1
|
Dear R, Wagstyl K, Seidlitz J, Markello RD, Arnatkevičiūtė A, Anderson KM, Bethlehem RAI, Raznahan A, Bullmore ET, Vértes PE. Cortical gene expression architecture links healthy neurodevelopment to the imaging, transcriptomics and genetics of autism and schizophrenia. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1075-1086. [PMID: 38649755 PMCID: PMC11156586 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01624-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Human brain organization involves the coordinated expression of thousands of genes. For example, the first principal component (C1) of cortical transcription identifies a hierarchy from sensorimotor to association regions. In this study, optimized processing of the Allen Human Brain Atlas revealed two new components of cortical gene expression architecture, C2 and C3, which are distinctively enriched for neuronal, metabolic and immune processes, specific cell types and cytoarchitectonics, and genetic variants associated with intelligence. Using additional datasets (PsychENCODE, Allen Cell Atlas and BrainSpan), we found that C1-C3 represent generalizable transcriptional programs that are coordinated within cells and differentially phased during fetal and postnatal development. Autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia were specifically associated with C1/C2 and C3, respectively, across neuroimaging, differential expression and genome-wide association studies. Evidence converged especially in support of C3 as a normative transcriptional program for adolescent brain development, which can lead to atypical supragranular cortical connectivity in people at high genetic risk for schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Dear
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | | | - Jakob Seidlitz
- Lifespan Brain Institute, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ross D Markello
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Aurina Arnatkevičiūtė
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Petra E Vértes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Donlon J, Kumari P, Varghese SP, Bai M, Florentin OD, Frost ED, Banks J, Vadlapatla N, Kam O, Shad MU, Rahman S, Abulseoud OA, Stone TW, Koola MM. Integrative Pharmacology in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders. J Dual Diagn 2024; 20:132-177. [PMID: 38117676 DOI: 10.1080/15504263.2023.2293854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
The detrimental physical, mental, and socioeconomic effects of substance use disorders (SUDs) have been apparent to the medical community for decades. However, it has become increasingly urgent in recent years to develop novel pharmacotherapies to treat SUDs. Currently, practitioners typically rely on monotherapy. Monotherapy has been shown to be superior to no treatment at all for most substance classes. However, many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have revealed that monotherapy leads to poorer outcomes when compared with combination treatment in all specialties of medicine. The results of RCTs suggest that monotherapy frequently fails since multiple dysregulated pathways, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and receptors are involved in the pathophysiology of SUDs. As such, research is urgently needed to determine how various neurobiological mechanisms can be targeted by novel combination treatments to create increasingly specific yet exceedingly comprehensive approaches to SUD treatment. This article aims to review the neurobiology that integrates many pathophysiologic mechanisms and discuss integrative pharmacology developments that may ultimately improve clinical outcomes for patients with SUDs. Many neurobiological mechanisms are known to be involved in SUDs including dopaminergic, nicotinic, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), and kynurenic acid (KYNA) mechanisms. Emerging evidence indicates that KYNA, a tryptophan metabolite, modulates all these major pathophysiologic mechanisms. Therefore, achieving KYNA homeostasis by harmonizing integrative pathophysiology and pharmacology could prove to be a better therapeutic approach for SUDs. We propose KYNA-NMDA-α7nAChRcentric pathophysiology, the "conductor of the orchestra," as a novel approach to treat many SUDs concurrently. KYNA-NMDA-α7nAChR pathophysiology may be the "command center" of neuropsychiatry. To date, extant RCTs have shown equivocal findings across comparison conditions, possibly because investigators targeted single pathophysiologic mechanisms, hit wrong targets in underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms, and tested inadequate monotherapy treatment. We provide examples of potential combination treatments that simultaneously target multiple pathophysiologic mechanisms in addition to KYNA. Kynurenine pathway metabolism demonstrates the greatest potential as a target for neuropsychiatric diseases. The investigational medications with the most evidence include memantine, galantamine, and N-acetylcysteine. Future RCTs are warranted with novel combination treatments for SUDs. Multicenter RCTs with integrative pharmacology offer a promising, potentially fruitful avenue to develop novel therapeutics for the treatment of SUDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack Donlon
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, USA
| | - Pooja Kumari
- Community Living Trent Highlands, Peterborough, Canada
| | - Sajoy P Varghese
- Addiction Recovery Treatment Services, Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Michael Bai
- Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ori David Florentin
- Department of Psychiatry, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, USA
| | - Emma D Frost
- Department of Neurology, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, New Jersey, USA
| | - John Banks
- Talkiatry Mental Health Clinic, New York, New York, USA
| | - Niyathi Vadlapatla
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
| | - Olivia Kam
- Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Mujeeb U Shad
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Shafiqur Rahman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA
| | - Osama A Abulseoud
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Alix School of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Trevor W Stone
- Nuffield Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Maju Mathew Koola
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Cooper University Health Care, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li Z, Tao X, Wang D, Pu J, Liu Y, Gui S, Zhong X, Yang D, Zhou H, Tao W, Chen W, Chen X, Chen Y, Chen X, Xie P. Alterations of the gut microbiota in patients with schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1366311. [PMID: 38596637 PMCID: PMC11002218 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1366311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder, of which molecular pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Accumulating evidence suggest that gut microbiota may affect brain function via the complex gut-brain axis, which may be a potential contributor to schizophrenia. However, the alteration of gut microbiota showed high heterogeneity across different studies. Therefore, this study aims to identify the consistently altered gut microbial taxa associated with schizophrenia. Methods We conducted a systematic search and synthesis of the up-to-date human gut microbiome studies on schizophrenia, and performed vote counting analyses to identify consistently changed microbiota. Further, we investigated the effects of potential confounders on the alteration of gut microbiota. Results We obtained 30 available clinical studies, and found that there was no strong evidence to support significant differences in α-diversity and β-diversity between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls. Among 428 differential gut microbial taxa collected from original studies, we found that 8 gut microbial taxa were consistently up-regulated in schizophrenic patients, including Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Lactobacillaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus, Succinivibrio, Prevotella and Acidaminococcus. While 5 taxa were consistently down-regulated in schizophrenia, including Fusicatenibacter, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Coprococcus and Anaerostipes. Discussion These findings suggested that gut microbial changes in patients with schizophrenia were characterized by the depletion of anti-inflammatory butyrate-producing genera, and the enrichment of certain opportunistic bacteria genera and probiotics. This study contributes to further understanding the role of gut microbiota in schizophrenia, and developing microbiota-based diagnosis and therapy for schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhuocan Li
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiangkun Tao
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dongfang Wang
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Chongqing, China
| | - Juncai Pu
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yiyun Liu
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Chongqing, China
| | - Siwen Gui
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaogang Zhong
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dan Yang
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haipeng Zhou
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Tao
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weiyi Chen
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaopeng Chen
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Chen
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng Xie
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Arakelyan A, Avagyan S, Kurnosov A, Mkrtchyan T, Mkrtchyan G, Zakharyan R, Mayilyan KR, Binder H. Temporal changes of gene expression in health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 10:19. [PMID: 38368435 PMCID: PMC10874418 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-024-00443-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The molecular events underlying the development, manifestation, and course of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder span from embryonic life to advanced age. However, little is known about the early dynamics of gene expression in these disorders due to their relatively late manifestation. To address this, we conducted a secondary analysis of post-mortem prefrontal cortex datasets using bioinformatics and machine learning techniques to identify differentially expressed gene modules associated with aging and the diseases, determine their time-perturbation points, and assess enrichment with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) genes. Our findings revealed early, mid, and late deregulation of expression of functional gene modules involved in neurodevelopment, plasticity, homeostasis, and immune response. This supports the hypothesis that multiple hits throughout life contribute to disease manifestation rather than a single early-life event. Moreover, the time-perturbed functional gene modules were associated with genetic loci affecting gene expression, highlighting the role of genetic factors in gene expression dynamics and the development of disease phenotypes. Our findings emphasize the importance of investigating time-dependent perturbations in gene expression before the age of onset in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arsen Arakelyan
- Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia.
- Armenian Bioinformatics Institute, Yerevan, Armenia.
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia.
