Rui-Chi Huang
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Hiroshi Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization, Tottori Medical Center, Tottori 689-0203, Japan
| | - Yen-Hui Lee
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Yu Pang
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hsi Wu
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Ann M Graybiel
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Fu-Chin Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
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18
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Liu D, Xing Z, Huang J, Schwieter JW, Liu H. Genetic bases of language control in bilinguals: Evidence from an EEG study. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:3624-3643. [PMID: 37051723 PMCID: PMC10203802 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26301] [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: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have debated whether the ability for bilinguals to mentally control their languages is a consequence of their experiences switching between languages or whether it is a specific, yet highly-adaptive, cognitive ability. The current study investigates how variations in the language-related gene FOXP2 and executive function-related genes COMT, BDNF, and Kibra/WWC1 affect bilingual language control during two phases of speech production, namely the language schema phase (i.e., the selection of one language or another) and lexical response phase (i.e., utterance of the target). Chinese-English bilinguals (N = 119) participated in a picture-naming task involving cued language switches. Statistical analyses showed that both genes significantly influenced language control on neural coding and behavioral performance. Specifically, FOXP2 rs1456031 showed a wide-ranging effect on language control, including RTs, F(2, 113) = 4.00, FDR p = .036, and neural coding across three-time phases (N2a: F(2, 113) = 4.96, FDR p = .014; N2b: F(2, 113) = 4.30, FDR p = .028, LPC: F(2, 113) = 2.82, FDR p = .060), while the COMT rs4818 (ts >2.69, FDR ps < .05), BDNF rs6265 (Fs >5.31, FDR ps < .05), and Kibra/WWC1 rs17070145 (ts > -3.29, FDR ps < .05) polymorphisms influenced two-time phases (N2a and N2b). Time-resolved correlation analyses revealed that the relationship between neural coding and cognitive performance is modulated by genetic variations in all four genes. In all, these findings suggest that bilingual language control is shaped by an individual's experience switching between languages and their inherent genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxue Liu
- Research Center of Brain and Cognitive NeuroscienceLiaoning Normal UniversityDalianChina
- Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive NeuroscienceLiaoning ProvinceDalianChina
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of PsychologyBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zehui Xing
- Research Center of Brain and Cognitive NeuroscienceLiaoning Normal UniversityDalianChina
- Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive NeuroscienceLiaoning ProvinceDalianChina
| | - Junjun Huang
- Research Center of Brain and Cognitive NeuroscienceLiaoning Normal UniversityDalianChina
- Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive NeuroscienceLiaoning ProvinceDalianChina
| | - John W. Schwieter
- Language Acquisition, Multilingualism, and Cognition Laboratory / Bilingualism Matters @ LaurierWilfrid Laurier UniversityWaterlooCanada
- Department of Linguistics and LanguagesMcMaster UniversityHamiltonCanada
| | - Huanhuan Liu
- Research Center of Brain and Cognitive NeuroscienceLiaoning Normal UniversityDalianChina
- Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive NeuroscienceLiaoning ProvinceDalianChina
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19
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Singh R. A Gene-Based Algorithm for Identifying Factors That May Affect a Speaker's Voice. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:897. [PMID: 37372241 DOI: 10.3390/e25060897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, many machine-learning- and artificial-intelligence-based technologies have been created to deduce biometric or bio-relevant parameters of speakers from their voice. These voice profiling technologies have targeted a wide range of parameters, from diseases to environmental factors, based largely on the fact that they are known to influence voice. Recently, some have also explored the prediction of parameters whose influence on voice is not easily observable through data-opportunistic biomarker discovery techniques. However, given the enormous range of factors that can possibly influence voice, more informed methods for selecting those that may be potentially deducible from voice are needed. To this end, this paper proposes a simple path-finding algorithm that attempts to find links between vocal characteristics and perturbing factors using cytogenetic and genomic data. The links represent reasonable selection criteria for use by computational by profiling technologies only, and are not intended to establish any unknown biological facts. The proposed algorithm is validated using a simple example from medical literature-that of the clinically observed effects of specific chromosomal microdeletion syndromes on the vocal characteristics of affected people. In this example, the algorithm attempts to link the genes involved in these syndromes to a single example gene (FOXP2) that is known to play a broad role in voice production. We show that in cases where strong links are exposed, vocal characteristics of the patients are indeed reported to be correspondingly affected. Validation experiments and subsequent analyses confirm that the methodology could be potentially useful in predicting the existence of vocal signatures in naïve cases where their existence has not been otherwise observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Singh
- Center for Voice Intelligence and Security, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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20
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Oliveira-Stahl G, Farboud S, Sterling ML, Heckman JJ, van Raalte B, Lenferink D, van der Stam A, Smeets CJLM, Fisher SE, Englitz B. High-precision spatial analysis of mouse courtship vocalization behavior reveals sex and strain differences. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5219. [PMID: 36997591 PMCID: PMC10063627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31554-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice display a wide repertoire of vocalizations that varies with sex, strain, and context. Especially during social interaction, including sexually motivated dyadic interaction, mice emit sequences of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) of high complexity. As animals of both sexes vocalize, a reliable attribution of USVs to their emitter is essential. The state-of-the-art in sound localization for USVs in 2D allows spatial localization at a resolution of multiple centimeters. However, animals interact at closer ranges, e.g. snout-to-snout. Hence, improved algorithms are required to reliably assign USVs. We present a novel algorithm, SLIM (Sound Localization via Intersecting Manifolds), that achieves a 2-3-fold improvement in accuracy (13.1-14.3 mm) using only 4 microphones and extends to many microphones and localization in 3D. This accuracy allows reliable assignment of 84.3% of all USVs in our dataset. We apply SLIM to courtship interactions between adult C57Bl/6J wildtype mice and those carrying a heterozygous Foxp2 variant (R552H). The improved spatial accuracy reveals that vocalization behavior is dependent on the spatial relation between the interacting mice. Female mice vocalized more in close snout-to-snout interaction while male mice vocalized more when the male snout was in close proximity to the female's ano-genital region. Further, we find that the acoustic properties of the ultrasonic vocalizations (duration, Wiener Entropy, and sound level) are dependent on the spatial relation between the interacting mice as well as on the genotype. In conclusion, the improved attribution of vocalizations to their emitters provides a foundation for better understanding social vocal behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Oliveira-Stahl
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Soha Farboud
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Max L Sterling
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jesse J Heckman
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bram van Raalte
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dionne Lenferink
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Amber van der Stam
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Cleo J L M Smeets
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon E Fisher
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Englitz
- Department of Neurophysiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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21
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Bessho C, Yamada S, Tanida T, Tanaka M. FoxP2 protein decreases at a specific region in the chick midbrain after hatching. Neurosci Lett 2023; 800:137119. [PMID: 36773927 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137119] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Forkhead-box subclass P member 2 (FOXP2/FoxP2) protein, a transcription factor, regulates the development of certain brain functions, including human speech and animal vocalization. Although rapid progress has been made in demonstrating a relationship between FoxP2 expression in the brain and vocalization of the zebra finch, a typical vocal learner, the relationship in avian vocal non-learners, including chickens remains elusive. Because the midbrain plays a key role in innate vocalization development, we analyzed the FoxP2 protein in the midbrain of chicks, which do not cheep before hatching but cheep and call after hatching. Western blot analyses showed a significant reduction in FoxP2 protein in the chick midbrain after hatching compared with the findings before hatching. Quantitative immunohistochemistry revealed that FoxP2-immunoreactive (ir) cells significantly decreased at the stratum gris fibrosum (SGFS) of the optic tectum in the chick midbrain after hatching compared with the findings before hatching. These findings support the notion that FoxP2-ir cell numbers decrease at a specific region in the midbrain after hatching may be involved in innate vocalization of avian vocal non-learners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chikafusa Bessho
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Shunji Yamada
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Tanida
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaki Tanaka
