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Sigurðardóttir H, Boije H, Albertsdóttir E, Kristjansson T, Rhodin M, Lindgren G, Eriksson S. The genetics of gaits in Icelandic horses goes beyond DMRT3, with RELN and STAU2 identified as two new candidate genes. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:89. [PMID: 38082412 PMCID: PMC10712087 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00863-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In domesticated animals, many important traits are complex and regulated by a large number of genes, genetic interactions, and environmental influences. The ability of Icelandic horses to perform the gait 'pace' is largely influenced by a single mutation in the DMRT3 gene, but genetic modifiers likely exist. The aim of this study was to identify novel genetic factors that influence pacing ability and quality of the gait through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and correlate new findings to previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) and mutations. RESULTS Three hundred and seventy-two Icelandic horses were genotyped with the 670 K+ Axiom Equine Genotyping Array, of which 362 had gait scores from breeding field tests. A GWAS revealed several SNPs on Equus caballus chromosomes (ECA) 4, 9, and 20 that were associated (p < 1.0 × 10-5) with the breeding field test score for pace. The two novel QTL on ECA4 and 9 were located within the RELN and STAU2 genes, respectively, which have previously been associated with locomotor behavior in mice. Haplotypes were identified and the most frequent one for each of these two QTL had a large favorable effect on pace score. The second most frequent haplotype for the RELN gene was positively correlated with scores for tölt, trot, gallop, and canter. Similarly, the second most frequent haplotype for the STAU2 gene had favorable effects on scores for trot and gallop. Different genotype ratios of the haplotypes in the RELN and STAU2 genes were also observed in groups of horses with different levels of pacing ability. Furthermore, interactions (p < 0.05) were detected for the QTL in the RELN and STAU2 genes with the DMRT3 gene. The novel QTL on ECA4, 9, and 20, along with the effects of the DMRT3 variant, were estimated to account jointly for 27.4% of the phenotypic variance of the gait pace. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide valuable information about the genetic architecture of pace beyond the contribution of the DMRT3 gene and indicate genetic interactions that contribute to the complexity of this trait. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the underlying genetic factors and interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiðrún Sigurðardóttir
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, Borgarbyggð, 311, Hvanneyri, Iceland.
| | - Henrik Boije
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elsa Albertsdóttir
- The Icelandic Agricultural Advisory Centre, Hagatorgi 1, 107, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Thorvaldur Kristjansson
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, Borgarbyggð, 311, Hvanneyri, Iceland
| | - Marie Rhodin
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7011, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gabriella Lindgren
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Biosystems, Center for Animal Breeding and Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Susanne Eriksson
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
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Di Donato N, Guerrini R, Billington CJ, Barkovich AJ, Dinkel P, Freri E, Heide M, Gershon ES, Gertler TS, Hopkin RJ, Jacob S, Keedy SK, Kooshavar D, Lockhart PJ, Lohmann DR, Mahmoud IG, Parrini E, Schrock E, Severi G, Timms AE, Webster RI, Willis MJH, Zaki MS, Gleeson JG, Leventer RJ, Dobyns WB. Monoallelic and biallelic mutations in RELN underlie a graded series of neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain 2022; 145:3274-3287. [PMID: 35769015 PMCID: PMC9989350 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Reelin, a large extracellular protein, plays several critical roles in brain development and function. It is encoded by RELN, first identified as the gene disrupted in the reeler mouse, a classic neurological mutant exhibiting ataxia, tremors and a 'reeling' gait. In humans, biallelic variants in RELN have been associated with a recessive lissencephaly variant with cerebellar hypoplasia, which matches well with the homozygous mouse mutant that has abnormal cortical structure, small hippocampi and severe cerebellar hypoplasia. Despite the large size of the gene, only 11 individuals with RELN-related lissencephaly with cerebellar hypoplasia from six families have previously been reported. Heterozygous carriers in these families were briefly reported as unaffected, although putative loss-of-function variants are practically absent in the population (probability of loss of function intolerance = 1). Here we present data on seven individuals from four families with biallelic and 13 individuals from seven families with monoallelic (heterozygous) variants of RELN and frontotemporal or temporal-predominant lissencephaly variant. Some individuals with monoallelic variants have moderate frontotemporal lissencephaly, but with normal cerebellar structure and intellectual disability with severe behavioural dysfunction. However, one adult had abnormal MRI with normal intelligence and neurological profile. Thorough literature analysis supports a causal role for monoallelic RELN variants in four seemingly distinct phenotypes including frontotemporal lissencephaly, epilepsy, autism and probably schizophrenia. Notably, we observed a significantly higher proportion of loss-of-function variants in the biallelic compared to the monoallelic cohort, where the variant spectrum included missense and splice-site variants. We assessed the impact of two canonical splice-site variants observed as biallelic or monoallelic variants in individuals