| | | | | | - Tigran Mkrtchyan
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | | | - Roksana Zakharyan
- Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Karine R Mayilyan
- Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
- Department of Therapeutics, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Traditional Medicine, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Hans Binder
- Armenian Bioinformatics Institute, Yerevan, Armenia
- Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ursini G, Di Carlo P, Mukherjee S, Chen Q, Han S, Kim J, Deyssenroth M, Marsit CJ, Chen J, Hao K, Punzi G, Weinberger DR. Prioritization of potential causative genes for schizophrenia in placenta. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2613. [PMID: 37188697 PMCID: PMC10185564 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38140-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Our earlier work has shown that genomic risk for schizophrenia converges with early life complications in affecting risk for the disorder and sex-biased neurodevelopmental trajectories. Here, we identify specific genes and potential mechanisms that, in placenta, may mediate such outcomes. We performed TWAS in healthy term placentae (N = 147) to derive candidate placental causal genes that we confirmed with SMR; to search for placenta and schizophrenia-specific associations, we performed an analogous analysis in fetal brain (N = 166) and additional placenta TWAS for other disorders/traits. The analyses in the whole sample and stratifying by sex ultimately highlight 139 placenta and schizophrenia-specific risk genes, many being sex-biased; the candidate molecular mechanisms converge on the nutrient-sensing capabilities of placenta and trophoblast invasiveness. These genes also implicate the Coronavirus-pathogenesis pathway and showed increased expression in placentae from a small sample of SARS-CoV-2-positive pregnancies. Investigating placental risk genes for schizophrenia and candidate mechanisms may lead to opportunities for prevention that would not be suggested by study of the brain alone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Ursini
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Pasquale Di Carlo
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Sreya Mukherjee
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shizhong Han
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jiyoung Kim
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Maya Deyssenroth
- Departments of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Public Health at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jia Chen
- Departments of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Public Health at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ke Hao
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Giovanna Punzi
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniel R Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- McKusick-Nathans Institute, Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chen Y, Dai J, Tang L, Mikhailova T, Liang Q, Li M, Zhou J, Kopp RF, Weickert C, Chen C, Liu C. Neuroimmune transcriptome changes in patient brains of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:710-721. [PMID: 36424395 PMCID: PMC9911365 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01854-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation has been implicated in multiple brain disorders but the extent and the magnitude of change in immune-related genes (IRGs) across distinct brain disorders has not been directly compared. In this study, 1275 IRGs were curated and their expression changes investigated in 2467 postmortem brains of controls and patients with six major brain disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), major depressive disorder (MDD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). There were 865 IRGs present across all microarray and RNA-seq datasets. More than 60% of the IRGs had significantly altered expression in at least one of the six disorders. The differentially expressed immune-related genes (dIRGs) shared across disorders were mainly related to innate immunity. Moreover, sex, tissue, and putative cell type were systematically evaluated for immune alterations in different neuropsychiatric disorders. Co-expression networks revealed that transcripts of the neuroimmune systems interacted with neuronal-systems, both of which contribute to the pathology of brain disorders. However, only a few genes with expression changes were also identified as containing risk variants in genome-wide association studies. The transcriptome alterations at gene and network levels may clarify the immune-related pathophysiology and help to better define neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jiacheng Dai
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Longfei Tang
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tatiana Mikhailova
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Qiuman Liang
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Miao Li
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhou
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Richard F Kopp
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Cynthia Weickert
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Chao Chen
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dobbins S, Hubbard E, Leutwyler H. Education Mediates Racial Disparities in Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults With Schizophrenia. Clin Gerontol 2023; 46:66-79. [PMID: 33579181 PMCID: PMC8610378 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2021.1882021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In the general population, the construct of race is associated with disparities in cognitive aging. There are notable racial group disparities and inequities among people living with schizophrenia (PLWSz). Despite the salience of the construct of race in schizophrenia, there remains a knowledge gap about racial disparities in cognitive impairment among older adults in this vulnerable population. Our study uses mediation analysis to examine racial disparities in cognitive impairment among older adults with schizophrenia. METHODS We assess global cognition in PLWSz over age 55 with the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia cognitive test battery in our "all-comer" sample (N = 64). The primary exposure is self-reported racial group. We examine mediation of cognitive impairment through educational attainment, adjusting for psychiatric illness severity, history of substance use, and vascular risk factors. RESULTS There was a Black/non-Black group racial disparity in global cognitive score (-2.8, 95% CI: -4.4, -1.3) after adjusting for confounding and interaction. This disparity was significantly mediated by years of education. CONCLUSIONS There are notable racial disparities in cognitive impairment among older adults with schizophrenia; however, differences in cognitive scores between racial groups are mediated by level of education. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Social determinants of health, particularly educational attainment, are important risk factors for cognitive impairment in PLWSz and should be considered by clinicians. Early screening and assessment of cognitive symptoms is essential to addressing health disparities/inequalities among older adults living with schizophrenia. ABBREVIATIONS CDE Controlled Direct EffectsHIV: Human Immunodeficiency VirusMATRICS: Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in SchizophreniaMCCB: MATRICS Consensus Cognitive BatteryMTE: Marginal Total EffectsNDE: Natural Direct EffectsPANSS: Positive and Negative Symptom ScalePLWSz: People with schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Dobbins
- University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Erin Hubbard
- University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Heather Leutwyler
- University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Webster MJ. Infections, Inflammation, and Psychiatric Illness: Review of Postmortem Evidence. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 61:35-48. [PMID: 35505055 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
While there is an abundance of epidemiological evidence implicating infectious agents in the etiology of severe mental illnesses, postmortem studies have not yet detected an increased incidence of microbial nucleic acid or proteins in the brains of people with mental illness. Nevertheless, abnormally expressed immune and inflammatory markers have consistently been found in the postmortem brain of patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders. Some of these abnormalities may be the result of an infection in utero or early in life that not only impacted the developing immune system but also the developing neurons of the brain. Some of the immune markers that are consistently found to be upregulated in schizophrenia implicate a possible viral infection and the blood brain barrier in the etiology and neuropathology of the disorder.
Collapse
|
9
|
Gao Y, Liu X, Pan M, Zeng D, Zhou X, Tsunoda M, Zhang Y, Xie X, Wang R, Hu W, Li L, Yang H, Song Y. Integrated untargeted fecal metabolomics and gut microbiota strategy for screening potential biomarkers associated with schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 156:628-638. [PMID: 36375230 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.10.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder. As the etiology of SZ is complex and the pathogenesis is not thoroughly understood, the diagnosis of different subtypes still depends on the subjective judgment of doctors. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop early objective laboratory diagnostic biomarkers to screen different subtypes of patients as early as possible, and to implement targeted prevention and precision medicine to reduce the risk of SZ and improve patients' quality of life. In this study, untargeted metabolomics and 16S rDNA sequencing were used to analyze the differences in metabolites and gut microflora among 28 patients with two types of schizophrenia and 11 healthy subjects. The results showed that the metabolome and sequencing data could effectively discriminate among paranoid schizophrenia patients, undifferentiated schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. We obtained 65 metabolites and 76 microorganisms with significant changes, and fecal metabolite composition was significantly correlated with the differential genera (|r|>0.5), indicating that there was a regulatory relationship between the gut microbiota and the host metabolites. The gut microbiome, as an objective and measurable index, showed good diagnostic value for distinguishing schizophrenia patients from healthy people, especially with a combination of several differential microorganisms, which had the best diagnostic effect (AUC>0.9). Our results are conducive to understanding the complicated metabolic changes in SZ patients and providing valuable information for the clinical diagnosis of SZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Xianglai Liu
- Hainan Provincial Anning Hospital, Haikou, 571100, China
| | - Mingyu Pan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Debin Zeng
- Hainan Provincial Anning Hospital, Haikou, 571100, China
| | - Xiying Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Makoto Tsunoda
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yingxia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Xi Xie
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Wenting Hu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Lushuang Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
| | - Haimei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
| | - Yanting Song
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Stone TW, Clanchy FIL, Huang YS, Chiang NY, Darlington LG, Williams RO. An integrated cytokine and kynurenine network as the basis of neuroimmune communication. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1002004. [PMID: 36507331 PMCID: PMC9729788 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1002004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Two of the molecular families closely associated with mediating communication between the brain and immune system are cytokines and the kynurenine metabolites of tryptophan. Both groups regulate neuron and glial activity in the central nervous system (CNS) and leukocyte function in the immune system, although neither group alone completely explains neuroimmune function, disease occurrence or severity. This essay suggests that the two families perform complementary functions generating an integrated network. The kynurenine pathway determines overall neuronal excitability and plasticity by modulating glutamate receptors and GPR35 activity across the CNS, and regulates general features of immune cell status, surveillance and tolerance which often involves the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR). Equally, cytokines and chemokines define and regulate specific populations of neurons, glia or immune system leukocytes, generating more specific responses within restricted CNS regions or leukocyte populations. In addition, as there is a much larger variety of these compounds, their homing properties enable the superimposition of dynamic variations of cell activity upon local, spatially limited, cell populations. This would in principle allow the targeting of potential treatments to restricted regions of the CNS. The proposed synergistic interface of 'tonic' kynurenine pathway affecting baseline activity and the superimposed 'phasic' cytokine system would constitute an integrated network explaining some features of neuroimmune communication. The concept would broaden the scope for the development of new treatments for disorders involving both the CNS and immune systems, with safer and more effective agents targeted to specific CNS regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Trevor W. Stone
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Trevor W. Stone,
| | - Felix I. L. Clanchy
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yi-Shu Huang
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nien-Yi Chiang
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - L. Gail Darlington
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ashtead Hospital, Ashtead, United Kingdom
| | - Richard O. Williams
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
García-Ruiz S, Gustavsson EK, Zhang D, Reynolds RH, Chen Z, Fairbrother-Browne A, Gil-Martínez AL, Botia JA, Collado-Torres L, Ryten M. IntroVerse: a comprehensive database of introns across human tissues. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 51:D167-D178. [PMID: 36399497 PMCID: PMC9825543 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of RNA splicing contributes to both rare and complex diseases. RNA-sequencing data from human tissues has shown that this process can be inaccurate, resulting in the presence of novel introns detected at low frequency across samples and within an individual. To enable the full spectrum of intron use to be explored, we have developed IntroVerse, which offers an extensive catalogue on the splicing of 332,571 annotated introns and a linked set of 4,679,474 novel junctions covering 32,669 different genes. This dataset has been generated through the analysis of 17,510 human control RNA samples from 54 tissues provided by the Genotype-Tissue Expression Consortium. IntroVerse has two unique features: (i) it provides a complete catalogue of novel junctions and (ii) each novel junction has been assigned to a specific annotated intron. This unique, hierarchical structure offers multiple uses, including the identification of novel transcripts from known genes and their tissue-specific usage, and the assessment of background splicing noise for introns thought to be mis-spliced in disease states. IntroVerse provides a user-friendly web interface and is freely available at https://rytenlab.com/browser/app/introverse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia García-Ruiz
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research & Teaching, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, UK,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Emil K Gustavsson
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research & Teaching, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, UK,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - David Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research & Teaching, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, UK,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Regina H Reynolds
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research & Teaching, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, UK,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Zhongbo Chen
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research & Teaching, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, UK,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Aine Fairbrother-Browne
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research & Teaching, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, UK,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King's College London, London, WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Ana Luisa Gil-Martínez
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK,Department of Information and Communications Engineering Faculty of Informatics, Espinardo Campus, University of Murcia, Murcia, 30100, Spain
| | - Juan A Botia
- Department of Information and Communications Engineering Faculty of Informatics, Espinardo Campus, University of Murcia, Murcia, 30100, Spain
| | | | - Mina Ryten
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +44 2081387617;