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
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22
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Zhang X, Fang B, Huang YF. Transcription factor binding sites are frequently under accelerated evolution in primates. Nat Commun 2023; 14:783. [PMID: 36774380 PMCID: PMC9922303 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36421-3] [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: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent comparative genomic studies have identified many human accelerated elements (HARs) with elevated substitution rates in the human lineage. However, it remains unknown to what extent transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) are under accelerated evolution in humans and other primates. Here, we introduce two pooling-based phylogenetic methods with dramatically enhanced sensitivity to examine accelerated evolution in TFBSs. Using these new methods, we show that more than 6000 TFBSs annotated in the human genome have experienced accelerated evolution in Hominini, apes, and Old World monkeys. Although these TFBSs individually show relatively weak signals of accelerated evolution, they collectively are more abundant than HARs. Also, we show that accelerated evolution in Pol III binding sites may be driven by lineage-specific positive selection, whereas accelerated evolution in other TFBSs might be driven by nonadaptive evolutionary forces. Finally, the accelerated TFBSs are enriched around developmental genes, suggesting that accelerated evolution in TFBSs may drive the divergence of developmental processes between primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinru Zhang
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. .,Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. .,Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Bohao Fang
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02135, USA
| | - Yi-Fei Huang
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. .,Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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23
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Nayak S, Coleman PL, Ladányi E, Nitin R, Gustavson DE, Fisher SE, Magne CL, Gordon RL. The Musical Abilities, Pleiotropy, Language, and Environment (MAPLE) Framework for Understanding Musicality-Language Links Across the Lifespan. NEUROBIOLOGY OF LANGUAGE (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2022; 3:615-664. [PMID: 36742012 PMCID: PMC9893227 DOI: 10.1162/nol_a_00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Using individual differences approaches, a growing body of literature finds positive associations between musicality and language-related abilities, complementing prior findings of links between musical training and language skills. Despite these associations, musicality has been often overlooked in mainstream models of individual differences in language acquisition and development. To better understand the biological basis of these individual differences, we propose the Musical Abilities, Pleiotropy, Language, and Environment (MAPLE) framework. This novel integrative framework posits that musical and language-related abilities likely share some common genetic architecture (i.e., genetic pleiotropy) in addition to some degree of overlapping neural endophenotypes, and genetic influences on musically and linguistically enriched environments. Drawing upon recent advances in genomic methodologies for unraveling pleiotropy, we outline testable predictions for future research on language development and how its underlying neurobiological substrates may be supported by genetic pleiotropy with musicality. In support of the MAPLE framework, we review and discuss findings from over seventy behavioral and neural studies, highlighting that musicality is robustly associated with individual differences in a range of speech-language skills required for communication and development. These include speech perception-in-noise, prosodic perception, morphosyntactic skills, phonological skills, reading skills, and aspects of second/foreign language learning. Overall, the current work provides a clear agenda and framework for studying musicality-language links using individual differences approaches, with an emphasis on leveraging advances in the genomics of complex musicality and language traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srishti Nayak
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, TN, USA
| | - Peyton L. Coleman
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Enikő Ladányi
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Linguistics, Potsdam University, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Rachana Nitin
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Daniel E. Gustavson
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Simon E. Fisher
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Cyrille L. Magne
- Department of Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, USA
- PhD Program in Literacy Studies, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, USA
| | - Reyna L. Gordon
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, TN, USA
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24
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Morison LD, Meffert E, Stampfer M, Steiner-Wilke I, Vollmer B, Schulze K, Briggs T, Braden R, Vogel A, Thompson-Lake D, Patel C, Blair E, Goel H, Turner S, Moog U, Riess A, Liegeois F, Koolen DA, Amor DJ, Kleefstra T, Fisher SE, Zweier C, Morgan AT. In-depth characterisation of a cohort of individuals with missense and loss-of-function variants disrupting FOXP2. J Med Genet 2022; 60:597-607. [DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2022-108734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundHeterozygous disruptions ofFOXP2were the first identified molecular cause for severe speech disorder: childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), and yet few cases have been reported, limiting knowledge of the condition.MethodsHere we phenotyped 28 individuals from 17 families with pathogenicFOXP2-only variants (12 loss-of-function, five missense variants; 14 males; aged 2 to 62 years). Health and development (cognitive, motor, social domains) were examined, including speech and language outcomes with the first cross-linguistic analysis of English and German.ResultsSpeech disorders were prevalent (23/25, 92%) and CAS was most common (22/25, 88%), with similar speech presentations across English and German. Speech was still impaired in adulthood, and some speech sounds (eg, ‘th’, ‘r’, ‘ch’, ‘j’) were never acquired. Language impairments (21/25, 84%) ranged from mild to severe. Comorbidities included feeding difficulties in infancy (10/27, 37%), fine (13/26, 50%) and gross (13/26, 50%) motor impairment, anxiety (5/27, 19%), depression (6/27, 22%) and sleep disturbance (11/15, 44%). Physical features were common (22/27, 81%) but with no consistent pattern. Cognition ranged from average to mildly impaired and was incongruent with language ability; for example, seven participants with severe language disorder had average non-verbal cognition.ConclusionsAlthough we identify an increased prevalence of conditions like anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance, we confirm that the consequences ofFOXP2dysfunction remain relatively specific to speech disorder, as compared with other recently identified monogenic conditions associated with CAS. Thus, our findings reinforce thatFOXP2provides a valuable entry point for examining the neurobiological bases of speech disorder.
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25
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Guo W, Geng S, Cao M, Feng J. The Brain Connectome for Chinese Reading. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:1097-1113. [PMID: 35575936 PMCID: PMC9468198 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00864-3] [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: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chinese, as a logographic language, fundamentally differs from alphabetic languages like English. Previous neuroimaging studies have mainly focused on alphabetic languages, while the exploration of Chinese reading is still an emerging and fast-growing research field. Recently, a growing number of neuroimaging studies have explored the neural circuit of Chinese reading. Here, we summarize previous research on Chinese reading from a connectomic perspective. Converging evidence indicates that the left middle frontal gyrus is a specialized hub region that connects the ventral with dorsal pathways for Chinese reading. Notably, the orthography-to-phonology and orthography-to-semantics mapping, mainly processed in the ventral pathway, are more specific during Chinese reading. Besides, in addition to the left-lateralized language-related regions, reading pathways in the right hemisphere also play an important role in Chinese reading. Throughout, we comprehensively review prior findings and emphasize several challenging issues to be explored in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanwan Guo
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Shujie Geng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Miao Cao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Jianfeng Feng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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26
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Foxp2 inhibits Th9 cell differentiation and attenuates allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced asthma. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 111:109060. [PMID: 35930910 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109060] [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: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the effects of forkhead box P2 gene (Foxp2) on T-helper 9 (Th9) differentiation in asthmatic mice. An in vivo asthmatic mouse model was induced with ovalbumin (OVA). An in vitro model was established by culturing CD4+ T cells with TGF-β, IL-4, and anti-IFN-γ. ELISA, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR and Western blot were performed to examine IL-9 secretion, Th9 cell number, and Th9 cell transcription factor expression, respectively. Pathological changes in lung tissues and airway mucus secretion were assessed with HE and PAS glycogen staining. Anti-IL-9 mAb reversed the elevation in Th9 cells and IL-9 expression in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic mice. Foxp2 was downregulated in BALF and lung tissue of asthmatic mice and Th9 cells. Overexpression of Foxp2 inhibited Th9 cell differentiation in vitro and improved airway inflammation in vivo. Our study suggests that overexpression of Foxp2 attenuates allergic asthma by inhibiting Th9 cell differentiation.