with moderately affected or normal cerebellum and demonstrated exon skipping causing in-frame loss of 46 or 52 amino acids in the central RELN domain. Previously reported functional studies demonstrated severe reduction in overall RELN secretion caused by heterozygous missense variants p.Cys539Arg and p.Arg3207Cys associated with lissencephaly suggesting a dominant-negative effect. We conclude that biallelic variants resulting in complete absence of RELN expression are associated with a consistent and severe phenotype that includes cerebellar hypoplasia. However, reduced expression of RELN remains sufficient to maintain nearly normal cerebellar structure. Monoallelic variants are associated with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity even within the same family and may have dominant-negative effects. Reduced RELN secretion in heterozygous individuals affects only cortical structure whereas the cerebellum remains intact. Our data expand the spectrum of RELN-related neurodevelopmental disorders ranging from lethal brain malformations to adult phenotypes with normal brain imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliya Di Donato
- Institute for Clinical Genetics, University Hospital, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Renzo Guerrini
- Pediatric Neurology, Neurogenetics and Neurobiology Unit and Laboratories, Meyer Children's Hospital, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Charles J Billington
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - A James Barkovich
- Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Neurology, Pediatrics, and Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Philine Dinkel
- Institute for Clinical Genetics, University Hospital, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Elena Freri
- Department of Pediatric Neuroscience, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Michael Heide
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Elliot S Gershon
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Tracy S Gertler
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Robert J Hopkin
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Suma Jacob
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Sarah K Keedy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Daniz Kooshavar
- Bruce Lefory Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and University of Melbourne Department of Pediatrics, Melbourne 3052, Australia
| | - Paul J Lockhart
- Bruce Lefory Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and University of Melbourne Department of Pediatrics, Melbourne 3052, Australia
| | - Dietmar R Lohmann
- Institut fur Humangenetik, Universitatsklinikum Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Iman G Mahmoud
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Cairo University Children's Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Elena Parrini
- Pediatric Neurology, Neurogenetics and Neurobiology Unit and Laboratories, Meyer Children's Hospital, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Evelin Schrock
- Institute for Clinical Genetics, University Hospital, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Giulia Severi
- Medical Genetics Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrew E Timms
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Richard I Webster
- T. Y. Nelson Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney 2145, Australia
| | - Mary J H Willis
- Uniformed Services University School of Medicine and Naval Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, San Diego, CA 92134, USA
| | - Maha S Zaki
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Cairo University Children's Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
- Clinical Genetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo Governorate 12622, Egypt
| | - Joseph G Gleeson
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Richard J Leventer
- Department of Neurology, Royal Children's Hospital, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and University of Melbourne Department of Pediatrics, Melbourne 3052, Australia
| | - William B Dobyns
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
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The Reeler Mouse: A Translational Model of Human Neurological Conditions, or Simply a Good Tool for Better Understanding Neurodevelopment? J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8122088. [PMID: 31805691 PMCID: PMC6947477 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8122088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The first description of the Reeler mutation in mouse dates to more than fifty years ago, and later, its causative gene (reln) was discovered in mouse, and its human orthologue (RELN) was demonstrated to be causative of lissencephaly 2 (LIS2) and about 20% of the cases of autosomal-dominant lateral temporal epilepsy (ADLTE). In both human and mice, the gene encodes for a glycoprotein referred to as reelin (Reln) that plays a primary function in neuronal migration during development and synaptic stabilization in adulthood. Besides LIS2 and ADLTE, RELN and/or other genes coding for the proteins of the Reln intracellular cascade have been associated substantially to other conditions such as spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 and 37, VLDLR-associated cerebellar hypoplasia, PAFAH1B1-associated lissencephaly, autism, and schizophrenia. According to their modalities of inheritances and with significant differences among each other, these neuropsychiatric disorders can be modeled in the homozygous (reln−/−) or heterozygous (reln+/−) Reeler mouse. The worth of these mice as translational models is discussed, with focus on their construct and face validity. Description of face validity, i.e., the resemblance of phenotypes between the two species, centers onto the histological, neurochemical, and functional observations in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of Reeler mice and their human counterparts.