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang K, Dai R, Xia Y, Tian J, Jiao C, Mikhailova T, Zhang C, Chen C, Liu C. Spatiotemporal specificity of correlated DNA methylation and gene expression pairs across different human tissues and stages of brain development. Epigenetics 2022; 17:1110-1127. [PMID: 34652256 PMCID: PMC9543113 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1993607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) that occurs on promoter regions is primarily considered to repress gene expression. Previous studies indicated that DNAm could also show positive correlations with gene expression. Both DNAm and gene expression profiles are known to be tissue- and development-specific. This study aims to investigate how DNAm and gene expression are coordinated across different human tissues and developmental stages, as well as the biological significance of such correlations. By analyzing 2,239 samples with both DNAm and gene expression data in the same human subjects obtained from six published datasets, we evaluated the correlations between gene and CpG pairs (GCPs) at cis-regions and compared significantly correlated GCPs (cGCPs) across different tissues and brains at different age groups. A total of 37,363 cGCPs was identified in the six datasets; approximately 38% of the cGCPs were positively correlated. The majority (>90%) of cGCPs was tissue- or development-specific. We also observed that the correlation direction can be opposite in different tissues and ages. Further analysis highlights the importance of cGCPs for their cellular functions and potential roles in complex traits and human diseases. For instance, the early developmental brain possessed a highly unique set of cGCPs that were associated with neurogenesis and psychiatric disorders. By assessing the epigenetic factors involved in cGCPs, we discovered novel regulatory mechanisms of positive cGCPs distinct from negative cGCPs, which were related to multiple factors, such as H3K27me3, CTCF, and JARD2. The catalogue of cGCPs compiled can be used to guide functional interpretation of genetic and epigenetic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kangli Wang
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Rujia Dai
- Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Yan Xia
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China,Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Jianghua Tian
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chuan Jiao
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China,Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Tatiana Mikhailova
- Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Chunling Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, Ny, USA
| | - Chao Chen
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China,National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China,Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA,Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, Ny, USA,CONTACT Chunyu Liu Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY13210, USA; Chao Chen Center for Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410005, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Li Z, Li X, Jin M, Liu Y, He Y, Jia N, Cui X, Liu Y, Hu G, Yu Q. Identification of potential biomarkers and their correlation with immune infiltration cells in schizophrenia using combinative bioinformatics strategy. Psychiatry Res 2022; 314:114658. [PMID: 35660966 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Many studies have identified changes in gene expression in brains of schizophrenia patients and their altered molecular processes, but the findings in different datasets were inconsistent and diverse. Here we performed the most comprehensive analysis of gene expression patterns to explore the underlying mechanisms and the potential biomarkers for early diagnosis in schizophrenia. We focused on 10 gene expression datasets in post-mortem human brain samples of schizophrenia downloaded from gene expression omnibus (GEO) database using the integrated bioinformatics analyses including robust rank aggregation (RRA) algorithm, Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and CIBERSORT. Machine learning algorithm was used to construct the risk prediction model for early diagnosis of schizophrenia. We identified 15 key genes (SLC1A3, AQP4, GJA1, ALDH1L1, SOX9, SLC4A4, EGR1, NOTCH2, PVALB, ID4, ABCG2, METTL7A, ARC, F3 and EMX2) in schizophrenia by performing multiple bioinformatics analysis algorithms. Moreover, the interesting part of the study is that there is a correlation between the expression of hub genes and the immune infiltrating cells estimated by CIBERSORT. Besides, the risk prediction model was constructed by using both these genes and the immune cells with a high accuracy of 0.83 in the training set, and achieved a high AUC of 0.77 for the test set. Our study identified several potential biomarkers for diagnosis of SCZ based on multiple bioinformatics algorithms, and the constructed risk prediction model using these biomarkers achieved high accuracy. The results provide evidence for an improved understanding of the molecular mechanism of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xinwei Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Mengdi Jin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yang He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Ningning Jia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xingyao Cui
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yane Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Guoyan Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Qiong Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of public health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Childers E, Bowen EFW, Rhodes CH, Granger R. Immune-Related Genomic Schizophrenic Subtyping Identified in DLPFC Transcriptome. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13071200. [PMID: 35885983 PMCID: PMC9319783 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Well-documented evidence of the physiologic, genetic, and behavioral heterogeneity of schizophrenia suggests that diagnostic subtyping may clarify the underlying pathobiology of the disorder. Recent studies have demonstrated that increased inflammation may be a prominent feature of a subset of schizophrenics. However, these findings are inconsistent, possibly due to evaluating schizophrenics as a single group. In this study, we segregated schizophrenic patients into two groups (“Type 1”, “Type 2”) by their gene expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and explored biological differences between the subgroups. The study included post-mortem tissue samples that were sequenced in multiple, publicly available gene datasets using different sequencing methods. To evaluate the role of inflammation, the expression of genes in multiple components of neuroinflammation were examined: complement cascade activation, glial cell activation, pro-inflammatory mediator secretion, blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, chemokine production and peripheral immune cell infiltration. The Type 2 schizophrenics showed widespread abnormal gene expression across all the neuroinflammation components that was not observed in Type 1 schizophrenics. Our results demonstrate the importance of separating schizophrenic patients into their molecularly defined subgroups and provide supporting evidence for the involvement of the immune-related pathways in a schizophrenic subset.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Childers
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (E.C.); (E.F.W.B.)
| | | | | | - Richard Granger
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (E.C.); (E.F.W.B.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Xiang M, Zheng L, Pu D, Lin F, Ma X, Ye H, Pu D, Zhang Y, Wang D, Wang X, Zou K, Chen L, Zhang Y, Sun Z, Zhang T, Wu G. Intestinal Microbes in Patients With Schizophrenia Undergoing Short-Term Treatment: Core Species Identification Based on Co-Occurrence Networks and Regression Analysis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:909729. [PMID: 35783418 PMCID: PMC9247572 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.909729] [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: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia, a common mental disorder, has a tremendous impact on the health and economy of people worldwide. Evidence suggests that the microbial-gut-brain axis is an important pathway for the interaction between the gut microbiome and the development of schizophrenia. What is not clear is how changes in the gut microbiota composition and structure during antipsychotic treatment improve the symptoms of schizophrenia. In this study, 25 patients with schizophrenia were recruited. Their fecal samples were collected before and after hospital treatment for 14–19 days. The composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota were evaluated by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, and the results showed significant differences in fecal microbiota before and after treatment. Firmicutes (relative abundances of 82.60 and 86.64%) and Gemminger (relative abundances of 14.17 and 13.57%) were the first dominant species at the phylum and genus levels, respectively. The random forest algorithm and co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that intestinal flora (especially the core species ASV57) could be used as biomarkers to distinguish different clinical states and match treatment regimens accordingly. In addition, after fecal microbiota transplantation, antibiotic-treated recipient mice showed multiple behavioral improvements. These included decreased psychomotor hyperactivity, increased social interaction, and memory. In conclusion, this study suggests that differences in the composition and structure of gut microbiota after treatment are associated with the development and severity of schizophrenia. Results may provide a potential target for the treatment of this disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Xiang
- Medical Laboratory, The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
| | - Liqin Zheng
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Daoshen Pu
- The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
| | - Feng Lin
- Medical Laboratory, The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
| | - Xiaodong Ma
- Medical Laboratory, The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
| | - Huiqian Ye
- Medical Laboratory, The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
| | - Daoqiong Pu
- Medical Laboratory, The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Medical Laboratory, The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Psychiatry Department, The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Internal Medicine, The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
| | - Kaiqing Zou
- The Outpatient Department, The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
| | - Linqi Chen
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhanjiang Sun
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Tao Zhang
| | - Guolin Wu
- Medical Laboratory, The Fourth People's Hospital of Ya'an, Ya'an, China
- *Correspondence: Guolin Wu
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Williams JA, Burgess S, Suckling J, Lalousis PA, Batool F, Griffiths SL, Palmer E, Karwath A, Barsky A, Gkoutos GV, Wood S, Barnes NM, David AS, Donohoe G, Neill JC, Deakin B, Khandaker GM, Upthegrove R. Inflammation and Brain Structure in Schizophrenia and Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Mendelian Randomization Study. JAMA Psychiatry 2022; 79:498-507. [PMID: 35353173 PMCID: PMC8968718 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.0407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Importance Previous in vitro and postmortem research suggests that inflammation may lead to structural brain changes via activation of microglia and/or astrocytic dysfunction in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Objective To investigate the relationship between inflammation and changes in brain structures in vivo and to explore a transcriptome-driven functional basis with relevance to mental illness. Design, Setting, and Participants This study used multistage linked analyses, including mendelian randomization (MR), gene expression correlation, and connectivity analyses. A total of 20 688 participants in the UK Biobank, which includes clinical, genomic, and neuroimaging data, and 6 postmortem brains from neurotypical individuals in the Allen Human Brain Atlas (AHBA), including RNA microarray data. Data were extracted in February 2021 and analyzed between March and October 2021. Exposures Genetic variants regulating levels and activity of circulating interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-2, IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were used as exposures in MR analyses. Main Outcomes and Measures Brain imaging measures, including gray matter volume (GMV) and cortical thickness (CT), were used as outcomes. Associations were considered significant at a multiple testing-corrected threshold of P < 1.1 × 10-4. Differential gene expression in AHBA data was modeled in brain regions mapped to areas significant in MR analyses; genes were tested for biological and disease overrepresentation in annotation databases and for connectivity in protein-protein interaction networks. Results Of 20 688 participants in the UK Biobank sample, 10 828 (52.3%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 55.5 (7.5) years. In the UK Biobank sample, genetically predicted levels of IL-6 were associated with GMV in the middle temporal cortex (z score, 5.76; P = 8.39 × 10-9), inferior temporal (z score, 3.38; P = 7.20 × 10-5), fusiform (z score, 4.70; P = 2.60 × 10-7), and frontal (z score, -3.59; P = 3.30 × 10-5) cortex together with CT in the superior frontal region (z score, -5.11; P = 3.22 × 10-7). No significant associations were found for IL-1, IL-2, CRP, or BDNF after correction for multiple comparison. In the AHBA sample, 5 of 6 participants (83%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 42.5 (13.4) years. Brain-wide coexpression analysis showed a highly interconnected network of genes preferentially expressed in the middle temporal gyrus (MTG), which further formed a highly connected protein-protein interaction network with IL-6 (enrichment test of expected vs observed network given the prevalence and degree of interactions in the STRING database: 43 nodes/30 edges observed vs 8 edges expected; mean node degree, 1.4; genome-wide significance, P = 4.54 × 10-9). MTG differentially expressed genes that were functionally enriched for biological processes in schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and epilepsy. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, genetically determined IL-6 was associated with brain structure and potentially affects areas implicated in developmental neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John A. Williams
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Centre for Computational Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Health Data Research UK (HRD), Midlands Site, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Burgess
- Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - John Suckling
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paris Alexandros Lalousis
- Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Fatima Batool
- Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sian Lowri Griffiths
- Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Edward Palmer
- Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Karwath
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Centre for Computational Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Health Data Research UK (HRD), Midlands Site, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrey Barsky
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Centre for Computational Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Georgios V. Gkoutos
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Centre for Computational Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Health Data Research UK (HRD), Midlands Site, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Wood
- Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Orygen, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicholas M. Barnes
- Institute for Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony S. David
- Institute of Mental Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gary Donohoe
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Joanna C. Neill
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Bill Deakin
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Golam M. Khandaker
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Upthegrove
- Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Early Intervention Service, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wu X, Shukla R, Alganem K, Zhang X, Eby HM, Devine EA, Depasquale E, Reigle J, Simmons M, Hahn MK, Au-Yeung C, Asgariroozbehani R, Hahn CG, Haroutunian V, Meller J, Meador-Woodruff J, McCullumsmith RE. Transcriptional profile of pyramidal neurons in chronic schizophrenia reveals lamina-specific dysfunction of neuronal immunity. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:7699-7708. [PMID: 34272489 PMCID: PMC8761210 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01205-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
While the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has been extensively investigated using homogenized postmortem brain samples, few studies have examined changes in brain samples with techniques that may attribute perturbations to specific cell types. To fill this gap, we performed microarray assays on mRNA isolated from anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) superficial and deep pyramidal neurons from 12 schizophrenia and 12 control subjects using laser-capture microdissection. Among all the annotated genes, we identified 134 significantly increased and 130 decreased genes in superficial pyramidal neurons, while 93 significantly increased and 101 decreased genes were found in deep pyramidal neurons, in schizophrenia compared to control subjects. In these differentially expressed genes, we detected lamina-specific changes of 55 and 31 genes in superficial and deep neurons in schizophrenia, respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was applied to the entire pre-ranked differential expression gene lists to gain a complete pathway analysis throughout all annotated genes. Our analysis revealed overrepresented groups of gene sets in schizophrenia, particularly in immunity and synapse-related pathways, suggesting the disruption of these pathways plays an important role in schizophrenia. We also detected other pathways previously demonstrated in schizophrenia pathophysiology, including cytokine and chemotaxis, postsynaptic signaling, and glutamatergic synapses. In addition, we observed several novel pathways, including ubiquitin-independent protein catabolic process. Considering the effects of antipsychotic treatment on gene expression, we applied a novel bioinformatics approach to compare our differential expression gene profiles with 51 antipsychotic treatment datasets, demonstrating that our results were not influenced by antipsychotic treatment. Taken together, we found pyramidal neuron-specific changes in neuronal immunity, synaptic dysfunction, and olfactory dysregulation in schizophrenia, providing new insights for the cell-subtype specific pathophysiology of chronic schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Wu
