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Bastien BL, Haury WR, Smisko WR, Hart MP. nlr-1/CNTNAP regulates dopamine circuit structure and foraging behaviors in C. elegans. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1248. [PMID: 39358459 PMCID: PMC11447218 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06936-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The neurexin superfamily, consisting of neurexins and Casprs, play important roles in the development, maintenance, function, and plasticity of neuronal circuits. Caspr/CNTNAP genes are linked to alterations in neuronal circuits and associated with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions. Casprs are implicated in multiple neuronal signaling pathways, including dopamine; however, the molecular mechanisms by which Casprs differentially alter specific signaling pathways and downstream behaviors are unclear. We find that the C. elegans Caspr nlr-1 functions in neurons to control foraging behaviors, acting in distinct monoamine neurons to modulate locomotor activity in the presence or absence of food. nlr-1 functions in dopamine neurons to reduce activity in the absence of food, similar to the role of dopamine, and regulates dopamine signaling through D2-like receptors. Furthermore, nlr-1 contributes to proper morphology and presynaptic structure of dopamine neurons, dopamine receptor expression and localization, and the behavioral response to dopamine. We find that nlr-1 similarly regulates another dopamine-dependent behavior, the basal slowing response. Therefore, spatial manipulation of a broadly expressed neuronal gene is sufficient to alter neural circuits and behavior and uncovers important functions masked by global manipulation, highlighting the importance of genetic variation and mechanisms that impact spatial expression of genes to behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon L Bastien
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - William R Haury
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - William R Smisko
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Michael P Hart
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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2
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Joubert B. The neurobiology and immunology of CASPR2-associated neurological disorders. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2024:S0035-3787(24)00597-6. [PMID: 39341757 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2024.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
CASPR2-associated neurological disorders encompass a wide clinical spectrum broadly divided into overlapping three autoimmune syndromes: CASPR2 limbic encephalitis, Morvan syndrome, and Isaacs syndrome. CASPR2 is a neuronal protein expressed at different sites in the central and peripheral nervous system and has a variety of roles and functions regarding neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and homeostasis of inhibitory networks, most of which are only partially understood. CASPR2 antibodies have various pathogenic effects including internalization of CASPR2, disruption of protein-protein interactions, and, possibly, complement activation. Their pathogenic effect is well demonstrated in the limbic encephalitis phenotype, but the role of pathogenic antibodies in the development of other clinical manifestations is less clear. CASPR2 limbic encephalitis also differ from the other CASPR2-associated disorders in regard to HLA allele and paraneoplastic associations, suggesting it has immunological mechanisms distinct from the other clinical forms. Future studies are needed to better understand how the immunological alterations lead to the different phenotypes associated with CASPR2 antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Joubert
- Service de neurologie clinique et fonctionnelle, groupe hospitalier Sud, hospices civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; Centre de référence pour les encéphalites auto-immunes et les syndromes neurologiques paranéoplasiques, hospices civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
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3
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Falcão M, Monteiro P, Jacinto L. Tactile sensory processing deficits in genetic mouse models of autism spectrum disorder. J Neurochem 2024; 168:2105-2123. [PMID: 38837765 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Altered sensory processing is a common feature in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Although altered responses to tactile stimuli are observed in over 60% of individuals with ASD, the neurobiological basis of this phenomenon is poorly understood. ASD has a strong genetic component and genetic mouse models can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying tactile abnormalities in ASD. This review critically addresses recent findings regarding tactile processing deficits found in mouse models of ASD, with a focus on behavioral, anatomical, and functional alterations. Particular attention was given to cellular and circuit-level functional alterations, both in the peripheral and central nervous systems, with the objective of highlighting possible convergence mechanisms across models. By elucidating the impact of mutations in ASD candidate genes on somatosensory circuits and correlating them with behavioral phenotypes, this review significantly advances our understanding of tactile deficits in ASD. Such insights not only broaden our comprehension but also pave the way for future therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Falcão
- Department of Biomedicine-Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Patricia Monteiro
- Department of Biomedicine-Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Luis Jacinto
- Department of Biomedicine-Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
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4
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Gergues MM, Lalani LK, Kheirbek MA. Identifying dysfunctional cell types and circuits in animal models for psychiatric disorders with calcium imaging. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01942-y. [PMID: 39122815 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01942-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
A central goal of neuroscience is to understand how the brain transforms external stimuli and internal bodily signals into patterns of activity that underlie cognition, emotional states, and behavior. Understanding how these patterns of activity may be disrupted in mental illness is crucial for developing novel therapeutics. It is well appreciated that psychiatric disorders are complex, circuit-based disorders that arise from dysfunctional activity patterns generated in discrete cell types and their connections. Recent advances in large-scale, cell-type specific calcium imaging approaches have shed new light on the cellular, circuit, and network-level dysfunction in animal models for psychiatric disorders. Here, we highlight a series of recent findings over the last ~10 years from in vivo calcium imaging studies that show how aberrant patterns of activity in discrete cell types and circuits may underlie behavioral deficits in animal models for several psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, and schizophrenia. These advances in calcium imaging in pre-clinical models demonstrate the power of cell-type-specific imaging tools in understanding the underlying dysfunction in cell types, activity patterns, and neural circuits that may contribute to disease and provide new blueprints for developing more targeted therapeutics and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark M Gergues
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lahin K Lalani
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mazen A Kheirbek
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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5
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Crocco P, De Rango F, Bruno F, Malvaso A, Maletta R, Bruni AC, Passarino G, Rose G, Dato S. Genetic variability of FOXP2 and its targets CNTNAP2 and PRNP in frontotemporal dementia: A pilot study in a southern Italian population. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31624. [PMID: 38828303 PMCID: PMC11140708 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The Forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) is an evolutionary conserved transcription factor involved in the maintenance of neuronal networks, implicated in language disorders. Some evidence suggests a possible link between FOXP2 genetic variability and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) pathology and related endophenotypes. To shed light on this issue, we analysed the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FOXP2 and FTD in 113 patients and 223 healthy controls. In addition, we investigated SNPs in two putative targets of FOXP2, CNTNAP2, Contactin-associated protein-like 2 and PRNP, prion protein genes. Overall, 27 SNPs were selected by a tagging approach. FOXP2-rs17213159-C/T resulted associated with disease risk (OR = 2.16, P = 0.0004), as well as with age at onset and severity of dementia. Other FOXP2 markers were associated with semantic and phonological fluency scores, cognitive levels (MMSE) and neuropsychological tests. Associations with language, cognitive and brain atrophy measures were found with CNTNAP2 and PRNP genetic variability. Overall, although preliminary, results here presented suggest an influence of regulatory pathways centred on FOXP2 as a molecular background of FTD affecting neurological function of multiple brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolina Crocco
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Francesco De Rango
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Francesco Bruno
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Antonio Malvaso
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation – National Neurological Institute, Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Raffaele Maletta
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Amalia C. Bruni
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Passarino
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Rose
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Serena Dato
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
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6
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Cording KR, Tu EM, Wang H, Agopyan-Miu AHCW, Bateup HS. Cntnap2 loss drives striatal neuron hyperexcitability and behavioral inflexibility. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.09.593387. [PMID: 38766169 PMCID: PMC11100810 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.09.593387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by two major diagnostic criteria - persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, and the presence of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior (RRBs). Evidence from both human and animal model studies of ASD suggest that alteration of striatal circuits, which mediate motor learning, action selection, and habit formation, may contribute to the manifestation of RRBs. CNTNAP2 is a syndromic ASD risk gene, and loss of function of Cntnap2 in mice is associated with RRBs. How loss of Cntnap2 impacts striatal neuron function is largely unknown. In this study, we utilized Cntnap2-/- mice to test whether altered striatal neuron activity contributes to aberrant motor behaviors relevant to ASD. We find that Cntnap2-/- mice exhibit increased cortical drive of striatal projection neurons (SPNs), with the most pronounced effects in direct pathway SPNs. This enhanced drive is likely due to increased intrinsic excitability of SPNs, which make them more responsive to cortical inputs. We also find that Cntnap2-/- mice exhibit spontaneous repetitive behaviors, increased motor routine learning, and cognitive inflexibility. Increased corticostriatal drive, in particular of the direct pathway, may contribute to the acquisition of repetitive, inflexible behaviors in Cntnap2 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R. Cording
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Emilie M. Tu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Hongli Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | | | - Helen S. Bateup
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
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7
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Morgan AT, Amor DJ, St John MD, Scheffer IE, Hildebrand MS. Genetic architecture of childhood speech disorder: a review. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:1281-1292. [PMID: 38366112 PMCID: PMC11189821 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02409-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Severe speech disorders lead to poor literacy, reduced academic attainment and negative psychosocial outcomes. As early as the 1950s, the familial nature of speech disorders was recognized, implying a genetic basis; but the molecular genetic basis remained unknown. In 2001, investigation of a large three generational family with severe speech disorder, known as childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), revealed the first causative gene; FOXP2. A long hiatus then followed for CAS candidate genes, but in the past three years, genetic analysis of cohorts ascertained for CAS have revealed over 30 causative genes. A total of 36 pathogenic variants have been identified from 122 cases across 3 cohorts in this nascent field. All genes identified have been in coding regions to date, with no apparent benefit at this stage for WGS over WES in identifying monogenic conditions associated with CAS. Hence current findings suggest a remarkable one in three children have a genetic variant that explains their CAS, with significant genetic heterogeneity emerging. Around half of the candidate genes identified are currently supported by medium (6 genes) to strong (9 genes) evidence supporting the association between the gene and CAS. Despite genetic heterogeneity; many implicated proteins functionally converge on pathways involved in chromatin modification or transcriptional regulation, opening the door to precision diagnosis and therapies. Most of the new candidate genes for CAS are associated with previously described neurodevelopmental conditions that include intellectual disability, autism and epilepsy; broadening the phenotypic spectrum to a distinctly milder presentation defined by primary speech disorder in the setting of normal intellect. Insights into the genetic bases of CAS, a severe, rare speech disorder, are yet to translate to understanding the heritability of more common, typically milder forms of speech or language impairment such as stuttering or phonological disorder. These disorders likely follow complex inheritance with polygenic contributions in many cases, rather than the monogenic patterns that underly one-third of patients with CAS. Clinical genetic testing for should now be implemented for individuals with CAS, given its high diagnostic rate, which parallels many other neurodevelopmental disorders where this testing is already standard of care. The shared mechanisms implicated by gene discovery for CAS highlight potential new targets for future precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela T Morgan
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Speech Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Speech Pathology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - David J Amor
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Miya D St John
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Speech Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael S Hildebrand
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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8
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Asthana S, Mott J, Tong M, Pei Z, Mao Y. The Exon Junction Complex Factor RBM8A in Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein-Expressing Astrocytes Modulates Locomotion Behaviors. Cells 2024; 13:498. [PMID: 38534343 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The role of RNA Binding Motif Protein 8a (RBM8A), an exon junction complex (EJC) component, in neurodevelopmental disorders has been increasingly studied for its crucial role in regulating multiple levels of gene expression. It regulates mRNA splicing, translation, and mRNA degradation and influences embryonic development. RBM8A protein is expressed in both neurons and astrocytes, but little is known about RBM8A's specific role in glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes. To address the role of RBM8A in astrocytes, we generated a conditional heterozygous knockout (KO) mouse line of Rbm8a in astrocytes using a GFAP-cre line. We confirmed a decreased expression of RBM8A in astrocytes of heterozygous conditional KO mice via RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing, as well as qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. Interestingly, these mice exhibit significantly increased movement and mobility, alongside sex-specific altered anxiety in the open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (OPM) tests. These tests, along with the rotarod test, suggest that these mice have normal motor coordination but hyperactive phenotypes. In addition, the haploinsufficiency of Rbm8a in astrocytes leads to a sex-specific change in astrocyte density in the dentate gyrus. This study further reveals the contribution of Rbm8a deletion to CNS pathology, generating more insights via the glial lens of an Rbm8a model of neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shravan Asthana