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27
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Mapelli L, Soda T, D’Angelo E, Prestori F. The Cerebellar Involvement in Autism Spectrum Disorders: From the Social Brain to Mouse Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073894. [PMID: 35409253 PMCID: PMC8998980 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders that include a variety of forms and clinical phenotypes. This heterogeneity complicates the clinical and experimental approaches to ASD etiology and pathophysiology. To date, a unifying theory of these diseases is still missing. Nevertheless, the intense work of researchers and clinicians in the last decades has identified some ASD hallmarks and the primary brain areas involved. Not surprisingly, the areas that are part of the so-called “social brain”, and those strictly connected to them, were found to be crucial, such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, limbic system, and dopaminergic pathways. With the recent acknowledgment of the cerebellar contribution to cognitive functions and the social brain, its involvement in ASD has become unmistakable, though its extent is still to be elucidated. In most cases, significant advances were made possible by recent technological developments in structural/functional assessment of the human brain and by using mouse models of ASD. Mouse models are an invaluable tool to get insights into the molecular and cellular counterparts of the disease, acting on the specific genetic background generating ASD-like phenotype. Given the multifaceted nature of ASD and related studies, it is often difficult to navigate the literature and limit the huge content to specific questions. This review fulfills the need for an organized, clear, and state-of-the-art perspective on cerebellar involvement in ASD, from its connections to the social brain areas (which are the primary sites of ASD impairments) to the use of monogenic mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Mapelli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
- Correspondence: (L.M.); (F.P.)
| | - Teresa Soda
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
| | - Egidio D’Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
- Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Prestori
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
- Correspondence: (L.M.); (F.P.)
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Lukacova K, Hamaide J, Baciak L, Van der Linden A, Kubikova L. Striatal Injury Induces Overall Brain Alteration at the Pallial, Thalamic, and Cerebellar Levels. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11030425. [PMID: 35336799 PMCID: PMC8945699 DOI: 10.3390/biology11030425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Magnetic resonance imaging showed that striatal injury leads to structural changes within several brain areas. Here, we specify these changes via gene expression of synaptic plasticity markers, neuronal markers, assessing the number of newborn cells as well as cell densities. We found that the injury resulted in long-lasting modifications involving plasticity and neural protection mechanisms in areas directly as well as indirectly connected with the damaged striatum, including the cerebellum. Abstract The striatal region Area X plays an important role during song learning, sequencing, and variability in songbirds. A previous study revealed that neurotoxic damage within Area X results in micro and macrostructural changes across the entire brain, including the downstream dorsal thalamus and both the upstream pallial nucleus HVC (proper name) and the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN). Here, we specify these changes on cellular and gene expression levels. We found decreased cell density in the thalamic and cerebellar areas and HVC, but it was not related to neuronal loss. On the contrary, perineuronal nets (PNNs) in HVC increased for up to 2 months post-lesion, suggesting their protecting role. The synaptic plasticity marker Forkhead box protein P2 (FoxP2) showed a bi-phasic increase at 8 days and 3 months post-lesion, indicating a massive synaptic rebuilding. The later increase in HVC was associated with the increased number of new neurons. These data suggest that the damage in the striatal vocal nucleus induces cellular and gene expression alterations in both the efferent and afferent destinations. These changes may be long-lasting and involve plasticity and neural protection mechanisms in the areas directly connected to the injury site and also to distant areas, such as the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Lukacova
- Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Correspondence: (K.L.); (L.K.)
| | - Julie Hamaide
- Bio-Imaging Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (J.H.); (A.V.d.L.)
| | - Ladislav Baciak
- Central Laboratories, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Annemie Van der Linden
- Bio-Imaging Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium; (J.H.); (A.V.d.L.)
| | - Lubica Kubikova
- Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 840 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Correspondence: (K.L.); (L.K.)
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Behbahanipour M, García-Pardo J, Ventura S. Decoding the role of coiled-coil motifs in human prion-like proteins. Prion 2021; 15:143-154. [PMID: 34428113 PMCID: PMC8386614 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2021.1961569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are self-propagating proteins that cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases in humans. However, increasing evidence suggests that eukaryotic cells exploit prion conformational conversion for functional purposes. A recent study delineated a group of twenty prion-like proteins in humans, characterized by the presence of low-complexity glutamine-rich sequences with overlapping coiled-coil (CCs) motifs. This is the case of Mediator complex subunit 15 (MED15), which is overexpressed in a wide range of human cancers. Biophysical studies demonstrated that the prion-like domain (PrLD) of MED15 forms homodimers in solution, sustained by CCs interactions. Furthermore, the same coiled-coil (CC) region plays a crucial role in the PrLD structural transition to a transmissible β-sheet amyloid state. In this review, we discuss the role of CCs motifs and their contribution to amyloid transitions in human prion-like domains (PrLDs), while providing a comprehensive overview of six predicted human prion-like proteins involved in transcription, gene expression, or DNA damage response and associated with human disease, whose PrLDs contain or overlap with CCs sequences. Finally, we try to rationalize how these molecular signatures might relate to both their function and involvement in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molood Behbahanipour
- Institut De Biotecnologia I De Biomedicina (Ibb) and Departament De Bioquímica I Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autónoma De Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier García-Pardo
- Institut De Biotecnologia I De Biomedicina (Ibb) and Departament De Bioquímica I Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autónoma De Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Institut De Biotecnologia I De Biomedicina (Ibb) and Departament De Bioquímica I Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autónoma De Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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30
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Gray Matter Variation in the Posterior Superior Temporal Gyrus Is Associated with Polymorphisms in the KIAA0319 Gene in Chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes). eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0169-21.2021. [PMID: 34815295 PMCID: PMC8672446 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0169-21.2021] [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: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the impact that the KIAA0319 gene has on primate brain morphology can provide insight into the evolution of human cognition and language systems. Here, we tested whether polymorphisms in KIAA0319 in chimpanzees account for gray matter volumetric variation in brain regions implicated in language and communication (particularly within the posterior superior temporal gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus). First, we identified the nature and frequencies of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in KIAA0319 in a sample of unrelated chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes spp.). Next, we genotyped a subset of SNVs (those important for gene regulation or likely to alter protein structure/function) in a sample of chimpanzees for which in vivo T1-structural magnetic resonance imaging scans had been obtained. We then used source-based morphometry (SBM) to test for whole-brain gray matter covariation differences between chimpanzees with different KIAA0319 alleles. Finally, using histologic sections of 15 postmortem chimpanzee brains, we analyzed microstructural variation related to KIAA0319 polymorphisms in the posterior superior temporal cortex. We found that the SNVs were associated with variation in gray matter within several brain regions, including the posterior superior temporal gyrus (a region associated with language comprehension and production in humans). The microstructure analysis further revealed hemispheric differences in neuropil fraction, indicating that KIAA0319 expression may be involved in regulation of processes related to the formation and maintenance of synapses, dendrites, or axons within regions associated with communication.
