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Lopez-Tello J, Kiu R, Schofield Z, Zhang CXW, van Sinderen D, Le Gall G, Hall LJ, Sferruzzi-Perri AN. Maternal gut Bifidobacterium breve modifies fetal brain metabolism in germ-free mice. Mol Metab 2024; 88:102004. [PMID: 39127167 PMCID: PMC11401360 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.102004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent advances have significantly expanded our understanding of the gut microbiome's influence on host physiology and metabolism. However, the specific role of certain microorganisms in gestational health and fetal development remains underexplored. OBJECTIVE This study investigates the impact of Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 on fetal brain metabolism when colonized in the maternal gut during pregnancy. METHODS Germ-free pregnant mice were colonized with or without B. breve UCC2003 during pregnancy. The metabolic profiles of fetal brains were analyzed, focusing on the presence of key metabolites and the expression of critical metabolic and cellular pathways. RESULTS Maternal colonization with B. breve resulted in significant metabolic changes in the fetal brain. Specifically, ten metabolites, including citrate, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, and carnitine, were reduced in the fetal brain. These alterations were accompanied by increased abundance of transporters involved in glucose and branched-chain amino acid uptake. Furthermore, supplementation with this bacterium was associated with elevated expression of critical metabolic pathways such as PI3K-AKT, AMPK, STAT5, and Wnt-β-catenin signaling, including its receptor Frizzled-7. Additionally, there was stabilization of HIF-2 protein and modifications in genes and proteins related to cellular growth, axogenesis, and mitochondrial function. CONCLUSIONS The presence of maternal B. breve during pregnancy plays a crucial role in modulating fetal brain metabolism and growth. These findings suggest that Bifidobacterium could modify fetal brain development, potentially offering new avenues for enhancing gestational health and fetal development through microbiota-targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Lopez-Tello
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine. Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.
| | - Raymond Kiu
- Food, Microbiome & Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK; Institute of Microbiology & Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Department of Microbes, Infection & Microbiomes, School of Infection, Inflammation & Immunology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Zoe Schofield
- Food, Microbiome & Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Cindy X W Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Gwénaëlle Le Gall
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Bob Champion Research and Education Building, James Watson Road, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK
| | - Lindsay J Hall
- Food, Microbiome & Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK; Institute of Microbiology & Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Department of Microbes, Infection & Microbiomes, School of Infection, Inflammation & Immunology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Pavlinek A, Adhya D, Tsompanidis A, Warrier V, Vernon AC, Lancaster M, Mill J, Srivastava DP, Baron-Cohen S. Using Organoids to Model Sex Differences in the Human Brain. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100343. [PMID: 39092139 PMCID: PMC11292257 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100343] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex differences are widespread during neurodevelopment and play a role in neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism, which is more prevalent in males than females. In humans, males have been shown to have larger brain volumes than females with development of the hippocampus and amygdala showing prominent sex differences. Mechanistically, sex steroids and sex chromosomes drive these differences in brain development, which seem to peak during prenatal and pubertal stages. Animal models have played a crucial role in understanding sex differences, but the study of human sex differences requires an experimental model that can recapitulate complex genetic traits. To fill this gap, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids are now being used to study how complex genetic traits influence prenatal brain development. For example, brain organoids from individuals with autism and individuals with X chromosome-linked Rett syndrome and fragile X syndrome have revealed prenatal differences in cell proliferation, a measure of brain volume differences, and excitatory-inhibitory imbalances. Brain organoids have also revealed increased neurogenesis of excitatory neurons due to androgens. However, despite growing interest in using brain organoids, several key challenges remain that affect its validity as a model system. In this review, we discuss how sex steroids and the sex chromosomes each contribute to sex differences in brain development. Then, we examine the role of X chromosome inactivation as a factor that drives sex differences. Finally, we discuss the combined challenges of modeling X chromosome inactivation and limitations of brain organoids that need to be taken into consideration when studying sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pavlinek
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dwaipayan Adhya
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Tsompanidis
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Varun Warrier
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony C. Vernon
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jonathan Mill
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Deepak P. Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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3
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McLamb F, Feng Z, Vu JP, Griffin L, Vasquez MF, Bozinovic G. Lagging Brain Gene Expression Patterns of Drosophila melanogaster Young Adult Males Confound Comparisons Between Sexes. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04427-7. [PMID: 39196495 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04427-7] [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: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Many species, including fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), are sexually dimorphic. Phenotypic variation in morphology, physiology, and behavior can affect development, reproduction, health, and aging. Therefore, designating sex as a variable and sex-blocking should be considered when designing experiments. The brain regulates phenotypes throughout the lifespan by balancing survival and reproduction, and sex-specific development at each life stage is likely. Changes in morphology and physiology are governed by differential gene expression, a quantifiable molecular marker for age- and sex-specific variations. We assessed the fruit fly brain transcriptome at three adult ages for gene expression signatures of sex, age, and sex-by-age: 6698 genes were differentially expressed between sexes, with the most divergence at 3 days. Between ages, 31.1% of 6084 differentially expressed genes (1890 genes) share similar expression patterns from 3 to 7 days in females, and from 7 to 14 days in males. Most of these genes (90.5%, 1712) were upregulated and enriched for chemical stimulus detection and/or cilium regulation. Our data highlight an important delay in male brain gene regulation compared to females. Because significant delays in expression could confound comparisons between sexes, studies of sexual dimorphism at phenotypically comparable life stages rather than chronological age should be more biologically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flannery McLamb
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Division of Extended Studies, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Zuying Feng
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeanne P Vu
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lindsey Griffin
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Division of Extended Studies, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Miguel F Vasquez
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Goran Bozinovic
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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4
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Postic PY, Leprince Y, Brosset S, Drutel L, Peyric E, Ben Abdallah I, Bekha D, Neumane S, Duchesnay E, Dinomais M, Chevignard M, Hertz-Pannier L. Brain growth until adolescence after a neonatal focal injury: sex related differences beyond lesion effect. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1405381. [PMID: 39247049 PMCID: PMC11378422 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1405381] [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: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Early focal brain injuries lead to long-term disabilities with frequent cognitive impairments, suggesting global dysfunction beyond the lesion. While plasticity of the immature brain promotes better learning, outcome variability across individuals is multifactorial. Males are more vulnerable to early injuries and neurodevelopmental disorders than females, but long-term sex differences in brain growth after an early focal lesion have not been described yet. With this MRI longitudinal morphometry study of brain development after a Neonatal Arterial Ischemic Stroke (NAIS), we searched for differences between males and females in the trajectories of ipsi- and contralesional gray matter growth in childhood and adolescence, while accounting for lesion characteristics. Methods We relied on a longitudinal cohort (AVCnn) of patients with unilateral NAIS who underwent clinical and MRI assessments at ages 7 and 16 were compared to age-matched controls. Non-lesioned volumes of gray matter (hemispheres, lobes, regions, deep structures, cerebellum) were extracted from segmented T1 MRI images at 7 (Patients: 23 M, 16 F; Controls: 17 M, 18 F) and 16 (Patients: 18 M, 11 F; Controls: 16 M, 15 F). These volumes were analyzed using a Linear Mixed Model accounting for age, sex, and lesion characteristics. Results Whole hemisphere volumes were reduced at both ages in patients compared to controls (gray matter volume: -16% in males, -10% in females). In ipsilesional hemisphere, cortical gray matter and thalamic volume losses (average -13%) mostly depended on lesion severity, suggesting diaschisis, with minimal effect of patient sex. In the contralesional hemisphere however, we consistently found sex differences in gray matter volumes, as only male volumes were smaller than in male controls (average -7.5%), mostly in territories mirroring the contralateral lesion. Females did not significantly deviate from the typical trajectories of female controls. Similar sex differences were found in both cerebellar hemispheres. Discussion These results suggest sex-dependent growth trajectories after an early brain lesion with a contralesional growth deficit in males only. The similarity of patterns at ages 7 and 16 suggests that puberty has little effect on these trajectories, and that most of the deviation in males occurs in early childhood, in line with the well-described perinatal vulnerability of the male brain, and with no compensation thereafter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Yves Postic
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Frederic Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- INSERM, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1141 NeuroDiderot, InDEV, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale (LIB), Paris, France
| | - Yann Leprince
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Frederic Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Soraya Brosset
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Frederic Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- INSERM, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1141 NeuroDiderot, InDEV, Paris, France
| | - Laure Drutel
- LP3C, Rennes 2 University, Rennes, France
- French National Reference Center for Pediatric Stroke, CHU de Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Emeline Peyric
- Pediatric Neurology Department, HFME, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Ines Ben Abdallah
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Frederic Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- INSERM, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1141 NeuroDiderot, InDEV, Paris, France