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jennifer Mott
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Mabel Tong
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Zifei Pei
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Yingwei Mao
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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9
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Ul Mudassir B, Agha Z. Novel and known minor alleles of CNTNAP2 gene variants are associated with comorbidity of intellectual disability and epilepsy phenotypes: a case-control association study reveals potential biomarkers. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:276. [PMID: 38315301 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09176-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodevelopmental disorders are heterogeneous due to underlying multiple shared genetic pathways and risk factors. Intellectual disability, epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder phenotypes overlap which indicates the diverse effects of common genes. Recent studies suggested the probable contribution of CNTNAP2 gene polymorphisms to the comorbidity of these neurological conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS This study was conducted to investigate the role of CNTNAP2 polymorphisms rs147815978 (G>T) and rs2710102 (A>G) as a risk factor for comorbidity of intellectual disability and epilepsy in a group of 345 individuals including 170 patients and 175 healthy controls recruited from various ethnic groups of Pakistani population. Our case-control study group was genotyped by tetra primer ARMS-PCR technique and results were analysed to know the effects of CNTNAP2 rs147815978 (G>T) and rs2710102 (A>G) polymorphisms in the group. The frequency of risk allele T (rs147815978) and risk allele G (rs2710102) for homozygous recessive genotypes (TT/GG) in our study group was 36.47% while odds ratios for risk allele T (rs147815978) was 5.45 (3.90-7.61: 95% CI, P = 0.000) and that for risk allele G (rs2710102) was 2.39 (1.76-3.24: 95% CI, P = 0.0001). Homozygous recessive genotypes (TT/GG) appeared only in cases and not in control group which indicated these as suspected risk genotypes and the significant association (p < 0.05%) of CNTNAP2 gene polymorphisms rs147815978 (G>T) and rs2710102 (A>G) with co-occurrence of intellectual disability and epilepsy phenotypes in our study group which is in HWE (χ2 = 174, P < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis shows additive (p < 0.0001) and multiplicative (p < 0.001) models which confirms significant association of both the polymorphisms in our data, which are closely located on same haplotype (D' = - 0.168). CONCLUSIONS We propose that CNTNAP2 rs147815978 (G>T) and rs2710102 (A>G) polymorphisms are possible risk loci for overlapping neurodevelopmental disorders in Pakistani population. We propose the role of a previously reported common SNP rs2710102 (A>G) with a rarely reported novel SNP rs147815978 (G>T) for CNTNAP2 gene association with neurodevelopmental disorders in our data. Our study has expanded the knowledge of CNTNAP2 gene polymorphisms as probable biomarkers for susceptibility of co-occurrence of intellectual disability and epilepsy phenotypes in Pakistani population. We hope that our study will open new horizons of CNTNAP2 gene variants research to cure the neurological conditions in Pakistani population where consanguinity is a tradition and prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders has increased from 1 to 2% during last 5 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behjat Ul Mudassir
- Translational Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Zehra Agha
- Translational Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
- Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
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10
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Hosseinzadeh L, Kikhtyak Z, Laven-Law G, Pederson SM, Puiu CG, D'Santos CS, Lim E, Carroll JS, Tilley WD, Dwyer AR, Hickey TE. The androgen receptor interacts with GATA3 to transcriptionally regulate a luminal epithelial cell phenotype in breast cancer. Genome Biol 2024; 25:44. [PMID: 38317241 PMCID: PMC10840202 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03161-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The androgen receptor (AR) is a tumor suppressor in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer, a role sustained in some ER negative breast cancers. Key factors dictating AR genomic activity in a breast context are largely unknown. Herein, we employ an unbiased chromatin immunoprecipitation-based proteomic technique to identify endogenous AR interacting co-regulatory proteins in ER positive and negative models of breast cancer to gain new insight into mechanisms of AR signaling in this disease. RESULTS The DNA-binding factor GATA3 is identified and validated as a novel AR interacting protein in breast cancer cells irrespective of ER status. AR activation by the natural ligand 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) increases nuclear AR-GATA3 interactions, resulting in AR-dependent enrichment of GATA3 chromatin binding at a sub-set of genomic loci. Silencing GATA3 reduces but does not prevent AR DNA binding and transactivation of genes associated with AR/GATA3 co-occupied loci, indicating a co-regulatory role for GATA3 in AR signaling. DHT-induced AR/GATA3 binding coincides with upregulation of luminal differentiation genes, including EHF and KDM4B, established master regulators of a breast epithelial cell lineage. These findings are validated in a patient-derived xenograft model of breast cancer. Interaction between AR and GATA3 is also associated with AR-mediated growth inhibition in ER positive and ER negative breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS AR and GATA3 interact to transcriptionally regulate luminal epithelial cell differentiation in breast cancer regardless of ER status. This interaction facilitates the tumor suppressor function of AR and mechanistically explains why AR expression is associated with less proliferative, more differentiated breast tumors and better overall survival in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Hosseinzadeh
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Zoya Kikhtyak
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Geraldine Laven-Law
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Stephen M Pederson
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Caroline G Puiu
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Clive S D'Santos
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elgene Lim
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jason S Carroll
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Wayne D Tilley
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Amy R Dwyer
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Theresa E Hickey
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
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11
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Choudhary P, Monasso GS, Karhunen V, Ronkainen J, Mancano G, Howe CG, Niu Z, Zeng X, Guan W, Dou J, Feinberg JI, Mordaunt C, Pesce G, Baïz N, Alfano R, Martens DS, Wang C, Isaevska E, Keikkala E, Mustaniemi S, Thio CHL, Fraszczyk E, Tobi EW, Starling AP, Cosin-Tomas M, Urquiza J, Röder S, Hoang TT, Page C, Jima DD, House JS, Maguire RL, Ott R, Pawlow X, Sirignano L, Zillich L, Malmberg A, Rauschert S, Melton P, Gong T, Karlsson R, Fore R, Perng W, Laubach ZM, Czamara D, Sharp G, Breton CV, Schisterman E, Yeung E, Mumford SL, Fallin MD, LaSalle JM, Schmidt RJ, Bakulski KM, Annesi-Maesano I, Heude B, Nawrot TS, Plusquin M, Ghantous A, Herceg Z, Nisticò L, Vafeiadi M, Kogevinas M, Vääräsmäki M, Kajantie E, Snieder H, Corpeleijn E, Steegers-Theunissen RPM, Yang IV, Dabelea D, Fossati S, Zenclussen AC, Herberth G, Magnus M, Håberg SE, London SJ, Munthe-Kaas MC, Murphy SK, Hoyo C, Ziegler AG, Hummel S, Witt SH, Streit F, Frank J, Räikkönen K, Lahti J, Huang RC, Almqvist C, Hivert MF, Jaddoe VWV, Järvelin MR, Kantomaa M, Felix JF, Sebert S. Maternal educational attainment in pregnancy and epigenome-wide DNA methylation changes in the offspring from birth until adolescence. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:348-358. [PMID: 38052982 PMCID: PMC11116099 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02331-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Maternal educational attainment (MEA) shapes offspring health through multiple potential pathways. Differential DNA methylation may provide a mechanistic understanding of these long-term associations. We aimed to quantify the associations of MEA with offspring DNA methylation levels at birth, in childhood and in adolescence. Using 37 studies from high-income countries, we performed meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) to quantify the associations of completed years of MEA at the time of pregnancy with offspring DNA methylation levels at birth (n = 9 881), in childhood (n = 2 017), and adolescence (n = 2 740), adjusting for relevant covariates. MEA was found to be associated with DNA methylation at 473 cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites at birth, one in childhood, and four in adolescence. We observed enrichment for findings from previous EWAS on maternal folate, vitamin-B12 concentrations, maternal smoking, and pre-pregnancy BMI. The associations were directionally consistent with MEA being inversely associated with behaviours including smoking and BMI. Our findings form a bridge between socio-economic factors and biology and highlight potential pathways underlying effects of maternal education. The results broaden our understanding of bio-social associations linked to differential DNA methylation in multiple early stages of life. The data generated also offers an important resource to help a more precise understanding of the social determinants of health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Choudhary
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Giulietta S Monasso
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ville Karhunen
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Justiina Ronkainen
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Giulia Mancano
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Medical School Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Zhongzheng Niu
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, USC Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Weihua Guan
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - John Dou
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jason I Feinberg
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MA, USA
| | - Charles Mordaunt
- Department of Medical Micriobiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Giancarlo Pesce
- Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases (EPAR) team, Faculté de Médecine Saint-Antoine, Institute Pierre Louis d'Epidemiologie et Sante Publique (IPLESP), Sorbonne Université and INSERM, Paris, France
- Paris-Saclay University, Paris-South University, UVSQ, Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), INSERM, Villejuif, France
| | - Nour Baïz
- Institute Desbrest of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Montpellier and INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Rossella Alfano
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Congrong Wang
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Elena Isaevska
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, Torino, Italy
| | - Elina Keikkala
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Population Health Unit, Public Health and Welfare, Helsinki and Oulu, Finland
| | - Sanna Mustaniemi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Population Health Unit, Public Health and Welfare, Helsinki and Oulu, Finland
| | - Chris H L Thio
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eliza Fraszczyk
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elmar W Tobi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anne P Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Marta Cosin-Tomas
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Urquiza
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefan Röder
- Department for Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thanh T Hoang
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Christian Page
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Section for Research Support, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dereje D Jima
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - John S House
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Rachel L Maguire
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Raffael Ott
- Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
- Forschergruppe Diabetes eV, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Xenia Pawlow
- Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
- Forschergruppe Diabetes eV, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Lea Sirignano
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lea Zillich
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anni Malmberg
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Phillip Melton
- Menzies Institute of Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- University of Western Australia, School of Population and Global Health, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Tong Gong
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Robert Karlsson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ruby Fore
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse (CoRAL), Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wei Perng
- Department of Epidemiology and the Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Zachary M Laubach
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Darina Czamara
- Department Genes and Environment, Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Kraepelinstrasse 2+10, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Gemma Sharp
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Medical School Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Carrie V Breton
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, USC Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Enrique Schisterman
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Edwina Yeung
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Sunni L Mumford
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - M Daniele Fallin
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MA, USA
| | - Janine M LaSalle
- Department of Medical Micriobiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca J Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis (UC Davis), Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kelly M Bakulski
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Isabella Annesi-Maesano
- Institute Desbrest of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Montpellier and INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Barbara Heude
- Université de Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Akram Ghantous
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Zdenko Herceg
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Lorenza Nisticò
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Vafeiadi
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Manolis Kogevinas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédicaen Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marja Vääräsmäki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Population Health Unit, Public Health and Welfare, Helsinki and Oulu, Finland
| | - Eero Kajantie
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Population Health Unit, Public Health and Welfare, Helsinki and Oulu, Finland
- Clinical Medicine Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Harold Snieder
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Corpeleijn
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Regine P M Steegers-Theunissen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ivana V Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics and Personalized Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Serena Fossati
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana C Zenclussen
- Department for Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gunda Herberth
- Department for Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maria Magnus
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Siri E Håberg
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephanie J London
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Monica Cheng Munthe-Kaas
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncology and Hematology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Cathrine Hoyo