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Chilosi AM, Brovedani P, Cipriani P, Casalini C. Sex differences in early language delay and in developmental language disorder. J Neurosci Res 2021; 101:654-667. [PMID: 34822733 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a neurodevelopmental condition, occurring in about 3% to 7% of preschoolers, that can impair communication and negatively impact educational and social attainments, in spite of adequate neurological, cognitive, emotional, social development, and educational opportunities for language learning. Significant risk factors for DLD are male sex, familial history of early language delay, low parental education, and various perinatal factors. A strong sex effect with a higher prevalence of language delay and DLD in males than in females has been consistently reported. Neurobiological and environmental risk factors, interacting with each other, are probably responsible for the phenotypic expression of DLD. The aim of this brief review is to further the knowledge of the role of sex in early language delay and DLD by analyzing the evidence from four significant sources: epidemiological studies, studies on twins, family aggregation studies, and studies on sex chromosome trisomies. Data pertaining only to sex differences (biological and physiological characteristics of females and males) will be analyzed. Studies on family aggregations and twins confirm the role of genetic factors and of sex in determining language abilities and disabilities, but genes alone do not determine outcomes. Sex chromosome trisomies represent a unique example of the relationship between a genetic alteration and a language disorder. Clarification of how sex acts in determining DLD could provide new information on early risk factors and, thus, contribute to improve diagnosis and clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Chilosi
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Brovedani
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Cipriani
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudia Casalini
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Pisa, Italy
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Mota A, Waxman HK, Hong R, Lagani GD, Niu SY, Bertherat FL, Wolfe L, Malicdan CM, Markello TC, Adams DR, Gahl WA, Cheng CS, Beffert U, Ho A. FOXR1 regulates stress response pathways and is necessary for proper brain development. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009854. [PMID: 34723967 PMCID: PMC8559929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The forkhead box (Fox) family of transcription factors are highly conserved and play essential roles in a wide range of cellular and developmental processes. We report an individual with severe neurological symptoms including postnatal microcephaly, progressive brain atrophy and global developmental delay associated with a de novo missense variant (M280L) in the FOXR1 gene. At the protein level, M280L impaired FOXR1 expression and induced a nuclear aggregate phenotype due to protein misfolding and proteolysis. RNAseq and pathway analysis showed that FOXR1 acts as a transcriptional activator and repressor with central roles in heat shock response, chaperone cofactor-dependent protein refolding and cellular response to stress pathways. Indeed, FOXR1 expression is increased in response to cellular stress, a process in which it directly controls HSPA6, HSPA1A and DHRS2 transcripts. The M280L mutant compromises FOXR1's ability to respond to stress, in part due to impaired regulation of downstream target genes that are involved in the stress response pathway. Quantitative PCR of mouse embryo tissues show Foxr1 expression in the embryonic brain. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, we found that deletion of mouse Foxr1 leads to a severe survival deficit while surviving newborn Foxr1 knockout mice have reduced body weight. Further examination of newborn Foxr1 knockout brains revealed a decrease in cortical thickness and enlarged ventricles compared to littermate wild-type mice, suggesting that loss of Foxr1 leads to atypical brain development. Combined, these results suggest FOXR1 plays a role in cellular stress response pathways and is necessary for normal brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andressa Mota
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hannah K. Waxman
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rui Hong
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Gavin D. Lagani
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sheng-Yong Niu
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Féodora L. Bertherat
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lynne Wolfe
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, and National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christine May Malicdan
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, and National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas C. Markello
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, and National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David R. Adams
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, and National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - William A. Gahl
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, and National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christine S. Cheng
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Uwe Beffert
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Angela Ho
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Hoeksema N, Verga L, Mengede J, van Roessel C, Villanueva S, Salazar-Casals A, Rubio-Garcia A, Ćurčić-Blake B, Vernes SC, Ravignani A. Neuroanatomy of the grey seal brain: bringing pinnipeds into the neurobiological study of vocal learning. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200252. [PMID: 34482729 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative animal studies of complex behavioural traits, and their neurobiological underpinnings, can increase our understanding of their evolution, including in humans. Vocal learning, a potential precursor to human speech, is one such trait. Mammalian vocal learning is under-studied: most research has either focused on vocal learning in songbirds or its absence in non-human primates. Here, we focus on a highly promising model species for the neurobiology of vocal learning: grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). We provide a neuroanatomical atlas (based on dissected brain slices and magnetic resonance images), a labelled MRI template, a three-dimensional model with volumetric measurements of brain regions, and histological cortical stainings. Four main features of the grey seal brain stand out: (i) it is relatively big and highly convoluted; (ii) it hosts a relatively large temporal lobe and cerebellum; (iii) the cortex is similar to that of humans in thickness and shows the expected six-layered mammalian structure; (iv) there is expression of FoxP2 present in deeper layers of the cortex; FoxP2 is a gene involved in motor learning, vocal learning, and spoken language. Our results could facilitate future studies targeting the neural and genetic underpinnings of mammalian vocal learning, thus bridging the research gap from songbirds to humans and non-human primates. Our findings are relevant not only to vocal learning research but also to the study of mammalian neurobiology and cognition more in general. This article is part of the theme issue 'Vocal learning in animals and humans'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke Hoeksema
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Neurobiology of Language Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Verga
- Comparative Bioacoustics Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department NP&PP, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Janine Mengede
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Corné van Roessel
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stella Villanueva
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ana Rubio-Garcia
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, The Netherlands
| | - Branislava Ćurčić-Blake
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sonja C Vernes
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Andrea Ravignani
- Comparative Bioacoustics Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, The Netherlands
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Jada R, Zag L, Borisov V, Levy NS, Netser S, Jabarin R, Wagner S, Schragenheim-Rozales K, Shalgi R, Levy AP. Housing of A350V IQSEC2 pups at 37 °C ambient temperature prevents seizures and permits the development of social vocalizations in adulthood. Int J Hyperthermia 2021; 38:1495-1501. [PMID: 34666607 DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2021.1988730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mutations in the human IQSEC2 gene are associated with drug-resistant epilepsy and severe behavioral dysfunction. We have focused on understanding one human IQSEC2 missense mutation (A350V) for which we have created a corresponding A350V IQSEC2 mouse model by CRISPR which demonstrates seizures when the mice are 15-20 days old and impaired social vocalizations in adulthood. We observed that a child with the A350V mutation stops having seizures when experiencing a fever of greater than 38 °C. In this study, we first sought to determine if we could recapitulate this phenomenon in A350V 15-20 day old mice using a previously established protocol to raise body temperature to 39 °C achieved by housing the mice at 37 °C. We then sought to determine if mice in whom seizure activity had been prevented as pups would develop social vocalization activity in adulthood. METHODS 15-20 day old A350V male mice were housed either at 37 °C or 22 °C. Ultrasonic vocalizations of these mice were assessed at 8-10 weeks in response to a female stimulus. RESULTS Housing of 15-20 day old A350V mice at 37 °C resulted in a reduction in lethal seizures to 2% (1/41) compared to 45% (48/108) in mice housed at 22 °C, p = 0.0001. Adult A350V mice who had been housed at 37 °C as pups displayed a significant improvement in the production of social vocalizations. CONCLUSION Raising the body temperature by raising the ambient temperature might provide a means to reduce seizures associated with the A350V IQSEC2 mutation and thereby allow for an improved neurodevelopmental trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Jada
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Liron Zag
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Veronika Borisov
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Nina S Levy
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shai Netser
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Renad Jabarin
