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Gogos A, Sun J, Udawela M, Gibbons A, van den Buuse M, Scarr E, Dean B. Cortical expression of the RAPGEF1 gene in schizophrenia: investigating regional differences and suicide. Psychiatry Res 2021; 298:113818. [PMID: 33639407 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113818] [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: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (RAPGEF1) is involved in cell adhesion and neuronal migration. Previously we found lower RAPGEF1 mRNA levels in Brodmann's area (BA) 9 in subjects with schizophrenia compared to controls. This study aimed to determine whether RAPGEF1 expression was altered in other brain regions implicated in schizophrenia and whether this was associated with suicide. Using qPCR, we measured the levels of RAPGEF1 in post-mortem BA 8 and 44 from 27 subjects with schizophrenia and 26 non-psychiatric control subjects. To address the effect of antipsychotic treatments, Rapgef1 mRNA levels were measured in the cortex from rats treated with typical antipsychotic drugs. There was no difference in RAPGEF1 normalised relative expression levels in BA 8 or 44. However, in BA 8, schizophrenia subjects had higher raw Ct RAPGEF1 levels compared to controls. There were higher RAPGEF1 levels in suicide completers compared to non-suicide schizophrenia subjects in BA 8. Rapgef1 expression levels in the rat cortex did not vary with antipsychotic treatment. Our findings suggest changes in RAPGEF1 expression may be limited to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex from subjects with schizophrenia. Further investigation of the function of RAPGEF1 may lead to a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gogos
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jeehae Sun
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Madhara Udawela
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Affinity BIO, Scoresby, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Gibbons
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Maarten van den Buuse
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia; Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; The College of Public Health, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Scarr
- Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Brian Dean
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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2
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Andrade A, Brennecke A, Mallat S, Brown J, Gomez-Rivadeneira J, Czepiel N, Londrigan L. Genetic Associations between Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels and Psychiatric Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E3537. [PMID: 31331039 PMCID: PMC6679227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are mental, behavioral or emotional disorders. These conditions are prevalent, one in four adults suffer from any type of psychiatric disorders world-wide. It has always been observed that psychiatric disorders have a genetic component, however, new methods to sequence full genomes of large cohorts have identified with high precision genetic risk loci for these conditions. Psychiatric disorders include, but are not limited to, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Several risk loci for psychiatric disorders fall within genes that encode for voltage-gated calcium channels (CaVs). Calcium entering through CaVs is crucial for multiple neuronal processes. In this review, we will summarize recent findings that link CaVs and their auxiliary subunits to psychiatric disorders. First, we will provide a general overview of CaVs structure, classification, function, expression and pharmacology. Next, we will summarize tools to study risk loci associated with psychiatric disorders. We will examine functional studies of risk variations in CaV genes when available. Finally, we will review pharmacological evidence of the use of CaV modulators to treat psychiatric disorders. Our review will be of interest for those studying pathophysiological aspects of CaVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Andrade
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA.
| | - Ashton Brennecke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Shayna Mallat
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Julian Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | | | - Natalie Czepiel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Laura Londrigan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
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3
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Sullivan CR, O'Donovan SM, McCullumsmith RE, Ramsey A. Defects in Bioenergetic Coupling in Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:739-750. [PMID: 29217297 PMCID: PMC5891385 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic neurotransmission relies on maintenance of the synapse and meeting the energy demands of neurons. Defects in excitatory and inhibitory synapses have been implicated in schizophrenia, likely contributing to positive and negative symptoms as well as impaired cognition. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that bioenergetic systems, important in both synaptic function and cognition, are abnormal in psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia. Animal models of synaptic dysfunction demonstrated endophenotypes of schizophrenia as well as bioenergetic abnormalities. We report findings on the bioenergetic interplay of astrocytes and neurons and discuss how dysregulation of these pathways may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, highlighting metabolic systems as important therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney R Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Sinead M O'Donovan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Robert E McCullumsmith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
| | - Amy Ramsey
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Wei Y, Collin G, Mandl RCW, Cahn W, Keunen K, Schmidt R, Kahn RS, van den Heuvel MP. Cortical magnetization transfer abnormalities and connectome dysconnectivity in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2018; 192:172-178. [PMID: 28601503 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Macroscale dysconnectivity in schizophrenia is associated with neuropathological abnormalities. The extent to which alterations in cortical myelination as revealed in vivo by magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) are related to macroscale dysconnectivity remains unknown. We acquired magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) data and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) data from 78 schizophrenia patients and 93 healthy controls for MTR extraction and connectome reconstruction to examine the possible link between cortical myelination and macroscale dysconnectivity. Our findings showed significant cortical MTR disruptions in several prefrontal areas in schizophrenia patients, including bilateral rostral middle frontal areas, right pars orbitalis, and right frontal pole. Furthermore, cortical MTR alterations between patients and controls were significantly correlated with the level of regional disconnectivity. Together, our findings provide evidence that microstructural neuropathological abnormalities in schizophrenia are predominately present in prefrontal areas of the cortex and are associated with alterations in structural connectome architecture at the whole brain network level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongbin Wei
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Guusje Collin
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - René C W Mandl
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wiepke Cahn
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kristin Keunen
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ruben Schmidt
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - René S Kahn
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn P van den Heuvel
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Lee H, Gill J, Barr T, Yun S, Kim H. Primer in Genetics and Genomics, Article 2-Advancing Nursing Research With Genomic Approaches. Biol Res Nurs 2017; 19:229-239. [PMID: 28135824 PMCID: PMC6343213 DOI: 10.1177/1099800416689822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Nurses investigate reasons for variable patient symptoms and responses to treatments to inform how best to improve outcomes. Genomics has the potential to guide nursing research exploring contributions to individual variability. This article is meant to serve as an introduction to the novel methods available through genomics for addressing this critical issue and includes a review of methodological considerations for selected genomic approaches. APPROACH This review presents essential concepts in genetics and genomics that will allow readers to identify upcoming trends in genomics nursing research and improve research practice. It introduces general principles of genomic research and provides an overview of the research process. It also highlights selected nursing studies that serve as clinical examples of the use of genomic technologies. Finally, the authors provide suggestions about how to apply genomic technology in nursing research along with directions for future research. CONCLUSIONS Using genomic approaches in nursing research can advance the understanding of the complex pathophysiology of disease susceptibility and different patient responses to interventions. Nurses should be incorporating genomics into education, clinical practice, and research as the influence of genomics in health-care research and practice continues to grow. Nurses are also well placed to translate genomic discoveries into improved methods for patient assessment and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunhwa Lee
- School of Nursing, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Jessica Gill
- National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Hyungsuk Kim
- National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, MD, USA
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6
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Barati M, Ebrahim M. A Gene Expression Profile of Alzheimer’s Disease Using Microarray Technology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.17795/zjrms-7950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Hackett TA, Guo Y, Clause A, Hackett NJ, Garbett K, Zhang P, Polley DB, Mirnics K. Transcriptional maturation of the mouse auditory forebrain. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:606. [PMID: 26271746 PMCID: PMC4536593 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1709-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The maturation of the brain involves the coordinated expression of thousands of genes, proteins and regulatory elements over time. In sensory pathways, gene expression profiles are modified by age and sensory experience in a manner that differs between brain regions and cell types. In the auditory system of altricial animals, neuronal activity increases markedly after the opening of the ear canals, initiating events that culminate in the maturation of auditory circuitry in the brain. This window provides a unique opportunity to study how gene expression patterns are modified by the onset of sensory experience through maturity. As a tool for capturing these features, next-generation sequencing of total RNA (RNAseq) has tremendous utility, because the entire transcriptome can be screened to index expression of any gene. To date, whole transcriptome profiles have not been generated for any central auditory structure in any species at any age. In the present study, RNAseq was used to profile two regions of the mouse auditory forebrain (A1, primary auditory cortex; MG, medial geniculate) at key stages of postnatal development (P7, P14, P21, adult) before and after the onset of hearing (~P12). Hierarchical clustering, differential expression, and functional geneset enrichment analyses (GSEA) were used to profile the expression patterns of all genes. Selected genesets related to neurotransmission, developmental plasticity, critical periods and brain structure were highlighted. An accessible repository of the entire dataset was also constructed that permits extraction and screening of all data from the global through single-gene levels. To our knowledge, this is the first whole transcriptome sequencing study of the forebrain of any mammalian sensory system. Although the data are most relevant for the auditory system, they are generally applicable to forebrain structures in the visual and somatosensory systems, as well. Results The main findings were: (1) Global gene expression patterns were tightly clustered by postnatal age and brain region; (2) comparing A1 and MG, the total numbers of differentially expressed genes were comparable from P7 to P21, then dropped to nearly half by adulthood; (3) comparing successive age groups, the greatest numbers of differentially expressed genes were found between P7 and P14 in both regions, followed by a steady decline in numbers with age; (4) maturational trajectories in expression levels varied at the single gene level (increasing, decreasing, static, other); (5) between regions, the profiles of single genes were often asymmetric; (6) GSEA revealed that genesets related to neural activity and plasticity were typically upregulated from P7 to adult, while those related to structure tended to be downregulated; (7) GSEA and pathways analysis of selected functional networks were not predictive of expression patterns in the auditory forebrain for all genes, reflecting regional specificity at the single gene level. Conclusions Gene expression in the auditory forebrain during postnatal development is in constant flux and becomes increasingly stable with age. Maturational changes are evident at the global through single gene levels. Transcriptome profiles in A1 and MG are distinct at all ages, and differ from other brain regions. The database generated by this study provides a rich foundation for the identification of novel developmental biomarkers, functional gene pathways, and targeted studies of postnatal maturation in the auditory forebrain. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1709-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy A Hackett