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Anette-G Ziegler
- Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
- Forschergruppe Diabetes eV, Neuherberg, Germany
- Technical University Munich, School of Medicine, Forschergruppe Diabetes at Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Hummel
- Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
- Forschergruppe Diabetes eV, Neuherberg, Germany
- Technical University Munich, School of Medicine, Forschergruppe Diabetes at Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephanie H Witt
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Center for Innovative Psychiatric and Psychotherapeutic Research, Biobank, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Fabian Streit
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Josef Frank
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Katri Räikkönen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Lahti
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rae-Chi Huang
- Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- Edith Cowan University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | - Catarina Almqvist
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse (CoRAL), Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vincent W V Jaddoe
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marjo-Riitta Järvelin
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment & Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK
| | - Marko Kantomaa
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Janine F Felix
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sylvain Sebert
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
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Chowdhury FA, Sokolov E, Anderson J, Josifova DJ, Nashef L. Cerebral folate deficiency: a treatable cause of late deterioration in epilepsy with developmental delay. Pract Neurol 2024; 24:56-59. [PMID: 38135499 DOI: 10.1136/pn-2023-003727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
A 25-year-old woman with childhood-onset refractory epilepsy and developmental delay experienced a gradually progressive marked deterioration in mobility and seizure control, with language regression. Investigation identified a homozygous deletion within the contactin-associated protein-like 2 gene (CNTNAP2), underlying her early presentation, but also cerebral folate deficiency that most likely contributed to her later deterioration. Following antiseizure medication adjustment and treatment with folinic acid, she stabilised with improved seizure control and limited improvement in language and motor function; she has remained neurologically stable for more than a decade. That the previously observed neurological decline was halted by folinic acid replacement supports this being due to cerebral folate deficiency. Metabolic conditions are less well recognised in adults and can be under-diagnosed. They are potentially treatable and should be considered even in the presence of another cause, particularly when the presentation is not fully compatible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisaveta Sokolov
- Department of a Clinical Neurophysiology, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
- Department of Neurosciences, Cleveland Clinic London Hospital, London, UK
| | - Jessica Anderson
- Department of Medicine, Logan Hospital, Queensland, Australia, Logan Hospital, Loganholme, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dragana J Josifova
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Lina Nashef
- Department of Neurology, King s College Hospital, London, UK
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13
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Braz CU, Passamonti MM, Khatib H. Characterization of genomic regions escaping epigenetic reprogramming in sheep. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2023; 10:dvad010. [PMID: 38496251 PMCID: PMC10944287 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvad010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The mammalian genome undergoes two global epigenetic reprogramming events during the establishment of primordial germ cells and in the pre-implantation embryo after fertilization. These events involve the erasure and re-establishment of DNA methylation marks. However, imprinted genes and transposable elements (TEs) maintain their DNA methylation signatures to ensure normal embryonic development and genome stability. Despite extensive research in mice and humans, there is limited knowledge regarding environmentally induced epigenetic marks that escape epigenetic reprogramming in other species. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the characteristics and locations of genomic regions that evade epigenetic reprogramming in sheep, as well as to explore the biological functions of the genes within these regions. In a previous study, we identified 107 transgenerationally inherited differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs) in the F1 and F2 generations in response to a paternal methionine-supplemented diet. These DMCs were found in TEs, non-repetitive regions, and imprinted and non-imprinted genes. Our findings suggest that genomic regions, rather than TEs and imprinted genes, have the propensity to escape reprogramming and serve as potential candidates for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Notably, 34 transgenerational methylated genes influenced by paternal nutrition escaped reprogramming, impacting growth, development, male fertility, cardiac disorders, and neurodevelopment. Intriguingly, among these genes, 21 have been associated with neural development and brain disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disease, and intellectual disability. This suggests a potential genetic overlap between brain and infertility disorders. Overall, our study supports the concept of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of environmentally induced marks in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila U Braz
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Matilde Maria Passamonti
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Universit’a Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, 29122, Italy
| | - Hasan Khatib
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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14
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Gao C, Zhu H, Gong P, Wu C, Xu X, Zhu X. The functions of FOXP transcription factors and their regulation by post-translational modifications. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2023; 1866:194992. [PMID: 37797785 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2023.194992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The forkhead box subfamily P (FOXP) of transcription factors, consisting of FOXP1, FOXP2, FOXP3, and FOXP4, is involved in the regulation of multisystemic functioning. Disruption of the transcriptional activity of FOXP proteins leads to neurodevelopmental disorders and immunological diseases, as well as the suppression or promotion of carcinogenesis. The transcriptional activities of FOXP proteins are directly or indirectly regulated by diverse post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, acetylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and methylation. Here, we discuss how post-translational modifications modulate the multiple functions of FOXP proteins and examine the implications for tumorigenesis and cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congwen Gao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability & Disease Prevention and Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China; College of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Honglin Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability & Disease Prevention and Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Peng Gong
- Department of General Surgery & Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors & Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Chen Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Xingzhi Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability & Disease Prevention and Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China.
| | - Xuefei Zhu
- Department of General Surgery & Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors & Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China.
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15
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St George-Hyslop F, Haneklaus M, Kivisild T, Livesey FJ. Loss of CNTNAP2 Alters Human Cortical Excitatory Neuron Differentiation and Neural Network Development. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:780-791. [PMID: 37001843 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loss-of-function mutations in the contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene are causal for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and intellectual disability. CNTNAP2 encodes CASPR2, a single-pass transmembrane protein that belongs to the neurexin family of cell adhesion molecules. These proteins have a variety of functions in developing neurons, including connecting presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons, and mediating signaling across the synapse. METHODS To study the effect of loss of CNTNAP2 function on human cerebral cortex development, and how this contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders, we generated human induced pluripotent stem cells from one neurotypical control donor null for full-length CNTNAP2, modeling cortical development from neurogenesis through to neural network formation in vitro. RESULTS CNTNAP2 is particularly highly expressed in the first two populations of early-born excitatory cortical neurons, and loss of CNTNAP2 shifted the relative proportions of these two neuronal types. Live imaging of excitatory neuronal growth showed that loss of CNTNAP2 reduced neurite branching and overall neuronal complexity. At the network level, developing cortical excitatory networks null for CNTNAP2 had complex changes in activity compared with isogenic controls: an initial period of relatively reduced activity compared with isogenic controls, followed by a lengthy period of hyperexcitability, and then a further switch to reduced activity. CONCLUSIONS Complete loss of CNTNAP2 contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders through complex changes in several aspects of human cerebral cortex excitatory neuron development that culminate in aberrant neural network formation and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances St George-Hyslop
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Moritz Haneklaus
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Toomas Kivisild
- Estonian Biocentre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederick J Livesey
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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16
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Shi X, Lu C, Corman A, Nikish A, Zhou Y, Platt RJ, Iossifov I, Zhang F, Pan JQ, Sanjana NE. Heterozygous deletion of the autism-associated gene CHD8 impairs synaptic function through widespread changes in gene expression and chromatin compaction. Am J Hum Genet 2023; 110:1750-1768. [PMID: 37802044 PMCID: PMC10577079 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Whole-exome sequencing of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) probands and unaffected family members has identified many genes harboring de novo variants suspected to play a causal role in the disorder. Of these, chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8 (CHD8) is the most recurrently mutated. Despite the prevalence of CHD8 mutations, we have little insight into how CHD8 loss affects genome organization or the functional consequences of these molecular alterations in neurons. Here, we engineered two isogenic human embryonic stem cell lines with CHD8 loss-of-function mutations and characterized differences in differentiated human cortical neurons. We identified hundreds of genes with altered expression, including many involved in neural development and excitatory synaptic transmission. Field recordings and single-cell electrophysiology revealed a 3-fold decrease in firing rates and synaptic activity in CHD8+/- neurons, as well as a similar firing-rate deficit in primary cortical neurons from Chd8+/- mice. These alterations in neuron and synapse function can be reversed by CHD8 overexpression. Moreover, CHD8+/- neurons displayed a large increase in open chromatin across the genome, where the greatest change in compaction was near autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2), which encodes a transcriptional regulator implicated in ASD. Genes with changes in chromatin accessibility and expression in CHD8+/- neurons have significant overlap with genes mutated in probands for ASD, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia but not with genes mutated in healthy controls or other disease cohorts. Overall, this study characterizes key molecular alterations in genome structure and expression in CHD8+/- neurons and links these changes to impaired neuronal and synaptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Shi
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Congyi Lu
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alba Corman
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexandra Nikish
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Randy J Platt
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Iossifov
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jen Q Pan
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Neville E Sanjana
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
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17
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Robinson BG, Oster BA, Robertson K, Kaltschmidt JA. Loss of ASD-Related Molecule Cntnap2 Affects Colonic Motility in Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.17.537221. [PMID: 37131706 PMCID: PMC10153124 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.17.537221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are highly prevalent among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the molecular link between ASD and GI dysfunction remains poorly understood. The enteric nervous system (ENS) is critical for normal GI motility and has been shown to be altered in mouse models of ASD and other neurological disorders. Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2) is an ASD-related synaptic cell-adhesion molecule important for sensory processing. In this study, we examine the role of Cntnap2 in GI motility by characterizing Cntnap2's expression in the ENS and assessing GI function in Cntnap2 mutant mice. We find Cntnap2 expression predominately in enteric sensory neurons. We further assess in-vivo and ex-vivo GI motility in Cntnap2 mutants and show altered transit time and colonic motility patterns. The overall organization of the ENS appears undisturbed. Our results suggest that Cntnap2 plays a role in GI function and may provide a molecular link between ASD and GI dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz G. Robinson
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Neurosciences IDP Graduate Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Beau A. Oster
- Nevada ENDURE Program, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Keiramarie Robertson
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Neurosciences IDP Graduate Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Julia A. Kaltschmidt
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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18
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Kuś J, Saramowicz K, Czerniawska M, Wiese W, Siwecka N, Rozpędek-Kamińska W, Kucharska-Lusina A, Strzelecki D, Majsterek I. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying NMDARs Dysfunction and Their Role in ADHD Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12983. [PMID: 37629164 PMCID: PMC10454781 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, although the aetiology of ADHD is not yet understood. One proposed theory for developing ADHD is N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) dysfunction. NMDARs are involved in regulating synaptic plasticity and memory function in the brain. Abnormal expression or polymorphism of some genes associated with ADHD results in NMDAR dysfunction. Correspondingly, NMDAR malfunction in animal models results in ADHD-like symptoms, such as impulsivity and hyperactivity. Currently, there are no drugs for ADHD that specifically target NMDARs. However, NMDAR-stabilizing drugs have shown promise in improving ADHD symptoms with fewer side effects than the currently most widely used psychostimulant in ADHD treatment, methylphenidate. In this review, we outline the molecular and genetic basis of NMDAR malfunction and how it affects the course of ADHD. We also present new therapeutic options related to treating ADHD by targeting NMDAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Kuś
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (J.K.); (K.S.); (M.C.); (W.W.); (N.S.); (W.R.-K.); (A.K.-L.)