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Reut Shalgi
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Andrew P Levy
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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35
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Andres EM, Neely HL, Hafeez H, Yasmin T, Kausar F, Basra MAR, Raza MH. Study of rare genetic variants in TM4SF20, NFXL1, CNTNAP2, and ATP2C2 in Pakistani probands and families with language impairment. Meta Gene 2021; 30. [PMID: 34540591 DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2021.100966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Language impairment (LI) is highly heritable and aggregates in families. Genetic investigation of LI has revealed many chromosomal regions and genes of interest, though very few studies have focused on rare variant analysis in non-English speaking or non-European samples. We selected four candidate genes (TM4SF20, NFXL1, CNTNAP2 and ATP2C2) strongly suggested for specific language impairment (SLI), a subtype of LI, and investigated rare protein coding variants through Sanger sequencing of probands with LI ascertained from Pakistan. The probands and their family members completed a speech and language family history questionnaire and a vocabulary measure, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-fourth edition (PPVT-4), translated to Urdu, the national language of Pakistan. Our study aimed to determine the significance of rare variants in these SLI candidate genes through segregation analysis in a novel population with a high rate of consanguinity. In total, we identified 16 rare variants (according to the rare MAF in the global population in gnomAD v2.1.1 database exomes), including eight variants with a MAF <0.5 % in the South Asian population. Most of the identified rare variants aggregated in proband's families, one rare variant (c.*9T>C in CNTNAP2) co-segregated in a small family (PKSLI-64) and another (c.2465C>T in ATP2C2) co-segregated in the proband branch (PKSLI-27). The lack of complete co-segregation of most of the identified rare variants indicates that while these genes could be involved in overall risk for LI, other genes are likely involved in LI in this population. Future investigation of these consanguineous families has the potential to expand our understanding of gene function related to language acquisition and impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M Andres
- University of Kansas, Child Language Doctoral Program
| | | | - Huma Hafeez
- School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab
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36
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Herrero MJ, Wang L, Hernandez-Pineda D, Banerjee P, Matos HY, Goodrich M, Panigrahi A, Smith NA, Corbin JG. Sex-Specific Social Behavior and Amygdala Proteomic Deficits in Foxp2 +/- Mutant Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:706079. [PMID: 34421555 PMCID: PMC8374433 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.706079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, mutations in the transcription factor encoding gene, FOXP2, are associated with language and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), the latter characterized by deficits in social interactions. However, little is known regarding the function of Foxp2 in male or female social behavior. Our previous studies in mice revealed high expression of Foxp2 within the medial subnucleus of the amygdala (MeA), a limbic brain region highly implicated in innate social behaviors such as mating, aggression, and parental care. Here, using a comprehensive panel of behavioral tests in male and female Foxp2 +/- heterozygous mice, we investigated the role Foxp2 plays in MeA-linked innate social behaviors. We reveal significant deficits in olfactory processing, social interaction, mating, aggressive, and parental behaviors. Interestingly, some of these deficits are displayed in a sex-specific manner. To examine the consequences of Foxp2 loss of function specifically in the MeA, we conducted a proteomic analysis of microdissected MeA tissue. This analyses revealed putative sex differences expression of a host of proteins implicated in neuronal communication, connectivity, and dopamine signaling. Consistent with this, we discovered that MeA Foxp2-lineage cells were responsive to dopamine with differences between males and females. Thus, our findings reveal a central and sex-specific role for Foxp2 in social behavior and MeA function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jesus Herrero
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Li Wang
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - David Hernandez-Pineda
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Payal Banerjee
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Heidi Y. Matos
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Meredith Goodrich
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Aswini Panigrahi
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Nathan Anthony Smith
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Joshua G. Corbin
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
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37
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Hauber ME, Louder MI, Griffith SC. Neurogenomic insights into the behavioral and vocal development of the zebra finch. eLife 2021; 10:61849. [PMID: 34106827 PMCID: PMC8238503 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61849] [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: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) is a socially monogamous and colonial opportunistic breeder with pronounced sexual differences in singing and plumage coloration. Its natural history has led to it becoming a model species for research into sex differences in vocal communication, as well as behavioral, neural and genomic studies of imitative auditory learning. As scientists tap into the genetic and behavioral diversity of both wild and captive lineages, the zebra finch will continue to inform research into culture, learning, and social bonding, as well as adaptability to a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark E Hauber
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, United States
| | - Matthew Im Louder
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, United States
| | - Simon C Griffith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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Du J, Palaniyappan L, Liu Z, Cheng W, Gong W, Zhu M, Wang J, Zhang J, Feng J. The genetic determinants of language network dysconnectivity in drug-naïve early stage schizophrenia. NPJ SCHIZOPHRENIA 2021; 7:18. [PMID: 33658499 PMCID: PMC7930279 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-021-00141-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a neurocognitive illness of synaptic and brain network-level dysconnectivity that often reaches a persistent chronic stage in many patients. Subtle language deficits are a core feature even in the early stages of schizophrenia. However, the primacy of language network dysconnectivity and language-related genetic variants in the observed phenotype in early stages of illness remains unclear. This study used two independent schizophrenia dataset consisting of 138 and 53 drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients, and 112 and 56 healthy controls, respectively. A brain-wide voxel-level functional connectivity analysis was conducted to investigate functional dysconnectivity and its relationship with illness duration. We also explored the association between critical language-related genetic (such as FOXP2) mutations and the altered functional connectivity in patients. We found elevated functional connectivity involving Broca's area, thalamus and temporal cortex that were replicated in two FES datasets. In particular, Broca's area - anterior cingulate cortex dysconnectivity was more pronounced for patients with shorter illness duration, while thalamic dysconnectivity was predominant in those with longer illness duration. Polygenic risk scores obtained from FOXP2-related genes were strongly associated with functional dysconnectivity identified in patients with shorter illness duration. Our results highlight the criticality of language network dysconnectivity, involving the Broca's area in early stages of schizophrenia, and the role of language-related genes in this aberration, providing both imaging and genetic evidence for the association between schizophrenia and the determinants of language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingnan Du
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Department of Psychiatry and Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Zhaowen Liu
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wei Cheng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Weikang Gong
- Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mengmeng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jijun Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jianfeng Feng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
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39
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Conti E, Retico A, Palumbo L, Spera G, Bosco P, Biagi L, Fiori S, Tosetti M, Cipriani P, Cioni G, Muratori F, Chilosi A, Calderoni S. Autism Spectrum Disorder and Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Early Language-Related Hallmarks across Structural MRI Study. J Pers Med 2020; 10:E275. [PMID: 33322765 PMCID: PMC7768516 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10040275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) are developmental disorders with distinct diagnostic criteria and different epidemiology. However, a common genetic background as well as overlapping clinical features between ASD and CAS have been recently reported. To date, brain structural language-related abnormalities have been detected in both the conditions, but no study directly compared young children with ASD, CAS and typical development (TD). In the current work, we aim: (i) to test the hypothesis that ASD and CAS display neurostructural differences in comparison with TD through morphometric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-based measures (ASD vs. TD and CAS vs. TD); (ii) to investigate early possible disease-specific brain structural patterns in the two clinical groups (ASD vs. CAS); (iii) to evaluate predictive power of machine-learning (ML) techniques in differentiating the three samples (ASD, CAS, TD). We retrospectively analyzed the T1-weighted brain MRI scans of 68 children (age range: 34-74 months) grouped into three cohorts: (1) 26 children with ASD (mean age ± standard deviation: 56 ± 11 months); (2) 24 children with CAS (57 ± 10 months); (3) 18 children with TD (55 ± 13 months). Furthermore, a ML analysis based on a linear-kernel Support Vector Machine (SVM) was performed. All but one brain structures displayed significant higher volumes in both ASD and CAS children than TD peers. Specifically, ASD alterations involved fronto-temporal regions together with basal ganglia and cerebellum, while CAS alterations are more focused and shifted to frontal regions, suggesting a possible speech-related anomalies distribution. Caudate, superior temporal and hippocampus volumes directly distinguished the two conditions in terms of greater values in ASD compared to CAS. The ML analysis identified significant differences in brain features between ASD and TD children, whereas only some trends in the ML classification capability were detected in CAS as compared to TD peers. Similarly, the MRI structural underpinnings of two clinical groups were not significantly different when evaluated with linear-kernel SVM. Our results may represent the first step towards understanding shared and specific neural substrate in ASD and CAS conditions, which subsequently may contribute to early differential diagnosis and tailoring specific early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Conti