| | - Dhaif Bekha
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Frederic Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- INSERM, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1141 NeuroDiderot, InDEV, Paris, France
| | - Sara Neumane
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Frederic Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- INSERM, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1141 NeuroDiderot, InDEV, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ - APHP, Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Raymond Poincaré University Hospital, Garches, France
| | - Edouard Duchesnay
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Frederic Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, BAOBAB/GAIA/SIGNATURE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Mickael Dinomais
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Angers University Hospital Centre, Angers, France
| | - Mathilde Chevignard
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale (LIB), Paris, France
- Rehabilitation Department for Children with Acquired Brain Injury, Saint Maurice Hospitals, Saint Maurice, France
- Sorbonne University, GRC 24 Handicap Moteur Cognitif et Réadaptation (HaMCRe), Paris, France
| | - Lucie Hertz-Pannier
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Frederic Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- INSERM, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1141 NeuroDiderot, InDEV, Paris, France
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5
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Paylar B, Pramanik S, Bezabhe YH, Olsson PE. Temporal sex specific brain gene expression pattern during early rat embryonic development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1343800. [PMID: 38961864 PMCID: PMC11219815 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1343800] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The classical concept of brain sex differentiation suggests that steroid hormones released from the gonads program male and female brains differently. However, several studies indicate that steroid hormones are not the only determinant of brain sex differentiation and that genetic differences could also be involved. Methods: In this study, we have performed RNA sequencing of rat brains at embryonic days 12 (E12), E13, and E14. The aim was to identify differentially expressed genes between male and female rat brains during early development. Results: Analysis of genes expressed with the highest sex differences showed that Xist was highly expressed in females having XX genotype with an increasing expression over time. Analysis of genes expressed with the highest male expression identified three early genes, Sry2, Eif2s3y, and Ddx3y. Discussion: The observed sex-specific expression of genes at early development confirms that the rat brain is sexually dimorphic prior to gonadal action on the brain and identifies Sry2 and Eif2s3y as early genes contributing to male brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Per-Erik Olsson
- Biology, The Life Science Center, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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6
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Ochi S, Manabe S, Kikkawa T, Ebrahimiazar S, Kimura R, Yoshizaki K, Osumi N. A Transcriptomic Dataset of Embryonic Murine Telencephalon. Sci Data 2024; 11:586. [PMID: 38839806 PMCID: PMC11153524 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03421-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex bias is known in the prevalence/pathology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Sex-dependent differences of the certain brain areas are known to emerge perinatally through the exposure to sex hormones, while gene expression patterns in the rodent embryonic brain does not seem to be completely the same between male and female. To investigate potential sex differences in gene expression and cortical organization during the embryonic period in mice, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of gene expression for the telencephalon at embryonic day (E) 11.5 (a peak of neural stem cell expansion) and E14.5 (a peak of neurogenesis) using bulk RNA-seq data. As a result, our data showed the existence of notable sex differences in gene expression patterns not obviously at E11.5, but clearly at E14.5 when neurogenesis has become its peak. These data can be useful for exploring potential contribution of genes exhibiting sex differences to the divergence in brain development. Additionally, our data underscore the significance of studying the embryonic period to gain a deeper understanding of sex differences in brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Ochi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Shyu Manabe
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takako Kikkawa
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Sara Ebrahimiazar
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Kimura
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Kaichi Yoshizaki
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
- Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Future Medical Sciences, Division of Integrated Analysis of Bioresource and Health Care, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan
- Kobe University Hospital, Bioresource Center, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Noriko Osumi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
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7
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Kumar C, Roy JK. Decoding the epigenetic mechanism of mammalian sex determination. Exp Cell Res 2024; 439:114011. [PMID: 38531506 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114011] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Sex determination embodies a dynamic and intricate developmental process wielding significant influence over the destiny of bipotential gonads, steering them towards male or female gonads. Gonadal differentiation and the postnatal manifestation of the gonadal phenotype involve a sophisticated interplay of transcription factors such as SOX9 and FOXL2. Central to this interplay are chromatin modifiers regulating the mutual antagonism during this interplay. In this review, the key findings and knowledge gaps in DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA-mediated control throughout mammalian gonadal development are covered. Furthermore, it explores the role of the developing brain in playing a pivotal role in the initiation of gonadogenesis and the subsequent involvement of gonadal hormone/hormone receptor in fine-tuning sexual differentiation. Based on promising facts, the role of the developing brain through the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis is explained and suggested as a novel hypothesis. The article also discusses the potential impact of ecological factors on the human epigenome in relation to sex determination and trans-generational epigenetics in uncovering novel genes and mechanisms involved in sex determination and gonadal differentiation. We have subtly emphasized the disruptions in epigenetic regulations contributing to sexual disorders, which further allows us to raise certain questions, decipher approaches for handling these questions and setting up the direction of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cash Kumar
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Jagat Kumar Roy
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
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8
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Lafta MS, Mwinyi J, Affatato O, Rukh G, Dang J, Andersson G, Schiöth HB. Exploring sex differences: insights into gene expression, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, cognition, and pathology. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1340108. [PMID: 38449735 PMCID: PMC10915038 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1340108] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Increased knowledge about sex differences is important for development of individualized treatments against many diseases as well as understanding behavioral and pathological differences. This review summarizes sex chromosome effects on gene expression, epigenetics, and hormones in relation to the brain. We explore neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, cognition, and brain pathology aiming to explain the current state of the art. While some domains exhibit strong differences, others reveal subtle differences whose overall significance warrants clarification. We hope that the current review increases awareness and serves as a basis for the planning of future studies that consider both sexes equally regarding similarities and differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muataz S. Lafta
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Mwinyi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Oreste Affatato
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gull Rukh
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Junhua Dang
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gerhard Andersson
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helgi B. Schiöth
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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9
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Collignon A, Dion-Albert L, Ménard C, Coelho-Santos V. Sex, hormones and cerebrovascular function: from development to disorder. Fluids Barriers CNS 2024; 21:2. [PMID: 38178239 PMCID: PMC10768274 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-023-00496-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Proper cerebrovascular development and neurogliovascular unit assembly are essential for brain growth and function throughout life, ensuring the continuous supply of nutrients and oxygen. This involves crucial events during pre- and postnatal stages through key pathways, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Wnt signaling. These pathways are pivotal for brain vascular growth, expansion, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) maturation. Interestingly, during fetal and neonatal life, cerebrovascular formation coincides with the early peak activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, supporting the idea of sex hormonal influence on cerebrovascular development and barriergenesis.Sex hormonal dysregulation in early development has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders with highly sexually dimorphic features, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both disorders show higher prevalence in men, with varying symptoms between sexes, with boys exhibiting more externalizing behaviors, such as aggressivity or hyperactivity, and girls displaying higher internalizing behaviors, including anxiety, depression, or attention disorders. Indeed, ASD and ADHD are linked to high prenatal testosterone exposure and reduced aromatase expression, potentially explaining sex differences in prevalence and symptomatology. In line with this, high estrogen levels seem to attenuate ADHD symptoms. At the cerebrovascular level, sex- and region-specific variations of cerebral blood flow perfusion have been reported in both conditions, indicating an impact of gonadal hormones on the brain vascular system, disrupting its ability to respond to neuronal demands.This review aims to provide an overview of the existing knowledge concerning the impact of sex hormones on cerebrovascular formation and maturation, as well as the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we explore the concept of gonadal hormone interactions with brain vascular and BBB development to function, with a particular focus on the modulation of VEGF and Wnt signaling. We outline how these pathways may be involved in the underpinnings of ASD and ADHD. Outstanding questions and potential avenues for future research are highlighted, as uncovering sex-specific physiological and pathological aspects of brain vascular development might lead to innovative therapeutic approaches in the context of ASD, ADHD and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Collignon
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Laurence Dion-Albert
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Caroline Ménard
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Vanessa Coelho-Santos
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Coimbra, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Institute of Physiology, Coimbra, Portugal.