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Castagna C, Merighi A, Lossi L. Decreased Expression of Synaptophysin 1 (SYP1 Major Synaptic Vesicle Protein p38) and Contactin 6 (CNTN6/NB3) in the Cerebellar Vermis of reln Haplodeficient Mice. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2019; 39:833-856. [PMID: 31098770 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-019-00683-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Reeler heterozygous mice (reln+/-) are seemingly normal but haplodeficient in reln, a gene implicated in autism. Structural/neurochemical alterations in the reln+/- brain are subtle and difficult to demonstrate. Therefore, the usefulness of these mice in translational research is still debated. As evidence implicated several synapse-related genes in autism and the cerebellar vermis is structurally altered in the condition, we have investigated the expression of synaptophysin 1 (SYP1) and contactin 6 (CNTN6) within the vermis of reln+/- mice. Semi-thin plastic sections of the vermis from adult mice of both sexes and different genotypes (reln+/- and reln+/+) were processed with an indirect immunofluorescence protocol. Immunofluorescence was quantified on binary images and statistically analyzed. Reln+/- males displayed a statistically significant reduction of 11.89% in the expression of SYP1 compared to sex-matched wild-type animals, whereas no differences were observed between reln+/+ and reln+/- females. In reln+/- male mice, reductions were particularly evident in the molecular layer: 10.23% less SYP1 than reln+/+ males and 5.84% < reln+/+ females. In reln+/- females, decrease was 9.84% versus reln+/+ males and 5.43% versus reln+/+ females. Both reln+/- males and females showed a stronger decrease in CNTN6 expression throughout all the three cortical layers of the vermis: 17-23% in the granular layer, 24-26% in the Purkinje cell layer, and 9-14% in the molecular layer. Altogether, decrease of vermian SYP1 and CNTN6 in reln+/- mice displayed patterns compatible with the structural modifications of the autistic cerebellum. Therefore, these mice may be a good model in translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Castagna
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, I-10095, Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
| | - Adalberto Merighi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, I-10095, Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Italy
| | - Laura Lossi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, I-10095, Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Italy
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Jiang X, Nardelli J. Cellular and molecular introduction to brain development. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 92:3-17. [PMID: 26184894 PMCID: PMC4720585 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2015] [Revised: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in the study of brain development over the last decades, especially recent findings regarding the evolutionary expansion of the human neocortex, and large-scale analyses of the proteome/transcriptome in the human brain, have offered novel insights into the molecular mechanisms guiding neural maturation, and the pathophysiology of multiple forms of neurological disorders. As a preamble to reviews of this issue, we provide an overview of the cellular, molecular and genetic bases of brain development with an emphasis on the major mechanisms associated with landmarks of normal neural development in the embryonic stage and early postnatal life, including neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation, cortical neuronal migration, evolution and folding of the cerebral cortex, synaptogenesis and neural circuit development, gliogenesis and myelination. We will only briefly depict developmental disorders that result from perturbations of these cellular or molecular mechanisms, and the most common perinatal brain injuries that could disturb normal brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangning Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jeannette Nardelli
- Inserm, U1141, Paris 75019, France; Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS 1141, Paris 75019, France.