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Rammohan Shukla
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Khaled Alganem
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Hunter M. Eby
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Emily A. Devine
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Erica Depasquale
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - James Reigle
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Micah Simmons
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Margaret K. Hahn
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 1R8,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1A8
| | - Christy Au-Yeung
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 1R8
| | - Roshanak Asgariroozbehani
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 1R8,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1A8
| | - Chang-Gyu Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vahram Haroutunian
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA,James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jarek Meller
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - James Meador-Woodruff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert E. McCullumsmith
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, USA,Neurosciences Institute, ProMedica, Toledo, OH, USA,Author for correspondence: Robert E. McCullumsmith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Block Health Science Building, Mail Stop 1007, Toledo, OH 43614,
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Murphy CE, Walker AK, Weickert CS. Neuroinflammation in schizophrenia: the role of nuclear factor kappa B. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:528. [PMID: 34650030 PMCID: PMC8516884 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01607-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation, particularly in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, is well-established in a subset of people with schizophrenia, with significant increases in inflammatory markers including several cytokines. Yet the cause(s) of cortical inflammation in schizophrenia remains unknown. Clues as to potential microenvironmental triggers and/or intracellular deficits in immunoregulation may be gleaned from looking further upstream of effector immune molecules to transcription factors that control inflammatory gene expression. Here, we focus on the 'master immune regulator' nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and review evidence in support of NF-κB dysregulation causing or contributing to neuroinflammation in patients. We discuss the utility of 'immune biotyping' as a tool to analyse immune-related transcripts and proteins in patient tissue, and the insights into cortical NF-κB in schizophrenia revealed by immune biotyping compared to studies treating patients as a single, homogenous group. Though the ubiquitous nature of NF-κB presents several hurdles for drug development, targeting this key immunoregulator with novel or repurposed therapeutics in schizophrenia is a relatively underexplored area that could aid in reducing symptoms of patients with active neuroinflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E. Murphy
- grid.250407.40000 0000 8900 8842Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031 Australia
| | - Adam K. Walker
- grid.250407.40000 0000 8900 8842Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031 Australia ,grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031 Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia. .,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia. .,Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Marazziti D, Buccianelli B, Palermo S, Parra E, Arone A, Beatino MF, Massa L, Carpita B, Barberi FM, Mucci F, Dell’Osso L. The Microbiota/Microbiome and the Gut-Brain Axis: How Much Do They Matter in Psychiatry? Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11080760. [PMID: 34440503 PMCID: PMC8401073 DOI: 10.3390/life11080760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) is the result of the constant integration of bidirectional messages between the brain and peripheral organs, together with their connections with the environment. Despite the anatomical separation, gut microbiota, i.e., the microorganisms colonising the gastrointestinal tract, is highly related to the CNS through the so-called "gut-brain axis". The aim of this paper was to review and comment on the current literature on the role of the intestinal microbiota and the gut-brain axis in some common neuropsychiatric conditions. The recent literature indicates that the gut microbiota may affect brain functions through endocrine and metabolic pathways, antibody production and the enteric network while supporting its possible role in the onset and maintenance of several neuropsychiatric disorders, neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative disorders. Alterations in the gut microbiota composition were observed in mood disorders and autism spectrum disorders and, apparently to a lesser extent, even in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related conditions, as well as in schizophrenia. Therefore, gut microbiota might represent an interesting field of research for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of common neuropsychiatric disorders and possibly as a target for the development of innovative treatments that some authors have already labelled "psychobiotics".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (B.B.); (S.P.); (E.P.); (A.A.); (M.F.B.); (L.M.); (B.C.); (F.M.B.); (L.D.)
- Unicamillus—Saint Camillus International University of Medical and Health Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Beatrice Buccianelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (B.B.); (S.P.); (E.P.); (A.A.); (M.F.B.); (L.M.); (B.C.); (F.M.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Stefania Palermo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (B.B.); (S.P.); (E.P.); (A.A.); (M.F.B.); (L.M.); (B.C.); (F.M.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Elisabetta Parra
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (B.B.); (S.P.); (E.P.); (A.A.); (M.F.B.); (L.M.); (B.C.); (F.M.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Alessandro Arone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (B.B.); (S.P.); (E.P.); (A.A.); (M.F.B.); (L.M.); (B.C.); (F.M.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Maria Francesca Beatino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (B.B.); (S.P.); (E.P.); (A.A.); (M.F.B.); (L.M.); (B.C.); (F.M.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Lucia Massa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (B.B.); (S.P.); (E.P.); (A.A.); (M.F.B.); (L.M.); (B.C.); (F.M.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Barbara Carpita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (B.B.); (S.P.); (E.P.); (A.A.); (M.F.B.); (L.M.); (B.C.); (F.M.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Filippo M. Barberi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (B.B.); (S.P.); (E.P.); (A.A.); (M.F.B.); (L.M.); (B.C.); (F.M.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Federico Mucci
- Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Liliana Dell’Osso
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (B.B.); (S.P.); (E.P.); (A.A.); (M.F.B.); (L.M.); (B.C.); (F.M.B.); (L.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Gebicke-Haerter PJ, Leonardi-Essmann F, Haerter JO, Rossner MJ, Falkai P, Schmitt A, Raabe FJ. Differential gene regulation in the anterior cingulate cortex and superior temporal cortex in schizophrenia: A molecular network approach. Schizophr Res 2021; 232:1-10. [PMID: 34004381 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The closely connected anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and superior temporal cortex (STC) are important for higher cognitive functions. Both brain regions are disturbed in schizophrenia, i.e., functional and structural alterations have been reported. This postmortem investigation in brains from patients with schizophrenia and controls compared gene expression in the left ACC and left STC. Most differentially expressed genes were unique to each brain region, but some clusters of genes were equally dysregulated in both, giving rise to a more general disease-specific pattern of gene regulation. The data was used to construct a molecular network of the genes identically expressed in both regions as primary nodes and the metabolically connected genes as secondary nodes. The network analysis identified downregulated clusters of immune-associated gene products and upregulated clusters belonging to the ubiquitin-proteasome system. These findings could help to identify new potential therapeutic targets for future approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Gebicke-Haerter
- Program of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile; Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Fernando Leonardi-Essmann
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jan O Haerter
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Moritz J Rossner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstrasse 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstrasse 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstrasse 7, 80336 Munich, Germany; Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM27), Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 05453-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Florian J Raabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstrasse 7, 80336 Munich, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804 Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Corsi-Zuelli F, Deakin B. Impaired regulatory T cell control of astroglial overdrive and microglial pruning in schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:637-653. [PMID: 33713699 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It is widely held that schizophrenia involves an active process of peripheral inflammation that induces or reflects brain inflammation with activation of microglia, the brain's resident immune cells. However, recent in vivo radioligand binding studies and large-scale transcriptomics in post-mortem brain report reduced markers of microglial inflammation. The findings suggest a contrary hypothesis; that microglia are diverted into their non-inflammatory synaptic remodelling phenotype that interferes with neurodevelopment and perhaps contributes to the relapsing nature of schizophrenia. Recent discoveries on the regulatory interactions between micro- and astroglial cells and immune regulatory T cells (Tregs) cohere with clinical omics data to suggest that: i) disinhibited astrocytes mediate the shift in microglial phenotype via the production of transforming growth factor-beta, which also contributes to the disturbances of dopamine and GABA function in schizophrenia, and ii) systemically impaired functioning of Treg cells contributes to the dysregulation of glial function, the low-grade peripheral inflammation, and the hitherto unexplained predisposition to auto-immunity and reduced life-expectancy in schizophrenia, including greater COVID-19 mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Corsi-Zuelli
- Department of Neuroscience and Behaviour, Division of Psychiatry, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 14048-900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bill Deakin
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Dobrindt K, Zhang H, Das D, Abdollahi S, Prorok T, Ghosh S, Weintraub S, Genovese G, Powell SK, Lund A, Akbarian S, Eggan K, McCarroll S, Duan J, Avramopoulos D, Brennand KJ. Publicly Available hiPSC Lines with Extreme Polygenic Risk Scores for Modeling Schizophrenia. Complex Psychiatry 2021; 6:68-82. [PMID: 34883504 PMCID: PMC7923934 DOI: 10.1159/000512716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a common and debilitating psychiatric disorder with limited effective treatment options. Although highly heritable, risk for this polygenic disorder depends on the complex interplay of hundreds of common and rare variants. Translating the growing list of genetic loci significantly associated with disease into medically actionable information remains an important challenge. Thus, establishing platforms with which to validate the impact of risk variants in cell-type-specific and donor-dependent contexts is critical. Towards this, we selected and characterized a collection of 12 human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines derived from control donors with extremely low and high SZ polygenic risk scores (PRS). These hiPSC lines are publicly available at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). The suitability of these extreme PRS hiPSCs for CRISPR-based isogenic comparisons of neurons and glia was evaluated across 3 independent laboratories, identifying 9 out of 12 meeting our criteria. We report a standardized resource of publicly available hiPSCs on which we hope to perform genome engineering and generate diverse kinds of functional data, with comparisons across studies facilitated by the use of a common set of genetic backgrounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Dobrindt
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hanwen Zhang
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Debamitra Das
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sara Abdollahi
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tim Prorok
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Sulagna Ghosh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah Weintraub
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Giulio Genovese
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samuel K. Powell
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anina Lund
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kevin Eggan
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven McCarroll
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jubao Duan
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dimitrios Avramopoulos
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kristen J. Brennand
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Department of Genetics and Genomics, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Koola MM. Alpha7 nicotinic-N-methyl-D-aspartate hypothesis in the treatment of schizophrenia and beyond. Hum Psychopharmacol 2021; 36:1-16. [PMID: 32965756 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Development of novel treatments for positive, cognitive, and negative symptoms continue to be a high-priority area of schizophrenia research and a major unmet clinical need. Given that all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted to date failed with one add-on medication/mechanism of action, future RCTs with the same approach are not warranted. Even if the field develops a medication for cognition, others are still needed to treat negative and positive symptoms. Therefore, fixing one domain does not completely solve the problem. Also, targeting the cholinergic system, glutamatergic system, and cholinergic plus alpha7 nicotinic and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors failed independently. Hence, targeting other less important pathophysiological mechanisms/targets is unlikely to be successful. Meta-analyses of RCTs targeting major pathophysiological mechanisms have found some efficacy signal in schizophrenia; thus, combination treatments with different mechanisms of action may enhance the efficacy signal. The objective of this article is to highlight the importance of conducting RCTs with novel combination treatments in schizophrenia to develop antischizophrenia treatments. Positive RCTs with novel combination treatments that target the alpha7 nicotinic and NMDA receptors simultaneously may lead to a disease-modifying therapeutic armamentarium in schizophrenia. Novel combination treatments that concurrently improve the three domains of psychopathology and several prognostic and theranostic biomarkers may facilitate therapeutic discovery in schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maju Mathew Koola
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Neuroinflammation as measured by positron emission tomography in patients with recent onset and established schizophrenia: implications for immune pathogenesis. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:5398-5406. [PMID: 32606376 PMCID: PMC8589678 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0829-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), which is upregulated in activated microglia, is a method for investigating whether immune activation is evident in the brain of adults with schizophrenia. This study aimed to measure TSPO availability in the largest patient group to date, and to compare it between patients with recent onset (ROS) and established (ES) schizophrenia. In total, 20 ROS patients (14 male), 21 ES (13 male), and 21 healthy controls completed the study. Patients were predominantly antipsychotic-medicated. Participants underwent a PET scan using the TSPO-specific radioligand [11C](R)-PK11195. The primary outcome was binding potential (BPND) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Secondary outcomes were BPND in six other regions. Correlations were investigated between TSPO availability and symptom severity. Data showed that mean BPND was higher in older (ES and controls) compared with younger (ROS and controls) individuals, but did not significantly differ between ROS or ES and their respective age-matched controls (ACC; ANOVA main effect of diagnosis: F1,58 = 0.407, p = 0.526). Compared with controls, BPND was lower in antipsychotic-free (n = 6), but not in medicated, ROS patients. BPND in the ES group was negatively correlated with positive symptoms, and positively correlated with negative symptom score. Our data suggest ageing is associated with higher TSPO but a diagnosis of schizophrenia is not. Rather, subnormal TSPO levels in drug-free recent-onset patients may imply impaired microglial development and/or function, which is counteracted by antipsychotic treatment. The development of novel radioligands for specific immune-mechanisms is needed for further clarification.