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10
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Oakley RH, Riddick NV, Moy SS, Cidlowski JA. Imbalanced glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid stress hormone receptor function has sex-dependent and independent regulatory effects in the mouse hippocampus. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 28:100589. [PMID: 38075021 PMCID: PMC10709088 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Many stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders display pronounced sex differences in their frequency and clinical symptoms. Glucocorticoids are primary stress hormones that have been implicated in the development of these disorders but whether they contribute to the observed sex bias is poorly understood. Glucocorticoids signal through two closely related nuclear receptors, the glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). To elucidate the sex-specific and independent actions of glucocorticoids in the hippocampus, we developed knockout mice lacking hippocampal GR, MR, or both GR and MR. Mice deficient in hippocampal MR or both GR and MR showed an altered molecular phenotype of CA2 neurons and reduced anxiety-like behavior in both sexes, but altered stress adaptation behavior only in females and enhanced fear-motivated cue learning only in males. All three knockout mouse models displayed reduced sociability but only in male mice. Male and female mice deficient in both hippocampal GR and MR exhibited extensive neurodegeneration in the dentate gyrus. Global transcriptomic analysis revealed a marked expansion in the number of dysregulated genes in the hippocampus of female knockout mice compared to their male counterparts; however, the overall patterns of gene dysregulation were remarkably similar in both sexes. Within and across sex comparisons identified key GR and MR target genes and associated signaling pathways underlying the knockout phenotypes. These findings define major sex-dependent and independent effects of GR/MR imbalances on gene expression and functional profiles in the hippocampus and inform new strategies for treating men and women with stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H. Oakley
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Natallia V. Riddick
- Department of Psychiatry and Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sheryl S. Moy
- Department of Psychiatry and Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - John A. Cidlowski
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
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11
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Boschen KE, Dragicevich CJ, Fish EW, Hepperla AJ, Simon JM, Parnell SE. Gastrulation-stage alcohol exposure induces similar rates of craniofacial malformations in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Birth Defects Res 2024; 116:e2292. [PMID: 38116840 PMCID: PMC10872400 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2292] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure during gastrulation (embryonic day [E] 7 in mice, ~3rd week of human pregnancy) impairs eye, facial, and cortical development, recapitulating birth defects characteristic of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). However, it is not known whether the prevalence or severity of craniofacial features associated with FAS is affected by biological sex. METHODS The current study administered either alcohol (2.9 g/kg, two i.p. doses, 4 hr apart) or vehicle to pregnant C57BL/6J females on E7, prior to gonadal sex differentiation, and assessed fetal morphology at E17. RESULTS Whereas sex did not affect fetal size in controls, alcohol-exposed females were smaller than both control females and alcohol-treated males. Alcohol exposure increased the incidence of eye defects to a similar degree in males and females. Together, these data suggest that females might be more sensitive to the general developmental effects of alcohol, but not effects specific to the craniofacies. Whole transcriptomic analysis of untreated E7 embryos found 214 differentially expressed genes in females vs. males, including those in pathways related to cilia and mitochondria, histone demethylase activity, and pluripotency. CONCLUSION Gastrulation-stage alcohol induces craniofacial malformations in male and female mouse fetuses at similar rates and severity, though growth deficits are more prevalent females. These findings support the investigation of biological sex as a contributing factor in prenatal alcohol studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E. Boschen
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Constance J. Dragicevich
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eric W. Fish
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Austin J. Hepperla
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jeremy M. Simon
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Scott E. Parnell
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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12
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Szakats S, McAtamney A, Cross H, Wilson MJ. Sex-biased gene and microRNA expression in the developing mouse brain is associated with neurodevelopmental functions and neurological phenotypes. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:57. [PMID: 37679839 PMCID: PMC10486049 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00538-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences pose a challenge and an opportunity in biomedical research. Understanding how sex chromosomes and hormones affect disease-causing mechanisms will shed light on the mechanisms underlying predominantly idiopathic sex-biased neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism. Gene expression is a crucial conduit for the influence of sex on developmental processes; therefore, this study focused on sex differences in gene expression and the regulation of gene expression. The increasing interest in microRNAs (miRNAs), small, non-coding RNAs, for their contribution to normal and pathological neurodevelopment prompted us to test how miRNA expression differs between the sexes in the developing brain. METHODS High-throughput sequencing approaches were used to identify transcripts, including miRNAs, that showed significantly different expression between male and female brains on day 15.5 of development (E15.5). RESULTS Robust sex differences were identified for some genes and miRNAs, confirming the influence of biological sex on RNA. Many miRNAs that exhibit the greatest differences between males and females have established roles in neurodevelopment, implying that sex-biased expression may drive sex differences in developmental processes. In addition to highlighting sex differences for individual miRNAs, gene ontology analysis suggested several broad categories in which sex-biased RNAs might act to establish sex differences in the embryonic mouse brain. Finally, mining publicly available SNP data indicated that some sex-biased miRNAs reside near the genomic regions associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings reinforce the importance of cataloguing sex differences in molecular biology research and highlight genes, miRNAs, and pathways of interest that may be important for sexual differentiation in the mouse and possibly the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Szakats
- Developmental Genomics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Alice McAtamney
- Developmental Genomics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Hugh Cross
- Developmental Genomics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Megan J Wilson
- Developmental Genomics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
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13
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Rehmann-Sutter C, Hiort O, Krämer UM, Malich L, Spielmann M. Is sex still binary? MED GENET-BERLIN 2023; 35:173-180. [PMID: 38840819 PMCID: PMC10842549 DOI: 10.1515/medgen-2023-2039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
In this perspective article we discuss the limitations of sex as a binary concept and how it is challenged by medical developments and a better understanding of gender diversity. Recent data indicate that sex is not a simple binary classification based solely on genitalia at birth or reproductive capacity but encompasses various biological characteristics such as chromosomes, hormones, and secondary sexual characteristics. The existence of individuals with differences in sex development (DSD) who do not fit typical male or female categories further demonstrates the complexity of sex. We argue that the belief that sex is strictly binary based on gametes is insufficient, as there are multiple levels of sex beyond reproductivity. We also explore the role of sex in sex determination, gene expression, brain development, and behavioural patterns and emphasize the importance of recognizing sex diversity in personalized medicine, as sex can influence disease presentation, drug response, and treatment effectiveness. Finally, we call for an inter- and transdisciplinary approach to study sex diversity and develop new categories and methodologies that go beyond a binary model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Rehmann-Sutter
- Universität zu LübeckInstitut für Medizingeschichte und WissenschaftsforschungKönigstraße 2023552LübeckDeutschland
| | - Olaf Hiort
- Universität zu LübeckKlinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Sektion für Pädiatrische Endokrinologie und DiabetologieRatzeburger Allee 16023538LübeckDeutschland
| | - Ulrike M. Krämer
- Universität zu LübeckKlinik für NeurologieRatzeburger Allee 16023538LübeckDeutschland
| | - Lisa Malich
- Universität zu LübeckInstitut für Medizingeschichte und WissenschaftsforschungKönigstraße 2023552LübeckDeutschland
| | - Malte Spielmann
- University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck & Kiel University, Institute of Human GeneticsRatzeburger Allee 16023562LübeckDeutschland
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14
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Introduction to the special issue on neurological disorders across the female life span. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 174:105886. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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15
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The role of maternal immune activation in the immunological and neurological pathogenesis of autism. JOURNAL OF NEURORESTORATOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnrt.2022.100030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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16
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Sex differences in the human brain: a roadmap for more careful analysis and interpretation of a biological reality. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:43. [PMID: 35883159 PMCID: PMC9327177 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00448-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence, magnitude, and significance of sex differences in the human brain are hotly debated topics in the scientific community and popular media. This debate is largely fueled by studies containing strong, opposing conclusions: either little to no evidence exists for sex differences in human neuroanatomy, or there are small-to-moderate differences in the size of certain brain regions that are highly reproducible across cohorts (even after controlling for sex differences in average brain size). Our Commentary uses the specific comparison between two recent large-scale studies that adopt these opposing views-namely the review by Eliot and colleagues (2021) and the direct analysis of ~ 40k brains by Williams and colleagues (2021)-in an effort to clarify this controversy and provide a framework for conducting this research. First, we review observations that motivate research on sex differences in human neuroanatomy, including potential causes (evolutionary, genetic, and environmental) and effects (epidemiological and clinical evidence for sex-biased brain disorders). We also summarize methodological and empirical support for using structural MRI to investigate such patterns. Next, we outline how researchers focused on sex differences can better specify their study design (e.g., how sex was defined, if and how brain size was adjusted for) and results (by e.g., distinguishing sexual dimorphisms from sex differences). We then compare the different approaches available for studying sex differences across a large number of individuals: direct analysis, meta-analysis, and review. We stress that reviews do not account for methodological differences across studies, and that this variation explains many of the apparent inconsistencies reported throughout recent reviews (including the work by Eliot and colleagues). For instance, we show that amygdala volume is consistently reported as male-biased in studies with sufficient sample sizes and appropriate methods for brain size correction. In fact, comparing the results from multiple large direct analyses highlights small, highly reproducible sex differences in the volume of many brain regions (controlling for brain size). Finally, we describe best practices for the presentation and interpretation of these findings. Care in interpretation is important for all domains of science, but especially so for research on sex differences in the human brain, given the existence of broad societal gender-biases and a history of biological data being used justify sexist ideas. As such, we urge researchers to discuss their results from simultaneously scientific and anti-sexist viewpoints.
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17
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National Gender Equality and AR CAG Repeats Among Resident Males. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40806-022-00332-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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Gupta R. Gender Affirmation in India—The Current State of Knowledge, Management, Legal and Legislative Situation. Indian J Plast Surg 2022; 55:139-143. [PMID: 36017406 PMCID: PMC9398521 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1740528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A mismatch between the birth sex of a person and psychological recognition of self (gender) leads to a gender expression, which is at variance with the societal norms, and thus gives rise to gender incongruence (GI). In the past few years, there has been a significant change in demographics, understanding of etiology, management, laws and legislations in the field of GI. The authors, who have been performing gender affirmative surgeries (GAS) since the past 27 years, present their experience in gender affirmation together with the current state of knowledge. Recent studies report a significant rise in prevalence of GI, which is similar to the experience of author and other large volume Gender identity clinics in India and worldwide. This article endeavors to provide the medical professional with the current state of knowledge in the field of GI, so that they are better equipped to optimally manage these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richie Gupta
- Department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Gender Identity Clinic, Fortis Hospital, Delhi, India
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19
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Abstract
In this systematic review, we highlight the differences between the male and female zebrafish brains to understand their differentiation and their use in studying sex-specific neurological diseases. Male and female brains display subtle differences at the cellular level which may be important in driving sex-specific signaling. Sex differences in the brain have been observed in humans as well as in non-human species. However, the molecular mechanisms of brain sex differentiation remain unclear. The classical model of brain sex differentiation suggests that the steroid hormones derived from the gonads are the primary determinants in establishing male and female neural networks. Recent studies indicate that the developing brain shows sex-specific differences in gene expression prior to gonadal hormone action. Hence, genetic differences may also be responsible for differentiating the brain into male and female types. Understanding the signaling mechanisms involved in brain sex differentiation could help further elucidate the sex-specific incidences of certain neurological diseases. The zebrafish model could be appropriate for enhancing our understanding of brain sex differentiation and the signaling involved in neurological diseases. Zebrafish brains show sex-specific differences at the hormonal level, and recent advances in RNA sequencing have highlighted critical sex-specific differences at the transcript level. The differences are also evident at the cellular and metabolite levels, which could be important in organizing sex-specific neuronal signaling. Furthermore, in addition to having one ortholog for 70% of the human gene, zebrafish also shares brain structural similarities with other higher eukaryotes, including mammals. Hence, deciphering brain sex differentiation in zebrafish will help further enhance the diagnostic and pharmacological intervention of neurological diseases.