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Magliaro C, Cocito C, Bagatella S, Merighi A, Ahluwalia A, Lossi L. The number of Purkinje neurons and their topology in the cerebellar vermis of normal and reln haplodeficient mouse. Ann Anat 2016; 207:68-75. [PMID: 26996540 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2016.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The Reeler heterozygous mice (reln(+/-)) are haplodeficient in the gene (reln) encoding for the reelin glycoprotein (RELN) and display reductions in brain/peripheral RELN similar to autistic or schizophrenic patients. Cytoarchitectonic alterations of the reln(+/-) brain may be subtle, and are difficult to demonstrate by current histological approaches. We analyzed the number and topological organization of the Purkinje neurons (PNs) in five vermal lobules - central (II-III), culmen (IV-V), tuber (VIIb), uvula (IX), and nodulus (X) - that process different types of afferent functional inputs in reln(+/+) and reln(+/-) adult mice (P60) of both sexes (n=24). Animals were crossed with L7GFP mice so that the GFP-tagged PNs could be directly identified in cryosections. Digital images from these sections were processed with different open source software for quantitative topological and statistical analyses. Diversity indices calculated were: maximum caliper, density, area of soma, dispersion along the XZ axis, and dispersion along the YZ axis. We demonstrate: i. reduction in density of PNs in reln(+/-) males (14.37%) and reln(+/-) females (17.73%) compared to reln(+/+) males; ii. that reln(+/-) males have larger PNs than other genotypes, and females (irrespective of the reln genetic background) have smaller PNs than reln(+/+) males; iii. PNs are more chaotically arranged along the YZ axis in reln(+/-) males than in reln(+/+) males and, except in central lobulus, reln(+/-) females. Therefore, image processing and statistics reveal previously unforeseen gender and genotype-related structural differences in cerebellum that may be clues for the definition of novel biomarkers in human psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Magliaro
- University of Pisa, Research Center E. Piaggio, Faculty of Engineering, Pisa, Italy
| | - Carolina Cocito
- University of Turin, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Turin, Italy
| | - Stefano Bagatella
- University of Turin, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Turin, Italy
| | - Adalberto Merighi
- University of Turin, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Turin, Italy
| | - Arti Ahluwalia
- University of Pisa, Research Center E. Piaggio, Faculty of Engineering, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Lossi
- University of Turin, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Turin, Italy.
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Businaro R, Corsi M, Azzara G, Di Raimo T, Laviola G, Romano E, Ricci L, Maccarrone M, Aronica E, Fuso A, Ricci S. Interleukin-18 modulation in autism spectrum disorders. J Neuroinflammation 2016; 13:2. [PMID: 26728085 PMCID: PMC4700739 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-015-0466-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease which affects 1 in 88 children. Its etiology remains basically unknown, but it is apparent that neuroinflammation is involved in disease development. Great attention has been focused on pro-inflammatory cytokines, and several studies have reported their dysfunction unbalance in serum as well as in the brain. The present work aimed at evaluating putative dysregulation of interleukin-18 (IL-18), a pro-inflammatory cytokine of the IL-1 family in the sera of patients with ASD of different grades, compared to healthy controls, as well as in postmortem brain samples obtained from patients with tuberous sclerosis as well as acute inflammatory diseases. Moreover, quantitative analysis of IL-18 was performed in the sera and brain obtained from Reeler mice, an experimental model of autism. METHODS Serum IL-18 levels were measured by ELISA. IL-18 was localized by immunohistochemical analysis in brain sections obtained from tuberous sclerosis and encephalitis patients, as well as from gender- and age-matched controls, and in the brain sections of both Reeler and wild-type mice. IL-18 was also quantified by Western blots in homogenates of Reeler and wild-type mice brains. IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) was evaluated in Reeler and wild-type mice plasma as well as in their brains (sections and homogenates). RESULTS IL-18 content decreased in the sera of patients with autism compared to healthy subjects and in Reeler sera compared to wild-type controls. IL-18 was detected within glial cells and neurons in the brain of subjects affected by tuberous sclerosis and encephalitis whereas in healthy subjects, only a weak IL-18 positivity was detected at the level of glial cells. Western blot identified higher amounts of IL-18 in Reeler brain homogenates compared to wild-type littermates. IL-18BP was expressed in higher amounts in Reeler brain compared to the brain of wild-type mice, whereas no significant difference was detected comparing IL-18BP plasma levels. CONCLUSIONS IL-18 is dysregulated in ASD patients. Further studies seemed necessary to clarify the molecular details behind IL-18 increase in the brain and IL-18 decrease in the sera of patients. An increase in the size of the patient cohort seems necessary to ascertain whether decreased IL-18 content in the sera can become a predictive biomarker of ASD and whether its measure, in combination with other markers (e.g., increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)), may be included in a diagnostic panel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Businaro
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy.