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA. .,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
| | - Yan Guo
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Amanda Clause
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | | | | | - Pan Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Daniel B Polley
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Karoly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. .,Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725, Szeged, Hungary. .,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
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8
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Abstract
The clinical symptoms and cognitive and functional deficits of schizophrenia typically begin to gradually emerge during late adolescence and early adulthood. Recent findings suggest that disturbances of a specific subset of inhibitory neurons that contain the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV), which may regulate the course of postnatal developmental experience-dependent synaptic plasticity in the cerebral cortex, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), may be involved in the pathogenesis of the onset of this illness. Specifically, converging lines of evidence suggest that oxidative stress, extracellular matrix (ECM) deficit and impaired glutamatergic innervation may contribute to the functional impairment of PV neurons, which may then lead to aberrant developmental synaptic pruning of pyramidal cell circuits during adolescence in the PFC. In addition to promoting the functional integrity of PV neurons, maturation of ECM may also play an instrumental role in the termination of developmental PFC synaptic pruning; thus, ECM deficit can directly lead to excessive loss of synapses by prolonging the course of pruning. Together, these mechanisms may contribute to the onset of schizophrenia by compromising the integrity, stability, and fidelity of PFC connectional architecture that is necessary for reliable and predictable information processing. As such, further characterization of these mechanisms will have implications for the conceptualization of rational strategies for the diagnosis, early intervention, and prevention of this debilitating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Ung W Woo
- Laboratory of Cellular Neuropathology, MRC303E, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA,
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9
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Problems and solutions to filling the drying drug pipeline for psychiatric disorders: a report from the inaugural 2012 CINP Think Tank. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 17:137-48. [PMID: 24063634 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145713001077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The inaugural Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum (CINP) Think Tank, a small open meeting sponsored by the CINP, discussed impediments to developing new drugs for psychiatric disorders and approaches to overcome these impediments. Whilst neuropsycharmacology has a rich pharmacopeia (current treatments benefiting many individuals), issues of treatment resistance, sub-optimal response and unwanted side effects remain problematic. Many scientific, economic and social issues are impeding the development of drugs (e.g. higher risk of failure, placebo effects, problematic regulatory environments, pressures imposed by patent protection, downward pressure on reimbursements and financial, legal and social risk aversion). A consensus of the meeting was that efforts to understanding the core pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders are fundamental to increasing the chance of developing new drugs. However, findings from disorders such as Huntington's chorea, have shown that knowing the cause of a disorder may not reveal new drug targets. By contrast, clinically useful biomarkers that define target populations for new drugs and models that allow findings to be accurately translated from animals to humans will increase the likelihood of developing new drugs. In addition, a greater accent on experimental medicine, creative clinical investigations and improved communication between preclinical neuropsychopharmacologists, clinicians committed to neuropsychopharmacological research, industry and the regulators would also be a driver to the development of new treatments. Finally, it was agreed that the CINP must continue its role as a conduit facilitating vibrant interactions between industry and academia as such communications are a central component in identifying new drug targets, developing new drugs and transitioning new drugs into the clinic.
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10
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Stewart AM, Kalueff AV. Anxiolytic drug discovery: what are the novel approaches and how can we improve them? Expert Opin Drug Discov 2013; 9:15-26. [PMID: 24206163 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2014.857309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Contemporary biological psychiatry uses experimental (animal) models to increase our understanding of affective disorder pathogenesis. Despite the well-recognized spectrum nature of affective disorders, modern anxiolytic drug discovery mainly targets specific pathways and molecular determinants within a single phenotypic domain. However, greater understanding of the integrative mechanisms and pathogenesis is essential in order to develop new effective therapies. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors emphasize the importance of a 'domain interplay-oriented' approach to experimental affective research. They also highlight the need to expand the scope of anxiolytic drug targets to better understand the pathogenesis of anxiety-spectrum disorders. EXPERT OPINION There is the potential to markedly improve the utility of animal models for affective disorders. First, the authors suggest that one such way would be by analyzing the systems of several domains and their interplay to better understand disease pathogenesis. Further, it could also be improved by expanding the range of model species and by extending the spectrum of anxiolytic drug targets; this would help to focus on emerging and unconventional systems to better develop new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Michael Stewart
- ZENEREI Institute , 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458 , USA +1 240 328 2275 ; +1 240 328 2275 ;
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11
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Nguyen M, Yang E, Neelkantan N, Mikhaylova A, Arnold R, Poudel MK, Stewart AM, Kalueff AV. Developing 'integrative' zebrafish models of behavioral and metabolic disorders. Behav Brain Res 2013; 256:172-87. [PMID: 23948218 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Revised: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 08/03/2013] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the pathophysiological overlap between metabolic and mental disorders has received increased recognition. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are rapidly becoming a popular model organism for translational biomedical research due to their genetic tractability, low cost, quick reproductive cycle, and ease of behavioral, pharmacological or genetic manipulation. High homology to mammalian physiology and the availability of well-developed assays also make the zebrafish an attractive organism for studying human disorders. Zebrafish neurobehavioral and endocrine phenotypes show promise for the use of zebrafish in studies of stress, obesity and related behavioral and metabolic disorders. Here, we discuss the parallels between zebrafish and other model species in stress and obesity physiology, as well as outline the available zebrafish models of weight gain, metabolic deficits, feeding, stress, anxiety and related behavioral disorders. Overall, zebrafish demonstrate a strong potential for modeling human behavioral and metabolic disorders, and their comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 415 Lane Road, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, 6560 Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22312, USA
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12
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Chana G, Bousman CA, Money TT, Gibbons A, Gillett P, Dean B, Everall IP. Biomarker investigations related to pathophysiological pathways in schizophrenia and psychosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:95. [PMID: 23805071 PMCID: PMC3693064 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-mortem brain investigations of schizophrenia have generated swathes of data in the last few decades implicating candidate genes and protein. However, the relation of these findings to peripheral biomarker indicators and symptomatology remain to be elucidated. While biomarkers for disease do not have to be involved with underlying pathophysiology and may be largely indicative of diagnosis or prognosis, the ideal may be a biomarker that is involved in underlying disease processes and which is therefore more likely to change with progression of the illness as well as potentially being more responsive to treatment. One of the main difficulties in conducting biomarker investigations for major psychiatric disorders is the relative inconsistency in clinical diagnoses between disorders such as bipolar and schizophrenia. This has led some researchers to investigate biomarkers associated with core symptoms of these disorders, such as psychosis. The aim of this review is to evaluate the contribution of post-mortem brain investigations to elucidating the pathophysiology pathways involved in schizophrenia and psychosis, with an emphasis on major neurotransmitter systems that have been implicated. This data will then be compared to functional neuroimaging findings as well as findings from blood based gene expression investigations in schizophrenia in order to highlight the relative overlap in pathological processes between these different modalities used to elucidate pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In addition we will cover some recent and exciting findings demonstrating microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation in both the blood and the brain in patients with schizophrenia. These changes are pertinent to the topic due to their known role in post-transcriptional modification of gene expression with the potential to contribute or underlie gene expression changes observed in schizophrenia. Finally, we will discuss how post-mortem studies may aid future biomarker investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gursharan Chana
- Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Brain Centre, The University of Melbourne Parkville, VIC, Australia
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13
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Abstract
Numerous studies have examined gene expression profiles in post-mortem human brain samples from individuals with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls, to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of the disease. Although some findings have been replicated across studies, there is a general lack of consensus on which genes or pathways are affected. It has been unclear if these differences are due to the underlying cohorts or methodological considerations. Here, we present the most comprehensive analysis to date of expression patterns in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic, compared with unaffected controls. Using data from seven independent studies, we assembled a data set of 153 affected and 153 control individuals. Remarkably, we identified expression differences in the brains of schizophrenics that are validated by up to seven laboratories using independent cohorts. Our combined analysis revealed a signature of 39 probes that are upregulated in schizophrenia and 86 that are downregulated. Some of these genes were previously identified in studies that were not included in our analysis, while others are novel to our analysis. In particular, we observe gene expression changes associated with various aspects of neuronal communication and alterations of processes affected as a consequence of changes in synaptic functioning. A gene network analysis predicted previously unidentified functional relationships among the signature genes. Our results provide evidence for a common underlying expression signature in this heterogeneous disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meeta Mistry
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jesse Gillis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Paul Pavlidis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada,Centre for High-throughput Biology, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