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20
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Sandberg DE, Gardner M. Differences/Disorders of Sex Development: Medical Conditions at the Intersection of Sex and Gender. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2022; 18:201-231. [PMID: 35216524 PMCID: PMC10170864 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-101412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Defined as congenital conditions in which development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomic sex is atypical, differences or disorders of sex development (DSDs) comprise many discrete diagnoses ranging from those associated with few phenotypic differences between affected and unaffected individuals to those where questions arise regarding gender of rearing, gonadal tumor risk, genital surgery, and fertility. Controversies exist in numerous areas including how DSDs are conceptualized, how to refer to the set of conditions and those affected by them, and aspects of clinical management that extend from social media to legislative bodies, courts of law, medicine, clinical practice, and scholarly research in psychology and sociology. In addition to these aspects, this review covers biological and social influences on psychosocial development and adjustment, the psychosocial and psychosexual adaptation of people born with DSDs, and roles for clinical psychologists in the clinical management of DSDs. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Volume 18 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Sandberg
- Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA;
| | - Melissa Gardner
- Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA;
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21
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Teng H, Yuan Y, Bar-Joseph Z. Clustering spatial transcriptomics data. Bioinformatics 2022; 38:997-1004. [PMID: 34623423 PMCID: PMC8796363 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Recent advancements in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques enable them to concurrently obtain information on the location and gene expression of single cells. A key question in the initial analysis of such spatial transcriptomics data is the assignment of cell types. To date, most studies used methods that only rely on the expression levels of the genes in each cell for such assignments. To fully utilize the data and to improve the ability to identify novel sub-types, we developed a new method, FICT, which combines both expression and neighborhood information when assigning cell types. RESULTS FICT optimizes a probabilistic function that we formalize and for which we provide learning and inference algorithms. We used FICT to analyze both simulated and several real spatial transcriptomics data. As we show, FICT can accurately identify cell types and sub-types, improving on expression only methods and other methods proposed for clustering spatial transcriptomics data. Some of the spatial sub-types identified by FICT provide novel hypotheses about the new functions for excitatory and inhibitory neurons. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION FICT is available at: https://github.com/haotianteng/FICT. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Teng
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ye Yuan
- Institute of Image Processing and Pattern Recognition, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ziv Bar-Joseph
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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22
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Shen X, Yan H, Jiang J, Li W, Xiong Y, Liu Q, Liu Y. Profile of gene expression changes during estrodiol-17β-induced feminization in the Takifugu rubripes brain. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:851. [PMID: 34819041 PMCID: PMC8614003 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08158-0] [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: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As the critical tissue of the central nervous system, the brain has been found to be involved in gonad development. Previous studies have suggested that gonadal fate may be affected by the brain. Identifying brain-specific molecular changes that occur during estrodiol-17β (E2) -induced feminization is crucial to our understanding of the molecular control of sex differentiation by the brains of fish. Results In this study, the differential transcriptomic responses of the Takifugu rubripes larvae brain were compared after E2 treatment for 55 days. Our results showed that 514 genes were differentially expressed between E2-treated-XX (E-XX) and Control-XX (C-XX) T. rubripes, while 362 genes were differentially expressed between E2-treated-XY (E-XY) and Control-XY (C-XY). For example, the expression of cyp19a1b, gnrh1 and pgr was significantly up-regulated, while st, sl, tshβ, prl and pit-1, which belong to the growth hormone/prolactin family, were significantly down-regulated after E2 treatment, in both sexes. The arntl1, bhlbe, nr1d2, per1b, per3, cry1, cipc and ciart genes, which are involved in the circadian rhythm, were also found to be altered. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were identified between E-XX and C-XX, were significantly enriched in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, arachidonic acid metabolism, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and the calcium signaling pathway. The DEGs that were identified between E-XY and C-XY were significantly enriched in tyrosine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism. Conclusion A number of genes and pathways were identified in the brain of E2-treated T. rubripes larvae by RNA-seq. It provided the opportunity for further study on the possible involvement of networks in the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis in sex differentiation in T. rubripes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-08158-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufang Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116029, Liaoning, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Hongwei Yan
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China.
| | - Jieming Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian, 116023, China.,College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China
| | - Weiyuan Li
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuyu Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian, 116023, China.,College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China
| | - Qi Liu
- College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China.
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian, 116023, China.,College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China
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23
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Sumien N, Cunningham JT, Davis DL, Engelland R, Fadeyibi O, Farmer GE, Mabry S, Mensah-Kane P, Trinh OTP, Vann PH, Wilson EN, Cunningham RL. Neurodegenerative Disease: Roles for Sex, Hormones, and Oxidative Stress. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6360925. [PMID: 34467976 PMCID: PMC8462383 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases cause severe impairments in cognitive and motor function. With an increasing aging population and the onset of these diseases between 50 and 70 years, the consequences are bound to be devastating. While age and longevity are the main risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, sex is also an important risk factor. The characteristic of sex is multifaceted, encompassing sex chromosome complement, sex hormones (estrogens and androgens), and sex hormone receptors. Sex hormone receptors can induce various signaling cascades, ranging from genomic transcription to intracellular signaling pathways that are dependent on the health of the cell. Oxidative stress, associated with aging, can impact the health of the cell. Sex hormones can be neuroprotective under low oxidative stress conditions but not in high oxidative stress conditions. An understudied sex hormone receptor that can induce activation of oxidative stress signaling is the membrane androgen receptor (mAR). mAR can mediate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX)-generated oxidative stress that is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease. Further complicating this is that aging can alter sex hormone signaling. Prior to menopause, women experience more estrogens than androgens. During menopause, this sex hormone profile switches in women due to the dramatic ovarian loss of 17β-estradiol with maintained ovarian androgen (testosterone, androstenedione) production. Indeed, aging men have higher estrogens than aging women due to aromatization of androgens to estrogens. Therefore, higher activation of mAR-NOX signaling could occur in menopausal women compared with aged men, mediating the observed sex differences. Understanding of these signaling cascades could provide therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Sumien
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Center for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - J Thomas Cunningham
- Department of Physiology & Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Delaney L Davis
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Center for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Rachel Engelland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Oluwadarasimi Fadeyibi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - George E Farmer
- Department of Physiology & Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Steve Mabry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Paapa Mensah-Kane
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Center for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Oanh T P Trinh
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Center for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Philip H Vann
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Center for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - E Nicole Wilson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Rebecca L Cunningham
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
- Correspondence: Rebecca L. Cunningham, PhD, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3400 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, USA, 76107-2699.
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24
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Dopamine D2 receptor overexpression in the nucleus accumbens core induces robust weight loss during scheduled fasting selectively in female mice. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3765-3777. [PMID: 31863019 PMCID: PMC7305037 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0633-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder observed predominantly in women and girls that is characterized by a low body-mass index, hypophagia, and hyperactivity. Activity-based anorexia (ABA), which refers to the weight loss, hypophagia, and hyperactivity exhibited by rodents exposed to both running wheels and scheduled fasting, provides a model for aspects of AN. Increased dopamine D2/D3 receptor binding in the anteroventral striatum has been reported in AN patients. We virally overexpressed D2Rs on nucleus accumbens core (D2R-OENAc) neurons that endogenously express D2Rs, and tested mice of both sexes in the open field test, ABA paradigm, and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IGTT). D2R-OENAc did not alter baseline body weight, but increased locomotor activity in the open field across both sexes. During constant access to food and running wheels, D2R-OENAc mice of both sexes increased food intake and ran more than controls. However, when food was available only 7 h a day, only female D2R-OENAc mice rapidly lost 25% of their initial body weight, reduced food intake, and substantially increased wheel running. Surprisingly, female D2R-OENAc mice also rapidly lost 25% of their initial body weight during scheduled fasting without wheel access and showed no changes in food intake. In contrast, male D2R-OENAc mice maintained body weight during scheduled fasting. D2R-OENAc mice of both sexes also showed glucose intolerance in the IGTT. In conclusion, D2R-OENAc alters glucose metabolism in both sexes but drives robust weight loss only in females during scheduled fasting, implicating metabolic mechanisms in this sexually dimorphic effect.