Collapse
|
25
|
Holland JF, Cosgrove D, Whitton L, Harold D, Corvin A, Gill M, Mothersill DO, Morris DW, Donohoe G. Effects of complement gene-set polygenic risk score on brain volume and cortical measures in patients with psychotic disorders and healthy controls. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2020; 183:445-453. [PMID: 32918526 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Multiple genome-wide association studies of schizophrenia have reported associations between genetic variants within the MHC region and disease risk, an association that has been partially accounted for by alleles of the complement component 4 (C4) gene. Following on previous findings of association between both C4 and other complement-related variants and memory function, we tested the hypothesis that polygenic scores calculated based on identified schizophrenia risk alleles within the "complement" system would be broadly associated with memory function and associated brain structure. We tested this using a polygenic risk score (PRS) calculated for complement genes, but excluding C4 variants. Higher complement-based PRS scores were observed to be associated with lower memory scores for the sample as a whole (N = 620, F change = 8.25; p = .004). A significant association between higher PRS and lower hippocampal volume was also observed (N = 216, R2 change = 0.016, p = .015). However, after correcting for further testing of association with the more general indices of cortical thickness, surface area or total brain volume, none of which were associated with complement, the association with hippocampal volume became non-significant. A post-hoc analysis of hippocampal subfields suggested an association between complement PRS and several hippocampal subfields, findings that appeared to be particularly driven by the patient sample. In conclusion, our study yielded suggestive evidence of association between complement-based schizophrenia PRS and variation in memory function and hippocampal volume.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica F Holland
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Donna Cosgrove
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Laura Whitton
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Denise Harold
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aiden Corvin
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael Gill
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David O Mothersill
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Derek W Morris
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Gary Donohoe
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Maas DA, Martens MB, Priovoulos N, Zuure WA, Homberg JR, Nait-Oumesmar B, Martens GJM. Key role for lipids in cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:399. [PMID: 33184259 PMCID: PMC7665187 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01084-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a psychiatric disorder with a convoluted etiology that includes cognitive symptoms, which arise from among others a dysfunctional dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). In our search for the molecular underpinnings of the cognitive deficits in SZ, we here performed RNA sequencing of gray matter from the dlPFC of SZ patients and controls. We found that the differentially expressed RNAs were enriched for mRNAs involved in the Liver X Receptor/Retinoid X Receptor (LXR/RXR) lipid metabolism pathway. Components of the LXR/RXR pathway were upregulated in gray matter but not in white matter of SZ dlPFC. Intriguingly, an analysis for shared genetic etiology, using two SZ genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and GWAS data for 514 metabolites, revealed genetic overlap between SZ and acylcarnitines, VLDL lipids, and fatty acid metabolites, which are all linked to the LXR/RXR signaling pathway. Furthermore, analysis of structural T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in combination with cognitive behavioral data showed that the lipid content of dlPFC gray matter is lower in SZ patients than in controls and correlates with a tendency towards reduced accuracy in the dlPFC-dependent task-switching test. We conclude that aberrations in LXR/RXR-regulated lipid metabolism lead to a decreased lipid content in SZ dlPFC that correlates with reduced cognitive performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dorien A. Maas
- grid.5590.90000000122931605Faculty of Science, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 26-28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands ,Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute – ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France ,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Donders Centre for Medical Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marijn B. Martens
- NeuroDrug Research Ltd, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nikos Priovoulos
- grid.458380.20000 0004 0368 8664Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Meibergdreef 75, Amsterdam-Zuidoost, 1105 BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wieteke A. Zuure
- grid.5590.90000000122931605Faculty of Science, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 26-28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Donders Centre for Medical Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Brahim Nait-Oumesmar
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute – ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Gerard J. M. Martens
- grid.5590.90000000122931605Faculty of Science, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 26-28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands ,NeuroDrug Research Ltd, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Fahey L, Donohoe G, Broin PÓ, Morris DW. Genes regulated by BCL11B during T-cell development are enriched for de novo mutations found in schizophrenia patients. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2020; 183:370-379. [PMID: 32729240 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
While abnormal neurodevelopment contributes to schizophrenia (SCZ) risk, there is also evidence to support a role for immune dysfunction in SCZ. BCL11B, associated with SCZ in genome-wide association study (GWAS), is a transcription factor that regulates the differentiation and development of cells in the central nervous and immune systems. Here, we use functional genomics data from studies of BCL11B to investigate the contribution of neuronal and immune processes to SCZ pathophysiology. We identified the gene targets of BCL11B in brain striatal cells (n = 223 genes), double negative 4 (DN4) developing T cells (n = 114 genes) and double positive (DP) developing T cells (n = 518 genes) using an integrated analysis of RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data. No gene-set was enriched for genes containing common variants associated with SCZ but the DP gene-set was enriched for genes containing missense de novo mutations (DNMs; p = .001) using data from 3,447 SCZ trios. Post hoc analysis revealed the enrichment to be stronger for DP genes negatively regulated by BCL11B. Biological processes enriched for genes negatively regulated by BCL11B in DP gene-set included immune system development and cytokine signaling. These analyses, leveraging a GWAS-identified SCZ risk gene and data on gene expression and transcription factor binding, indicate that DNMs in immune pathways contribute to SCZ risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fahey
- Cognitive Genetics and Cognitive Therapy Group, Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.,School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Gary Donohoe
- Cognitive Genetics and Cognitive Therapy Group, Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Pilib Ó Broin
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Derek W Morris
- Cognitive Genetics and Cognitive Therapy Group, Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics, School of Psychology and Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Analysis of global gene expression at seven brain regions of patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2020; 223:119-127. [PMID: 32631700 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous transcriptome analyses of brain samples provided several insights into the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In this study, we aimed to re-investigate gene expression datasets from seven brain regions of patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls by adopting a unified approach. After adjustment for confounding factors, we detected gene expression changes in 2 out of 7 brain regions - the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and parietal cortex (PC). We found relatively small effect sizes, not exceeding absolute log fold changes of 1. Gene-set enrichment analysis revealed the following alterations: 1) down-regulation of GABAergic signaling (in DLPFC and PC); 2) up-regulation of interleukin-23 signaling together with up-regulation of transcription mediated by RUNX1 and RUNX3 as well as down-regulation of RUNX2 signaling (in DLPFC) and 3) up-regulation of genes associated with responses to metal ions and RUNX1 signaling (PC). The number of neurons was significantly lower and the number of astrocytes was significantly higher at both brain regions. In turn, the index of microglia was increased in DLPFC and decreased in PC. Finally, our unsupervised analysis demonstrated that cellular composition of the samples was a major confounding factor in the analysis of gene expression across all datasets. In conclusion, our analysis provides further evidence that small but significant changes in the expression of genes related to GABAergic signaling, brain development, neuroinflammation and responses to metal ions might be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Cell sorting techniques need to be used by future studies to dissect the effect of cellular content.
Collapse
|
29
|
Increased densities of T and B lymphocytes indicate neuroinflammation in subgroups of schizophrenia and mood disorder patients. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 88:497-506. [PMID: 32283292 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of clinical, epidemiological and genetic studies as well as investigations of CSF and blood suggests that neuroinflammation plays an essential role in the etiology of schizophrenia and mood disorders. However, direct neuropathological evidence of inflammation within the brain tissue remains sparse and the regional distribution of lymphocytes as surrogate markers of blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment has not yet been investigated in this context. Densities of T and B lymphocytes were assessed in coronal whole brain sections of 22 patients with schizophrenia and 20 patients suffering from major depression or bipolar disorder, compared to 20 individuals without neuropsychiatric disorders from the Magdeburg Brain Collection. Cell densities were determined by immunohistochemical staining (anti-CD3 for T cells, anti-CD20 for B cells), followed by automated microscopic image acquisition and analysis. Hierarchical clustering and detailed cluster analysis were performed to detect possible subgroups of patients. Regional distribution was assessed by analysis of color coded mappings based on microsopic scans. Elevated lymphocyte density was found in 7 out of 20 mood disorder patients (adj. p = 0.022; Fisher's exact test, FET), 9 out of 22 schizophrenic patients (adj. p = 0.014; FET) and in 1 of 20 controls (p < 0.005; FET). Several cases showed different patterns of infiltration affecting cortical regions or subcortical white matter, while some presented diffuse infiltration. In two thirds of patients, no increased lymphocyte density could be found. The current findings indicate that lymphocyte infiltration occurs in a greater proportion of schizophrenia and mood disorder patients as compared to healthy controls. Under healthy conditions lymphocytes rarely cross the BBB. Thus, higher densities are considered indicators of neuroinflammation associated with an impairment of the BBB.