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Schneider JS, Anderson DW, Talsania K, Mettil W, Vadigepalli R. Effects of developmental lead exposure on the hippocampal transcriptome: influences of sex, developmental period, and lead exposure level. Toxicol Sci 2012; 129:108-25. [PMID: 22641619 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfs189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental lead (Pb) exposure has profound effects on cognition and behavior. Much is known about effects of Pb on hippocampal-mediated behaviors, but little is known about the molecular consequences of Pb exposure and the influences of developmental timing of exposure, level of exposure, and sex as effect modifiers of Pb exposure on the brain. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of different levels of Pb exposure (250 and 750 ppm Pb acetate) during perinatal (gestation/lactation) and postnatal (through postnatal day 45) periods on the hippocampal transcriptome in male and female Long Evans rats. Total RNA was extracted from hippocampus from four animals per experimental condition. RNA was hybridized to Affymetrix Rat Gene RNA Arrays using standard methods. Pb exposure per se influenced the expression of 717 transcripts (328 unique annotated genes), with many influenced in a sex-independent manner. Significant differences in gene expression patterns were also influenced by timing and level of exposure, with generally larger effects at the lower level of exposure across all groups. Statistically enriched biological functions included ion binding, regulation of RNA metabolic processes, and positive regulation of macromolecule biosynthetic processes. Processes of regulation of transcription and regulation of gene expression were preferentially enriched in males, regardless of timing or amount of Pb exposure. The effect on transcription factors and the diverse pathways or networks affected by Pb suggest a substantial effect of developmental Pb exposure on plasticity and adaptability, with these effects significantly modified by sex, developmental window of exposure, and level of Pb exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay S Schneider
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
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15
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Mitchell AC, Mirnics K. Gene expression profiling of the brain: pondering facts and fiction. Neurobiol Dis 2011; 45:3-7. [PMID: 21689753 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2011.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Revised: 05/31/2011] [Accepted: 06/06/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last decade brain transcriptome profiling by DNA microarrays has matured, developed sound experimental design standards, reporting practices, analytical procedures, and data sharing resources. It has become a powerful scientific tool in the exploratory research portfolio. Along this journey by trial and error, we encountered a number of intriguing questions and comments--pondering the value of hypothesis-driven research, appropriate sample size, the importance and interpretation of transcripts changes vis-à-vis protein changes, the role of statistical stringency, false discovery and magnitude of expression change, and many other interesting questions. Our field fully acknowledges and tries to address all of these challenges associated with high-throughput, data-driven transcriptomics. As a research field, we strongly advocate implementing the highest standards of our trade, and we deeply believe that transcriptome profiling studies will continue to be essential for deciphering the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to complex brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C Mitchell
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
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Horváth S, Janka Z, Mirnics K. Analyzing schizophrenia by DNA microarrays. Biol Psychiatry 2011; 69:157-62. [PMID: 20801428 PMCID: PMC2994975 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2010] [Revised: 07/12/2010] [Accepted: 07/14/2010] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
To understand the pathological processes of schizophrenia, we must embrace the analysis of the diseased human brain: we will never be able to recapitulate the pathology of uniquely human disorders in an animal model. Based on the outcome of the transcriptome profiling experiments performed to date, it appears that schizophrenia is associated with a global gene expression disturbance across many cortical regions. In addition, transcriptome changes are present in multiple cell types, including specific subclasses of principal neurons, interneurons, and oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, transcripts related to synaptic transmission, energy metabolism, and inhibitory neurotransmission are routinely found underexpressed in the postmortem brain tissue of subjects with schizophrenia. To put these transcriptome data in biological context, we must make our data publicly available and report our findings in a proper, expanded Minimum Information About a Microarray Experiment format. Cell-type specific expression profiling and sequencing-based transcript assessments should be expanded, with particular attention to understanding splice-variant changes in various mental disorders. Deciphering the pathophysiology of mental disorders depends on integrating data from across many research fields and techniques. Leads from postmortem transcriptome profiling will be essential to generate model animals, perform tissue culture experiments, and develop or evaluate novel drugs to treat this devastating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szatmár Horváth
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Janka
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Károly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Correspondence: Karoly Mirnics, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, 8130A MRB III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville TN 37232, USA, , Office phone: 615-936-1074, http://mirnicslab.vanderbilt.edu/mirnicslab/
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17
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Baharnoori M, Bartholomeusz C, Boucher AA, Buchy L, Chaddock C, Chiliza B, Föcking M, Fornito A, Gallego JA, Hori H, Huf G, Jabbar GA, Kang SH, El Kissi Y, Merchán-Naranjo J, Modinos G, Abdel-Fadeel NA, Neubeck AK, Ng HP, Novak G, Owolabi O, Prata DP, Rao NP, Riecansky I, Smith DC, Souza RP, Thienel R, Trotman HD, Uchida H, Woodberry KA, O'Shea A, DeLisi LE. The 2nd Schizophrenia International Research Society Conference, 10-14 April 2010, Florence, Italy: summaries of oral sessions. Schizophr Res 2010; 124:e1-62. [PMID: 20934307 PMCID: PMC4182935 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2010.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2010] [Revised: 08/30/2010] [Accepted: 09/01/2010] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The 2nd Schizophrenia International Research Society Conference, was held in Florence, Italy, April 10-15, 2010. Student travel awardees served as rapporteurs of each oral session and focused their summaries on the most significant findings that emerged from each session and the discussions that followed. The following report is a composite of these reviews. It is hoped that it will provide an overview for those who were present, but could not participate in all sessions, and those who did not have the opportunity to attend, but who would be interested in an update on current investigations ongoing in the field of schizophrenia research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moogeh Baharnoori
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 LaSalle Blvd, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4H 1R3, phone (514) 761-6131 ext 3346,
| | - Cali Bartholomeusz
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Level 2-3, Alan Gilbert Building, 161 Barry St, Carlton South, Victoria 3053, Australia, phone +61 3 8344 1878, fax +61 3 9348 0469,
| | - Aurelie A. Boucher
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, 100 Mallett Street, Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia, phone +61 (0)2 9351 0948, fax +61 (0)2 9351 0652,
| | - Lisa Buchy
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, 6875 LaSalle Blvd, Verdun, Québec, Canada, H4H 1R3 phone: 514-761-6131 x 3386, fax: 514-888-4064,
| | - Christopher Chaddock
- PO67, Section of Neuroimaging, Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, phone 020 7848 0919, mobile 07734 867854 fax 020 7848 0976,
| | - Bonga Chiliza
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa, phone: +27 (0)21 9389227, fax +27 (0)21 9389738,
| | - Melanie Föcking
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland, phone +353 1 809 3857, fax +353 1 809 3741,
| | - Alex Fornito
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Downing St, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3EB, phone +44 (0) 1223 764670, fax +44 (0) 1223 336581,
| | - Juan A. Gallego
- The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, 75-59 263rd St, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, phone 718-470-8177, fax 718-343-1659,
| | - Hiroaki Hori
- Department of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, 4-1-1, Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, JAPAN, phone: +81 42 341 2711; fax: +81 42 346 1744,
| | - Gisele Huf
- National Institute of Quality Control in Health - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.Av. Brasil 4365 Manguinhos Rio de Janeiro RJ BRAZIL 21045-900, phone + 55 21 38655112, fax + 55 21 38655139,
| | - Gul A. Jabbar
- Clinical Research Coordinator, Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry, 940 Belmont Street 2-B, Brockton, MA 02301, office (774) 826-1624, cell (845) 981-9514, fax (774) 286-1076,
| | - Shi Hyun Kang
- Seoul National Hospital, 30-1 Junggok3-dong Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-711, Korea, phone +82-2-2204-0326, fax +82-2-2204-0394,
| | - Yousri El Kissi
- Psychiatry department, Farhat Hached Hospital. Ibn Jazzar Street, 4002 Sousse. Tunisia. phone + 216 98468626, fax + 216 73226702,
| | - Jessica Merchán-Naranjo
- Adolescent Unit. Department of Psychiatry. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain. C/Ibiza 43, C.P:28009, phone +34 914265005, fax +34 914265004,
| | - Gemma Modinos
- Department of Psychosis Studies (PO67), Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, King's Health Partners, De Crespigny Park, SE5 8AF London, United Kingdo, phone +44 (0)20 78480917, fax +44 (0)20 78480976,
| | - Nashaat A.M. Abdel-Fadeel
- Minia University, Egypt, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, phone 617 953 0414, fax 617-998-5007, ,
| | - Anna-Karin Neubeck
- Project Manager at Karolinska Institute, Skinnarviksringen 12, 117 27 Stockholm, Sweden, phone +46708777908,
| | - Hsiao Piau Ng
- Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, A*STAR, Singapore; Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, phone 857-544-0192, fax 617-525-6150,
| | - Gabriela Novak
- University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, Room 4345, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, phone (416) 946-8219, fax (416) 971-2868,
| | - Olasunmbo.O. Owolabi
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Science University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, phone +2348030764811,
| | - Diana P. Prata
- Department of Psychosis Studies, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK, phone +44(0)2078480917, fax +44(0)2078480976,
| | - Naren P. Rao
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029 Karnataka, India, phone +91 9448342379,
| | - Igor Riecansky
- Address: Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewiczova 1, 813 71 Bratislava, Slovakia, phone +421-2-52 92 62 76, fax +421-2-52 96 85 16,
| | - Darryl C. Smith
- 3336 Mt Pleasant St. NW #2, Washington, DC 20010, phone 202.494.3892,
| | - Renan P. Souza
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 250 College St R31 Toronto - Ontario - Canada M5T1R8, phone +14165358501 x4883, fax +14169794666,
| | - Renate Thienel
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, PRC Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Mc Auley Centre Level 5, Mater Hospital, Edith Street, Waratah NSW 2298, phone +61 (2) 40335636,
| | - Hanan D. Trotman
- 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, phone 404-727-8384, fax 404-727-1284,
| | - Hiroyuki Uchida
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Psychopharmacology Research Program, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan, phone +81.3.3353.1211(x62454), fax +81.3.5379.0187,
| | - Kristen A. Woodberry
- Landmark Center 2 East, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, phone 617-998-5022, fax 617-998-5007,
| | - Anne O'Shea
- Coordinator of reports. Harvard Medical School, VA Boston Healthcare System, 940 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301, phone 774-826-1374, anne_o’
| | - Lynn E. DeLisi
- VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School, 940 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301, phone 774-826-1355, fax 774-826-2721
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Abstract
The brain is a complex non-linear dynamical system that is associated with a wide repertoire of behaviours. There is an ongoing debate as to whether low-intensity radio frequency (RF) bioelectromagnetic interactions induce a biological response. If they do, it is reasonable to expect that the interaction is non-linear. Contradictory reports are found in the literature and attempts to reproduce the subtle effects have often proved difficult. Researchers have already speculated that low-intensity RF radiation may offer therapeutic potential and millimetre-wave therapy is established in the countries of the former Soviet Union. A recent study using transgenic mice that exhibit Alzheimer's-like cognitive impairment shows that microwave radiation may possibly have therapeutic application. By using a highly dynamic stimulus and feedback it may be possible to augment the small effects that have been reported using static parameters. If a firm connection between low-intensity RF radiation and biological effects is established then the possibility arises for its psychotherapeutic application. Low intensity millimetre-wave and peripheral nervous system interactions also merit further investigation. Controlled RF exposure could be associated with quite novel characteristics and dynamics when compared to those associated with pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D T Pooley
- Institute of Medical Engineering and Medical Physics, Cardiff School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, The Parade, CARDIFF CF24 3AA, Wales, UK.