| | - Kamil Saramowicz
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (J.K.); (K.S.); (M.C.); (W.W.); (N.S.); (W.R.-K.); (A.K.-L.)
| | - Maria Czerniawska
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (J.K.); (K.S.); (M.C.); (W.W.); (N.S.); (W.R.-K.); (A.K.-L.)
| | - Wojciech Wiese
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (J.K.); (K.S.); (M.C.); (W.W.); (N.S.); (W.R.-K.); (A.K.-L.)
| | - Natalia Siwecka
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (J.K.); (K.S.); (M.C.); (W.W.); (N.S.); (W.R.-K.); (A.K.-L.)
| | - Wioletta Rozpędek-Kamińska
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (J.K.); (K.S.); (M.C.); (W.W.); (N.S.); (W.R.-K.); (A.K.-L.)
| | - Aleksandra Kucharska-Lusina
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (J.K.); (K.S.); (M.C.); (W.W.); (N.S.); (W.R.-K.); (A.K.-L.)
| | - Dominik Strzelecki
- Department of Affective and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, Czechoslowacka 8/10, 92-216 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Ireneusz Majsterek
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (J.K.); (K.S.); (M.C.); (W.W.); (N.S.); (W.R.-K.); (A.K.-L.)
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19
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Naudhani S, Ahmad A, Khan Bazai F, Pervez MT, Zafar A, Shah SA, Raheem N, Baloch AH, Mushtaq M, Daud S. A Missense Pathogenic Variant in a Conserved Region of CNTNAP2 Is Associated with Obesity, Seizures, and Language Impairment in a Pakistani Family. Mol Syndromol 2023; 14:293-302. [PMID: 37766826 PMCID: PMC10521233 DOI: 10.1159/000529427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In a consanguineous family, seven siblings born in three sibships showed a syndromic disorder characterized by obesity, seizures, and language impairment phenotypes, which appeared at early age or developed during early childhood. Methods By whole-exome sequencing and subsequent Sanger sequencing, a novel homozygous missense variant (c.3371 T>A [p.Ile1124Asn]) in exon 20 of the CNTNAP2 gene was identified. Results The pathogenic variant in this family is located within one of the laminin G-like 4 domains of CASPR2 and may cause loss of hydrophobic interactions of CASPR2 with its partner proteins. Single nucleotide and copy number variants in this gene have previously been related to Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy syndrome, schizophrenia, Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, and autism spectrum, attention deficit hyperactivity, and obsessive compulsive disorders. Yet, few studies described patients with CNTNAP2 variants showing diet-induced obesity. Conclusion This report expands the phenotypic spectrum of this rare syndrome and provides deeper insights by documenting the clinical features and genetic findings of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Naudhani
- Department of Biotechnology, BUITEMS, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Adeel Ahmad
- Continental Medical College and Hayat Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Fariya Khan Bazai
- Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences/Combined Military Hospital, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tariq Pervez
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Virtual University of Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Azqa Zafar
- Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sajjad Ali Shah
- Institute of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Pakistan
| | | | - Abdul Hameed Baloch
- Department of Biotechnology, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS), Uthal, Pakistan
| | | | - Shakeela Daud
- Department of Biotechnology, BUITEMS, Quetta, Pakistan
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20
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McCanlies EC, Gu JK, Kashon M, Yucesoy B, Ma CC, Sanderson WT, Kim K, Ludeña-Rodriguez YJ, Hertz-Picciotto I. Parental occupational exposure to solvents and autism spectrum disorder: An exploratory look at gene-environment interactions. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 228:115769. [PMID: 37004853 PMCID: PMC10273405 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Erin C McCanlies
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA.
| | - Ja Kook Gu
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Michael Kashon
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Berran Yucesoy
- Former Affiliate of Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Claudia C Ma
- Former Affiliate of Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | | | - Kyoungmi Kim
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | | | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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21
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Brand CM, Colbran LL, Capra JA. Resurrecting the alternative splicing landscape of archaic hominins using machine learning. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:939-953. [PMID: 37142741 PMCID: PMC11440953 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02053-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing contributes to adaptation and divergence in many species. However, it has not been possible to directly compare splicing between modern and archaic hominins. Here, we unmask the recent evolution of this previously unobservable regulatory mechanism by applying SpliceAI, a machine-learning algorithm that identifies splice-altering variants (SAVs), to high-coverage genomes from three Neanderthals and a Denisovan. We discover 5,950 putative archaic SAVs, of which 2,186 are archaic-specific and 3,607 also occur in modern humans via introgression (244) or shared ancestry (3,520). Archaic-specific SAVs are enriched in genes that contribute to traits potentially relevant to hominin phenotypic divergence, such as the epidermis, respiration and spinal rigidity. Compared to shared SAVs, archaic-specific SAVs occur in sites under weaker selection and are more common in genes with tissue-specific expression. Further underscoring the importance of negative selection on SAVs, Neanderthal lineages with low effective population sizes are enriched for SAVs compared to Denisovan and shared SAVs. Finally, we find that nearly all introgressed SAVs in humans were shared across the three Neanderthals, suggesting that older SAVs were more tolerated in human genomes. Our results reveal the splicing landscape of archaic hominins and identify potential contributions of splicing to phenotypic differences among hominins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M Brand
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Laura L Colbran
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John A Capra
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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22
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Gandhi T, Canepa CR, Adeyelu TT, Adeniyi PA, Lee CC. Neuroanatomical Alterations in the CNTNAP2 Mouse Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Sci 2023; 13:891. [PMID: 37371370 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with neurodevelopmental alterations, including atypical forebrain cellular organization. Mutations in several ASD-related genes often result in cerebral cortical anomalies, such as the abnormal developmental migration of excitatory pyramidal cells and the malformation of inhibitory neuronal circuitry. Notably here, mutations in the CNTNAP2 gene result in ectopic superficial cortical neurons stalled in lower cortical layers and alterations to the balance of cortical excitation and inhibition. However, the broader circuit-level implications of these findings have not been previously investigated. Therefore, we assessed whether ectopic cortical neurons in CNTNAP2 mutant mice form aberrant connections with higher-order thalamic nuclei, potentially accounting for some autistic behaviors, such as repetitive and hyperactive behaviors. Furthermore, we assessed whether the development of parvalbumin-positive (PV) cortical interneurons and their specialized matrix support structures, called perineuronal nets (PNNs), were altered in these mutant mice. We found alterations in both ectopic neuronal connectivity and in the development of PNNs, PV neurons and PNNs enwrapping PV neurons in various sensory cortical regions and at different postnatal ages in the CNTNAP2 mutant mice, which likely lead to some of the cortical excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance associated with ASD. These findings suggest neuroanatomical alterations in cortical regions that underlie the emergence of ASD-related behaviors in this mouse model of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Gandhi
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
| | - Cade R Canepa
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
| | - Tolulope T Adeyelu
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
| | - Philip A Adeniyi
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
| | - Charles C Lee
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA
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23
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Goud TJ. Epigenetic and Long-Term Effects of Nicotine on Biology, Behavior, and Health. Pharmacol Res 2023; 192:106741. [PMID: 37149116 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Tobacco and nicotine use are associated with disease susceptibility and progression. Health challenges associated with nicotine and smoking include developmental delays, addiction, mental health and behavioral changes, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, endocrine disorders, diabetes, immune system changes, and cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that nicotine-associated epigenetic changes may mediate or moderate the development and progression of a myriad of negative health outcomes. In addition, nicotine exposure may confer increased lifelong susceptibility to disease and mental health challenges through alteration of epigenetic signaling. This review examines the relationship between nicotine exposure (and smoking), epigenetic changes, and maladaptive outcomes that include developmental disorders, addiction, mental health challenges, pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, endocrine disorders, diabetes, immune system changes, and cancer. Overall, findings support the contention that nicotine (or smoking) associated altered epigenetic signaling is a contributing factor to disease and health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Goud
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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24
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Zheng A, Scott KE, Schormans AL, Mann R, Allman BL, Schmid S. Differences in Startle and Prepulse Inhibition in Contactin-associated Protein-like 2 Knock-out Rats are Associated with Sex-specific Alterations in Brainstem Neural Activity. Neuroscience 2023; 513:96-110. [PMID: 36708798 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene encodes for the CASPR2 protein, which plays an essential role in neurodevelopment. Mutations in CNTNAP2 are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Rats with a loss of function mutation in the Cntnap2 gene show increased acoustic startle response (ASR) and decreased prepulse inhibition (PPI). The neural basis of this altered auditory processing in Cntnap2 knock-out rats is currently unknown. Auditory brainstem recordings previously revealed no differences between the genotypes. The next step is to investigate brainstem structures outside of the primary auditory pathway that mediate ASR and PPI, which are the pontine reticular nucleus (PnC) and pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPTg), respectively. Multi-unit responses from the PnC and PPTg in vivo of the same rats revealed sex-specific effects of loss of CASPR2 expression on PnC activity, but no effects on PPTg activity. Female Cntnap2-/- rats showed considerably increased PnC firing rates compared with female wildtypes, whereas the difference between the genotypes was modest in male rats. In contrast, for both females and males we found meager differences between the genotypes for PPTg firing rates and inhibition of PnC firing rates, indicating that altered firing rates of these brainstem structures are not responsible for decreased PPI in Cntnap2-/- rats. We conclude that the auditory processing changes seen in Cntnap2-/- rats are associated with, but cannot be fully explained by, differences in PnC firing rates, and that a loss of function mutation in the Cntnap2 gene has differential effects depending on sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Zheng
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Kaela E Scott
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Ashley L Schormans
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Rajkamalpreet Mann
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian L Allman
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada.