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25
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Prieto M, Folci A, Poupon G, Schiavi S, Buzzelli V, Pronot M, François U, Pousinha P, Lattuada N, Abelanet S, Castagnola S, Chafai M, Khayachi A, Gwizdek C, Brau F, Deval E, Francolini M, Bardoni B, Humeau Y, Trezza V, Martin S. Missense mutation of Fmr1 results in impaired AMPAR-mediated plasticity and socio-cognitive deficits in mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1557. [PMID: 33692361 PMCID: PMC7946954 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21820-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent form of inherited intellectual disability and the best-described monogenic cause of autism. CGG-repeat expansion in the FMR1 gene leads to FMR1 silencing, loss-of-expression of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), and is a common cause of FXS. Missense mutations in the FMR1 gene were also identified in FXS patients, including the recurrent FMRP-R138Q mutation. To investigate the mechanisms underlying FXS caused by this mutation, we generated a knock-in mouse model (Fmr1R138Q) expressing the FMRP-R138Q protein. We demonstrate that, in the hippocampus of the Fmr1R138Q mice, neurons show an increased spine density associated with synaptic ultrastructural defects and increased AMPA receptor-surface expression. Combining biochemical assays, high-resolution imaging, electrophysiological recordings, and behavioural testing, we also show that the R138Q mutation results in impaired hippocampal long-term potentiation and socio-cognitive deficits in mice. These findings reveal the functional impact of the FMRP-R138Q mutation in a mouse model of FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Prieto
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Marie Pronot
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | | | | | - Norma Lattuada
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dept. of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Magda Chafai
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | | | | | - Frédéric Brau
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | | | - Maura Francolini
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dept. of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Bardoni
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France
| | - Yann Humeau
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IINS, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Stéphane Martin
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, CNRS, IPMC, Valbonne, France.
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Nalvarte I, Varshney M, Inzunza J, Gustafsson JÅ. Estrogen receptor beta and neural development. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2021; 116:313-326. [PMID: 33752823 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2021.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The female sex hormone estradiol (E2, 17β-estradiol) has important functions in the developing brain. In addition to regulating sexual differentiation of the brain, E2 participates in the development of brain areas involved in functions unrelated to reproduction, such as cognition. E2 signals mainly thorough two estrogen receptors; estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ). While ERα has distinct functions for sexual imprinting of the developing brain, ERβ is considered to participate in the development of brain areas related to cognitive function. In this chapter we will focus on ERβ's role during neural development. We will discuss the contributions of sex chromosomal and sex hormonal effects in this process and place it in relation to recent data on ERβ obtained from stem cell models. Finally, we will discuss the lessons learned from mouse and stem cell models in understanding ERβ's role in neural development and how new stem cell models, by addressing the human relevance, may help to advance our progress in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Nalvarte
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
| | - Mukesh Varshney
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jose Inzunza
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jan-Åke Gustafsson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden; Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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27
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Salzberg Y, Gat A, Oren-Suissa M. One template, two outcomes: How does the sex-shared nervous system generate sex-specific behaviors? Curr Top Dev Biol 2020; 144:245-268. [PMID: 33992155 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Sex-specific behaviors are common in nature and are crucial for reproductive fitness and species survival. A key question in the field of sex/gender neurobiology is whether and to what degree the sex-shared nervous system differs between the sexes in the anatomy, connectivity and molecular identity of its components. An equally intriguing issue is how does the same sex-shared neuronal template diverge to mediate distinct behavioral outputs in females and males. This chapter aims to present the most up-to-date understanding of how this task is achieved in C. elegans. The vast majority of neurons in C. elegans are shared among the two sexes in terms of their lineage history, anatomical position and neuronal identity. Yet a substantial amount of evidence points to the hermaphrodite-male counterparts of some neurons expressing different genes and forming different synaptic connections. This, in turn, enables the same cells and circuits to transmit discrete signals in the two sexes and ultimately execute different functions. We review the various sex-shared behavioral paradigms that have been shown to be sexually dimorphic in recent years, discuss the mechanisms that underlie these examples, refer to the developmental regulation of neuronal dimorphism and suggest evolutionary concepts that emerge from the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehuda Salzberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Asaf Gat
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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28
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Ajoolabady A, Aslkhodapasandhokmabad H, Aghanejad A, Zhang Y, Ren J. Mitophagy Receptors and Mediators: Therapeutic Targets in the Management of Cardiovascular Ageing. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 62:101129. [PMID: 32711157 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mitophagy serves as a cardinal regulator in the maintenance of mitochondrial integrity, function, and cardiovascular homeostasis, through the fine control and governance of cellular metabolism, ATP production, redox balance, and mitochondrial quality and quantity control. As a unique form of selective autophagy, mitophagy specifically recognizes and engulfs long-lived or damaged (depolarized) mitochondria through formation of the double-membraned intracellular organelles - mitophagosomes, ultimately resulting in lysosomal degradation. Levels of mitophagy are reported to be altered in pathological settings including cardiovascular diseases and biological ageing although the precise nature of mitophagy change in ageing and ageing-associated cardiovascular deterioration remains poorly defined. Ample clinical and experimental evidence has depicted a convincing tie between cardiovascular ageing and altered mitophagy. In particular, ageing perturbs multiple enigmatic various signal machineries governing mitophagy, mitochondrial quality, and mitochondrial function, contributing to ageing-elicited anomalies in the cardiovascular system. This review will update novel regulatory mechanisms of mitophagy especially in the perspective of advanced ageing, and discuss how mitophagy dysregulation may be linked to cardiovascular abnormalities in ageing. We hope to pave the way for development of new therapeutic strategies against the growing health and socieconomical issue of cardiovascular ageing through targeting mitophagy.
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29
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Shu T, Zhai G, Pradhan A, Olsson PE, Yin Z. Zebrafish cyp17a1 knockout reveals that androgen-mediated signaling is important for male brain sex differentiation. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 295:113490. [PMID: 32283058 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Brain sex differentiation is a complex process, wherein genes and steroid hormones act to induce specific gender brain differentiation. Testosterone (T) derived from the gonads has been linked to neural circuit modeling in a sex-specific manner. Previously, we have shown that cyp17a1 knockout (KO) zebrafish have low plasma androgen levels, and display compromised male-typical mating behaviors. In this study, we demonstrated that treatment of cyp17a1 KO males with T or 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) is sufficient to rescue mating impairment by restoring the male-typical secondary sex characters (SSCs) and mating behaviors, confirming an essential role of androgen in maintaining SSCs and mating behaviors. Brain steroid hormone analysis revealed that cyp17a1 KO fish have reduced levels of T and 11-KT. We performed RNA sequencing on brain samples of control and cyp17a1 KO male zebrafish to get insights regarding the impact of cyp17a1 KO on gene expression pattern, and to correlate it with the observed disruption of male-typical mating behaviors. Transcriptome analysis of cyp17a1 KO males showed a differential gene expression when compared to control males. In total, 358 genes were differentially regulated between control males and KO males. Important genes including brain aromatase (cyp19a1b), progesterone receptor (pgr), deiodinase (dio2), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (igf1) that are involved in brain functions, as well as androgen response genes including igf1, frem1a, elovl1a, pax3a, mmp13b, hsc70, ogg1 were regulated. RT-qPCR analysis following rescue of cyp17a1 KO with T and 11-KT further suggested that androgen-mediated signaling is disrupted in the cyp17a1 KO fish. Our results indicated that cyp17a1 KO fish have an incomplete masculinization and altered brain gene expression, which could be due to decreased androgen levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Gang Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ajay Pradhan
- The Life Science Center, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Per-Erik Olsson
- The Life Science Center, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Zhan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
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30
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Torromino G, Maggi A, De Leonibus E. Estrogen-dependent hippocampal wiring as a risk factor for age-related dementia in women. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 197:101895. [PMID: 32781107 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Women are more prone than men to develop age-related dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). This has been linked to the marked decrease in circulating estrogens during menopause. This review proposes to change this perspective and consider women's vulnerability to developing AD as a consequence of sex differences in the neurobiology of memory, focusing on the hippocampus. The hippocampus of cognitively impaired subjects tends to shrink with age; however, in many cases, this can be prevented by exercise or cognitive training, suggesting that if you do not use the hippocampus you lose it. We will review the developmental trajectory of sex steroids-regulated differences on the hippocampus, proposing that the overall shaping action of sex-steroids results in a lower usage of the hippocampus in females, which in turn makes them more vulnerable to the effects of ageing, the "network fragility hypothesis". To explain why women rely less on hippocampus-dependent strategies, we propose a "computational hypothesis" that is based on experimental evidence suggesting that the direct effects of estrogens on hippocampal synaptic and structural plasticity during the estrous-cycle confers instability to the memory-dependent hippocampal network. Finally, we propose to counteract AD with training and/or treatments, such as orienteering, which specifically favour the use of the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Torromino
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Telethon Foundation, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy; Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Maggi
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Elvira De Leonibus
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Telethon Foundation, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy; Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
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31
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Balthazart J. Sexual partner preference in animals and humans. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 115:34-47. [PMID: 32450091 PMCID: PMC7484171 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in brain and behavior of animals including humans result from an interaction between biological and environmental influences. This is also true for the differences between men and women concerning sexual orientation. Sexual differentiation is mediated by three groups of biological mechanisms: early actions of sex steroids, more direct actions of sex-specific genes not mediated by gonadal sex steroids and epigenetic mechanisms. Differential interactions with parents and conspecifics have additionally long-term influences on behavior. This presentation reviews available evidence indicating that these different mechanisms play a significant role in the control of sexual partner preference in animals and humans, in other words the homosexual versus heterosexual orientation. Clinical and epidemiological studies of phenotypically selected populations indicate that early actions of hormones and genetic factors clearly contribute to the determination of sexual orientation. The maternal embryonic environment also modifies the incidence of male homosexuality via immunological mechanisms. The relative contribution of each of these mechanisms remains however to be determined.