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19
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Woo TUW, Spencer K, McCarley RM. Gamma oscillation deficits and the onset and early progression of schizophrenia. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2010; 18:173-89. [PMID: 20415633 PMCID: PMC2860612 DOI: 10.3109/10673221003747609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A fascinating convergence of evidence in recent years has implicated the disturbances of neural synchrony in the gamma frequency band (30-100 Hz) as a major pathophysiologic feature of schizophrenia. Evidence suggests that reduced glutamatergic neurotransmission via the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors that are localized to inhibitory interneurons, perhaps especially the fast-spiking cells that contain the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV), may contribute to gamma band synchrony deficits. These deficits may underlie the brain's failure to integrate information and hence the manifestations of many symptoms and deficits of schizophrenia. Furthermore, because gamma oscillations are thought to provide the temporal structure that is necessary for synaptic plasticity, gamma oscillation deficits may disturb the developmental synaptic reorganization process that is occurring during the period of late adolescence and early adulthood. This disturbance may contribute to the onset of schizophrenia and the functional deterioration that is characteristic of the early stage of the illness. Finally, reduced NMDA neurotransmission on inhibitory interneurons, including the PV-containing cells, may inflict excitotoxic or oxidative injury to downstream pyramidal neurons, leading to further loss of synapses and dendritic branchings. Hence, a key element in the conceptualization of rational early-intervention and prevention strategies for schizophrenia may involve correcting the abnormal NMDA neurotransmission on inhibitory interneurons-possibly that on the PV-containing neurons, in particular-thereby normalizing gamma oscillation deficits and attenuating downstream neuronal pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Ung W. Woo
- Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Mailman Research Center McLean Hospital Belmont, MA 02478,Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Kevin Spencer
- Department of Psychiatry, VA Boston Healthcare System, Brockton, MA 02301,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Robert M. McCarley
- Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Mailman Research Center McLean Hospital Belmont, MA 02478,Department of Psychiatry, VA Boston Healthcare System, Brockton, MA 02301,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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20
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Murphy KJ, ter Horst JPF, Cassidy AW, DeSouza IEJ, Morgunova M, Li C, Connole LM, O’Sullivan NC, Loscher JS, Brady AT, Rombach N, Connellan J, McGettigan PA, Scully D, Fedriani R, Lukasz B, Moran MP, McCabe OM, Wantuch CM, Hughes ZA, Mulvany SK, Higgins DG, Pangalos MN, Marquis KL, O’Connor WT, Ring RH, von Schack D, Regan CM. Temporal dysregulation of cortical gene expression in the isolation reared Wistar rat. J Neurochem 2010; 113:601-14. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06617.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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21
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Weickert CS, Sheedy D, Rothmond DA, Dedova I, Fung S, Garrick T, Wong J, Harding AJ, Sivagnanansundaram S, Hunt C, Duncan C, Sundqvist N, Tsai SY, Anand J, Draganic D, Harper C. Selection of Reference Gene Expression in a Schizophrenia Brain Cohort. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2010; 44:59-70. [PMID: 20073568 PMCID: PMC2950262 DOI: 10.3109/00048670903393662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In order to conduct postmortem human brain research into the neuropatho-logical basis of schizophrenia, it is critical to establish cohorts that are well-characterized and well-matched. The aim of the present study was therefore to determine if specimen characteristics including: diagnosis, age, postmortem interval (PMI), brain acidity (pH), and/or the agonal state of the subject at death related to RNA quality, and to determine the most appropriate reference gene mRNAs. METHODS A matched cohort was selected of 74 subjects (schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, n = 37; controls, n = 37). Middle frontal gyrus tissue was pulverized, tissue pH was measured, RNA isolated for cDNA from each case, and RNA integrity number (RIN) measurements were assessed. Using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, nine housekeeper genes were measured and a geomean calculated per case in each diagnostic group. RESULTS The RINs were very good (mean = 7.3) and all nine housekeeper control genes were significantly correlated with RIN. Seven of nine housekeeper genes were also correlated with pH; two clinical variables, agonal state and duration of illness, did have an effect on some control mRNAs. No major impact of PMI or freezer time on housekeeper mRNAs was detected. The results show that people with schizophrenia had significantly less PPIA and SDHA mRNA and tended to have less GUSB and B2M mRNA, suggesting that these control genes may not be good candidates for normalization. CONCLUSIONS In the present cohort <10% variability in RINs was detected and the diagnostic groups were well matched overall. The cohort was adequately powered (0.80-0.90) to detect mRNA differences (25%) due to disease. The study suggests that multiple factors should be considered in mRNA expression studies of human brain tissues. When schizophrenia cases are adequately matched to control cases subtle differences in gene expression can be reliably detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, AU,School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, AU,Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Randwick, AU
| | - Donna Sheedy
- New South Wales Tissue Resource Centre, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, AU
| | - Debora A. Rothmond
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, AU,Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Randwick, AU
| | - Irina Dedova
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, AU,New South Wales Tissue Resource Centre, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, AU
| | - Samantha Fung
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, AU,Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Randwick, AU,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
| | - Therese Garrick
- New South Wales Tissue Resource Centre, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, AU
| | - Jenny Wong
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, AU,Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Randwick, AU,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
| | - Antony J. Harding
- New South Wales Tissue Resource Centre, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, AU
| | - Sinthuja Sivagnanansundaram
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, AU,Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Randwick, AU
| | - Clare Hunt
- New South Wales Tissue Resource Centre, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, AU
| | - Carlotta Duncan
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, AU,Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Randwick, AU
| | - Nina Sundqvist
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, AU,New South Wales Tissue Resource Centre, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, AU
| | - Shan-Yuan Tsai
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, AU,Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Randwick, AU
| | - Jasna Anand
- New South Wales Tissue Resource Centre, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, AU
| | | | - Clive Harper
- New South Wales Tissue Resource Centre, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, AU
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22
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Infragranular gene expression disturbances in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia: signature of altered neural development? Neurobiol Dis 2009; 37:738-46. [PMID: 20034564 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2009.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2009] [Revised: 12/10/2009] [Accepted: 12/14/2009] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of the human neocortex gives rise to a complex cytoarchitecture, grouping together cells with similar structure, connectivity and function. As a result, the six neocortical laminae show distinct molecular content. In schizophrenia, many anatomical and neurochemical changes appear to be restricted to a subset of lamina and/or cell types. In this study, we hypothesized that supragranular (SG; laminae II-III) and infragranular layers (IG; laminae V-VI) of area 46 in the human prefrontal cortex will show distinct and specific transcriptome alterations between subjects with schizophrenia and matched controls. To enhance sample homogeneity, we compared the gene expression patterns of the SG and IG layers of 8 matched middle-aged male subjects with schizophrenia to 8 pairwise matched controls using two replicate DNA microarrays for each sample. The study revealed strong disease-related laminar expression differences between the SG and IG layers. Expression changes were dominated by an overall underexpression of the IG-enriched genes in the schizophrenia subjects compared to normal control subjects. Furthermore, using a diagnosis-blind, unsupervised clustering of the control-derived SG or IG-enriched transcripts, the IG-enriched markers segregated the subjects with schizophrenia from the matched controls with a high degree of confidence. Importantly, multiple members of the semaphorin gene family reported altered gene expression, suggesting that the IG gene expression disturbances in subjects with schizophrenia may be a result of altered cortical development and disrupted brain connectivity.
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23
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Analysis of gene expression in two large schizophrenia cohorts identifies multiple changes associated with nerve terminal function. Mol Psychiatry 2009; 14:1083-94. [PMID: 19255580 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2009.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with a world-wide prevalence of 1%. The pathophysiology of the illness is not understood, but is thought to have a strong genetic component with some environmental influences on aetiology. To gain further insight into disease mechanism, we used microarray technology to determine the expression of over 30 000 mRNA transcripts in post-mortem tissue from a brain region associated with the pathophysiology of the disease (Brodmann area 10: anterior prefrontal cortex) in 28 schizophrenic and 23 control patients. We then compared our study (Charing Cross Hospital prospective collection) with that of an independent prefrontal cortex dataset from the Harvard Brain Bank. We report the first direct comparison between two independent studies. A total of 51 gene expression changes have been identified that are common between the schizophrenia cohorts, and 49 show the same direction of disease-associated regulation. In particular, changes were observed in gene sets associated with synaptic vesicle recycling, transmitter release and cytoskeletal dynamics. This strongly suggests multiple, small but synergistic changes in gene expression that affect nerve terminal function.