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessandra Retico
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Pisa Division, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.R.); (L.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Letizia Palumbo
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Pisa Division, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.R.); (L.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Giovanna Spera
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Pisa Division, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.R.); (L.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Paolo Bosco
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Laura Biagi
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Simona Fiori
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Michela Tosetti
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Paola Cipriani
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Muratori
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna Chilosi
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Sara Calderoni
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (E.C.); (P.B.); (L.B.); (S.F.); (M.T.); (P.C.); (G.C.); (F.M.); (A.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Developmental Language Disorder: Wake and Sleep Epileptiform Discharges and Co-morbid Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10120910. [PMID: 33256068 PMCID: PMC7760604 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10120910] [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: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental language disorder (DLD) is frequently associated with other developmental diseases and may lead to a handicap through adolescence or adulthood. The aim of our retrospective study was to characterize DLD subgroups, their etiological factors and clinical comorbidities, and the role of epileptiform discharges in wake and sleep recordings. Fifty-five children (42 male, mean age 6.2 ± 1.4 years, range 4-9 years) were included in the present study and underwent phoniatric, psychologic, neurologic, as well as wake and nocturnal electroencephalography (EEG) or polysomnography (PSG) examinations. A receptive form of DLD was determined in 34 children (63.0%), and an expressive form was found in 20 children (37.0%). Poor cooperation in one child did not permit exact classification. DLD children with the receptive form had significantly lower mean phonemic hearing (79.1% ± 10.9) in comparison with those with the expressive form (89.7% ± 6.2, p < 0.001). A high amount of perinatal risk factors was found in both groups (50.9%) as well as comorbid developmental diseases. Developmental motor coordination disorder was diagnosed in 33 children (61.1%), and attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder was diagnosed in 39 children (70.9%). Almost one half of DLD children (49.1%) showed abnormalities on the wake EEG; epileptiform discharges were found in 20 children (36.4%). Nocturnal EEG and PSG recordings showed enhanced epileptiform discharges, and they were found in 30 children (55.6%, p = 0.01). The wake EEG showed focal discharges predominantly in the temporal or temporo-parieto-occipital regions bilaterally, while in the sleep recordings, focal activity was shifted to the fronto-temporo-central areas (p < 0.001). Almost all epileptiform discharges appeared in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. A close connection was found between DLD and perinatal risk factors, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders. Epileptiform discharges showed an enhancement in nocturnal sleep, and the distribution of focal discharges changed.
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Rebelo MÂ, Gómez C, Gomes I, Poza J, Martins S, Maturana-Candelas A, Ruiz-Gómez SJ, Durães L, Sousa P, Figueruelo M, Rodríguez M, Pita C, Arenas M, Álvarez L, Hornero R, Pinto N, Lopes AM. Genome-Wide Scan for Five Brain Oscillatory Phenotypes Identifies a New QTL Associated with Theta EEG Band. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10110870. [PMID: 33218114 PMCID: PMC7698967 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain waves, measured by electroencephalography (EEG), are a powerful tool in the investigation of neurophysiological traits and a noninvasive and cost-effective alternative in the diagnostic of some neurological diseases. In order to identify novel Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) for brain wave relative power (RP), we collected resting state EEG data in five frequency bands (δ, θ, α, β1, and β2) and genome-wide data in a cohort of 105 patients with late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD), 41 individuals with mild cognitive impairment and 45 controls from Iberia, correcting for disease status. One novel association was found with an interesting candidate for a role in brain wave biology, CLEC16A (C-type lectin domain family 16), with a variant at this locus passing the adjusted genome-wide significance threshold after Bonferroni correction. This finding reinforces the importance of immune regulation in brain function. Additionally, at a significance cutoff value of 5 × 10−6, 18 independent association signals were detected. These signals comprise brain expression Quantitative Loci (eQTLs) in caudate basal ganglia, spinal cord, anterior cingulate cortex and hypothalamus, as well as chromatin interactions in adult and fetal cortex, neural progenitor cells and hippocampus. Moreover, in the set of genes showing signals of association with brain wave RP in our dataset, there is an overrepresentation of loci previously associated with neurological traits and pathologies, evidencing the pleiotropy of the genetic variation modulating brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ângelo Rebelo
- IPATIMUP—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.Â.R.); (I.G.); (S.M.); (A.M.L.)
- I3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carlos Gómez
- Grupo de Ingeniería Biomédica, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (J.P.); (A.M.-C.); (S.J.R.-G.); (R.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, (CIBER-BBN), 47011 Valladolid, Spain
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (N.P.)
| | - Iva Gomes
- IPATIMUP—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.Â.R.); (I.G.); (S.M.); (A.M.L.)
- I3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Jesús Poza
- Grupo de Ingeniería Biomédica, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (J.P.); (A.M.-C.); (S.J.R.-G.); (R.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, (CIBER-BBN), 47011 Valladolid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación en Matemáticas (IMUVA), Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Sandra Martins
- IPATIMUP—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.Â.R.); (I.G.); (S.M.); (A.M.L.)
- I3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Aarón Maturana-Candelas
- Grupo de Ingeniería Biomédica, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (J.P.); (A.M.-C.); (S.J.R.-G.); (R.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, (CIBER-BBN), 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Saúl J. Ruiz-Gómez
- Grupo de Ingeniería Biomédica, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (J.P.); (A.M.-C.); (S.J.R.-G.); (R.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, (CIBER-BBN), 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Luis Durães
- Associação Portuguesa de Familiares e Amigos de Doentes de Alzheimer, Delegação Norte, 4455-301 Lavra, Portugal; (L.D.); (P.S.)
| | - Patrícia Sousa
- Associação Portuguesa de Familiares e Amigos de Doentes de Alzheimer, Delegação Norte, 4455-301 Lavra, Portugal; (L.D.); (P.S.)
| | - Manuel Figueruelo
- Asociación de Familiares y Amigos de Enfermos de Alzheimer y otras demencias de Zamora, 49021 Zamora, Spain; (M.F.); (M.R.); (C.P.)
| | - María Rodríguez
- Asociación de Familiares y Amigos de Enfermos de Alzheimer y otras demencias de Zamora, 49021 Zamora, Spain; (M.F.); (M.R.); (C.P.)
| | - Carmen Pita
- Asociación de Familiares y Amigos de Enfermos de Alzheimer y otras demencias de Zamora, 49021 Zamora, Spain; (M.F.); (M.R.); (C.P.)
| | - Miguel Arenas
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain;
| | | | - Roberto Hornero
- Grupo de Ingeniería Biomédica, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (J.P.); (A.M.-C.); (S.J.R.-G.); (R.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, (CIBER-BBN), 47011 Valladolid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación en Matemáticas (IMUVA), Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Nádia Pinto
- IPATIMUP—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.Â.R.); (I.G.); (S.M.); (A.M.L.)
- I3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Matemática da, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (N.P.)
| | - Alexandra M. Lopes
- IPATIMUP—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.Â.R.); (I.G.); (S.M.); (A.M.L.)
- I3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
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Abstract
Meaning has traditionally been regarded as a problem for philosophers and psychologists. Advances in cognitive science since the early 1960s, however, broadened discussions of meaning, or more technically, the semantics of perceptions, representations, and/or actions, into biology and computer science. Here, we review the notion of “meaning” as it applies to living systems, and argue that the question of how living systems create meaning unifies the biological and cognitive sciences across both organizational and temporal scales.