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25
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Bagnall-Moreau C, Spielman B, Brimberg L. Maternal brain reactive antibodies profile in autism spectrum disorder: an update. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:37. [PMID: 36737600 PMCID: PMC9898547 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02335-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with multifactorial etiologies involving both genetic and environmental factors. In the past two decades it has become clear that in utero exposure to toxins, inflammation, microbiome, and antibodies (Abs), may play a role in the etiology of ASD. Maternal brain-reactive Abs, present in 10-20% of mothers of a child with ASD, pose a potential risk to the developing brain because they can gain access to the brain during gestation, altering brain development during a critical period. Different maternal anti-brain Abs have been associated with ASD and have been suggested to bind extracellular or intracellular neuronal antigens. Clinical data from various cohorts support the increase in prevalence of such maternal brain-reactive Abs in mothers of a child with ASD compared to mothers of a typically developing child. Animal models of both non-human primates and rodents have provided compelling evidence supporting a pathogenic role of these Abs. In this review we summarize the data from clinical and animal models addressing the role of pathogenic maternal Abs in ASD. We propose that maternal brain-reactive Abs are an overlooked and promising field of research, representing a modifiable risk factor that may account for up to 20% of cases of ASD. More studies are needed to better characterize the Abs that contribute to the risk of having a child with ASD, to understand whether we can we predict such cases of ASD, and to better pinpoint the antigenic specificity of these Abs and their mechanisms of pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara Bagnall-Moreau
- grid.250903.d0000 0000 9566 0634Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, New York, NY USA
| | - Benjamin Spielman
- grid.250903.d0000 0000 9566 0634Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, New York, NY USA ,grid.512756.20000 0004 0370 4759Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY USA
| | - Lior Brimberg
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, New York, NY, USA. .,Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA.
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26
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Talpo F, Spaiardi P, Castagno AN, Maniezzi C, Raffin F, Terribile G, Sancini G, Pisani A, Biella GR. Neuromodulatory functions exerted by oxytocin on different populations of hippocampal neurons in rodents. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1082010. [PMID: 36816855 PMCID: PMC9932910 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1082010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide widely known for its peripheral hormonal effects (i.e., parturition and lactation) and central neuromodulatory functions, related especially to social behavior and social, spatial, and episodic memory. The hippocampus is a key structure for these functions, it is innervated by oxytocinergic fibers, and contains OT receptors (OTRs). The hippocampal OTR distribution is not homogeneous among its subregions and types of neuronal cells, reflecting the specificity of oxytocin's modulatory action. In this review, we describe the most recent discoveries in OT/OTR signaling in the hippocampus, focusing primarily on the electrophysiological oxytocinergic modulation of the OTR-expressing hippocampal neurons. We then look at the effect this modulation has on the balance of excitation/inhibition and synaptic plasticity in each hippocampal subregion. Additionally, we review OTR downstream signaling, which underlies the OT effects observed in different types of hippocampal neuron. Overall, this review comprehensively summarizes the advancements in unraveling the neuromodulatory functions exerted by OT on specific hippocampal networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Talpo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Paolo Spaiardi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonio Nicolas Castagno
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudia Maniezzi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Raffin
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Terribile
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Sancini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy,Nanomedicine Center, Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Pisani
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy,Neurological Institute Foundation Casimiro Mondino (IRCCS), Pavia, Italy
| | - Gerardo Rosario Biella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy,*Correspondence: Gerardo Rosario Biella,
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27
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Ahmed NY, Knowles R, Liu L, Yan Y, Li X, Schumann U, Wang Y, Sontani Y, Reynolds N, Natoli R, Wen J, Del Pino I, Mi D, Dehorter N. Developmental deficits of MGE-derived interneurons in the Cntnap2 knockout mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1112062. [PMID: 36819097 PMCID: PMC9930104 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1112062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Interneurons are fundamental cells for maintaining the excitation-inhibition balance in the brain in health and disease. While interneurons have been shown to play a key role in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adult mice, little is known about how their maturation is altered in the developing striatum in ASD. Here, we aimed to track striatal developing interneurons and elucidate the molecular and physiological alterations in the Cntnap2 knockout mouse model. Using Stereo-seq and single-cell RNA sequencing data, we first characterized the pattern of expression of Cntnap2 in the adult brain and at embryonic stages in the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE), a transitory structure producing most cortical and striatal interneurons. We found that Cntnap2 is enriched in the striatum, compared to the cortex, particularly in the developing striatal cholinergic interneurons. We then revealed enhanced MGE-derived cell proliferation, followed by increased cell loss during the canonical window of developmental cell death in the Cntnap2 knockout mice. We uncovered specific cellular and molecular alterations in the developing Lhx6-expressing cholinergic interneurons of the striatum, which impacts interneuron firing properties during the first postnatal week. Overall, our work unveils some of the mechanisms underlying the shift in the developmental trajectory of striatal interneurons which greatly contribute to the ASD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noorya Yasmin Ahmed
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Rhys Knowles
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Lixinyu Liu
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yiming Yan
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohan Li
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ulrike Schumann
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yumeng Wang
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yovina Sontani
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Nathan Reynolds
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Riccardo Natoli
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Jiayu Wen
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Isabel Del Pino
- Institute of Neurosciences, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
| | - Da Mi
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Nathalie Dehorter
- The Australian National University, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, ACT, Australia,*Correspondence: Nathalie Dehorter,
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Epigenetic profile of Japanese supercentenarians: a cross-sectional study. THE LANCET. HEALTHY LONGEVITY 2023; 4:e83-e90. [PMID: 36738748 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-7568(23)00002-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Centenarians and supercentenarians with exceptional longevity are excellent models for research towards improvements of healthy life expectancy. Extensive research regarding the maintenance and reduction of epigenetic age has provided insights into increasing healthy longevity. To this end, we explored the epigenetic signatures reflecting hallmarks of exceptional healthy longevity, including avoidance of age-related diseases and cognitive functional decline. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled Japanese non-centenarians (eligible participants aged 20-80 years) from the Tohoku Medical Megabank Community-Based Cohort Study and centenarians and supercentenarians (aged 101-115 years) from the Tokyo Centenarian Study and the Japanese Semi-supercentenarian Study. We assessed participants' whole-blood DNA methylation profiles and then developed sex-specific and non-specific first-generation epigenetic clocks by elastic net regression, calculated individuals' epigenetic ages, and assessed their age acceleration. We also screened for age-related CpG sites in non-centenarians by epigenome-wide linear regression analyses and ANOVA. We subsequently investigated which CpG sites in centenarians and supercentenarians had DNA methylation patterns following the age-related findings obtained from non-centenarians and which did not. We further characterised CpG sites with hypermethylation or hypomethylation in the centenarians and supercentenarians using enrichment and protein-protein interaction network analyses. FINDINGS We enrolled 421 non-centenarians (231 [55%] women and 190 [45%] men; age range 20-78 years), recruited between May 20, 2013, and March 31, 2016, and 94 centenarians and supercentenarians (66 women [70%] and 28 [30%] men; age range 101-115 years), recruited between Jan 20, 2001, and April 17, 2018. Non-sex-specific epigenetic clock showed the highest accuracy (r=0·96) based on which centenarians and supercentenarians had negative epigenetic age acceleration. Epigenome-wide association analyses further showed that centenarians and supercentenarians had younger-than-expected epigenetic states (DNA methylation profiles similar to those of non-centenarians) for 557 CpG sites enriched in cancer-related and neuropsychiatric-related genes, whereas these individuals had advanced (or older) epigenetic states for 163 CpG sites represented by genes related to TGF-β signalling, which is involved in anti-inflammatory responses and known to contribute to healthy ageing. INTERPRETATION These results indicate that exceptionally healthy longevity depends not only on maintaining young epigenetic states but also on advanced states of specific epigenetic regions. FUNDING The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, KDDI Research, and Keio University. TRANSLATION For the Japanese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
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Cifuentes-Diaz C, Canali G, Garcia M, Druart M, Manett T, Savariradjane M, Guillaume C, Le Magueresse C, Goutebroze L. Differential impacts of Cntnap2 heterozygosity and Cntnap2 null homozygosity on axon and myelinated fiber development in mouse. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1100121. [PMID: 36793543 PMCID: PMC9922869 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, a large variety of alterations of the Contactin Associated Protein 2 (CNTNAP2) gene, encoding Caspr2, have been identified in several neuronal disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders and peripheral neuropathies. Some of these alterations are homozygous but most are heterozygous, and one of the current challenges is to estimate to what extent they could affect the functions of Caspr2 and contribute to the development of these pathologies. Notably, it is not known whether the disruption of a single CNTNAP2 allele could be sufficient to perturb the functions of Caspr2. To get insights into this issue, we questioned whether Cntnap2 heterozygosity and Cntnap2 null homozygosity in mice could both impact, either similarly or differentially, some specific functions of Caspr2 during development and in adulthood. We focused on yet poorly explored functions of Caspr2 in axon development and myelination, and performed a morphological study from embryonic day E17.5 to adulthood of two major brain interhemispheric myelinated tracts, the anterior commissure (AC) and the corpus callosum (CC), comparing wild-type (WT), Cntnap2 -/- and Cntnap2 +/- mice. We also looked for myelinated fiber abnormalities in the sciatic nerves of mutant mice. Our work revealed that Caspr2 controls the morphology of the CC and AC throughout development, axon diameter at early developmental stages, cortical neuron intrinsic excitability at the onset of myelination, and axon diameter and myelin thickness at later developmental stages. Changes in axon diameter, myelin thickness and node of Ranvier morphology were also detected in the sciatic nerves of the mutant mice. Importantly, most of the parameters analyzed were affected in Cntnap2 +/- mice, either specifically, more severely, or oppositely as compared to Cntnap2 -/- mice. In addition, Cntnap2 +/- mice, but not Cntnap2 -/- mice, showed motor/coordination deficits in the grid-walking test. Thus, our observations show that both Cntnap2 heterozygosity and Cntnap2 null homozygosity impact axon and central and peripheral myelinated fiber development, but in a differential manner. This is a first step indicating that CNTNAP2 alterations could lead to a multiplicity of phenotypes in humans, and raising the need to evaluate the impact of Cntnap2 heterozygosity on the other neurodevelopmental functions of Caspr2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Cifuentes-Diaz
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Giorgia Canali