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24
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Mahon K, Burdick KE, Szeszko PR. A role for white matter abnormalities in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2009; 34:533-54. [PMID: 19896972 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2009] [Revised: 09/22/2009] [Accepted: 10/21/2009] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder is a chronically disabling psychiatric disorder characterized by manic states that is often interspersed with periods of depression whose neurobiology remains largely unknown. There is, however, increasing evidence that white matter (WM) abnormalities may play an important role in the neurobiology of the disorder. In this review we critically evaluate evidence for WM abnormalities in bipolar disorder obtained from neuroimaging, neuropathological, and genetic research. Increased rates of white matter hyperintensities, regional volumetric abnormalities, abnormal water diffusion along prefrontal-subcortical tracts, fewer oligodendrocytes in prefrontal WM, and alterations in the expression of myelin- and oligodendrocyte-related genes are among the most consistent findings. Abnormalities converge in the prefrontal WM and, in particular, tracts that connect prefrontal regions and subcortical gray matter structures known to be involved in emotion. Taken together, the evidence supports and clarifies a model of BD that involves disconnectivity in regions implicated in emotion generation and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Mahon
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore - Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY, USA.
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25
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Martin MV, Rollins B, Sequeira PA, Mesén A, Byerley W, Stein R, Moon EA, Akil H, Jones EG, Watson SJ, Barchas J, DeLisi LE, Myers RM, Schatzberg A, Bunney WE, Vawter MP. Exon expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines from subjects with schizophrenia before and after glucose deprivation. BMC Med Genomics 2009; 2:62. [PMID: 19772658 PMCID: PMC2760574 DOI: 10.1186/1755-8794-2-62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2008] [Accepted: 09/22/2009] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of glucose reduction stress on lymphoblastic cell line (LCL) gene expression in subjects with schizophrenia compared to non-psychotic relatives. Methods LCLs were grown under two glucose conditions to measure the effects of glucose reduction stress on exon expression in subjects with schizophrenia compared to unaffected family member controls. A second aim of this project was to identify cis-regulated transcripts associated with diagnosis. Results There were a total of 122 transcripts with significant diagnosis by probeset interaction effects and 328 transcripts with glucose deprivation by probeset interaction probeset effects after corrections for multiple comparisons. There were 8 transcripts with expression significantly affected by the interaction between diagnosis and glucose deprivation and probeset after correction for multiple comparisons. The overall validation rate by qPCR of 13 diagnosis effect genes identified through microarray was 62%, and all genes tested by qPCR showed concordant up- or down-regulation by qPCR and microarray. We assessed brain gene expression of five genes found to be altered by diagnosis and glucose deprivation in LCLs and found a significant decrease in expression of one gene, glutaminase, in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). One SNP with previously identified regulation by a 3' UTR SNP was found to influence IRF5 expression in both brain and lymphocytes. The relationship between the 3' UTR rs10954213 genotype and IRF5 expression was significant in LCLs (p = 0.0001), DLPFC (p = 0.007), and anterior cingulate cortex (p = 0.002). Conclusion Experimental manipulation of cells lines from subjects with schizophrenia may be a useful approach to explore stress related gene expression alterations in schizophrenia and to identify SNP variants associated with gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen V Martin
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Univ. of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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26
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Fatemi SH. Potential microbial origins of schizophrenia and their treatments. DRUGS OF TODAY (BARCELONA, SPAIN : 1998) 2009; 45:305-18. [PMID: 19499095 DOI: 10.1358/dot.2009.45.4.1353924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe brain disease that affects approximately 1% of the world's population. Extensive study into the indication of and causes of this disease has been ongoing for decades. Historical review of research into associated abnormalities and markers common in schizophrenic patients has demonstrated a correlation with potential microbial origins in the development of the disease. While infectious etiologies could be responsible for some cases of schizophrenia, no consistent use of anti-infective agents has been developed for its prevention or treatment. Elucidation of the mechanisms for infectious roots of schizophrenia may open new avenues for effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hossein Fatemi
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neuroscience Research and Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, USA.
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27
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Fatemi SH, Folsom TD, Reutiman TJ, Abu-Odeh D, Mori S, Huang H, Oishi K. Abnormal expression of myelination genes and alterations in white matter fractional anisotropy following prenatal viral influenza infection at E16 in mice. Schizophr Res 2009; 112:46-53. [PMID: 19487109 PMCID: PMC2735410 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2009] [Revised: 04/03/2009] [Accepted: 04/09/2009] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal viral infection has been associated with the development of schizophrenia and autism. Our laboratory has previously shown that viral infection causes deleterious effects on brain structure and function in mouse offspring following late first trimester (E9) and late second trimester (E18) administration of influenza virus. We hypothesized that middle second trimester infection (E16) in mice may lead to a different pattern of brain gene expression and structural defects in the developing offspring. C57BL6 mice were infected on E16 with a sublethal dose of human influenza virus or sham-infected using vehicle solution. Male offspring of the infected mice were collected at P0, P14, P35, and P56, their brains removed and cerebella dissected and flash frozen. Microarray, DTI and MRI scanning, as well as qRT-PCR and SDS-PAGE and western blotting analyses were performed to detect differences in gene expression and brain atrophy. Expression of several genes associated with myelination, including Mbp, Mag, and Plp1 were found to be altered, as were protein levels of Mbp, Mag, and DM20. Brain imaging revealed significant atrophy in cerebellum at P14, reduced fractional anisotropy in white matter of the right internal capsule at P0, and increased fractional anisotropy in white matter in corpus callosum at P14 and right middle cerebellar peduncle at P56. We propose that maternal infection in mouse impacts myelination genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Hossein Fatemi
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neuroscience Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 392, Minneapolis, MN 55455, Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, 310 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, 310 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Timothy D. Folsom
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neuroscience Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 392, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Teri J. Reutiman
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neuroscience Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 392, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Desiree Abu-Odeh
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neuroscience Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 392, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Susumu Mori
- Department of Radiology, Division of NMR, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21287
| | - Hao Huang
- Department of Radiology, Division of NMR, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21287
| | - Kenichi Oishi
- Department of Radiology, Division of NMR, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21287
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Abstract
While multiple theories have been put forth regarding the origin of schizophrenia, by far the vast majority of evidence points to the neurodevelopmental model in which developmental insults as early as late first or early second trimester lead to the activation of pathologic neural circuits during adolescence or young adulthood leading to the emergence of positive or negative symptoms. In this report, we examine the evidence from brain pathology (enlargement of the cerebroventricular system, changes in gray and white matters, and abnormal laminar organization), genetics (changes in the normal expression of proteins that are involved in early migration of neurons and glia, cell proliferation, axonal outgrowth, synaptogenesis, and apoptosis), environmental factors (increased frequency of obstetric complications and increased rates of schizophrenic births due to prenatal viral or bacterial infections), and gene-environmental interactions (a disproportionate number of schizophrenia candidate genes are regulated by hypoxia, microdeletions and microduplications, the overrepresentation of pathogen-related genes among schizophrenia candidate genes) in support of the neurodevelopmental model. We relate the neurodevelopmental model to a number of findings about schizophrenia. Finally, we also examine alternate explanations of the origin of schizophrenia including the neurodegenerative model.