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Creativity and ADHD: A review of behavioral studies, the effect of psychostimulants and neural underpinnings. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 119:66-85. [PMID: 33035524 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a debilitating disorder and most research therefore focuses on its deficits and its treatment. Research on the potential positive sides of ADHD is limited, and although a comprehensive overview of empirical studies on this subject is missing, it has been suggested that ADHD is associated with enhanced creativity. To identify important relations, trends and gaps in the literature, we review 31 behavioral studies on creativity and ADHD, distinguishing different research designs, age groups, creativity measurements and effects of psychostimulants, as well as reflecting the potential underlying neural mechanisms of creativity and ADHD. Most studies find evidence for increased divergent thinking for those with high ADHD scores (subclinical) but not for those with the disorder (clinical). The rates of creative abilities/achievements were high among both clinical and subclinical groups. We found no evidence for increased convergent thinking abilities in ADHD, nor did we find an overall negative effect of psychostimulants on creativity. Neuroscientific findings suggest candidate regions as well as mechanisms that should be studied further to increase our understanding of the relationship between creativity and ADHD. We propose research opportunities to boost the knowledge needed to better understand the potential positive side of ADHD.
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Sapey-Triomphe LA, Reversat J, Lesca G, Chatron N, Bussa M, Mazoyer S, Schmitz C, Sonié S, Edery P. A de novo frameshift pathogenic variant in TBR1 identified in autism without intellectual disability. Hum Genomics 2020; 14:32. [PMID: 32948248 PMCID: PMC7501624 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-020-00281-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In order to be able to provide accurate genetic counseling to patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is crucial to identify correlations between heterogeneous phenotypes and genetic alterations. Among the hundreds of de novo pathogenic variants reported in ASD, single-nucleotide variations and small insertions/deletions were reported in TBR1. This gene encodes a transcription factor that plays a key role in brain development. Pathogenic variants in TBR1 are often associated with severe forms of ASD, including intellectual disability and language impairment. METHODS Adults diagnosed with ASD but without intellectual disability (diagnosis of Asperger syndrome, according to the DSM-IV) took part in a genetic consultation encompassing metabolic assessments, a molecular karyotype and the screening of a panel of 268 genes involved in intellectual disability, ASD and epilepsy. In addition, the patient reported here went through a neuropsychological assessment, structural magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements. RESULTS Here, we report the case of a young adult male who presents with a typical form of ASD. Importantly, this patient presents with no intellectual disability or language impairment, despite a de novo heterozygous frameshift pathogenic variant in TBR1, leading to an early premature termination codon (c.26del, p.(Pro9Leufs*12)). CONCLUSION Based on this case report, we discuss the role of TBR1 in general brain development, language development, intellectual disability and other symptoms of ASD. Providing a detailed clinical description of the individuals with such pathogenic variants should help to understand the genotype-phenotype relationships in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie-Anne Sapey-Triomphe
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Brain Dynamics and Cognition team, INSERM UMRS 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon, France
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, Department of Brain and Cognition, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Julie Reversat
- Lyon Hospitals, Genetics Service and National Reference Centre for Developmental Anomalies, Lyon, France
| | - Gaëtan Lesca
- Lyon Hospitals, Genetics Service and National Reference Centre for Developmental Anomalies, Lyon, France
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Genetics of Neurodevelopment team, INSERM UMRS 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon, France
| | - Nicolas Chatron
- Lyon Hospitals, Genetics Service and National Reference Centre for Developmental Anomalies, Lyon, France
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Genetics of Neurodevelopment team, INSERM UMRS 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon, France
| | - Marina Bussa
- Centre de Ressource Autisme Rhône-Alpes, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Bron, France
- Hôpital Saint-Jean-de-Dieu, Lyon, France
| | - Sylvie Mazoyer
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Genetics of Neurodevelopment team, INSERM UMRS 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon, France
| | - Christina Schmitz
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Brain Dynamics and Cognition team, INSERM UMRS 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon, France.
| | - Sandrine Sonié
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Brain Dynamics and Cognition team, INSERM UMRS 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon, France
- Centre de Ressource Autisme Rhône-Alpes, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Bron, France
- Hôpital Saint-Jean-de-Dieu, Lyon, France
| | - Patrick Edery
- Lyon Hospitals, Genetics Service and National Reference Centre for Developmental Anomalies, Lyon, France
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Genetics of Neurodevelopment team, INSERM UMRS 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon, France
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Jouravlev O, Kell AJE, Mineroff Z, Haskins AJ, Ayyash D, Kanwisher N, Fedorenko E. Reduced Language Lateralization in Autism and the Broader Autism Phenotype as Assessed with Robust Individual-Subjects Analyses. Autism Res 2020; 13:1746-1761. [PMID: 32935455 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
One of the few replicated functional brain differences between individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and neurotypical (NT) controls is reduced language lateralization. However, most prior reports relied on comparisons of group-level activation maps or functional markers that had not been validated at the individual-subject level, and/or used tasks that do not isolate language processing from other cognitive processes, complicating interpretation. Furthermore, few prior studies have examined functional responses in other brain networks, as needed to determine the spatial selectivity of the effect. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we compared language lateralization between 28 adult ASD participants and carefully pairwise-matched controls, with the language regions defined individually using a well-validated language "localizer" task. Across two language comprehension paradigms, ASD participants showed less lateralized responses due to stronger right hemisphere activity. Furthermore, this effect did not stem from a ubiquitous reduction in lateralization of function across the brain: ASD participants did not differ from controls in the lateralization of two other large-scale networks-the Theory of Mind network and the Multiple Demand network. Finally, in an exploratory study, we tested whether reduced language lateralization may also be present in NT individuals with high autism-like traits. Indeed, autistic trait load in a large set of NT participants (n = 189) was associated with less lateralized language responses. These results suggest that reduced language lateralization is robustly associated with autism and, to some extent, with autism-like traits in the general population, and this lateralization reduction appears to be restricted to the language system. LAY SUMMARY: How do brains of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) differ from those of neurotypical (NT) controls? One of the most consistently reported differences is the reduction of lateralization during language processing in individuals with ASD. However, most prior studies have used methods that made this finding difficult to interpret, and perhaps even artifactual. Using robust individual-level markers of lateralization, we found that indeed, ASD individuals show reduced lateralization for language due to stronger right-hemisphere activity. We further show that this reduction is not due to a general reduction of lateralization of function across the brain. Finally, we show that greater autistic trait load is associated with less lateralized language responses in the NT population. These results suggest that reduced language lateralization is robustly associated with autism and, to some extent, with autism-like traits in the general population. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1746-1761. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olessia Jouravlev
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Cognitive Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexander J E Kell
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Zachary Mineroff
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Eberly Center, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amanda J Haskins
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Dima Ayyash
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nancy Kanwisher
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Evelina Fedorenko
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Bartolome R, Kaneko-Tarui T, Maron J, Zimmerman E. The Utility of Speech-Language Biomarkers to Predict Oral Feeding Outcomes in the Premature Newborn. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 2020; 29:1022-1029. [PMID: 32650666 PMCID: PMC7844339 DOI: 10.1044/2019_ajslp-csw18-19-0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Successful oral feeding and speech emergence are dependent upon the coordination of shared oral muscles and facial nerves. We aimed to determine if the speech-associated genes, forkhead box P2 (FOXP2), contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2), glutamate receptor, ionotropic, N-methyl D-aspartate 2A (GRIN2A), and neurexin 1, were detectable in neonatal saliva and could predict feeding outcomes in premature newborns. Method In this prospective, observational, preliminary study, saliva collected from 51 premature infants (gestational ages: 30-34 6/7 weeks) at different stages of oral feeding development underwent gene expression analysis. Binary (+/-) expression profiles were explored and examined in relation to days to achieve full oral feeds. Results GRIN2A and neurexin 1 rarely amplified in neonatal saliva and were not informative. Infants who amplified FOXP2 but not CNTNAP2 at the start of oral feeds achieved oral feeding success 3.20 (95% CI [-2.5, 8.9]) days sooner than other gene combinations. Conclusions FOXP2 and CNTNAP2 may be informative in predicting oral feeding outcomes in newborns. Salivary analysis at the start of oral feeding trials may inform feeding outcomes in this population and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruby Bartolome