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Marta Garcia
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Mélanie Druart
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Taylor Manett
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Mythili Savariradjane
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Camille Guillaume
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Corentin Le Magueresse
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Goutebroze
- Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)-S 1270, Paris, France,Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne University, Paris, France,Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France,*Correspondence: Laurence Goutebroze,
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Dubonyte U, Asenjo-Martinez A, Werge T, Lage K, Kirkeby A. Current advancements of modelling schizophrenia using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:183. [PMID: 36527106 PMCID: PMC9756764 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01460-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe psychiatric disorder, with a prevalence of 1-2% world-wide and substantial health- and social care costs. The pathology is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, however the underlying cause still remains elusive. SZ has symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, confused thoughts, diminished emotional responses, social withdrawal and anhedonia. The onset of psychosis is usually in late adolescence or early adulthood. Multiple genome-wide association and whole exome sequencing studies have provided extraordinary insights into the genetic variants underlying familial as well as polygenic forms of the disease. Nonetheless, a major limitation in schizophrenia research remains the lack of clinically relevant animal models, which in turn hampers the development of novel effective therapies for the patients. The emergence of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology has allowed researchers to work with SZ patient-derived neuronal and glial cell types in vitro and to investigate the molecular basis of the disorder in a human neuronal context. In this review, we summarise findings from available studies using hiPSC-based neural models and discuss how these have provided new insights into molecular and cellular pathways of SZ. Further, we highlight different examples of how these models have shown alterations in neurogenesis, neuronal maturation, neuronal connectivity and synaptic impairment as well as mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulation of miRNAs in SZ patient-derived cultures compared to controls. We discuss the pros and cons of these models and describe the potential of using such models for deciphering the contribution of specific human neural cell types to the development of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugne Dubonyte
- Department of Neuroscience and Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrea Asenjo-Martinez
- Department of Neuroscience and Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Werge
- Institute of Biological Psychiatry, Mental Health Services, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Lundbeck Foundation Center for GeoGenetics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kasper Lage
- Institute of Biological Psychiatry, Mental Health Services, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research and The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Agnete Kirkeby
- Department of Neuroscience and Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Experimental Medical Science and Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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31
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Vernes SC, Devanna P, Hörpel SG, Alvarez van Tussenbroek I, Firzlaff U, Hagoort P, Hiller M, Hoeksema N, Hughes GM, Lavrichenko K, Mengede J, Morales AE, Wiesmann M. The pale spear-nosed bat: A neuromolecular and transgenic model for vocal learning. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2022; 1517:125-142. [PMID: 36069117 PMCID: PMC9826251 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Vocal learning, the ability to produce modified vocalizations via learning from acoustic signals, is a key trait in the evolution of speech. While extensively studied in songbirds, mammalian models for vocal learning are rare. Bats present a promising study system given their gregarious natures, small size, and the ability of some species to be maintained in captive colonies. We utilize the pale spear-nosed bat (Phyllostomus discolor) and report advances in establishing this species as a tractable model for understanding vocal learning. We have taken an interdisciplinary approach, aiming to provide an integrated understanding across genomics (Part I), neurobiology (Part II), and transgenics (Part III). In Part I, we generated new, high-quality genome annotations of coding genes and noncoding microRNAs to facilitate functional and evolutionary studies. In Part II, we traced connections between auditory-related brain regions and reported neuroimaging to explore the structure of the brain and gene expression patterns to highlight brain regions. In Part III, we created the first successful transgenic bats by manipulating the expression of FoxP2, a speech-related gene. These interdisciplinary approaches are facilitating a mechanistic and evolutionary understanding of mammalian vocal learning and can also contribute to other areas of investigation that utilize P. discolor or bats as study species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja C. Vernes
- School of BiologyUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK,Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication GroupMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Paolo Devanna
- School of BiologyUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK,Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication GroupMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Stephen Gareth Hörpel
- School of BiologyUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK,Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication GroupMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNijmegenThe Netherlands,TUM School of Life SciencesTechnical University of MunichFreisingGermany
| | - Ine Alvarez van Tussenbroek
- School of BiologyUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK,Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication GroupMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Uwe Firzlaff
- TUM School of Life SciencesTechnical University of MunichFreisingGermany
| | - Peter Hagoort
- Neurobiology of Language DepartmentMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Michael Hiller
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Faculty of Biosciences, Senckenberg Research Institute, Goethe‐UniversityFrankfurtGermany
| | - Nienke Hoeksema
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication GroupMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNijmegenThe Netherlands,Neurobiology of Language DepartmentMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Graham M. Hughes
- School of Biology and Environmental ScienceUniversity College DublinBelfieldIreland
| | - Ksenia Lavrichenko
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication GroupMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Janine Mengede
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication GroupMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Ariadna E. Morales
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Faculty of Biosciences, Senckenberg Research Institute, Goethe‐UniversityFrankfurtGermany
| | - Maximilian Wiesmann
- Department of Medical ImagingAnatomyRadboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition & Behavior, Center for Medical Neuroscience, Preclinical Imaging Center PRIME, Radboud Alzheimer CenterNijmegenThe Netherlands
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32
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Scott KE, Mann RS, Schormans AL, Schmid S, Allman BL. Hyperexcitable and immature-like neuronal activity in the auditory cortex of adult rats lacking the language-linked CNTNAP2 gene. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:4797-4817. [PMID: 35106542 PMCID: PMC9626820 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The contactin-associated protein-like 2 gene, CNTNAP2, is a highly penetrant risk gene thought to play a role in the genetic etiology of language-related disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and developmental language disorder. Despite its candidacy for influencing language development, few preclinical studies have examined the role of CNTNAP2 in auditory processing. Using in vivo and in vitro electrophysiological recordings in a rat model with translational validity, we report that a loss of the Cntnap2 gene function caused immature-like cortical evoked potentials, delayed multiunit response latencies to acoustic stimuli, impaired temporal processing, and led to a pattern of hyperexcitability in both multiunit and single cell recordings in adulthood. These collective results provide direct evidence that a constitutive loss of Cntnap2 gene function in rats can cause auditory processing impairments similar to those seen in language-related human disorders, indicating that its contribution in maintaining cortical neuron excitability may underlie the cortical activity alterations observed in Cntnap2-/- rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaela E Scott
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Rajkamalpreet S Mann
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ashley L Schormans
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Brian L Allman
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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33
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Cabana-Domínguez J, Soler Artigas M, Arribas L, Alemany S, Vilar-Ribó L, Llonga N, Fadeuilhe C, Corrales M, Richarte V, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Ribasés M. Comprehensive analysis of omics data identifies relevant gene networks for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:409. [PMID: 36153331 PMCID: PMC9509350 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02182-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that results from the interaction of both genetic and environmental risk factors. Genome-wide association studies have started to identify multiple genetic risk loci associated with ADHD, however, the exact causal genes and biological mechanisms remain largely unknown. We performed a multi-step analysis to identify and characterize modules of co-expressed genes associated with ADHD using data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 270 ADHD cases and 279 controls. We identified seven ADHD-associated modules of co-expressed genes, some of them enriched in both genetic and epigenetic signatures for ADHD and in biological pathways relevant for psychiatric disorders, such as the regulation of gene expression, epigenetics and immune system. In addition, for some of the modules, we found evidence of potential regulatory mechanisms, including microRNAs and common genetic variants. In conclusion, our results point to promising genes and pathways for ADHD, supporting the use of peripheral blood to assess gene expression signatures in psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, they highlight that the combination of multi-omics signals provides deeper and broader insights into the biological mechanisms underlying ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Cabana-Domínguez
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - María Soler Artigas
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorena Arribas
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Alemany
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Vilar-Ribó
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Llonga
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christian Fadeuilhe
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montse Corrales
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vanesa Richarte
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Ribasés
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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PTPRD and CNTNAP2 as markers of tumor aggressiveness in oligodendrogliomas. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14083. [PMID: 35982066 PMCID: PMC9388569 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14977-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrogliomas are typically associated with the most favorable prognosis among diffuse gliomas. However, many of the tumors progress, eventually leading to patient death. To characterize the changes associated with oligodendroglioma recurrence and progression, we analyzed two recurrent oligodendroglioma tumors upon diagnosis and after tumor relapse based on whole-genome and RNA sequencing. Relapsed tumors were diagnosed as glioblastomas with an oligodendroglioma component before the World Health Organization classification update in 2016. Both patients died within 12 months after relapse. One patient carried an inactivating POLE mutation leading to a clearly hypermutated progressed tumor. Strikingly, both relapsed tumors carried focal chromosomal rearrangements in PTPRD and CNTNAP2 genes with associated decreased gene expression. TP53 mutation was also detected in both patients after tumor relapse. In The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) diffuse glioma cohort, PTPRD and CNTNAP2 expression decreased by tumor grade in oligodendrogliomas and PTPRD expression also in IDH-mutant astrocytomas. Low expression of the genes was associated with poor overall survival. Our analysis provides information about aggressive oligodendrogliomas with worse prognosis and suggests that PTPRD and CNTNAP2 expression could represent an informative marker for their stratification.