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32
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Massa MG, Correa SM. Sexes on the brain: Sex as multiple biological variables in the neuronal control of feeding. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165840. [PMID: 32428559 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal interactions at the level of vagal, homeostatic, and hedonic circuitry work to regulate the neuronal control of feeding. This integrative system appears to vary across sex and gender in the animal and human worlds. Most feeding research investigating these variations across sex and gender focus on how the organizational and activational mechanisms of hormones contribute to these differences. However, in limited studies spanning both the central and peripheral nervous systems, sex differences in feeding have been shown to manifest not just at the level of the hormonal, but also at the chromosomal, epigenetic, cellular, and even circuitry levels to alter food intake. In this review, we provide a brief orientation to the current understanding of how these neuronal systems interact before dissecting selected studies from the recent literature to exemplify how feeding physiology at all levels can be affected by the various components of sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan G Massa
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America; Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America; Neuroscience Interdepartmental Doctoral Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
| | - Stephanie M Correa
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America; Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
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33
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Microglial and Astrocytic Function in Physiological and Pathological Conditions: Estrogenic Modulation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093219. [PMID: 32370112 PMCID: PMC7247358 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There are sexual differences in the onset, prevalence, and outcome of numerous neurological diseases. Thus, in Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and major depression disorder, the incidence in women is higher than in men. In contrast, men are more likely to present other pathologies, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and autism spectrum. Although the neurological contribution to these diseases has classically always been studied, the truth is that neurons are not the only cells to be affected, and there are other cells, such as glial cells, that are also involved and could be key to understanding the development of these pathologies. Sexual differences exist not only in pathology but also in physiological processes, which shows how cells are differentially regulated in males and females. One of the reasons these sexual differences may occur could be due to the different action of sex hormones. Many studies have shown an increase in aromatase levels in the brain, which could indicate the main role of estrogens in modulating proinflammatory processes. This review will highlight data about sex differences in glial physiology and how estrogenic compounds, such as estradiol and tibolone, could be used as treatment in neurological diseases due to their anti-inflammatory effects and the ability to modulate glial cell functions.
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34
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McCarthy MM. A new view of sexual differentiation of mammalian brain. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2020; 206:369-378. [PMID: 31705197 PMCID: PMC7196030 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01376-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Establishment of enduring sex differences in brain and behavior occurs during pre- or perinatal development, depending on species. For over 50 years the focus has been on gonadal steroid production by male fetuses and the impact on developing brain. An increasing awareness of the importance of sex chromosome complement has broadened the focus but identifying specific roles in development has yet to be achieved. Recent emphasis on transcriptomics has revealed myriad and unexpected differences in gene expression in specific regions of male and female brains which may produce sex differences, serve a compensatory role or provide latent sex differences revealed only in response to challenge. More surprising, however, has been the consistent observation of a central role for inflammatory signaling molecules and immune cells in masculinization of brain and behavior. The signal transduction pathways and specific immune cells vary by brain region, as does the neuroanatomical substrate subject to differentiation, reflecting substantial complexity emerging from what may be a common origin, the maternal immune system. A working hypothesis integrating these various ideas is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, MD, Baltimore, USA.
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35
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Inhibiting the interaction between apoptosis-inducing factor and cyclophilin A prevents brain injury in neonatal mice after hypoxia-ischemia. Neuropharmacology 2020; 171:108088. [PMID: 32277944 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The interaction between apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and cyclophilin A (CypA) has been shown to contribute to caspase-independent apoptosis. Blocking the AIF/CypA interaction protects against glutamate-induced neuronal cell death in vitro, and the purpose of this study was to determine the in vivo effect of an AIF/CypA interaction blocking peptide (AIF(370-394)-TAT) on neonatal mouse brain injury after hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The pups were treated with AIF (370-394)-TAT peptide intranasally prior to HI. Brain injury was significantly reduced at 72 h after HI in the AIF(370-394)-TAT peptide treatment group compared to vehicle-only treatment for both the gray matter and the subcortical white matter, and the neuroprotection was more pronounced in males than in females. Neuronal cell death was evaluated in males at 8 h and 24 h post-HI, and it was decreased significantly in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and the nucleus habenularis region after AIF(370-394)-TAT treatment. Caspase-independent apoptosis was decreased in the cortex, striatum, and nucleus habenularis after AIF(370-394)-TAT treatment, but no significant change was found on caspase-dependent apoptosis as indicated by the number of active caspase-3-labeled cells. Further analysis showed that both AIF and CypA nuclear accumulation were decreased after treatment with the AIF(370-394)-TAT peptide. These results suggest that AIF(370-394)-TAT inhibited AIF/CypA translocation to the nucleus and reduced HI-induced caspase-independent apoptosis and brain injury in young male mice, suggesting that blocking AIF/CypA might be a potential therapeutic target for neonatal brain injury.
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36
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Arnold AP. Sexual differentiation of brain and other tissues: Five questions for the next 50 years. Horm Behav 2020; 120:104691. [PMID: 31991182 PMCID: PMC7440839 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This paper is part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of founding of the journal Hormones and Behavior, the official journal of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. All sex differences in phenotypic development stem from the sexual imbalance in X and Y chromosomes, which are the only known differences in XX and XY zygotes. The sex chromosome genes act within cells to cause differences in phenotypes of XX and XY cells throughout the body. In the gonad, they determine the type of gonad, leading to differences in secretion of testicular vs. ovarian hormones, which cause further sex differences in tissue function. These current ideas of sexual differentiation are briefly contrasted with a hormones-only view of sexual differentiation of the last century. The multiple, independent action of diverse sex-biasing agents means that sex-biased factors can be synergistic, increasing sex differences, or compensatory, making the two sexes more equal. Several animal models have been fruitful in demonstrating sex chromosome effects, and interactions with gonadal hormones. MRI studies of human brains demonstrate variation in brain structure associated with both differences in gonadal hormones, and in the number of X and Y chromosomes. Five unanswered questions are posed as a challenge to future investigators to improve understanding of sexual differentiation throughout the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur P Arnold
- Department Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America.
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37
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Shen X, Yan H, Zhang L, Yuan Z, Liu W, Wu Y, Liu Q, Luo X, Liu Y. Transcriptomic analyses reveal novel genes with sexually dimorphic expression in Takifugu rubripes brain during gonadal sex differentiation. Genes Genomics 2020; 42:425-439. [DOI: 10.1007/s13258-019-00914-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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38
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Selected microRNAs Increase Synaptic Resilience to the Damaging Binding of the Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid Beta Oligomers. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:2232-2243. [PMID: 31997075 PMCID: PMC7170988 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-01868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is marked by synaptic loss (at early stages) and neuronal death (at late stages). Amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau oligomers can target and disrupt synapses thus driving cognitive decay. Non-demented individuals with Alzheimer’s neuropathology (NDAN) are capable of withstanding Aβ and tau toxicity, thus remaining cognitively intact despite presence of AD neuropathology. Understanding the involved mechanism(s) would lead to development of novel effective therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting synaptic resilience to amyloid toxicity. NDAN have a unique hippocampal post-synaptic proteome when compared with AD and control individuals. Potential upstream modulators of such unique proteomic profile are miRNA-485, miRNA-4723 and miRNA-149, which we found differentially expressed in AD and NDAN vs. control. We thus hypothesized that these miRNAs play an important role in promoting either synaptic resistance or sensitization to Aβ oligomer binding. Using an in vivo mouse model, we found that administration of these miRNAs affected key synaptic genes and significantly decreased Aβ binding to the synapses. Our findings suggest that miRNA regulation and homeostasis are crucial for Aβ interaction with synaptic terminals and support that a unique miRNA regulation could be driving synaptic resistance to Aβ toxicity in NDAN, thus contributing to their preserved cognitive abilities.