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Jungerius BJ, Hoogendoorn MLC, Bakker SC, Van't Slot R, Bardoel AF, Ophoff RA, Wijmenga C, Kahn RS, Sinke RJ. An association screen of myelin-related genes implicates the chromosome 22q11 PIK4CA gene in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2008; 13:1060-8. [PMID: 17893707 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mp.4002080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence, including expression analyses, brain imaging and genetic studies suggest that the integrity of myelin is disturbed in schizophrenia patients. In this study, we first reconstructed a pathway of 138 myelin-related genes, all involved in myelin structure, composition, development or maintenance. Then we performed a two-stage association analysis on these 138 genes using 771 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Analysis of our data from 310 cases vs 880 controls demonstrated association of 10 SNPs from six genes. Specifically, we observed highly significant P-values for association in PIK4CA (observed P=6.1 x 10(-6)). These findings remained significant after Bonferroni correction for 771 tests. The PIK4CA gene is located in the chromosome 22q11 deletion syndrome region, which is of particular interest because it has been implicated in schizophrenia. We also report weak association of SNPs in PIK3C2G, FGF1, FGFR1, ARHGEF10 and PSAP (observed P<or=0.01). Our approach--of screening genes involved in a particular pathway for association--resulted in identification of several, mostly novel, genes associated with the risk of developing schizophrenia in the Dutch population.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Jungerius
- Complex Genetics Section, DBG-Department of Medical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Adaptive changes in gene expression patterns in the somatosensory cortex after deletion of ephrinA5. Mol Cell Neurosci 2008; 39:21-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2008.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2008] [Revised: 04/24/2008] [Accepted: 05/14/2008] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
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Matigian NA, McCurdy RD, Féron F, Perry C, Smith H, Filippich C, McLean D, McGrath J, Mackay-Sim A, Mowry B, Hayward NK. Fibroblast and lymphoblast gene expression profiles in schizophrenia: are non-neural cells informative? PLoS One 2008; 3:e2412. [PMID: 18545665 PMCID: PMC2398775 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2008] [Accepted: 04/27/2008] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and fibroblasts provide conveniently derived non-neuronal samples in which to investigate the aetiology of schizophrenia (SZ) using gene expression profiling. This assumes that heritable mechanisms associated with risk of SZ have systemic effects and result in changes to gene expression in all tissues. The broad aim of this and other similar studies is that comparison of the transcriptomes of non-neuronal tissues from SZ patients and healthy controls may identify gene/pathway dysregulation underpinning the neurobiological defects associated with SZ. Using microarrays consisting of 18,664 probes we compared gene expression profiles of LCLs from SZ cases and healthy controls. To identify robust associations with SZ that were not patient or tissue specific, we also examined fibroblasts from an independent series of SZ cases and controls using the same microarrays. In both tissue types ANOVA analysis returned approximately the number of differentially expressed genes expected by chance. No genes were significantly differentially expressed in either tissue when corrected for multiple testing. Even using relaxed parameters (p≤0.05, without multiple testing correction) there were still no differentially expressed genes that also displayed ≥2-fold change between the groups of SZ cases and controls common to both LCLs and fibroblasts. We conclude that despite encouraging data from previous microarray studies assessing non-neural tissues, the lack of a convergent set of differentially expressed genes associated with SZ using fibroblasts and LCLs indicates the utility of non-neuronal tissues for detection of gene expression differences and/or pathways associated with SZ remains to be demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A. Matigian
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - François Féron
- Neurobiologie des Interactions Cellulaires et Neurophysiopathologie, CNRS UMR 6184. Bd Pierre Dramard, Marseille, France
| | - Christopher Perry
- Department of Surgery, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Heather Smith
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cheryl Filippich
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
| | - Duncan McLean
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
| | - John McGrath
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alan Mackay-Sim
- Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bryan Mowry
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas K. Hayward
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Le-Niculescu H, McFarland MJ, Ogden CA, Balaraman Y, Patel S, Tan J, Rodd ZA, Paulus M, Geyer MA, Edenberg HJ, Glatt SJ, Faraone SV, Nurnberger JI, Kuczenski R, Tsuang MT, Niculescu AB. Phenomic, convergent functional genomic, and biomarker studies in a stress-reactive genetic animal model of bipolar disorder and co-morbid alcoholism. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2008; 147B:134-66. [PMID: 18247375 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We had previously identified the clock gene D-box binding protein (Dbp) as a potential candidate gene for bipolar disorder and for alcoholism, using a Convergent Functional Genomics (CFG) approach. Here we report that mice with a homozygous deletion of DBP have lower locomotor activity, blunted responses to stimulants, and gain less weight over time. In response to a chronic stress paradigm, these mice exhibit a diametric switch in these phenotypes. DBP knockout mice are also activated by sleep deprivation, similar to bipolar patients, and that activation is prevented by treatment with the mood stabilizer drug valproate. Moreover, these mice show increased alcohol intake following exposure to stress. Microarray studies of brain and blood reveal a pattern of gene expression changes that may explain the observed phenotypes. CFG analysis of the gene expression changes identified a series of novel candidate genes and blood biomarkers for bipolar disorder, alcoholism, and stress reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Le-Niculescu
- Laboratory of Neurophenomics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Karoutzou G, Emrich HM, Dietrich DE. The myelin-pathogenesis puzzle in schizophrenia: a literature review. Mol Psychiatry 2008; 13:245-60. [PMID: 17925796 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mp.4002096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a serious and disabling mental disorder with symptoms such as auditory hallucinations, disordered thinking and delusions, avolition, anhedonia, blunted affect and apathy. In this review article we seek to present the current scientific findings from linkage studies and susceptible genes and the pathophysiology of white matter in schizophrenia. The article has been reviewed in two parts. The first part deals with the linkage studies and susceptible genes in schizophrenia in order to have a clear-cut picture of the involvement of chromosomes and their genes in schizophrenia. The genetic linkage results seem to be replicated in some cases but in others are not. From these results, we cannot draw a fine map to a single locus or gene, leading to the conclusion that schizophrenia is not caused by a single factor/gene. In the second part of the article we present the oligodendrocyte-related genes that are associated with schizophrenia, as we hypothesize a potential role of oligodendrocyte-related genes in the pathology of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Karoutzou
- Department of Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Popova T, Mennerich D, Weith A, Quast K. Effect of RNA quality on transcript intensity levels in microarray analysis of human post-mortem brain tissues. BMC Genomics 2008; 9:91. [PMID: 18298816 PMCID: PMC2268927 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-91] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2007] [Accepted: 02/25/2008] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Large-scale gene expression analysis of post-mortem brain tissue offers unique opportunities for investigating genetic mechanisms of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. On the other hand microarray data analysis associated with these studies is a challenging task. In this publication we address the issue of low RNA quality data and corresponding data analysis strategies. Results A detailed analysis of effects of post chip RNA quality on the measured abundance of transcripts is presented. Overall Affymetrix GeneChip data (HG-U133_AB and HG-U133_Plus_2.0) derived from ten different brain regions was investigated. Post chip RNA quality being assessed by 5'/3' ratio of housekeeping genes was found to introduce a well pronounced systematic noise into the measured transcript expression levels. According to this study RNA quality effects have: 1) a "random" component which is introduced by the technology and 2) a systematic component which depends on the features of the transcripts and probes. Random components mainly account for numerous negative correlations of low-abundant transcripts. These negative correlations are not reproducible and are mainly introduced by an increased relative level of noise. Three major contributors to the systematic noise component were identified: the first is the probe set distribution, the second is the length of mRNA species, and the third is the stability of mRNA species. Positive correlations reflect the 5'-end to 3'-end direction of mRNA degradation whereas negative correlations result from the compensatory increase in stable and 3'-end probed transcripts. Systematic components affect the expressed transcripts by introducing irrelevant gene correlations and can strongly influence the results of the main experiment. A linear model correcting the effect of RNA quality on measured intensities was introduced. In addition the contribution of a number of pre-mortem and post-mortem attributes to the overall detected RNA quality effect was investigated. Brain pH, duration of agonal stage, post-mortem interval before sampling and donor's age of death within considered limits were found to have no significant contribution. Conclusion Basic conclusions for data analysis in expression profiling study are as follows: 1) testing for RNA quality dependency should be included in the preprocessing of the data; 2) investigating inter-gene correlation without regard to RNA quality effects could be misleading; 3) data normalization procedures relying on housekeeping genes either do not influence the correlation structure (if 3'-end intensities are used) or increase it for negatively correlated transcripts (if 5'-end or median intensities are included in normalization procedure); 4) sample sets should be matched with regard to RNA quality; 5) RMA preprocessing is more sensitive to RNA quality effect, than MAS 5.0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Popova
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH Co & KG, Birkendorfer Str. 65, Biberach and der Riss, Germany.
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35
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Kato T, Kakiuchi C, Iwamoto K. Comprehensive gene expression analysis in bipolar disorder. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE 2007; 52:763-71. [PMID: 18186176 DOI: 10.1177/070674370705201203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review recent findings by DNA microarray in bipolar disorder (BD). METHOD A literature search was performed. RESULTS Comprehensive gene expression analysis in the brain, peripheral blood cells, and olfactory neuroepithelium would be a promising strategy for the research of BD. To date, alterations in glutamate receptors (GR), mitochondria-related genes, chaperone genes, oligodendrocyte genes, and markers of gamma amino butyric acidergic (GABAergic) neurons in postmortem brains are replicated by several different strategies. However, alterations in mitochondria-related genes are associated with agonal factors, sample pH, and effects of drugs. Analysis of blood cells showed altered endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and other molecular cascades. Analysis of olfactory epithelium showed altered expression of genes associated with apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS These findings warrant that comprehensive gene expression analysis by DNA microarray will be useful to identify the molecular cascades responsible for BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadafumi Kato
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan.
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36
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Abstract
While the cause of autism remains unknown, the high concordance between monozygotic twins supports a strong genetic component. The importance of genetic factors in autism encourages the development of mutant mouse models, to advance our understanding of biological mechanisms underlying autistic behaviors. Mouse models of human neuropsychiatric diseases are designed to optimize (i) face validity (resemblance to the human symptoms) (ii) construct validity (similarity to the underlying causes of the disease) and (iii) predictive validity (expected responses to treatments that are effective in the human disease). There is a growing need for mouse behavioral tasks with all three types of validity, to define robust phenotypes in mouse models of autism. Ideal mouse models will incorporate analogies to the three diagnostic symptoms of autism: abnormal social interactions, deficits in communication and high levels of repetitive behaviors. Social approach is tested in an automated three chambered apparatus that offers the subject a choice between spending time with another mouse, with a novel object, or remaining in an empty familiar environment. Reciprocal social interaction is scored from videotapes of interactions between pairs of unfamiliar mice. Communication is evaluated by measuring emission and responses to vocalizations and olfactory cues. Repetitive behaviors are scored for measures of grooming, jumping, or stereotyped sniffing of one location or object. Insistence on sameness is modeled by scoring a change in habit, for example, reversal of the spatial location of a reinforcer in the Morris water maze or T-maze. Associated features of autism, for example, mouse phenotypes relevant to anxiety, seizures, sleep disturbances and sensory hypersensitivity, may be useful to include in a mouse model that meets some of the core diagnostic criteria. Applications of these assays include (i) behavioral phenotyping of transgenic and knockout mice with mutations in genes relevant to autism; (ii) characterization of inbred strains of mice; (iii) evaluation of environmental toxins; (iv) comparison of behavioral phenotypes with genetic factors, such as unusual expression patterns of genes or unusual single nucleotide polymorphisms; and (v) evaluation of proposed therapeutics for the treatment of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline N Crawley
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-3730. USA.
