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Gardner Z, Holbrook O, Tian Y, Odamah K, Man HY. The role of glia in the dysregulation of neuronal spinogenesis in Ube3a-dependent ASD. Exp Neurol 2024; 376:114756. [PMID: 38508482 PMCID: PMC11058030 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114756] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Overexpression of the Ube3a gene and the resulting increase in Ube3a protein are linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the cellular and molecular processes underlying Ube3a-dependent ASD remain unclear. Using both male and female mice, we find that neurons in the somatosensory cortex of the Ube3a 2× Tg ASD mouse model display reduced dendritic spine density and increased immature filopodia density. Importantly, the increased gene dosage of Ube3a in astrocytes alone is sufficient to confer alterations in neurons as immature dendritic protrusions, as observed in primary hippocampal neuron cultures. We show that Ube3a overexpression in astrocytes leads to a loss of astrocyte-derived spinogenic protein, thrombospondin-2 (TSP2), due to a suppression of TSP2 gene transcription. By neonatal intraventricular injection of astrocyte-specific virus, we demonstrate that Ube3a overexpression in astrocytes in vivo results in a reduction in dendritic spine maturation in prelimbic cortical neurons, accompanied with autistic-like behaviors in mice. These findings reveal an astrocytic dominance in initiating ASD pathobiology at the neuronal and behavior levels. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Increased gene dosage of Ube3a is tied to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), yet cellular and molecular alterations underlying autistic phenotypes remain unclear. We show that Ube3a overexpression leads to impaired dendritic spine maturation, resulting in reduced spine density and increased filopodia density. We find that dysregulation of spine development is not neuron autonomous, rather, it is mediated by an astrocytic mechanism. Increased gene dosage of Ube3a in astrocytes leads to reduced production of the spinogenic glycoprotein thrombospondin-2 (TSP2), leading to abnormalities in spines. Astrocyte-specific Ube3a overexpression in the brain in vivo confers dysregulated spine maturation concomitant with autistic-like behaviors in mice. These findings indicate the importance of astrocytes in aberrant neurodevelopment and brain function in Ube3a-depdendent ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Gardner
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America
| | - Otto Holbrook
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America
| | - Yuan Tian
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America
| | - KathrynAnn Odamah
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., L-603, Boston, MA 02118, United States of America; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America.
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2
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Müller F, Jansen J, Offensperger F, Eichbichler D, Stengel F, Scheffner M. Cobalamins Function as Allosteric Activators of an Angelman Syndrome-Associated UBE3A/E6AP Variant. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400184. [PMID: 38573110 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400184] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Genetic aberrations of the maternal UBE3A allele, which encodes the E3 ubiquitin ligase E6AP, are the cause of Angelman syndrome (AS), an imprinting disorder. In most cases, the maternal UBE3A allele is not expressed. Yet, approximately 10 percent of AS individuals harbor distinct point mutations in the maternal allele resulting in the expression of full-length E6AP variants that frequently display compromised ligase activity. In a high-throughput screen, we identified cyanocobalamin, a vitamin B12-derivative, and several alloxazine derivatives as activators of the AS-linked E6AP-F583S variant. Furthermore, we show by cross-linking coupled to mass spectrometry that cobalamins affect the structural dynamics of E6AP-F583S and apply limited proteolysis coupled to mass spectrometry to obtain information about the regions of E6AP that are involved in, or are affected by binding cobalamins and alloxazine derivatives. Our data suggest that dietary supplementation with vitamin B12 can be beneficial for AS individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Müller
- Department of Biology, Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jasmin Jansen
- Department of Biology, Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Fabian Offensperger
- Department of Biology, Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Daniela Eichbichler
- Department of Biology, Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Florian Stengel
- Department of Biology, Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Martin Scheffner
- Department of Biology, Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
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3
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Tian Y, Yu F, Yun E, Lin JW, Man HY. mRNA nuclear retention reduces AMPAR expression and promotes autistic behavior in UBE3A-overexpressing mice. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:1282-1309. [PMID: 38316900 PMCID: PMC10933332 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00073-1] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
UBE3A is a common genetic factor in ASD etiology, and transgenic mice overexpressing UBE3A exhibit typical autistic-like behaviors. Because AMPA receptors (AMPARs) mediate most of the excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain, and synaptic dysregulation is considered one of the primary cellular mechanisms in ASD pathology, we investigate here the involvement of AMPARs in UBE3A-dependent ASD. We show that expression of the AMPAR GluA1 subunit is decreased in UBE3A-overexpressing mice, and that AMPAR-mediated neuronal activity is reduced. GluA1 mRNA is trapped in the nucleus of UBE3A-overexpressing neurons, suppressing GluA1 protein synthesis. Also, SARNP, an mRNA nuclear export protein, is downregulated in UBE3A-overexpressing neurons, causing GluA1 mRNA nuclear retention. Restoring SARNP levels not only rescues GluA1 mRNA localization and protein expression, but also normalizes neuronal activity and autistic behaviors in mice overexpressing UBE3A. These findings indicate that SARNP plays a crucial role in the cellular and behavioral phenotypes of UBE3A-induced ASD by regulating nuclear mRNA trafficking and protein translation of a key AMPAR subunit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Tian