| | - Mariangela Corsi
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy.
| | - Gabriella Azzara
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy.
| | - Tania Di Raimo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Laviola
- Section of Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Section Behavioural Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
| | - Emilia Romano
- Section of Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Section Behavioural Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
| | - Lidia Ricci
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Legal Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- European Center for Brain Research (CERC)/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143, Rome, Italy. .,School of Medicine and Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Center and Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Andrea Fuso
- European Center for Brain Research (CERC)/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143, Rome, Italy. .,Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Serafino Ricci
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Legal Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Varela MJ, Lage S, Caruncho HJ, Cadavid MI, Loza MI, Brea J. Reelin influences the expression and function of dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors: a comparative study. Neuroscience 2015; 290:165-74. [PMID: 25637489 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Reelin is an extracellular matrix protein that plays a critical role in neuronal guidance during brain neurodevelopment and in synaptic plasticity in adults and has been associated with schizophrenia. Reelin mRNA and protein levels are reduced in various structures of post-mortem schizophrenic brains, in a similar way to those found in heterozygous reeler mice (HRM). Reelin is involved in protein expression in dendritic spines that are the major location where synaptic connections are established. Thus, we hypothesized that a genetic deficit in reelin would affect the expression and function of dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors that are associated with the action of current antipsychotic drugs. In this study, D2 and 5-HT2A receptor expression and function were quantitated by using radioligand binding studies in the frontal cortex and striatum of HRM and wild-type mice (WTM). We observed increased expression (p<0.05) in striatum membranes and decreased expression (p<0.05) in frontal cortex membranes for both dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors from HRM compared to WTM. Our results show parallel alterations of D2 and 5-HT2A receptors that are compatible with a possible hetero-oligomeric nature of these receptors. These changes are similar to changes described in schizophrenic patients and provide further support for the suitability of using HRM as a model for studying this disease and the effects of antipsychotic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Varela
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - S Lage
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - H J Caruncho
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - M I Cadavid
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - M I Loza
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - J Brea
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Ha S, Stottmann RW, Furley AJ, Beier DR. A forward genetic screen in mice identifies mutants with abnormal cortical patterning. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 25:167-79. [PMID: 23968836 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bht209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Formation of a 6-layered cortical plate and axon tract patterning are key features of cerebral cortex development. Abnormalities of these processes may be the underlying cause for a range of functional disabilities seen in human neurodevelopmental disorders. To identify mouse mutants with defects in cortical lamination or corticofugal axon guidance, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis was performed using mice expressing LacZ reporter genes in layers II/III and V of the cortex (Rgs4-lacZ) or in corticofugal axons (TAG1-tau-lacZ). Four lines with abnormal cortical lamination have been identified. One of these was a splice site mutation in reelin (Reln) that results in a premature stop codon and the truncation of the C-terminal region (CTR) domain of reelin. Interestingly, this novel allele of Reln did not display cerebellar malformation or ataxia, and this is the first report of a Reln mutant without a cerebellar defect. Four lines with abnormal cortical axon development were also identified, one of which was found by whole-genome resequencing to carry a mutation in Lrp2. These findings demonstrated that the application of ENU mutagenesis to mice carrying transgenic reporters marking cortical anatomy is a sensitive and specific method to identify mutations that disrupt patterning of the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungshin Ha
- Genetics Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Rolf W Stottmann
- Genetics Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Divisions of Human Genetics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA and
| | - Andrew J Furley
- Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - David R Beier
- Genetics Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
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Laviola G, Ognibene E, Romano E, Adriani W, Keller F. Gene-environment interaction during early development in the heterozygous reeler mouse: clues for modelling of major neurobehavioral syndromes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2008; 33:560-72. [PMID: 18845182 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2007] [Revised: 09/12/2008] [Accepted: 09/16/2008] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Autism and schizophrenia are multifactorial disorders with increasing prevalence in the young population. Among candidate molecules, reelin (RELN) is a protein of the extracellular matrix playing a key role in brain development and synaptic plasticity. The heterozygous (HZ) reeler mouse provides a model for studying the role of reelin deficiency for the onset of these syndromes. We investigated whether early indices of neurobehavioral disorders can be identified in the infant reeler, and