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Sigurdardottir HL, Lanzenberger R, Kranz GS. Genetics of sex differences in neuroanatomy and function. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 175:179-193. [PMID: 33008524 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00013-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences are observed at many distinct biologic levels, such as in the anatomy and functioning of the brain, behavior, and susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders. Previously, these differences were believed to entirely result from the secretion of gonadal hormones; however, recent research has demonstrated that differences are also the consequence of direct or nonhormonal effects of genes located on the sex chromosomes. This chapter reviews the four core genotype model that separates the effects of hormones and sex chromosomes and highlights a few genes that are believed to be partly responsible for sex dimorphism of the brain, in particular, the Sry gene. Genetics of the brain's neurochemistry is discussed and the susceptibility to certain neurologic and psychiatric disorders is reviewed. Lastly, we discuss the sex-specific genetic contribution in disorders of sexual development. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying these differences are currently not entirely known. An increased knowledge and understanding of the role of candidate genes will undeniably be of great aid in elucidating the molecular basis of sex-biased disorders and potentially allow for more sex-specific therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen L Sigurdardottir
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg S Kranz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China; The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
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40
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Zou Y, Wu Z, Fan Z, Liang D, Wang L, Song Z, You F. Analyses of mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq of the brain reveal the sex differences of gene expression and regulation before and during gonadal differentiation in 17β-estradiol or 17α-methyltestosterone-induced olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 87:78-90. [PMID: 31788912 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is a commercially important flatfish species cultured in East Asia. Female flounders generally grow more rapidly than males, therefore control of the sex ratio seems to be a proposed way to increase production. However, the sex determination gene and sex determination mechanism have yet been elucidated. The brain is an important organ that is involved in gonadal development. To explore the sex differences of gene expression in the brain before and during the flounder gonadal differentiation, we used messenger RNA (mRNA)-seq technology to investigate transcriptomes of male and female brains. Between female and male brains, 103 genes were differentially expressed before ovarian differentiation, 16 genes were differentially expressed before testicular differentiation, and 64 genes were differentially expressed during gonadal differentiation. According to annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes information, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in circadian rhythm, circadian rhythm-fly, circadian entrainment, dopaminergic synapse, calcium signaling, glutamatergic synapse, taste transduction, herpes simplex infection, long-term depression, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, and the synaptic vesicle cycle pathways. MicroRNA (miRNA)-seq was performed during the gonadal differentiation and the target genes of miRNAs were predicted. Integrated analysis of mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq showed that 29 of the 64 DEGs were regulated by the differentially expressed miRNAs during the gonadal differentiation. Our study provides a basis for further studies of brain sex differentiation and the molecular mechanism of sex determination in olive flounder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxia Zou
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhihao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhaofei Fan
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,College of Earth Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dongdong Liang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,College of Earth Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Zongcheng Song
- Shenghang Aquatic Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Weihai, China
| | - Feng You
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
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41
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Guneykaya D, Ivanov A, Hernandez DP, Haage V, Wojtas B, Meyer N, Maricos M, Jordan P, Buonfiglioli A, Gielniewski B, Ochocka N, Cömert C, Friedrich C, Artiles LS, Kaminska B, Mertins P, Beule D, Kettenmann H, Wolf SA. Transcriptional and Translational Differences of Microglia from Male and Female Brains. Cell Rep 2019; 24:2773-2783.e6. [PMID: 30184509 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 292] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in brain structure and function are of substantial scientific interest because of sex-related susceptibility to psychiatric and neurological disorders. Neuroinflammation is a common denominator of many of these diseases, and thus microglia, as the brain's immunocompetent cells, have come into focus in sex-specific studies. Here, we show differences in the structure, function, and transcriptomic and proteomic profiles in microglia freshly isolated from male and female mouse brains. We show that male microglia are more frequent in specific brain areas, have a higher antigen-presenting capacity, and appear to have a higher potential to respond to stimuli such as ATP, reflected in higher baseline outward and inward currents and higher protein expression of purinergic receptors. Altogether, we provide a comprehensive resource to generate and validate hypotheses regarding brain sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilansu Guneykaya
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andranik Ivanov
- Core Unit Bioinformatics, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany; Charité-Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Perez Hernandez
- Proteomics Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Haage
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bartosz Wojtas
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Niklas Meyer
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Meron Maricos
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Jordan
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alice Buonfiglioli
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bartlomiej Gielniewski
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Ochocka
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Cagla Cömert
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Corinna Friedrich
- Proteomics Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lorena Suarez Artiles
- Proteomics Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bozena Kaminska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Philipp Mertins
- Proteomics Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dieter Beule
- Core Unit Bioinformatics, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany; Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helmut Kettenmann
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne A Wolf
- Cellular Neurocience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
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42
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Leitner N, Ben-Shahar Y. The neurogenetics of sexually dimorphic behaviors from a postdevelopmental perspective. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 19:e12623. [PMID: 31674725 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Most sexually reproducing animal species are characterized by two morphologically and behaviorally distinct sexes. The genetic, molecular and cellular processes that produce sexual dimorphisms are phylogenetically diverse, though in most cases they are thought to occur early in development. In some species, however, sexual dimorphisms are manifested after development is complete, suggesting the intriguing hypothesis that sex, more generally, might be considered a continuous trait that is influenced by both developmental and postdevelopmental processes. Here, we explore how biological sex is defined at the genetic, neuronal and behavioral levels, its effects on neuronal development and function, and how it might lead to sexually dimorphic behavioral traits in health and disease. We also propose a unifying framework for understanding neuronal and behavioral sexual dimorphisms in the context of both developmental and postdevelopmental, physiological timescales. Together, these two temporally separate processes might drive sex-specific neuronal functions in sexually mature adults, particularly as it pertains to behavior in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Leitner
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Yehuda Ben-Shahar
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
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43
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VanRyzin JW, Marquardt AE, Pickett LA, McCarthy MM. Microglia and sexual differentiation of the developing brain: A focus on extrinsic factors. Glia 2019; 68:1100-1113. [PMID: 31691400 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain, have recently been removed from the position of mere sentinels and promoted to the role of active sculptors of developing circuits and cells. Alongside their functions in normal brain development, microglia coordinate sexual differentiation of the brain, a set of processes which vary by region and endpoint like that of microglia function itself. In this review, we highlight the ways microglia are both targets and drivers of brain sexual differentiation. We examine the factors that may drive sex differences in microglia, with a special focus on how changing microenvironments in the developing brain dictate microglia phenotypes and discuss how their diverse functions sculpt lasting sex-specific changes in the brain. Finally, we consider how sex-specific early life environments contribute to epigenetic programming and lasting sex differences in microglia identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W VanRyzin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ashley E Marquardt
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Lindsay A Pickett
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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44
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Lee SLJ, Horsfield JA, Black MA, Rutherford K, Gemmell NJ. Identification of sex differences in zebrafish (Danio rerio) brains during early sexual differentiation and masculinization using 17α-methyltestoterone. Biol Reprod 2019; 99:446-460. [PMID: 29272338 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual behavior in teleost fish is highly plastic. It can be attributed to the relatively few sex differences found in adult brain transcriptomes. Environmental and hormonal factors can influence sex-specific behavior. Androgen treatment stimulates behavioral masculinization. Sex dimorphic gene expression in developing teleost brains and the molecular basis for androgen-induced behavioral masculinization are poorly understood. In this study, juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) were treated with 100 ng/L of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone (MT) during sexual development from 20 days post fertilization to 40 days and 60 days post fertilization. We compared brain gene expression patterns in MT-treated zebrafish with control males and females using RNA-Seq to shed light on the dynamic changes in brain gene expression during sexual development and how androgens affect brain gene expression leading to behavior masculinization. We found modest differences in gene expression between juvenile male and female zebrafish brains. Brain aromatase (cyp19a1b), prostaglandin 3a synthase (ptges3a), and prostaglandin reductase 1 (ptgr1) were among the genes with sexually dimorphic expression patterns. MT treatment significantly altered gene expression relative to both male and female brains. Fewer differences were found among MT-treated brains and male brains compared to female brains, particularly at 60 dpf. MT treatment upregulated the expression of hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase 2 (hsd11b2), deiodinase, iodothyronine, type II (dio2), and gonadotrophin releasing hormones (GnRH) 2 and 3 (gnrh2 and gnrh3) suggesting local synthesis of 11-ketotestosterone, triiodothyronine, and GnRHs in zebrafish brains which are influenced by androgens. Androgen, estrogen, prostaglandin, thyroid hormone, and GnRH signaling pathways likely interact to modulate teleost sexual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L J Lee
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Julia A Horsfield
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Michael A Black
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Kim Rutherford
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
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45
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Johansson MM, Pottmeier P, Suciu P, Ahmad T, Zaghlool A, Halvardson J, Darj E, Feuk L, Peuckert C, Jazin E. Novel Y-Chromosome Long Non-Coding RNAs Expressed in Human Male CNS During Early Development. Front Genet 2019; 10:891. [PMID: 31608120 PMCID: PMC6769107 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Global microarray gene expression analyses previously demonstrated differences in female and male embryos during neurodevelopment. In particular, before sexual maturation of the gonads, the differences seem to concentrate on the expression of genes encoded on the X- and Y-chromosomes. To investigate genome-wide differences in expression during this early developmental window, we combined high-resolution RNA sequencing with qPCR to analyze brain samples from human embryos during the first trimester of development. Our analysis was tailored for maximum sensitivity to discover Y-chromosome gene expression, but at the same time, it was underpowered to detect X-inactivation escapees. Using this approach, we found that 5 out of 13 expressed gametolog pairs showed unbalanced gene dosage, and as a consequence, a male-biased expression. In addition, we found six novel non-annotated long non-coding RNAs on the Y-chromosome with conserved expression patterns in newborn chimpanzee. The tissue specific and time-restricted expression of these long non-coding RNAs strongly suggests important functions during central nervous system development in human males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin M Johansson
- Department of Organismal Biology, EBC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Philipp Pottmeier
- Department of Organismal Biology, EBC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pascalina Suciu
- Department of Organismal Biology, EBC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tauseef Ahmad
- Department of Organismal Biology, EBC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ammar Zaghlool