Collapse
|
30
|
Hood VL, Berger R, Freedman R, Law AJ. Transcription of PIK3CD in human brain and schizophrenia: regulation by proinflammatory cytokines. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3188-3198. [PMID: 31211828 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PIK3CD encodes the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) catalytic subunit, p110δ, a lipid kinase linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia (SZ). PIK3CD is regulated at the transcript level through alternate use of 5' untranslated exons (UTRs), promoters, and proinflammatory cytokines. Increases in global PIK3CD expression and downregulation by neuroleptics are observed in SZ, and preclinical efficacy of a p110δ-selective inhibitor is seen in rodent models of risk. Here, we cloned PIK3CD alternative transcripts in human brain and evaluated temporal- and tissue-specific expression. We quantified PIK3CD transcripts in B-lymphoblastoid cells from patients with SZ and examined 5' UTR transcriptional regulation by tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-1β (IL1β) in patient-derived fibroblasts. We report that PIK3CD transcripts are differentially expressed in human brain in a developmental-specific manner. Transcripts encoding 5' UTRs -2A and alternative exon -1 (Alt1), P37 and AS1 and AS2 were increased in SZ. Alt1, P37, and AS2 were also preferentially expressed in fetal brain, and all transcripts were regulated by TNFα and IL1β. Our findings provide novel insight into the complexity of PIK3CD regulation in human brain, implicate PIK3CD in human neurodevelopment, and identify isoform-specific disruption in SZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Amanda J Law
- Department of Psychiatry.,Department of Medicine.,Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Birnbaum R, Weinberger DR. A Genetics Perspective on the Role of the (Neuro)Immune System in Schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2020; 217:105-113. [PMID: 30850283 PMCID: PMC6728242 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The immune system has long been hypothesized to play a role in schizophrenia pathogenesis based on data from diverse disciplines. Recent reports of the identification of schizophrenia-associated genetic variants and their initial biological characterization have renewed investigation of the role of the immune system in schizophrenia. In the current review, the plausibility of a role of the immune system in schizophrenia pathogenesis is examined, by revisiting epidemiology, neuroimaging, pharmacology, and developmental biology from a genetics perspective, as well as by synthesizing diverse findings from the emerging and dynamic schizophrenia genomics field. Genetic correlations between schizophrenia and immunological disorders are inconsistent and often contradictory, as are neuroimaging studies of microglia markers. Small therapeutic trials of anti-inflammatory agents targeting immune function have been consistently negative. Some gene expression analyses of post-mortem brains of patients with schizophrenia have reported an upregulation of genes of immune function though others report downregulation, and overall transcriptome profiling to date does not support an upregulation of immune pathways associated with schizophrenia genetic risk. The currently reviewed genetic data do not converge to reveal consistent evidence of the neuroimmune system in schizophrenia pathogenesis, and indeed, a substantive role for the neuroimmune system in schizophrenia has yet to be established.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Birnbaum
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY
| | - Daniel R. Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baltimore, MD,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Baltimore, MD,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Institute of Genomics Medicine, Baltimore, MD,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Baltimore, MD
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
van Mierlo HC, Schot A, Boks MPM, de Witte LD. The association between schizophrenia and the immune system: Review of the evidence from unbiased 'omic-studies'. Schizophr Res 2020; 217:114-123. [PMID: 31130400 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A role for immune processes in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia has been suggested by genetic and epidemiological studies, as well as cross-sectional studies on blood and brain samples. However, results are heterogeneous, which is likely caused by low samples sizes, insufficient control of confounders that influence immune processes, and potentially publication bias. Large hypothesis-free 'omic' studies partially circumvent these problems and could provide further evidence for a role of immune pathways in schizophrenia. In this review we assessed whether the largest genome, transcriptome and methylome studies in schizophrenia to date support a link with the immune system. We constructed an overview of the schizophrenia-associated genes and transcripts that were identified in these large 'omic' studies. We then performed a hypothesis-driven analysis to examine the association and enrichment of immune system-related genes and transcripts in these datasets. Additionally, we reviewed secondary analyses that were previously performed on these 'omic' studies. Except for the link between complement factor 4 (C4), we found limited evidence for a role of microglia and immune processes among genetic risk variants. Transcriptome and methylome studies point towards alterations in immune system related genes, pathways and cells. This includes changes in microglia, as well as complement, nuclear factor-κB, toll-like receptor and interferon signaling pathways. Many of these associated immune-related genes and pathways have been shown to be involved in neurodevelopment and neuronal functioning. Additional replication of these findings is needed, but once further conformation is provided, these findings could be a potentially interesting target for future therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hans C van Mierlo
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, 3508GA Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Aron Schot
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, 3508GA Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marco P M Boks
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, 3508GA Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lot D de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, United States of America; Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Clozapine Prevents Poly (I:C) Induced Inflammation by Modulating NLRP3 Pathway in Microglial Cells. Cells 2020; 9:cells9030577. [PMID: 32121312 PMCID: PMC7140445 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder that exhibits an interconnection between the immune system and the brain. Experimental and clinical studies have suggested the presence of neuroinflammation in schizophrenia. In the present study, the effect of antipsychotic drugs, including clozapine, risperidone, and haloperidol (10, 20 and 20 μM, respectively), on the production of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-18, INF-γ, and TNF-α was investigated in the unstimulated and polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid [poly (I:C)]-stimulated primary microglial cell cultures. In the unstimulated cultures, clozapine, risperidone, and haloperidol did not influence the cytokine levels. Nevertheless, in cell cultures under strong inflammatory activation by poly (I:C), clozapine reduced the levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-17. Risperidone and haloperidol both reduced the levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-17, and increased the levels of IL-6, IL-10, INF-γ, and TNF-α. Based on the results that were obtained with the antipsychotic drugs and observing that clozapine presented with a more significant anti-inflammatory effect, clozapine was selected for the subsequent experiments. We compared the profile of cytokine suppression obtained with the use of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor, CRID3 to that obtained with clozapine, to test our hypothesis that clozapine inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome. Clozapine and CRID3 both reduced the IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-17 levels. Clozapine reduced the level of poly (I:C)-activated NLRP3 expression by 57%, which was higher than the reduction thay was seen with CRID3 treatment (45%). These results suggest that clozapine might exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and this activity is not typical with the use of other antipsychotic drugs under the conditions of strong microglial activation.
Collapse
|
34
|
Microglial activation in schizophrenia: Is translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) the right marker? Schizophr Res 2020; 215:167-172. [PMID: 31699629 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) with translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) radioligands has frequently been used to investigate microglial activation in schizophrenia in vivo. However, the specificity of this marker is increasingly debated. Here we show that TSPO expression is 1) not increased in postmortem brain tissue of schizophrenia patients; 2) not correlated with expression of microglial activation markers; 3) not restricted to microglia; and 4) not upregulated in ex vivo activated human primary microglia. Our data are in line with recent reports showing that TSPO expression is not increased in schizophrenia and that it is not a specific marker for activated microglia. This study emphasizes the need for further development of tracers to study the role of microglial activation in schizophrenia and other diseases.
Collapse
|
35
|
KCNH2-3.1 mediates aberrant complement activation and impaired hippocampal-medial prefrontal circuitry associated with working memory deficits. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:206-229. [PMID: 31570775 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0530-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Increased expression of the 3.1 isoform of the KCNH2 potassium channel has been associated with cognitive dysfunction and with schizophrenia, yet little is known about the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Here, by using in vivo wireless local field potential recordings during working memory processing, in vitro brain slice whole-cell patching recordings and in vivo stereotaxic hippocampal injection of AAV-encoded expression, we identified specific and delayed disruption of hippocampal-mPFC synaptic transmission and functional connectivity associated with reductions of SERPING1, CFH, and CD74 in the KCNH2-3.1 overexpression transgenic mice. The differentially expressed genes in mice are enriched in neurons and microglia, and reduced expression of these genes dysregulates the complement cascade, which has been previously linked to synaptic plasticity. We find that knockdown of these genes in primary neuronal-microglial cocultures from KCNH2-3.1 mice impairs synapse formation, and replenishing reduced CFH gene expression rescues KCNH2-3.1-induced impaired synaptogenesis. Translating to humans, we find analogous dysfunctional interactions between hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in coupling of the fMRI blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal during working memory in healthy subjects carrying alleles associated with increased KCNH2-3.1 expression in brain. Our data uncover a previously unrecognized role of the truncated KCNH2-3.1 potassium channel in mediating complement activation, which may explain its association with altered hippocampal-prefrontal connectivity and synaptic function. These results provide a potential molecular link between increased KCNH2-3.1 expression, synapse alterations, and hippocampal-prefrontal circuit abnormalities implicated in schizophrenia.
Collapse
|
36
|
Woo JJ, Pouget JG, Zai CC, Kennedy JL. The complement system in schizophrenia: where are we now and what's next? Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:114-130. [PMID: 31439935 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0479-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The complement system is a set of immune proteins involved in first-line defense against pathogens and removal of waste materials. Recent evidence has implicated the complement cascade in diseases involving the central nervous system, including schizophrenia. Here, we provide an up-to-date narrative review and critique of the literature on the relationship between schizophrenia and complement gene polymorphisms, gene expression, protein concentration, and pathway activity. A literature search identified 23 new studies since the first review on this topic in 2008. Overall complement pathway activity appears to be elevated in schizophrenia. Recent studies have identified complement component 4 (C4) and CUB and Sushi Multiple Domains 1 (CSMD1) as potential genetic markers of schizophrenia. In particular, there is some evidence of higher rates of C4B/C4S deficiency, reduced peripheral C4B concentration, and elevated brain C4A mRNA expression in schizophrenia patients compared to controls. To better elucidate the additive effects of multiple complement genotypes, we also conducted gene- and gene-set analysis through MAGMA which supported the role of Human Leukocyte Antigen class (HLA) III genes and, to a lesser extent, CSMD1 in schizophrenia; however, the HLA-schizophrenia association was likely driven by the C4 gene. Lastly, we identified several limitations of the literature on the complement system and schizophrenia, including: small sample sizes, inconsistent methodologies, limited measurements of neural concentrations of complement proteins, little exploration of the link between complement and schizophrenia phenotype, and lack of studies exploring schizophrenia treatment response. Overall, recent findings highlight complement components-in particular, C4 and CSMD1-as potential novel drug targets in schizophrenia. Given the growing availability of complement-targeted therapies, future clinical studies evaluating their efficacy in schizophrenia hold the potential to accelerate treatment advances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia J Woo
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Center for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Jennie G Pouget
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Center for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Clement C Zai
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Center for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - James L Kennedy
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Center for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Dysregulation of kynurenine metabolism is related to proinflammatory cytokines, attention, and prefrontal cortex volume in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:2860-2872. [PMID: 30940904 PMCID: PMC7577855 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0401-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan (TRP) catabolism links immune system activation with neurotransmitter signaling. The KP metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA) is increased in the brains of people with schizophrenia. We tested the extent to which: (1) brain KP enzyme mRNAs, (2) brain KP metabolites, and (3) plasma KP metabolites differed on the basis of elevated cytokines in schizophrenia vs. control groups and the extent to which plasma KP metabolites were associated with cognition and brain volume in patients displaying elevated peripheral cytokines. KP enzyme mRNAs and metabolites were assayed in two independent postmortem brain samples from a total of 71 patients with schizophrenia and 72 controls. Plasma KP metabolites, cognition, and brain volumes were measured in an independent cohort of 96 patients with schizophrenia and 81 healthy controls. Groups were stratified based on elevated vs. normal proinflammatory cytokine mRNA levels. In the prefrontal cortex (PFC), kynurenine (KYN)/TRP ratio, KYNA levels, and mRNA for enzymes, tryptophan dioxygenase (TDO) and kynurenine aminotransferases (KATI/II), were significantly increased in the high cytokine schizophrenia subgroup. KAT mRNAs significantly correlated with mRNA for glial fibrillary acidic protein in patients. In plasma, the high cytokine schizophrenia subgroup displayed an elevated KYN/TRP ratio, which correlated inversely with attention and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) volume. This study provides further evidence for the role of inflammation in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia and suggests a molecular mechanism through which inflammation could lead to schizophrenia. Proinflammatory cytokines may elicit conversion of TRP to KYN in the periphery and increase the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist KYNA via increased KAT mRNA and possibly more enzyme synthesis activity in brain astrocytes, leading to DLPFC volume loss, and attention impairment in schizophrenia.