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37
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Arion D, Unger T, Lewis DA, Levitt P, Mirnics K. Molecular evidence for increased expression of genes related to immune and chaperone function in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2007; 62:711-21. [PMID: 17568569 PMCID: PMC2080683 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 262] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2006] [Revised: 12/20/2006] [Accepted: 12/24/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is characterized by complex gene expression changes. The transcriptome alterations in the prefrontal cortex have been the subject of several recent postmortem studies that yielded both convergent and divergent findings. METHODS To increase measurement precision, we used a custom-designed DNA microarray platform with long oligonucleotides and multiple probes with replicates. The platform was designed to assess the expression of > 1800 genes specifically chosen because of their hypothesized roles in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The gene expression differences in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex samples from 14 matched pairs of schizophrenia and control subjects were analyzed with two technical replicates and four data mining approaches. RESULTS In addition to replicating many expression changes in synaptic, oligodendrocyte, and signal transduction genes, we uncovered and validated a robust immune/chaperone transcript upregulation in the schizophrenia samples. CONCLUSIONS We speculate that the overexpression of SERPINA3, IFITM1, IFITM2, IFITM3, CHI3L1, MT2A, CD14, HSPB1, HSPA1B, and HSPA1A in schizophrenia subjects represents a long-lasting and correlated signature of an early environmental insult during development that actively contributes to the pathophysiology of prefrontal dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Arion
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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38
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Thomas EA. Molecular profiling of antipsychotic drug function: convergent mechanisms in the pathology and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Mol Neurobiol 2007; 34:109-28. [PMID: 17220533 DOI: 10.1385/mn:34:2:109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2006] [Revised: 11/30/1999] [Accepted: 06/21/2006] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite great progress in antipsychotic drug research, the molecular mechanisms by which these drugs work have remained elusive. High-throughput gene profiling methods have advanced this field by allowing the simultaneous investigation of hundreds to thousands of genes. However, different methodologies, choice of brain region, and drugs studied have made comparisons across different studies difficult. Because of the complexity of gene expression changes caused by drugs, teasing out the most relevant expression differences is a challenging task. One approach is to focus on gene expression changes that converge on the same systems that were previously deemed important to the pathology of psychiatric disorders. From the microarray studies performed on human postmortem brain samples from schizophrenics, the systems most implicated to be dysfunctional are synaptic machinery, oligodendrocyte/myelin function, and mitochondrial/ubiquitin metabolism. Drugs may act directly or indirectly to compensate for underlying pathological deficits in schizophrenia or via other mechanisms that converge on these pathways. Side effects, consisting of motor and metabolic dysfunction (which occur with typical and atypical drugs, respectively), also may be mediated by gene expression changes that have been reported in these studies. This article surveys both the convergent antipsychotic mechanisms and the genes that may be responsible for other effects elicited by antipsychotic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Thomas
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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39
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Narayan S, Kass KE, Thomas EA. Chronic haloperidol treatment results in a decrease in the expression of myelin/oligodendrocyte-related genes in the mouse brain. J Neurosci Res 2007; 85:757-65. [PMID: 17177202 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.21161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric illness that manifests as a combination of positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive deficits. Antipsychotic drugs, such as haloperidol, attenuate dopamine receptor signaling in neurons and constitute the frontline treatment for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. However, haloperidol treatment has also been reported to exacerbate preexisting negative symptoms/cognitive deficits and the severity of these deficits has been correlated with white matter pathology in schizophrenia. Indeed, several studies implicate oligodendrocyte function in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, but it is unknown whether these effects are related to drug treatment. It is well established that haloperidol alters gene expression in neurons. However, its effect on oligodendrocytes is unknown. In this study, we investigate the effects of chronic haloperidol treatment on the expression of eight genes known to play critical roles in myelin/oligodendrocyte function. We treated male mice with haloperidol (2 mg/kg/day) for 30 days and measured gene expression changes by using in situ hybridization analysis and quantitative densitometry. Haloperidol caused a decrease in the expression of these genes in several white matter regions of the mouse CNS. In contrast, clozapine (10 mg/kg/day) had no effect on the expression of a subset of these genes. This has important implications for both disease pathology and the consideration of treatment options for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujatha Narayan
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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40
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Transcriptome alterations in schizophrenia: disturbing the functional architecture of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2007; 158:141-52. [PMID: 17027695 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6123(06)58007-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
The availability of methods for quantifying tissue concentrations of messenger RNAs in the postmortem of the human brain has provided a number of new findings in schizophrenia. However, understanding how these findings actually relate to the disease process of schizophrenia requires knowledge both of the factors that might give rise to such changes in gene expression and of the impact of these changes on the function of the affected neural circuits. Consequently, this chapter provides a review of the potential causes and consequences of some of the schizophrenia-related transcriptome changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a brain region implicated in the pathophysiology of certain core cognitive deficits in this illness.
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41
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Koenig JI. Schizophrenia: a unique translational opportunity in behavioral neuroendocrinology. Horm Behav 2006; 50:602-11. [PMID: 16870188 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2006.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2006] [Revised: 06/23/2006] [Accepted: 06/25/2006] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex and debilitating neuropsychiatric disease in which both environmental and genetic factors contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease. Epidemiological data point to the importance of the prenatal period in the genesis of schizophrenia and suggest that environmental factors, such as stress and hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, may establish a vulnerability to the disease. Unfortunately, the exact cause of this neurodevelopmental disease is unclear. In this review, data on the importance of gestational stress exposure to the etiology of schizophrenia-like behavioral, endocrine and molecular phenotypes will be presented and differences will be highlighted between the preparations that are commonly used in most laboratory investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- James I Koenig
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, P.O. Box 21247, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA.
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42
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Valor LM, Grant SGN. Integrating Synapse Proteomics with Transcriptional Regulation. Behav Genet 2006; 37:18-30. [PMID: 16977502 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-006-9114-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2006] [Accepted: 08/18/2006] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian postsynaptic proteome (PSP) comprises a highly interconnected set of approximately 1,000 proteins. The PSP is organized into macromolecular complexes that have a modular architecture defined by protein interactions and function. Signals initiated by neurotransmitter receptors are integrated by these complexes and their constituent enzymes to orchestrate multiple downstream cellular changes, including transcriptional regulation of genes at the nucleus. Genome wide transcriptome studies are beginning to map the sets of genes regulated by the synapse proteome. Conversely, understanding the transcriptional regulation of genes encoding the synapse proteome will shed light on synapse formation. Mutations that disrupt synapse signalling complexes result in cognitive impairments in mice and humans, and recent evidence indicates that these mutation change gene expression profiles. We discuss the need for global approaches combining genetics, transcriptomics and proteomics in order to understand cognitive function and disruption in diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Valor
- Genes to Cognition Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
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Mirnics K, Levitt P, Lewis DA. Critical appraisal of DNA microarrays in psychiatric genomics. Biol Psychiatry 2006; 60:163-76. [PMID: 16616896 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2005] [Accepted: 02/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptome profiling using DNA microarrays are data-driven approaches with the potential to uncover unanticipated relationships between gene expression alterations and psychiatric disorders. Studies to date have yielded both convergent and divergent findings. Differences may be explained, at least in part, by the use of a variety of microarray platforms and analytical approaches. Consistent findings across studies suggest, however, that important relationships may exist between altered gene expression and genetic susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. For example, GAD67, RGS4, DTNBP1, NRG1, and GABRAB2 show expression alterations in the postmortem brain of subjects with schizophrenia, and these genes have been also implicated as putative, heritable schizophrenia susceptibility genes. Thus, we propose that for some genes, altered expression in the postmortem human brain may have a dual origin: polymorphisms in the candidate genes themselves or upstream genetic-environmental factors that converge to alter their expression level. We hypothesize that certain gene products, which function as "molecular hubs," commonly show altered expression in psychiatric disorders and confer genetic susceptibility for one or more diseases. Microarray gene expression studies are ideally suited to reveal these putative disease-associated molecular hubs and to identify promising candidates for genetic association studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Károly Mirnics
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. karoly+@pitt.edu
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Grayson DR, Chen Y, Costa E, Dong E, Guidotti A, Kundakovic M, Sharma RP. The human reelin gene: Transcription factors (+), repressors (−) and the methylation switch (+/−) in schizophrenia. Pharmacol Ther 2006; 111:272-86. [PMID: 16574235 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2005.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2005] [Accepted: 01/27/2005] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A recent report suggests that the down-regulation of reelin and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD(67)) mRNAs represents 2 of the more consistent findings thus far described in post-mortem material from schizophrenia (SZ) patients [reviewed in. Neurochemical markers for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder amd major depression in postmortem brains. Biol Psychiatry 57, 252-260]. To study mechanisms responsible for this down-regulation, we have analyzed the promoter of the human reelin gene. Collectively, our studies suggest that SZ is characterized by a gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)-ergic neuron pathology presumably mediated by promoter hypermethylation facilitated by the over-expression of the methylating enzyme DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) 1. Using transient expression assays, promoter deletions and co-transfection assays with various transcription factors, we have shown a clear synergistic action that is a critical component of the mechanism of the trans-activation process. Equally important is the observation that the reelin promoter is more heavily methylated in brain regions in patients diagnosed with SZ as compared to non-psychiatric control subjects [Grayson, D. R., Jia, X., Chen, Y., Sharma, R. P., Mitchell, C. P., & Guidotti, A., et al. (2005). Reelin promoter hypermethylation in schizophrenia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102, 9341-9346]. The combination of studies in cell lines and in animal models of SZ, coupled with data obtained from post-mortem human material provides compelling evidence that aberrant methylation may be part of a core dysfunction in this psychiatric disease. More interestingly, the hypermethylation concept provides a coherent mechanism that establishes a plausible link between the epigenetic misregulation of multiple genes that are affected in SZ and that collectively contribute to the associated symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis R Grayson
- Department of Psychiatry, The Psychiatric Institute, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 W. Taylor St., 60612, USA.