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonatan Halvardson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elisabeth Darj
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health (IMCH), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Lars Feuk
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christiane Peuckert
- Department of Organismal Biology, EBC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Molecular Biology, Stockholms University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elena Jazin
- Department of Organismal Biology, EBC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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46
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Deegan DF, Engel N. Sexual Dimorphism in the Age of Genomics: How, When, Where. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:186. [PMID: 31552249 PMCID: PMC6743004 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, sex chromosomes start to program autosomal gene expression and epigenetic patterns very soon after fertilization. Yet whether the resulting sex differences are perpetuated throughout development and how they connect to the sex-specific expression patterns in adult tissues is not known. There is a dearth of information on the timing and continuity of sex biases during development. It is also unclear whether sex-specific selection operates during embryogenesis. On the other hand, there is mounting evidence that all adult tissues exhibit sex-specific expression patterns, some of which are independent of hormonal influence and due to intrinsic regulatory effects of the sex chromosome constitution. There are many diseases with origins during embryogenesis that also exhibit sex biases. Epigenetics has provided us with viable mechanisms to explain how the genome stores the memory of developmental events. We propose that some of these marks can be traced back to the sex chromosomes, which interact with the autosomes and establish sex-specific epigenetic features soon after fertilization. Sex-biased epigenetic marks that linger after reprograming may reveal themselves at the transcriptional level at later developmental stages and possibly, throughout the lifespan. Detailed molecular information on the ontogeny of sex biases would also elucidate the sex-specific selective pressures operating on embryos and how compensatory mechanisms evolved to resolve sexual conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nora Engel
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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47
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Tahira AC, Barbosa AR, Feltrin AS, Gastaldi VD, de Toledo VHC, de Carvalho Pereira JG, Lisboa BCG, de Souza Reis VN, dos Santos ACF, Maschietto M, Brentani H. Putative contributions of the sex chromosome proteins SOX3 and SRY to neurodevelopmental disorders. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2019; 180:390-414. [PMID: 30537354 PMCID: PMC6767407 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The male-biased prevalence of certain neurodevelopmental disorders and the sex-biased outcomes associated with stress exposure during gestation have been previously described. Here, we hypothesized that genes distinctively targeted by only one or both homologous proteins highly conserved across therian mammals, SOX3 and SRY, could induce sexual adaptive changes that result in a differential risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. ChIP-seq/chip data showed that SOX3/SRY gene targets were expressed in different brain cell types in mice. We used orthologous human genes in rodent genomes to extend the number of SOX3/SRY set (1,721). These genes were later found to be enriched in five modules of coexpressed genes during the early and mid-gestation periods (FDR < 0.05), independent of sexual hormones. Genes with differential expression (24, p < 0.0001) and methylation (40, p < 0.047) between sexes were overrepresented in this set. Exclusive SOX3 or SRY target genes were more associated with the late gestational and postnatal periods. Using autism as a model sex-biased disorder, the SOX3/SRY set was enriched in autism gene databases (FDR ≤ 0.05), and there were more de novo variations from the male autism spectrum disorder (ASD) samples under the SRY peaks compared to the random peaks (p < 0.024). The comparison of coexpressed networks of SOX3/SRY target genes between male autism and control samples revealed low preservation in gene modules related to stress response (99 genes) and neurogenesis (78 genes). This study provides evidence that while SOX3 is a regulatory mechanism for both sexes, the male-exclusive SRY also plays a role in gene regulation, suggesting a potential mechanism for sex bias in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Tahira
- LIM23, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao PauloSao PauloSPBrazil
| | - André Rocha Barbosa
- LIM23, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao PauloSao PauloSPBrazil
- Inter‐institutional Grad Program on BioinformaticsUniversity of São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
| | | | - Vinicius Daguano Gastaldi
- LIM23, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao PauloSao PauloSPBrazil
| | - Victor Hugo Calegari de Toledo
- LIM23, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao PauloSao PauloSPBrazil
| | | | - Bianca Cristina Garcia Lisboa
- LIM23, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao PauloSao PauloSPBrazil
| | - Viviane Neri de Souza Reis
- LIM23, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao PauloSao PauloSPBrazil
| | - Ana Cecília Feio dos Santos
- LIM23, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao PauloSao PauloSPBrazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Básicas em Malária – EntomologiaSeção de Parasitologia – Instituto Evandro Chagas/SVS/MSAnanindeuaPABrazil
| | - Mariana Maschietto
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio)Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM)CampinasSPBrazil
| | - Helena Brentani
- LIM23, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao PauloSao PauloSPBrazil
- Inter‐institutional Grad Program on BioinformaticsUniversity of São PauloSão PauloSPBrazil
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao PauloSPBrazil
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INPD)Sao PauloSPBrazil
- Faculdade de Medicina FMUSPUniversidade de Sao PauloSao PauloSPBrazil
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48
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Gata-Garcia A, Diamond B. Maternal Antibody and ASD: Clinical Data and Animal Models. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1129. [PMID: 31191521 PMCID: PMC6547809 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past several decades there has been an increasing interest in the role of environmental factors in the etiology of neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Epidemiologic studies have shifted from an exclusive focus on the identification of genetic risk alleles for such disorders to recognizing and understanding the contribution of xenobiotic exposures, infections, and the maternal immune system during the prenatal and early post-natal periods. In this review we discuss the growing literature regarding the effects of maternal brain-reactive antibodies on fetal brain development and their contribution to the development of neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Autoimmune diseases primarily affect women and are more prevalent in mothers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. For example, mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are significantly more likely to have an autoimmune disease than women of neurotypically developing children. Moreover, they are four to five times more likely to harbor brain-reactive antibodies than unselected women of childbearing age. Many of these women exhibit no apparent clinical consequence of harboring these antibodies, presumably because the antibodies never access brain tissue. Nevertheless, these maternal brain-reactive antibodies can access the fetal brain, and some may be capable of altering brain development when present during pregnancy. Several animal models have provided evidence that in utero exposure to maternal brain-reactive antibodies can permanently alter brain anatomy and cause persistent behavioral or cognitive phenotypes. Although this evidence supports a contribution of maternal brain-reactive antibodies to neurodevelopmental disorders, an interplay between antibodies, genetics, and other environmental factors is likely to determine the specific neurodevelopmental phenotypes and their severity. Additional modulating factors likely also include the microbiome, sex chromosomes, and gonadal hormones. These interactions may help to explain the sex-bias observed in neurodevelopmental disorders. Studies on this topic provide a unique opportunity to learn how to identify and protect at risk pregnancies while also deciphering critical pathways in neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Gata-Garcia
- Center for Autoimmune, Musculoskeletal and Hematopoietic Diseases, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United States.,Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
| | - Betty Diamond
- Center for Autoimmune, Musculoskeletal and Hematopoietic Diseases, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United States
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49
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Ruiz-Ojeda FJ, Anguita-Ruiz A, Rupérez AI, Gomez-Llorente C, Olza J, Vázquez-Cobela R, Gil-Campos M, Bueno G, Leis R, Cañete R, Moreno LA, Gil A, Aguilera CM. Effects of X-chromosome Tenomodulin Genetic Variants on Obesity in a Children's Cohort and Implications of the Gene in Adipocyte Metabolism. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3979. [PMID: 30850679 PMCID: PMC6408551 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40482-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tenomodulin (TNMD) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that has been recently linked to obesity, and it is highly expressed in obese adipose tissue. Several sex-dependent associations have been observed between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TNMD gene, which is located in the X-chromosome, and obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and metabolic syndrome in adults. On the other hand, results are lacking for children. We aimed (i) to study the association between TNMD genetic variants and metabolic complications related to childhood obesity and (ii) to investigate the function of TNMD in human adipocytes. We conducted a case-control, multicenter study in 915 Spanish children and demonstrated significant positive associations between TNMD genetic variants and BMI z-score, waist circumference, fasting glucose, and insulin resistance in boys, highlighting the SNP rs4828038. Additionally, we showed a BMI-adjusted inverse association with waist circumference in girls. Second, in vitro experiments revealed that TNMD is involved in adipogenesis, along with glucose and lipid metabolism in differentiated adipocytes, and these effects may be mediated through AMPK activation. Hence, these results suggest that TNMD genetic variants could be potentially useful as early life risk indicators for obesity and T2DM. In addition, we support the fact that TNMD exhibits significant metabolic functions in adipocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Ruiz-Ojeda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n., 18016, Armilla, Granada, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, 18014, Spain.
| | - Augusto Anguita-Ruiz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n., 18016, Armilla, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, 18014, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Azahara I Rupérez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n., 18016, Armilla, Granada, Spain.,Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Carolina Gomez-Llorente
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n., 18016, Armilla, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, 18014, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Josune Olza
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n., 18016, Armilla, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, 18014, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Rocío Vázquez-Cobela
- Unit of Investigation in Nutrition, Growth and Human Development of Galicia, Pediatric Department (USC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Mercedes Gil-Campos
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain.,Department of Paediatrics, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Institute Maimónides of Biomedicine Investigation of Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Avda Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Gloria Bueno
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain.,Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS Aragón),, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosaura Leis
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain.,Unit of Investigation in Nutrition, Growth and Human Development of Galicia, Pediatric Department (USC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ramón Cañete
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain.,Department of Paediatrics, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Institute Maimónides of Biomedicine Investigation of Córdoba (IMIBIC), University of Córdoba, Avda Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Luis A Moreno
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain.,Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS Aragón),, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Angel Gil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n., 18016, Armilla, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, 18014, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Concepcion Maria Aguilera
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n., 18016, Armilla, Granada, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Granada, 18014, Spain. .,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain.
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50
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Abstract
Evolution of genetic mechanisms of sex determination led to two processes causing sex differences in somatic phenotypes: gonadal differentiation and sex chromosome dosage inequality. In species with heteromorphic sex chromosomes, the sex of the individual is established at the time of formation of the zygote, leading to inherent sex differences in expression of sex chromosome genes beginning as soon as the embryonic transcriptome is activated. The inequality of sex chromosome gene expression causes sexual differentiation of the gonads and of non-gonadal tissues. The difference in gonad type in turn causes lifelong differences in gonadal hormones, which interact with unequal effects of X and Y genes acting within cells. Separating the effects of gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes has been possible using mouse models in which gonadal determination is separated from the sex chromosomes, allowing comparison of XX and XY mice with the same type of gonad. Sex differences caused by gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes affect basic physiology and disease mechanisms in most or all tissues.
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