Collapse
|
38
|
Coughlin JM, Horti AG, Pomper MG. Opportunities in precision psychiatry using PET neuroimaging in psychosis. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 131:104428. [PMID: 30904669 PMCID: PMC6744961 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
With the movement toward precision medicine in healthcare, recent studies of individuals with psychosis have begun to explore positron emission tomography (PET) as a tool to test for biochemical signatures that may distinguish subtypes of psychosis that guide subtype-specific therapeutic interventions. This review presents selected PET findings that exemplify early promise in using molecular imaging to predict treatment response, provide rationale for new therapeutic targets, and monitor target engagement in biomarker-defined subtypes of psychosis. PET data, among other data types, may prove useful in the scientific pursuit of identifying precision strategies to improve clinical outcomes for individuals with psychosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Coughlin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Andrew G Horti
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Martin G Pomper
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
van Mierlo HC, Broen JCA, Kahn RS, de Witte LD. B-cells and schizophrenia: A promising link or a finding lost in translation? Brain Behav Immun 2019; 81:52-62. [PMID: 31271869 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent genetic studies have suggested a potential role for B-cells in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Greater insight in the functioning of B-cells in patients with schizophrenia is therefore of importance. In this narrative review we aim to give an overview of the current literature on B-cells and schizophrenia. We found no evidence for altered numbers of these cells in blood. We did find support for increased levels of B-cell related cytokines and certain autoantibodies. Studies on B-cell development and function, or their numbers in cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissue are very limited. Based on the available data we appraise whether various B-cell mediated pathological mechanisms are likely to play a role in schizophrenia and provide directions for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hans C van Mierlo
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jasper C A Broen
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - René S Kahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, United States; Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Lot D de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, United States; Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Holland JF, Cosgrove D, Whitton L, Harold D, Corvin A, Gill M, Mothersill DO, Morris DW, Donohoe G. Beyond C4: Analysis of the complement gene pathway shows enrichment for IQ in patients with psychotic disorders and healthy controls. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 18:e12602. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica F. Holland
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Center for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of BiochemistryNational University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Donna Cosgrove
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Center for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of BiochemistryNational University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Laura Whitton
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Center for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of BiochemistryNational University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Denise Harold
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular MedicineTrinity College Dublin Dublin Ireland
- School of BiotechnologyDublin City University Dublin Ireland
| | - Aiden Corvin
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular MedicineTrinity College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | - Michael Gill
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular MedicineTrinity College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | - David O. Mothersill
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Center for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of BiochemistryNational University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Derek W. Morris
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Center for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of BiochemistryNational University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Gary Donohoe
- Cognitive Genetics & Cognitive Therapy Group, The Center for Neuroimaging, Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), School of Psychology and Discipline of BiochemistryNational University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Collado-Torres L, Burke EE, Peterson A, Shin J, Straub RE, Rajpurohit A, Semick SA, Ulrich WS, Price AJ, Valencia C, Tao R, Deep-Soboslay A, Hyde TM, Kleinman JE, Weinberger DR, Jaffe AE. Regional Heterogeneity in Gene Expression, Regulation, and Coherence in the Frontal Cortex and Hippocampus across Development and Schizophrenia. Neuron 2019; 103:203-216.e8. [PMID: 31174959 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The hippocampus formation, although prominently implicated in schizophrenia pathogenesis, has been overlooked in large-scale genomics efforts in the schizophrenic brain. We performed RNA-seq in hippocampi and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFCs) from 551 individuals (286 with schizophrenia). We identified substantial regional differences in gene expression and found widespread developmental differences that were independent of cellular composition. We identified 48 and 245 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with schizophrenia within the hippocampus and DLPFC, with little overlap between the brain regions. 124 of 163 (76.6%) of schizophrenia GWAS risk loci contained eQTLs in any region. Transcriptome-wide association studies in each region identified many novel schizophrenia risk features that were brain region-specific. Last, we identified potential molecular correlates of in vivo evidence of altered prefrontal-hippocampal functional coherence in schizophrenia. These results underscore the complexity and regional heterogeneity of the transcriptional correlates of schizophrenia and offer new insights into potentially causative biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Collado-Torres
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Center for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Emily E Burke
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Amy Peterson
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - JooHeon Shin
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Richard E Straub
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Anandita Rajpurohit
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Stephen A Semick
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - William S Ulrich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | - Amanda J Price
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Cristian Valencia
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ran Tao
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Amy Deep-Soboslay
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Thomas M Hyde
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Joel E Kleinman
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Daniel R Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Andrew E Jaffe
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Center for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Yuan X, Kang Y, Zhuo C, Huang XF, Song X. The gut microbiota promotes the pathogenesis of schizophrenia via multiple pathways. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 512:373-380. [PMID: 30898321 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.02.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder with unknown etiology. Many mechanisms, including dysregulation of neurotransmitters, immune disturbance, and abnormal neurodevelopment, are proposed for the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The significance of communication between intestinal flora and the central nervous system through the gut-brain axis is increasingly being recognized. The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in regulating neurotransmission, immune homeostasis, and brain development. We hypothesize that an imbalance in intestinal flora causes immune activation and dysfunction in the gut-brain axis, contributing to schizophrenia. In this review, we examine recent studies that explore the intestinal flora and immune-mediated neurodevelopment of schizophrenia. We conclude that an imbalance in intestinal flora may reduce protectants and increase neurotoxin and inflammatory mediators, causing neuronal and synaptic damage, which induces schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxia Yuan
- The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Biological Psychiatry International Joint Laboratory of Henan/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yulin Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuanjun Zhuo
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Xu-Feng Huang
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute and School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
| | - Xueqin Song
- The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Biological Psychiatry International Joint Laboratory of Henan/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Salvatore JE, Han S, Farris SP, Mignogna KM, Miles MF, Agrawal A. Beyond genome-wide significance: integrative approaches to the interpretation and extension of GWAS findings for alcohol use disorder. Addict Biol 2019; 24:275-289. [PMID: 29316088 PMCID: PMC6037617 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a heritable complex behavior. Due to the highly polygenic nature of AUD, identifying genetic variants that comprise this heritable variation has proved to be challenging. With the exception of functional variants in alcohol metabolizing genes (e.g. ADH1B and ALDH2), few other candidate loci have been confidently linked to AUD. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of AUD and other alcohol-related phenotypes have either produced few hits with genome-wide significance or have failed to replicate on further study. These issues reinforce the complex nature of the genetic underpinnings for AUD and suggest that both GWAS studies with larger samples and additional analysis approaches that better harness the nominally significant loci in existing GWAS are needed. Here, we review approaches of interest in the post-GWAS era, including in silico functional analyses; functional partitioning of single nucleotide polymorphism heritability; aggregation of signal into genes and gene networks; and validation of identified loci, genes and gene networks in postmortem brain tissue and across species. These integrative approaches hold promise to illuminate our understanding of the biological basis of AUD; however, we recognize that the main challenge continues to be the extremely polygenic nature of AUD, which necessitates large samples to identify multiple loci associated with AUD liability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E. Salvatore
- Department of Psychology; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond VA USA
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond VA USA
| | - Shizhong Han
- Department of Psychiatry; University of Iowa; Iowa City IA USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Baltimore MD USA
| | - Sean P. Farris
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research; The University of Texas at Austin; Austin TX USA
| | - Kristin M. Mignogna
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond VA USA
| | - Michael F. Miles
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond VA USA
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis MO USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Kim S, Jo Y, Webster MJ, Lee D. Shared co-expression networks in frontal cortex of the normal aged brain and schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2019; 204:253-261. [PMID: 30224231 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies on the brain of people with schizophrenia have identified structural changes and gene expression changes, suggesting that brain aging maybe accelerated in people with schizophrenia. To better characterize gene expression profiles in schizophrenia and in the aged population we constructed co-expression networks using RNA-Seq data from frontal cortex. The first data set analysed was from 62 subjects with schizophrenia and 51 unaffected controls ranging in age from 19 to 63 years. The second separate data set was from normal control individuals ranging in age from 29 to 106 years. In the first data set, we found two co-expression modules significantly associated with schizophrenia. One was a downregulated co-expression module enriched for neuron function related genes and the other was an upregulated immune/inflammation-related module. In the second data set of normal individuals, we found seven co-expression modules significantly correlated with age. A comparison of the co-expression modules from the two data sets revealed a significant consensus in nodes associated with schizophrenia and those associated with normal aging. The results indicate that a co-expression module related to neuronal function is downregulated and an immune/inflammation related co-expression module is upregulated, and associated with cells of the blood vessels, in both schizophrenia and in normal aging. This finding adds further support to the hypothesis that there may be accelerated brain aging in schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanghyeon Kim
- Stanley Brain Research Laboratory, Stanley Medical Research Institute, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States of America.