whether the consequences of ontogenetic adverse experiences may question or support the suitability of this model. A first study focused on the link between early exposure to Chlorpyryfos and its enduring neurobehavioral consequences. Our data are interesting in view of recently discovered cholinergic abnormalities in autism and schizophrenia, and may suggest new avenues for early pharmacological intervention. In a second study, we analyzed the consequences of repeated maternal separation early in ontogeny. The results provide evidence of how unusual stress early in development are converted into altered behavior in some, but not all, individuals depending on gender and genetic background. A third study aimed to verify the reliability of the model at critical age windows. Data suggest reduced anxiety, increased impulsivity and disinhibition, and altered pain threshold in response to morphine for HZ, supporting a differential organization of brain dopaminergic, serotonergic and opioid systems in this genotype. In conclusion, HZ exhibited a complex behavioral and psycho-pharmacological phenotype, and differential responsivity to ontogenetic adverse conditions. HZ may be used to disentangle interactions between genetic vulnerability and environmental factors. Such an approach could help to model the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Laviola
- Sect. Behavioral Neuroscience, Dept. Cell Biology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, I-00161 Roma, Italy.
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Ognibene E, Adriani W, Caprioli A, Ghirardi O, Ali SF, Aloe L, Laviola G. The effect of early maternal separation on brain derived neurotrophic factor and monoamine levels in adult heterozygous reeler mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2008; 32:1269-76. [PMID: 18501492 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2008.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2007] [Revised: 03/28/2008] [Accepted: 03/28/2008] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE AND METHODS The reeler heterozygous (HZ) mice have provided a model for studying the relationship between reelin (a protein of extracellular matrix) haploinsufficiency and the emergence of neuropsychiatric diseases. In a neurodevelopmental framework, the enduring consequences of early maternal separation (5 h/day during the first postnatal week, or handling controls, H) were studied in reeler HZ and wild type (WT) mice at adulthood. The modulatory effects of a chronic treatment with the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine (OLZ, 1.5 mg/kg for 40 days) were also investigated. RESULTS Early maternal separation had long-term effects on brain plasticity, with a reduction of brain- and glial- derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF and GDNF) in several brain areas of mice, but such a consequence was less marked in the HZ genotype. On the other hand, treatment with OLZ did not affect at all the GDNF but led to an increase of BDNF levels in maternally separated (SEP) mice, an effect which was far more marked in the HZ genotype. Brain levels of serotonin (5-HT) were markedly increased, striatal dopamine (DA) was increased, whereas metabolites and turnover were decreased, in SEP mice of both genotypes. The spontaneous home-cage activity was generally lower in HZ than WT mice, and OLZ treatment contrasted this hypoactivity profile. Maternal separation also decreased the interest toward an unknown mouse proposed as a social stimulus, but only in WT mice. CONCLUSION We investigated the interplay between genetic vulnerability (reelin haploinsufficiency), the outcome of early stressful experiences, and the efficacy of the antipsychotic drug therapy. The reeler HZ genotype exhibited a slightly lower sensitivity to the environmental insult as well as an enhanced response to the atypical antipsychotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ognibene
- Section of Behavioral Neuroscience, Dept. Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
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12
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Ognibene E, Adriani W, Macrì S, Laviola G. Neurobehavioural disorders in the infant reeler mouse model: Interaction of genetic vulnerability and consequences of maternal separation. Behav Brain Res 2007; 177:142-9. [PMID: 17141885 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2006.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2006] [Revised: 10/24/2006] [Accepted: 10/27/2006] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Studies on heterozygous (HZ) reeler mice suggest a relationship between reelin (a protein of extra cellular matrix) haploinsufficiency and the presence of altered neural networks and behaviour. Neonatal adverse and/or stimulating experiences might interfere with the emergence of this genetic-dependent phenotype. Repeated episodes of maternal separation early in ontogeny result in enduring neuroendocrine, neurochemical and behavioural alterations in the offspring. Therefore, in order to investigate whether developmental indexes of neurobehavioural disorders can be studied in the infant reeler mouse model, and whether ontogenetic adverse experiences may question or improve its suitability, homozygous reeler (RL), heterozygous (HZ) and wild-type (WT) mouse pups underwent maternal separation (SEP, 5h/day) or handling (H, 3min/day) on PND 2-6. As expected, a sex difference appeared, for measure of emotional and communicative behaviour in infant mice. On PND 7, compared to other genotypes, RL mouse pups from the H control group, showed reduced levels of ultrasound (USV) production and of locomotion. Surprisingly, this deficit in RL mice was fully reverted by maternal separation. Maternal separation per se reduced social motivation in the homing test at PND 9 in WT mice, with no effects on HZ and RL ones. Additionally, female pups emitted much lower levels of ultrasound production than males within the H control group. Such a baseline sex difference, however, disappeared in the SEP group. The present results provide evidence that unusual stress and related hormonal stimulation early in development may (i) independently shape individual phenotype and (ii) interact with a genetic make-up to substantially modify its "natural" developmental trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ognibene
- Section of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy.