- Floating Hospital for Children, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | | | - Jill Maron
- Floating Hospital for Children, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Emily Zimmerman
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
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den Hoed J, Fisher SE. Genetic pathways involved in human speech disorders. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 65:103-111. [PMID: 32622339 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rare genetic variants that disrupt speech development provide entry points for deciphering the neurobiological foundations of key human capacities. The value of this approach is illustrated by FOXP2, a transcription factor gene that was implicated in speech apraxia, and subsequently investigated using human cell-based systems and animal models. Advances in next-generation sequencing, coupled to de novo paradigms, facilitated discovery of etiological variants in additional genes in speech disorder cohorts. As for other neurodevelopmental syndromes, gene-driven studies show blurring of boundaries between diagnostic categories, with some risk genes shared across speech disorders, intellectual disability and autism. Convergent evidence hints at involvement of regulatory genes co-expressed in early human brain development, suggesting that etiological pathways could be amenable for investigation in emerging neural models such as cerebral organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joery den Hoed
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, 6525 XD Nijmegen, The Netherlands; International Max Planck Research School for Language Sciences, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, 6525 XD Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon E Fisher
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, 6525 XD Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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The Association of Dyslexia and Developmental Speech and Language Disorder Candidate Genes with Reading and Language Abilities in Adults. Twin Res Hum Genet 2020; 23:23-32. [PMID: 32248883 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2020.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Reading and language abilities are critical for educational achievement and success in adulthood. Variation in these traits is highly heritable, but the underlying genetic architecture is largely undiscovered. Genetic studies of reading and language skills traditionally focus on children with developmental disorders; however, much larger unselected adult samples are available, increasing power to identify associations with specific genetic variants of small effect size. We introduce an Australian adult population cohort (41.7-73.2 years of age, N = 1505) in which we obtained data using validated measures of several aspects of reading and language abilities. We performed genetic association analysis for a reading and spelling composite score, nonword reading (assessing phonological processing: a core component in learning to read), phonetic spelling, self-reported reading impairment and nonword repetition (a marker of language ability). Given the limited power in a sample of this size (~80% power to find a minimum effect size of 0.005), we focused on analyzing candidate genes that have been associated with dyslexia and developmental speech and language disorders in prior studies. In gene-based tests, FOXP2, a gene implicated in speech/language disorders, was associated with nonword repetition (p < .001), phonetic spelling (p = .002) and the reading and spelling composite score (p < .001). Gene-set analyses of candidate dyslexia and speech/language disorder genes were not significant. These findings contribute to the assessment of genetic associations in reading and language disorders, crucial for understanding their etiology and informing intervention strategies, and validate the approach of using unselected adult samples for gene discovery in language and reading.
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Cárdenas A, Borrell V. Molecular and cellular evolution of corticogenesis in amniotes. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1435-1460. [PMID: 31563997 PMCID: PMC11104948 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03315-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The cerebral cortex varies dramatically in size and complexity between amniotes due to differences in neuron number and composition. These differences emerge during embryonic development as a result of variations in neurogenesis, which are thought to recapitulate modifications occurred during evolution that culminated in the human neocortex. Here, we review work from the last few decades leading to our current understanding of the evolution of neurogenesis and size of the cerebral cortex. Focused on specific examples across vertebrate and amniote phylogeny, we discuss developmental mechanisms regulating the emergence, lineage, complexification and fate of cortical germinal layers and progenitor cell types. At the cellular level, we discuss the fundamental impact of basal progenitor cells and the advent of indirect neurogenesis on the increased number and diversity of cortical neurons and layers in mammals, and on cortex folding. Finally, we discuss recent work that unveils genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying this progressive expansion and increased complexity of the amniote cerebral cortex during evolution, with a particular focus on those leading to human-specific features. Whereas new genes important in human brain development emerged the recent hominid lineage, regulation of the patterns and levels of activity of highly conserved signaling pathways are beginning to emerge as mechanisms of central importance in the evolutionary increase in cortical size and complexity across amniotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Cárdenas
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas y Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03550, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Víctor Borrell
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas y Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03550, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain.
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Schachtschneider KM, Welge ME, Auvil LS, Chaki S, Rund LA, Madsen O, Elmore MR, Johnson RW, Groenen MA, Schook LB. Altered Hippocampal Epigenetic Regulation Underlying Reduced Cognitive Development in Response to Early Life Environmental Insults. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11020162. [PMID: 32033187 PMCID: PMC7074491 DOI: 10.3390/genes11020162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is involved in learning and memory and undergoes significant growth and maturation during the neonatal period. Environmental insults during this developmental timeframe can have lasting effects on brain structure and function. This study assessed hippocampal DNA methylation and gene transcription from two independent studies reporting reduced cognitive development stemming from early life environmental insults (iron deficiency and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) infection) using porcine biomedical models. In total, 420 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the reduced cognition and control groups, including genes involved in neurodevelopment and function. Gene ontology (GO) terms enriched for DEGs were associated with immune responses, angiogenesis, and cellular development. In addition, 116 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified, which overlapped 125 genes. While no GO terms were enriched for genes overlapping DMRs, many of these genes are known to be involved in neurodevelopment and function, angiogenesis, and immunity. The observed altered methylation and expression of genes involved in neurological function suggest reduced cognition in response to early life environmental insults is due to altered cholinergic signaling and calcium regulation. Finally, two DMRs overlapped with two DEGs, VWF and LRRC32, which are associated with blood brain barrier permeability and regulatory T-cell activation, respectively. These results support the role of altered hippocampal DNA methylation and gene expression in early life environmentally-induced reductions in cognitive development across independent studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle M. Schachtschneider
- Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820, USA; (M.E.W.); (L.S.A.)
| | - Michael E. Welge
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820, USA; (M.E.W.); (L.S.A.)
| | - Loretta S. Auvil
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820, USA; (M.E.W.); (L.S.A.)
| | - Sulalita Chaki
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 616280, USA; (S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.R.P.E.); (R.W.J.)
| | - Laurie A. Rund
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 616280, USA; (S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.R.P.E.); (R.W.J.)
| | - Ole Madsen
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University, 6708 Wageningen, The Netherlands; (O.M.); (M.A.M.G.)
| | - Monica R.P. Elmore
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 616280, USA; (S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.R.P.E.); (R.W.J.)
| | - Rodney W. Johnson
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 616280, USA; (S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.R.P.E.); (R.W.J.)
| | - Martien A.M. Groenen
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University, 6708 Wageningen, The Netherlands; (O.M.); (M.A.M.G.)
| | - Lawrence B. Schook
- Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA;
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820, USA; (M.E.W.); (L.S.A.)
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 616280, USA; (S.C.); (L.A.R.); (M.R.P.E.); (R.W.J.)
- Correspondence:
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