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Ponomarev I, Maiya R, Harnett MT, Schafer GL, Ryabinin AE, Blednov YA, Morikawa H, Boehm SL, Homanics GE, Berman AE, Berman A, Lodowski KH, Bergeson SE, Harris RA. Transcriptional signatures of cellular plasticity in mice lacking the alpha1 subunit of GABAA receptors. J Neurosci 2006; 26:5673-83. [PMID: 16723524 PMCID: PMC1894896 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0860-06.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
GABAA receptors mediate the majority of inhibitory neurotransmission in the CNS. Genetic deletion of the alpha1 subunit of GABAA receptors results in a loss of alpha1-mediated fast inhibitory currents and a marked reduction in density of GABAA receptors. A grossly normal phenotype of alpha1-deficient mice suggests the presence of neuronal adaptation to these drastic changes at the GABA synapse. We used cDNA microarrays to identify transcriptional fingerprints of cellular plasticity in response to altered GABAergic inhibition in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of alpha1 mutants. In silico analysis of 982 mutation-regulated transcripts highlighted genes and functional groups involved in regulation of neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission, suggesting an adaptive response of the brain to an altered inhibitory tone. Public gene expression databases permitted identification of subsets of transcripts enriched in excitatory and inhibitory neurons as well as some glial cells, providing evidence for cellular plasticity in individual cell types. Additional analysis linked some transcriptional changes to cellular phenotypes observed in the knock-out mice and suggested several genes, such as the early growth response 1 (Egr1), small GTP binding protein Rac1 (Rac1), neurogranin (Nrgn), sodium channel beta4 subunit (Scn4b), and potassium voltage-gated Kv4.2 channel (Kcnd2) as cell type-specific markers of neuronal plasticity. Furthermore, transcriptional activation of genes enriched in Bergman glia suggests an active role of these astrocytes in synaptic plasticity. Overall, our results suggest that the loss of alpha1-mediated fast inhibition produces diverse transcriptional responses that act to regulate neuronal excitability of individual neurons and stabilize neuronal networks, which may account for the lack of severe abnormalities in alpha1 null mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Ponomarev
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
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Hu VW, Frank BC, Heine S, Lee NH, Quackenbush J. Gene expression profiling of lymphoblastoid cell lines from monozygotic twins discordant in severity of autism reveals differential regulation of neurologically relevant genes. BMC Genomics 2006; 7:118. [PMID: 16709250 PMCID: PMC1525191 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-7-118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2006] [Accepted: 05/18/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The autism spectrum encompasses a set of complex multigenic developmental disorders that severely impact the development of language, non-verbal communication, and social skills, and are associated with odd, stereotyped, repetitive behavior and restricted interests. To date, diagnosis of these neurologically based disorders relies predominantly upon behavioral observations often prompted by delayed speech or aberrant behavior, and there are no known genes that can serve as definitive biomarkers for the disorders. Results Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that lymphoblastoid cell lines from monozygotic twins discordant with respect to severity of autism and/or language impairment exhibit differential gene expression patterns on DNA microarrays. Furthermore, we show that genes important to the development, structure, and/or function of the nervous system are among the most differentially expressed genes, and that many of these genes map closely in silico to chromosomal regions containing previously reported autism candidate genes or quantitative trait loci. Conclusion Our results provide evidence that novel candidate genes for autism may be differentially expressed in lymphoid cell lines from individuals with autism spectrum disorders. This finding further suggests the possibility of developing a molecular screen for autism based on expressed biomarkers in peripheral blood lymphocytes, an easily accessible tissue. In addition, gene networks are identified that may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie W Hu
- The George Washington University Medical Center, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2300 Eye St., N.W. Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Bryan C Frank
- The Institute for Genomic Research, 9715 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Shannon Heine
- The George Washington University Medical Center, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2300 Eye St., N.W. Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Norman H Lee
- The Institute for Genomic Research, 9715 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - John Quackenbush
- The George Washington University Medical Center, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2300 Eye St., N.W. Washington, DC 20037, USA
- The Institute for Genomic Research, 9715 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, 44 Binney St. Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Huang HS, Matevossian A, Jiang Y, Akbarian S. Chromatin immunoprecipitation in postmortem brain. J Neurosci Methods 2006; 156:284-92. [PMID: 16574239 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2006.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2005] [Revised: 02/01/2006] [Accepted: 02/16/2006] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Methylation and other covalent modifications of nucleosome core histones are key regulators of chromatin structure and function, including epigenetic control of gene expression. For the human brain, however, very little is known about the regulation of histone modifications at specific genomic loci. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation protocols applicable to postmortem tissue are lacking, and the impact of potential confounds such as autolysis time or tissue pH is unknown. We treated cerebral cortex from human postmortem brain and mice by micrococcal nuclease digestion or, alternatively, by formaldehyde-crosslinking and sonication. We show that the bulk of nucleosomal DNA remains attached to histones during the first 30 h after death. Immunoprecipitation with antibodies against methylated histones was at least 10-fold more effective in unfixed, micrococcal nuclease-digested samples, in comparison to extracts prepared by fixation and sonication. Histone methylation differences across various genomic sites were maintained within a wide range of autolysis times and tissue pH. Therefore, immunoprecipitation of micrococcal nuclease-digested tissue extracts is a feasible approach to profile histone methylation at defined genomic loci in postmortem brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsien-Sung Huang
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA.
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Abstract
Although the second-generation or atypical antipsychotic drugs have been breakthrough medicines for the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic conditions, cognitive dysfunction and to some extent negative symptoms of the disease continue to be the main cause of poor vocational status of the patients. Thus, the majority of investigational drug development efforts today target these unmet medical needs. This review postulates that the field of schizophrenia research has advanced sufficiently to develop biochemical hypotheses of the etiopathology of the disease and target the same for revolutionary disease modifying therapy. This postulate is based on recent studies that have begun to provide a testable etiopathology model that integrates interactions between genetic vulnerability factors, neurodevelopmental anomalies, and neurotransmitter systems. This review begins with a brief overview of the nosology and etiopathology of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders to establish a context for subsequent detailed discussions on drug discovery and development for psychotic disorders. Particular emphasis is placed on recent advances in genetic association studies of schizophrenia and how this can be integrated with evidence supporting neurodevelopmental abnormalities associated with the disease to generate a testable model of the disease etiopathology. An in-depth review of the plethora of new targets and approaches targeting the unmet medical need in the treatment of schizophrenia exemplify the challenges and opportunities in this area. We end the review by offering an approach based on emerging genetic, clinical, and neurobiological studies to discover and validate novel drug targets that could be classified as disease modifying approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Marek
- Neuroscience Division, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, USA
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Kucharski R, Maleszka R. Microarray and real-time PCR analyses of gene expression in the honeybee brain following caffeine treatment. J Mol Neurosci 2006; 27:269-76. [PMID: 16280596 DOI: 10.1385/jmn:27:3:269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2005] [Accepted: 06/16/2005] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
To test the idea that caffeine might induce changes in gene expression in the honeybee brain, we contrasted the transcriptional profiles of control and caffeine-treated brains using high-throughput cDNA microarrays. Additional quantitative real-time PCR was performed on a subset of eight transcripts to visualize the temporal changes induced by caffeine. Genes that were significantly upregulated in caffeine-treated brains included those involved in synaptic signaling (GABA:Na symporter, dopamine D2R-like receptor, and synapsin), cytoskeletal modifications (kinesin and microtubule motors), protein translation (ribosomal protein RpL4, elongation factors), and calcium-dependent processes (calcium transporter, calmodulin- dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase). In addition, our study uncovered a number of novel, caffeine-inducible genes that appear to be unique to the honeybee. Time-dependent profiling of caffeine-sensitive gene expression shows significant upregulation 1 h after treatment followed by moderate downregulation after 4 h with no additional changes occuring after 24 h. Our results provide initial evidence that the dopaminergic system and calcium exchange are the main targets of caffeine in the honeybee brain and suggest that molecular responses to caffeine in an invertebrate brain are similar to those in vertebrate organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Kucharski
- Visual Sciences and Centre for the Molecular Genetics of Development, Research School of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Donarum EA, Stephan DA, Larkin K, Murphy EJ, Gupta M, Senephansiri H, Switzer RC, Pearl PL, Snead OC, Jakobs C, Gibson KM. Expression profiling reveals multiple myelin alterations in murine succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency. J Inherit Metab Dis 2006; 29:143-56. [PMID: 16601881 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-006-0247-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2005] [Accepted: 01/31/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) deficiency, a rare genetic defect of GABA degradation recently modelled in mice (SSADH(-/-) mice), manifests early absence seizures that evolve into generalized convulsive seizures and lethal status epilepticus in gene-ablated mice. Disrupted GABA homeostasis, in conjunction with the epileptic phenotype and increased gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), suggested that expression profiling with the U74Av2 Affymetrix system would reveal dysregulation of receptor genes associated with GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Unexpectedly, we found significant downregulation for genes associated with myelin biogenesis and compaction, predominantly in hippocampus and cortex. These results were confirmed by: (1) myelin basic protein (MBP) immunohistochemistry; (2) western blotting of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and MBP; (3) qRT-PCR analyses of myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP), MAG, MBP and proteolipid protein (PLP) in hippocampus, cortex and spinal cord; (4) quantitation of ethanolamine and choline plasmalogens, all core myelin components; (5) evaluation of myelin content in brain sections employing toluidine blue staining; and (6) ultrastructural evaluation of myelin sheath thickness via electron microscopy. We speculate that increased GABA/GHB, acting through GABAergic systems, results in decreased levels of the neurosteroids progesterone and allopregnanolone [Gupta et al (2003) Ann Neurol 54(Supplement 6): S81-S90] and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, with resulting myelin protein abnormalities primarily in the cortex of SSADH(-/-) mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Donarum
- Developmental Neurogenetics Research Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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