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35
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Voglewede MM, Zhang H. Polarity proteins: Shaping dendritic spines and memory. Dev Biol 2022; 488:68-73. [PMID: 35580729 PMCID: PMC9953585 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The morphogenesis and plasticity of dendritic spines are associated with synaptic strength, learning, and memory. Dendritic spines are highly compartmentalized structures, which makes proteins involved in cellular polarization and membrane compartmentalization likely candidates regulating their formation and maintenance. Indeed, recent studies suggest polarity proteins help form and maintain dendritic spines by compartmentalizing the spine neck and head. Here, we review emerging evidence that polarity proteins regulate dendritic spine plasticity and stability through the cytoskeleton, scaffolding molecules, and signaling molecules. We specifically analyze various polarity complexes known to contribute to different forms of cell polarization processes and examine the essential conceptual context linking these groups of polarity proteins to dendritic spine morphogenesis, plasticity, and cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huaye Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
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36
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Iyshwarya B, Vajagathali M, Ramakrishnan V. Investigation of Genetic Polymorphism in Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Pathogenesis of the Neurodevelopmental Disorder. ADVANCES IN NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2022; 6:136-146. [DOI: 10.1007/s41252-022-00251-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
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Altered Blood Brain Barrier Permeability and Oxidative Stress in Cntnap2 Knockout Rat Model. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11102725. [PMID: 35628852 PMCID: PMC9146766 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11102725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by three core symptoms, specifically impaired social behavior, stereotypic/repetitive behaviors, and sensory/communication deficits. Although the exact pathophysiology of ASD is still unknown, host genetics, oxidative stress, and compromised blood brain barrier (BBB) have been implicated in predisposition to ASD. With regards to genetics, mutations in the genes such as CNTNAP2 have been associated with increased susceptibility of developing ASD. Although some studies observed conflicting results suggesting no association of CNTNAP2 with ASD, other investigations correlated this gene with autism. In addition, CNTNAP2 mediated signaling is generally considered to play a role in neurological disorders due to its critical role in neurodevelopment, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity. In this investigation, we studied BBB integrity and oxidative stress in Cntnap2−/− rats. We observed that the BBB permeability was significantly increased in Cntnap2−/− rats compared to littermate wild-type (WT) animals as determined by FITC-dextran and Evans blue assay. High levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lower amounts of reduced glutathione were observed in brain homogenates of Cntnap2−/− rats, suggesting oxidative stress. Brain sections from Cntnap2−/− rats showed intense inducible nitric oxide synthase immunostaining, which was undetectable in WT animals. Quantification of nitric oxide in brain homogenates revealed significantly high levels in Cntnap2−/− rats compared to the control group. As increased permeability of the BBB and oxidative stress have been observed in ASD individuals, our results suggest that Cntnap2−/− rats have a high construct and face validity and can be explored to develop effective therapeutic modalities.
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Castro AC, Monteiro P. Auditory Dysfunction in Animal Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:845155. [PMID: 35493332 PMCID: PMC9043325 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.845155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder mainly characterized by social-communication impairments, repetitive behaviors and altered sensory perception. Auditory hypersensitivity is the most common sensory-perceptual abnormality in ASD, however, its underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain elusive. Consistently with reports in ASD patients, animal models for ASD present sensory-perception alterations, including auditory processing impairments. Here we review the current knowledge regarding auditory dysfunction in rodent models of ASD, exploring both shared and distinct features among them, mechanistic and molecular underpinnings, and potential therapeutic approaches. Overall, auditory dysfunction in ASD models seems to arise from impaired central processing. Depending on the model, impairments may arise at different steps along the auditory pathway, from auditory brainstem up to the auditory cortex. Common defects found across models encompass atypical tonotopicity in different regions of the auditory pathway, temporal and spectral processing impairments and histological differences. Imbalance between excitation and inhibition (E/I imbalance) is one of the most well-supported mechanisms explaining the auditory phenotype in the ASD models studied so far and seems to be linked to alterations in GABAergic signaling. Such E/I imbalance may have a large impact on the development of the auditory pathway, influencing the establishment of connections responsible for normal sound processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s–PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Patricia Monteiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s–PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
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Heath L, Earls JC, Magis AT, Kornilov SA, Lovejoy JC, Funk CC, Rappaport N, Logsdon BA, Mangravite LM, Kunkle BW, Martin ER, Naj AC, Ertekin-Taner N, Golde TE, Hood L, Price ND. Manifestations of Alzheimer's disease genetic risk in the blood are evident in a multiomic analysis in healthy adults aged 18 to 90. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6117. [PMID: 35413975 PMCID: PMC9005657 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09825-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetics play an important role in late-onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD) etiology and dozens of genetic variants have been implicated in AD risk through large-scale GWAS meta-analyses. However, the precise mechanistic effects of most of these variants have yet to be determined. Deeply phenotyped cohort data can reveal physiological changes associated with genetic risk for AD across an age spectrum that may provide clues to the biology of the disease. We utilized over 2000 high-quality quantitative measurements obtained from blood of 2831 cognitively normal adult clients of a consumer-based scientific wellness company, each with CLIA-certified whole-genome sequencing data. Measurements included: clinical laboratory blood tests, targeted chip-based proteomics, and metabolomics. We performed a phenome-wide association study utilizing this diverse blood marker data and 25 known AD genetic variants and an AD-specific polygenic risk score (PGRS), adjusting for sex, age, vendor (for clinical labs), and the first four genetic principal components; sex-SNP interactions were also assessed. We observed statistically significant SNP-analyte associations for five genetic variants after correction for multiple testing (for SNPs in or near NYAP1, ABCA7, INPP5D, and APOE), with effects detectable from early adulthood. The ABCA7 SNP and the APOE2 and APOE4 encoding alleles were associated with lipid variability, as seen in previous studies; in addition, six novel proteins were associated with the e2 allele. The most statistically significant finding was between the NYAP1 variant and PILRA and PILRB protein levels, supporting previous functional genomic studies in the identification of a putative causal variant within the PILRA gene. We did not observe associations between the PGRS and any analyte. Sex modified the effects of four genetic variants, with multiple interrelated immune-modulating effects associated with the PICALM variant. In post-hoc analysis, sex-stratified GWAS results from an independent AD case-control meta-analysis supported sex-specific disease effects of the PICALM variant, highlighting the importance of sex as a biological variable. Known AD genetic variation influenced lipid metabolism and immune response systems in a population of non-AD individuals, with associations observed from early adulthood onward. Further research is needed to determine whether and how these effects are implicated in early-stage biological pathways to AD. These analyses aim to complement ongoing work on the functional interpretation of AD-associated genetic variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Heath
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Sage Bionetworks, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - John C Earls
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
- Thorne HealthTech, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Cory C Funk
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Brian W Kunkle
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Eden R Martin
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Adam C Naj
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Todd E Golde
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Leroy Hood
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
- Providence St. Joseph Health, Renton, WA, USA
| | - Nathan D Price
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Thorne HealthTech, New York, NY, USA.
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40
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Combined aCGH and Exome Sequencing Analysis Improves Autism Spectrum Disorders Diagnosis: A Case Report. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58040522. [PMID: 35454361 PMCID: PMC9030270 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58040522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The development and standardization of genome-wide technologies able to carry out high-resolution, genomic analyses in a cost- and time-affordable way is increasing our knowledge regarding the molecular bases of complex diseases like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a group of heterogeneous diseases with multifactorial origins. Genetic factors seem to be involved, albeit they remain still largely unknown. Here, we report the case of a child with a clinical suspicion of ASD investigated by using such a genomic high-resolution approach. Materials and Methods: Both array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and exome sequencing were carried out on the family trio. aCGH was performed using the 4 × 180 K SurePrint G3 Human CGH Microarray, while the Human All Exon V7 targeted SureSelect XT HS panel was used for exome sequencing. Results: aCGH identified a paternally inherited duplication of chromosome 7 involving the CNTNAP2 gene, while 5 potentially clinically-relevant variants were identified by exome sequencing. Conclusions: Within the identified genomic alterations, the CNTNAP2 gene duplication may be related to the patient’s phenotype. Indeed, this gene has already been associated with brain development and cognitive functions, including language. The paternal origin of the alteration cannot exclude an incomplete penetrance. Moreover, other genomic factors may act as phenotype modifiers combined with CNTNAP2 gene duplication. Thus, the case reported herein strongly reinforces the need to use extensive genomic analyses to shed light on the bases of complex diseases.
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41
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Seery N, Butzkueven H, O'Brien TJ, Monif M. Contemporary advances in antibody-mediated encephalitis: anti-LGI1 and anti-Caspr2 antibody (Ab)-mediated encephalitides. Autoimmun Rev 2022; 21:103074. [PMID: 35247644 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Encephalitides with antibodies directed against leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) and contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2) represent two increasingly well characterised forms of autoimmune encephalitis. Both share overlapping and distinct clinical features, are mediated by autoantibodies directed against differing proteins complexed with voltage-gated potassium channels, with unique genetic predisposition identified to date. Herein we summarise disease mechanisms, clinical features, treatment considerations, prognostic factors and clinical outcomes regarding these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabil Seery
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Neurology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Helmut Butzkueven
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Neurology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Neurology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mastura Monif
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Neurology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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42
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Research on Frequent Itemset Mining of Imaging Genetics GWAS in Alzheimer’s Disease. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13020176. [PMID: 35205221 PMCID: PMC8871801 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
As an efficient method, genome-wide association study (GWAS) is used to identify the association between genetic variation and pathological phenotypes, and many significant genetic variations founded by GWAS are closely associated with human diseases. However, it is not enough to mine only a single marker effect variation on complex biological phenotypes. Mining highly correlated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) is more meaningful for the study of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this paper, we used two frequent pattern mining (FPM) framework, the FP-Growth and Eclat algorithms, to analyze the GWAS results of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) phenotypes. Moreover, we applied the definition of confidence to FP-Growth and Eclat to enhance the FPM framework. By calculating the conditional probability of identified SNPs, we obtained the corresponding association rules to provide support confidence between these important SNPs. The resulting SNPs showed close correlation with hippocampus, memory, and AD. The experimental results also demonstrate that our framework is effective in identifying SNPs and provide candidate SNPs for further research.