| | - Yousang Jo
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Maree J Webster
- Stanley Brain Research Laboratory, Stanley Medical Research Institute, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, United States of America
| | - Doheon Lee
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Volk DW, Moroco AE, Roman KM, Edelson JR, Lewis DA. The Role of the Nuclear Factor-κB Transcriptional Complex in Cortical Immune Activation in Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 85:25-34. [PMID: 30082065 PMCID: PMC6289758 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcript levels for cytokines and the viral restriction factor interferon-induced transmembrane protein are markedly higher in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia. These gene products are regulated by the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcriptional complex. NF-κB activity, which requires the formation of NF-κB family member heterodimers, is regulated by activation receptors, kinases, and inhibitors. Whether any of these factors are altered in schizophrenia is not known. It is also unclear whether NF-κB-related disturbances reflect ongoing cortical immune activation or a long-lasting response to a prenatal immune-related insult. METHODS Transcript levels for NF-κB pathway markers were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the prefrontal cortex from 1) 62 matched pairs of schizophrenia and unaffected comparison subjects, 2) antipsychotic-exposed monkeys, and 3) adult mice exposed prenatally to maternal immune activation or in adulthood to the immune stimulant polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid. RESULTS In schizophrenia subjects, but not antipsychotic-exposed monkeys, we found higher messenger RNA levels for 1) most NF-κB family members, 2) all NF-κB activation receptors, 3) several kinases, and 4) one inhibitor (IκBα) whose transcript level is itself regulated by NF-κB activity. A similar pattern of elevated NF-κB-related messenger RNA levels was seen in adult mice that received daily polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid injections, but not in adult mice subjected to maternal immune activation in utero. CONCLUSIONS Higher NF-κB activity, evidenced by elevated transcript levels for NF-κB family members, activation receptors, and kinases, may contribute to increased markers of cortical immune activation in schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David W Volk
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Annie E Moroco
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kaitlyn M Roman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jessica R Edelson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David A Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Gandal MJ, Zhang P, Hadjimichael E, Walker RL, Chen C, Liu S, Won H, van Bakel H, Varghese M, Wang Y, Shieh AW, Haney J, Parhami S, Belmont J, Kim M, Losada PM, Khan Z, Mleczko J, Xia Y, Dai R, Wang D, Yang YT, Xu M, Fish K, Hof PR, Warrell J, Fitzgerald D, White K, Jaffe AE, Peters MA, Gerstein M, Liu C, Iakoucheva LM, Pinto D, Geschwind DH. Transcriptome-wide isoform-level dysregulation in ASD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Science 2018; 362:eaat8127. [PMID: 30545856 PMCID: PMC6443102 DOI: 10.1126/science.aat8127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 668] [Impact Index Per Article: 111.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Most genetic risk for psychiatric disease lies in regulatory regions, implicating pathogenic dysregulation of gene expression and splicing. However, comprehensive assessments of transcriptomic organization in diseased brains are limited. In this work, we integrated genotypes and RNA sequencing in brain samples from 1695 individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, as well as controls. More than 25% of the transcriptome exhibits differential splicing or expression, with isoform-level changes capturing the largest disease effects and genetic enrichments. Coexpression networks isolate disease-specific neuronal alterations, as well as microglial, astrocyte, and interferon-response modules defining previously unidentified neural-immune mechanisms. We integrated genetic and genomic data to perform a transcriptome-wide association study, prioritizing disease loci likely mediated by cis effects on brain expression. This transcriptome-wide characterization of the molecular pathology across three major psychiatric disorders provides a comprehensive resource for mechanistic insight and therapeutic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Gandal
- Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Pan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Evi Hadjimichael
- Department of Psychiatry, and Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Walker
- Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Chao Chen
- The School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Departments of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hyejung Won
- Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Harm van Bakel
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Merina Varghese
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yongjun Wang
- The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Annie W. Shieh
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Jillian Haney
- Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Sepideh Parhami
- Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Judson Belmont
- Department of Psychiatry, and Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Minsoo Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Patricia Moran Losada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Zenab Khan
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Justyna Mleczko
- Departments of Medicine and Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yan Xia
- The School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Rujia Dai
- The School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
| | - Daifeng Wang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Yucheng T. Yang
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Departments of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Min Xu
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Departments of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kenneth Fish
- Departments of Medicine and Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jonathan Warrell
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Departments of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Dominic Fitzgerald
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Kevin White
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637
- Tempus Labs, Inc. Chicago IL 60654
| | - Andrew E. Jaffe
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Mette A. Peters
- CNS Data Coordination group, Sage Bionetworks, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Mark Gerstein
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Departments of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chunyu Liu
- The School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Lilia M. Iakoucheva
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Dalila Pinto
- Department of Psychiatry, and Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Daniel H. Geschwind
- Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Neurology, Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Yuan X, Zhang P, Wang Y, Liu Y, Li X, Kumar BU, Hei G, Lv L, Huang XF, Fan X, Song X. Changes in metabolism and microbiota after 24-week risperidone treatment in drug naïve, normal weight patients with first episode schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2018; 201:299-306. [PMID: 29859859 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2018.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was to examine the alterations in metabolic parameters, anti-oxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD), inflammatory marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and microbiota after 24-week risperidone treatment in drug naïve, normal weight, first episode schizophrenia patients; the study further examined the relationship between metabolic changes and changes in microbiota. METHODS Forty-one patients completed the 24-week study and 41 controls were enrolled in this study. Metabolic parameters, SOD, hs-CRP and the copy numbers of 5 fecal bacteria were measured at baseline (both groups) and at different time points (patients only). RESULTS Patients had significantly lower numbers of fecal Bifidobacterium spp., Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp. compared with healthy controls (HC) (ps < 0.001); in contrast, the numbers of fecal Clostridium coccoides group were significantly higher in the patient group compared with HC (p < 0.001). After 24-week risperidone treatment, there were significant increases in body weight, BMI, fasting blood-glucose, triglycerides, LDL, hs-CRP, SOD and HOMA-IR (p < 0.001), significant increases in the numbers of fecal Bifidobacterium spp. and E. coli (ps < 0.001), and significant decreases in the numbers of fecal Clostridium coccoides group and Lactobacillus spp. (ps < 0.001). Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis shows that after controlling for potential confounding variables, only the changes in fecal Bifidobacterium spp., among 4 types of fecal bacteria, entered into the model and significantly correlated with the changes in weight (unstandardized coefficient B = 4.413, R2 change = 0.167, p = 0.009) and BMI (B = 1.639, R2 change = 0.172, p = 0.008) after 24-week treatment. CONCLUSION Drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia patients show abnormalities in microbiota composition. Risperidone treatment causes significant changes in certain fecal bacteria, which are likely associated with antipsychotic medication induced metabolic changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxia Yuan
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Biological Psychiatry International Joint Laboratory of Henan, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Peifen Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Biological Psychiatry International Joint Laboratory of Henan, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaping Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Biological Psychiatry International Joint Laboratory of Henan, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yafei Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Biological Psychiatry International Joint Laboratory of Henan, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xue Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Biological Psychiatry International Joint Laboratory of Henan, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bachoo Upshant Kumar
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Biological Psychiatry International Joint Laboratory of Henan, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Gangrui Hei
- The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Luxian Lv
- Henan Province Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Xu-Feng Huang
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Xiaoduo Fan
- Psychotic Disorders Program, UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.
| | - Xueqin Song
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Biological Psychiatry International Joint Laboratory of Henan, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Altered hippocampal gene expression and structure in transgenic mice overexpressing neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) type I. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:229. [PMID: 30348978 PMCID: PMC6197224 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0288-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgenic mice overexpressing the type I isoform of neuregulin 1 (Nrg1; NRG1) have alterations in hippocampal gamma oscillations and an age-emergent deficit in hippocampus-dependent spatial working memory. Here, we examined the molecular and morphological correlates of these findings. Microarrays showed over 100 hippocampal transcripts differentially expressed in Nrg1tg-type I mice, with enrichment of genes related to neuromodulation and, in older mice, of genes involved in inflammation and immunity. Nrg1tg-type I mice had an enlarged hippocampus with a widened dentate gyrus. The results show that Nrg1 type I impacts on hippocampal gene expression and structure in a multifaceted and partly age-related way, complementing the evidence implicating Nrg1 signaling in aspects of hippocampal function. The findings are also relevant to the possible role of NRG1 signaling in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia or other disorders affecting this brain region.
Collapse
|
49
|
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that the pathophysiology or schizophrenia involves alterations in immune functions, both peripherally and centrally. Immunopsychiatric research has provided a number of candidate biomarkers that could aid estimating the risk of developing schizophrenia and/or predicting its clinical course or outcomes. This chapter summarizes the findings of immune dysfunctions along the clinical course of schizophrenia and discusses their potential value as predictive, trait or state biomarkers. Given the convergence of findings deriving from immunology, epidemiology, and genetics, the possibility of identifying immune-based biomarkers of schizophrenia seems realistic. Despite these promises, however, the field has realized that immune dysfunctions in schizophrenia may be as heterogeneous as the disorder itself. While challenging for psychiatric nosology, this heterogeneity offers the opportunity to define patient subgroups based on the presence or absence of distinct immune dysfunctions. This stratification may be clinically relevant for schizophrenic patients as it may help establishing personalized add-on therapies or preventive interventions with immunomodulating drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina Notter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Al‐Diwani AAJ, Pollak TA, Irani SR, Lennox BR. Psychosis: an autoimmune disease? Immunology 2017; 152:388-401. [PMID: 28704576 PMCID: PMC5629440 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychotic disorders are common and disabling. Overlaps in clinical course in addition to epidemiological and genetic associations raise the possibility that autoimmune mechanisms may underlie some psychoses, potentially offering novel therapeutic approaches. Several immune loci including the major histocompatibility complex and B-cell markers CD19 and CD20 achieve genome-wide significance in schizophrenia. Emerging evidence suggests a potential role via neurodevelopment in addition to classical immune pathways. Additionally, lymphocyte biology is increasingly investigated. Some reports note raised peripheral CD19+ and reduced CD3+ lymphocyte counts, with altered CD4 : CD8 ratios in acute psychosis. Also, post-mortem studies have found CD3+ and CD20+ lymphocyte infiltration in brain regions that are of functional relevance to psychosis. More specifically, the recent paradigm of neuronal surface antibody-mediated (NSAb) central nervous system disease provides an antigen-specific model linking adaptive autoimmunity to psychopathology. NSAbs bind extracellular epitopes of signalling molecules that are classically implicated in psychosis such as NMDA and GABA receptors. This interaction may cause circuit dysfunction leading to psychosis among other neurological features in patients with autoimmune encephalitis. The detection of these cases is crucial as autoimmune encephalitis is ameliorated by commonly available immunotherapies. Meanwhile, the prevalence and relevance of these antibodies in people with isolated psychotic disorders is an area of emerging scientific and clinical interest. Collaborative efforts to achieve larger sample sizes, comparison of assay platforms, and placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials are now needed to establish an autoimmune contribution to psychosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam A. J. Al‐Diwani
- Department of PsychiatryWarneford HospitalUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Autoimmune Neurology GroupNuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesJohn Radcliffe HospitalUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Thomas A. Pollak
- Department of Psychosis StudiesInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's Health PartnersLondonUK
| | - Sarosh R. Irani
- Autoimmune Neurology GroupNuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesJohn Radcliffe HospitalUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Belinda R. Lennox
- Department of PsychiatryWarneford HospitalUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| |
Collapse
|