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D'Arcangelo G. Reelin mouse mutants as models of cortical development disorders. Epilepsy Behav 2006; 8:81-90. [PMID: 16266828 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2005.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2005] [Revised: 09/09/2005] [Accepted: 09/10/2005] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Developmental defects in neuronal positioning and synaptic connectivity are commonly found in neurological diseases, and they are believed to underlie many cognitive and affective disorders. Several mouse mutants are currently available that model at least some aspects of human developmental brain disorders. With the identification of the genes mutated in these animals and the study of the cellular basis of the phenotypes, we have taken significant strides toward an understanding of the mechanisms controlling proper brain development and the consequences of their dysfunction. In particular, mouse mutants deficient in the Reelin gene have provided valuable insights into the mechanisms of cortical development. Absence of Reelin expression in the spontaneous mutant mouse reeler leads to extensive defects in neuronal position and dendrite development. In humans, loss of Reelin results in a type of lissencephaly with severe cortical and cerebellar malformation. Genetic and biochemical studies using mouse mutants suggest that the Lis1 protein may participate in the Reelin signaling pathway controlling cortical development. Reduced levels of Reelin are also present in postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a possible link with this cognitive disorder. The regulation of the Reelin gene may thus provide insights into the mechanisms of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella D'Arcangelo
- The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella D'Arcangelo
- The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston 77030, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadel Tissir
- Developmental Genetics Unit, Université Catholique de Louvain, UCL 7382, 73 Avenue E. Mounier, B1200 Brussels, Belgium
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Kubasak MD, Brooks R, Chen S, Villeda SA, Phelps PE. Developmental distribution of reelin-positive cells and their secreted product in the rodent spinal cord. J Comp Neurol 2003; 468:165-78. [PMID: 14648677 DOI: 10.1002/cne.10946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
To date, only sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons are known to migrate abnormally in reeler mutant spinal cord. Reelin, the large extracellular matrix protein absent in reeler, is found in wild-type neurons bordering both groups of preganglionic neurons. To understand better Reelin's function in the spinal cord, we studied its developmental expression in both mice and rats. A remarkable conservation was found in the spatiotemporal pattern of Reelin in both species. Numerous Reelin-expressing cells were found in the intermediate zone, except for regions containing somatic and autonomic motor neurons. A band of Reelin-positive cells filled the superficial dorsal horn, whereas only a few immunoreactive cells populated the deep dorsal horn and dorsal commissure. High levels of diffuse Reelin product were detected in the lateral marginal and ventral ventricular zones in both rodent species. This expression pattern was detected at all segmental spinal cord levels during embryonic development and remained detectable at lower levels throughout the first postnatal month. To discriminate between the cellular and secreted forms of Reelin, brefeldin A was used to block secretion in organotypic cultures. Such perturbations revealed that the high levels of secreted Reelin in the lateral marginal zone were derived from varicose axons of more medially located Reelin-positive cells. Thus, the laterally located secreted Reelin product may normally prevent the preganglionic neurons from migrating too far medially. Based on the strong evolutionary conservation of Reelin expression and its postnatal detection, Reelin may have other important functions in addition to its role in neuronal migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc D Kubasak
- Department of Physiological Science, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1527, USA
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