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43
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Wong PCM, Kang X, So HC, Choy KW. Contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learned. Sci Rep 2022; 12:580. [PMID: 35022429 PMCID: PMC8755716 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04163-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Research over the past two decades has identified a group of common genetic variants explaining a portion of variance in native language ability. The present study investigates whether the same group of genetic variants are associated with different languages and languages learned at different times in life. We recruited 940 young adults who spoke from childhood Chinese and English as their first (native) (L1) and second (L2) language, respectively, who were learners of a new, third (L3) language. For the variants examined, we found a general decrease of contribution of genes to language functions from native to foreign (L2 and L3) languages, with variance in foreign languages explained largely by non-genetic factors such as musical training and motivation. Furthermore, genetic variants that were found to contribute to traits specific to Chinese and English respectively exerted the strongest effects on L1 and L2. These results seem to speak against the hypothesis of a language- and time-universal genetic core of linguistic functions. Instead, they provide preliminary evidence that genetic contribution to language may depend at least partly on the intricate language-specific features. Future research including a larger sample size, more languages and more genetic variants is required to further explore these hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick C M Wong
- Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Xin Kang
- Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Research Centre for Language, Cognition and Language Application, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China. .,School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Hon-Cheong So
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kwong Wai Choy
- Department of Obsterics and Gynecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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St George-Hyslop F, Kivisild T, Livesey FJ. The role of contactin-associated protein-like 2 in neurodevelopmental disease and human cerebral cortex evolution. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1017144. [PMID: 36340692 PMCID: PMC9630569 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1017144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene is associated with multiple neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), and specific language impairment (SLI). Experimental work has shown that CNTNAP2 is important for neuronal development and synapse formation. There is also accumulating evidence for the differential use of CNTNAP2 in the human cerebral cortex compared with other primates. Here, we review the current literature on CNTNAP2, including what is known about its expression, disease associations, and molecular/cellular functions. We also review the evidence for its role in human brain evolution, such as the presence of eight human accelerated regions (HARs) within the introns of the gene. While progress has been made in understanding the function(s) of CNTNAP2, more work is needed to clarify the precise mechanisms through which CNTNAP2 acts. Such information will be crucial for developing effective treatments for CNTNAP2 patients. It may also shed light on the longstanding question of what makes us human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances St George-Hyslop
- Zayed Centre for Research Into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Toomas Kivisild
- Estonian Biocentre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederick J Livesey
- Zayed Centre for Research Into Rare Disease in Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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45
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San-Cristobal R, de Toro-Martín J, Vohl MC. Appraisal of Gene-Environment Interactions in GWAS for Evidence-Based Precision Nutrition Implementation. Curr Nutr Rep 2022; 11:563-573. [PMID: 35948824 PMCID: PMC9750926 DOI: 10.1007/s13668-022-00430-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to analyse the currently reported gene-environment (G × E) interactions in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), involving environmental factors such as lifestyle and dietary habits related to metabolic syndrome phenotypes. For this purpose, the present manuscript reviews the available GWAS registered on the GWAS Catalog reporting the interaction between environmental factors and metabolic syndrome traits. RECENT FINDINGS Advances in omics-related analytical and computational approaches in recent years have led to a better understanding of the biological processes underlying these G × E interactions. A total of 42 GWAS were analysed, reporting over 300 loci interacting with environmental factors. Alcohol consumption, sleep time, smoking habit and physical activity were the most studied environmental factors with significant G × E interactions. The implementation of more comprehensive GWAS will provide a better understanding of the metabolic processes that determine individual responses to environmental exposures and their association with the development of chronic diseases such as obesity and the metabolic syndrome. This will facilitate the development of precision approaches for better prevention, management and treatment of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo San-Cristobal
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre Nutrition, Santé Et Société (NUTRISS), Institut Sur La Nutrition Et Les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Université Laval, Québec, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390School of Nutrition, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Juan de Toro-Martín
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre Nutrition, Santé Et Société (NUTRISS), Institut Sur La Nutrition Et Les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Université Laval, Québec, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390School of Nutrition, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Marie-Claude Vohl
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre Nutrition, Santé Et Société (NUTRISS), Institut Sur La Nutrition Et Les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Université Laval, Québec, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390School of Nutrition, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6 Canada
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Riemersma IW, Havekes R, Kas MJH. Spatial and Temporal Gene Function Studies in Rodents: Towards Gene-Based Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2021; 13:28. [PMID: 35052369 PMCID: PMC8774890 DOI: 10.3390/genes13010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that is characterized by differences in social interaction, repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and sensory differences beginning early in life. Especially sensory symptoms are highly correlated with the severity of other behavioral differences. ASD is a highly heterogeneous condition on multiple levels, including clinical presentation, genetics, and developmental trajectories. Over a thousand genes have been implicated in ASD. This has facilitated the generation of more than two hundred genetic mouse models that are contributing to understanding the biological underpinnings of ASD. Since the first symptoms already arise during early life, it is especially important to identify both spatial and temporal gene functions in relation to the ASD phenotype. To further decompose the heterogeneity, ASD-related genes can be divided into different subgroups based on common functions, such as genes involved in synaptic function. Furthermore, finding common biological processes that are modulated by this subgroup of genes is essential for possible patient stratification and the development of personalized early treatments. Here, we review the current knowledge on behavioral rodent models of synaptic dysfunction by focusing on behavioral phenotypes, spatial and temporal gene function, and molecular targets that could lead to new targeted gene-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martien J. H. Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Neurobiology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands; (I.W.R.); (R.H.)
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Zhang C, Tian F, Tan Z, Du J, Long X. Altered Expression of Par3, aPKC-λ, and Lgl1 in Hippocampus in Kainic Acid-Induced Status Epilepticus Rat Model. Front Neurol 2021; 12:780042. [PMID: 34956060 PMCID: PMC8692670 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.780042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) is a frequent histopathological finding in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and is involved in the pathology of TLE. However, molecular signals underlying MFS remain unclear. Partitioning defective 3(Par3), atypical protein kinase C-λ(aPKC-λ), and lethal giant larvae 1(Lgl1) were involved in the neuronal polarity and axon growth. The potential roles of those proteins in MFS and epileptogenesis of TLE were investigated.Material and Methods: The epileptic rat models were established by intracerebroventricular injection of kainic acid (KA). The degree of MFS was measured by using Timm staining, Neuronal loss and the expression aPKC-λ, Par3, and Lgl1 in hippocampus were measured by using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis.Results: The neuronal loss in CA3 region was observed from 3 days to 8 weeks, while the neuronal loss in the hilar region was observed from 1 to 8 weeks in experimental group. The Timm score in the CA3 region in experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group from 2 to 8 weeks. Compared with control group, the expressions of Par3 and Lgl1 were upregulated and the expression of aPKC-λ was downregulated in the experimental groups. Positive correlation between the Par3 expression and Timm scores, and the negative correlation between the aPKC-λ expression and Timm scores in CA3 region were discovered in experimental group.Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that aPKC-λ, Par3, and Lgl1 may be involved in MFS and in the epileptogenesis of temporal lobe epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fafa Tian
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zheren Tan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoyan Long
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoyan Long ;
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Otazu GH, Li Y, Lodato Z, Elnasher A, Keever KM, Li Y, Ramos RL. Neurodevelopmental malformations of the cerebellum and neocortex in the Shank3 and Cntnap2 mouse models of autism. Neurosci Lett 2021; 765:136257. [PMID: 34555490 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
There are many mouse models of autism with broad use in neuroscience research. Genetic background can be a major contributor to the phenotype observed in any mouse model of disease, including genetic models of autism. C57BL/6 mice display spontaneous glio-neuronal heterotopia in the cerebellar vermis and neocortex which may also exist in mouse models of autism created on this background. In the present report, we document the presence of cerebellar and neocortical heterotopia in heterozygous and KO Shank3 and Cntnap2 mice which are due to the C57BL/6 genotype and discuss the role these malformations may play in research using these genetic models of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo H Otazu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, United States
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, United States
| | - Zachary Lodato
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, United States
| | - Adel Elnasher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, United States
| | - Katherine M Keever
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, United States
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, United States
| | - Raddy L Ramos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, United States.
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Scala M, Anijs M, Battini R, Madia F, Capra V, Scudieri P, Verrotti A, Zara F, Minetti C, Vernes SC, Striano P. Hyperkinetic stereotyped movements in a boy with biallelic CNTNAP2 variants. Ital J Pediatr 2021; 47:208. [PMID: 34641913 PMCID: PMC8507175 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-021-01162-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Heterozygous variants in CNTNAP2 have been implicated in a wide range of neurological phenotypes, including intellectual disability (ID), epilepsy, autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), and impaired language. However, heterozygous variants can also be found in unaffected individuals. Biallelic CNTNAP2 variants are rarer and cause a well-defined genetic syndrome known as CASPR2 deficiency disorder, a condition characterised by ID, early-onset refractory epilepsy, language impairment, and autistic features. Case-report A 7-year-old boy presented with hyperkinetic stereotyped movements that started during early infancy and persisted over childhood. Abnormal movements consisted of rhythmic and repetitive shaking of the four limbs, with evident stereotypic features. Additional clinical features included ID, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ASD, and speech impairment, consistent with CASPR2 deficiency disorder. Whole-genome array comparative genomic hybridization detected a maternally inherited 0.402 Mb duplication, which involved intron 1, exon 2, and intron 2 of CNTNAP2 (c.97 +?_209-?dup). The affected region in intron 1 contains a binding site for the transcription factor FOXP2, potentially leading to abnormal CNTNAP2 expression regulation. Sanger sequencing of the coding region of CNTNAP2 also identified a paternally-inherited missense variant c.2752C > T, p.(Leu918Phe). Conclusion This case expands the molecular and phenotypic spectrum of CASPR2 deficiency disorder, suggesting that Hyperkinetic stereotyped movements may be a rare, yet significant, clinical feature of this complex neurological disorder. Furthermore, the identification of an in-frame, largely non-coding duplication in CNTNAP2 points to a sophisticated underlying molecular mechanism, likely involving impaired FOXP2 binding. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13052-021-01162-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Scala
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Midas Anijs
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roberta Battini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Madia
- Medical Genetic Unit, IRCSS Istituto G. Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Capra
- Medical Genetic Unit, IRCSS Istituto G. Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Paolo Scudieri
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Medical Genetic Unit, IRCSS Istituto G. Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Federico Zara
- Medical Genetic Unit, IRCSS Istituto G. Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Carlo Minetti
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sonja C Vernes
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife, UK. .,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy. .,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
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