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Feiyuan Yu
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Eunice Yun
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Jen-Wei Lin
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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4
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Fitzgerald PJ. Neural hyperexcitability in Angelman syndrome: Genetic factors and pharmacologic treatment approaches. Epilepsy Res 2024; 200:107286. [PMID: 38217951 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2024.107286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that is typically caused by deletion or a loss-of-function mutation of the maternal copy of the ubiquitin ligase E3A (UBE3A) gene. The disorder is characterized by severe intellectual disability, deficits in speech, motor abnormalities, altered electroencephalography (EEG) activity, spontaneous epileptic seizures, sleep disturbances, and a happy demeanor with frequent laughter. Regarding electrophysiologic abnormalities in particular, enhanced delta oscillatory power and an elevated excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) ratio have been documented in AS, with E/I ratio especially studied in rodent models. These electrophysiologic characteristics appear to relate with the greatly elevated rates of epilepsy in individuals with AS, and associated hypersynchronous neural activity. Here we briefly review findings on EEG, E/I ratio, and epileptic seizures in AS, including data from rodent models of the disorder. We summarize pharmacologic approaches that have been used to treat behavioral aspects of AS, including neuropsychiatric phenomena and sleep disturbances, as well as seizures in the context of the disorder. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and atypical antipsychotics are among the medications that have been used behaviorally, whereas anticonvulsant drugs such as valproic acid and lamotrigine have frequently been used to control seizures in AS. We end by suggesting novel uses for some existing pharmacologic agents in AS, including noradrenergic transmission reducing drugs (alpha2 agonists, beta blockers, alpha1 antagonists) and cholinesterase inhibitors, where these various classes of drugs may have the ability to ameliorate both behavioral disturbances and seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Fitzgerald
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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5
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Su W, Liu Y, Lam A, Hao X, Baudry M, Bi X. Contextual fear memory impairment in Angelman syndrome model mice is associated with altered transcriptional responses. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18647. [PMID: 37903805 PMCID: PMC10616231 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45769-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurogenetic disorder caused by UBE3A deficiency and characterized by severe developmental delay, cognitive impairment, and motor dysfunction. In the present study, we performed RNA-seq on hippocampal samples from both wildtype (WT) and AS male mice, with or without contextual fear memory recall. There were 281 recall-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in WT mice and 268 DEGs in AS mice, with 129 shared by the two genotypes. Gene ontology analysis showed that extracellular matrix and stimulation-induced response genes were prominently enriched in recall-associated DEGs in WT mice, while nuclear acid metabolism and tissue development genes were highly enriched in those from AS mice. Further analyses showed that the 129 shared DEGs belonged to nuclear acid metabolism and tissue development genes. Unique recall DEGs in WT mice were enriched in biological processes critical for synaptic plasticity and learning and memory, including the extracellular matrix network clustered around fibronectin 1 and collagens. In contrast, AS-specific DEGs were not enriched in any known pathways. These results suggest that memory recall in AS mice, while altering the transcriptome, fails to recruit memory-associated transcriptional programs, which could be responsible for the memory impairment in AS mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyue Su
- College of Dental Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, 91766, USA
| | - Yan Liu
- College of Dental Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, 91766, USA
| | - Aileen Lam
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, 701 E. 2nd St., Pomona, CA, 91766-1854, USA
| | - Xiaoning Hao
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, 701 E. 2nd St., Pomona, CA, 91766-1854, USA
| | - Michel Baudry
- College of Dental Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, 91766, USA
| | - Xiaoning Bi
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, 701 E. 2nd St., Pomona, CA, 91766-1854, USA.
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6
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Camões dos Santos J, Appleton C, Cazaux Mateus F, Covas R, Bekman EP, da Rocha ST. Stem cell models of Angelman syndrome. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1274040. [PMID: 37928900 PMCID: PMC10620611 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1274040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is an imprinted neurodevelopmental disorder that lacks a cure, characterized by developmental delay, intellectual impairment, seizures, ataxia, and paroxysmal laughter. The condition arises due to the loss of the maternally inherited copy of the UBE3A gene in neurons. The paternally inherited UBE3A allele is unable to compensate because it is silenced by the expression of an antisense transcript (UBE3A-ATS) on the paternal chromosome. UBE3A, encoding enigmatic E3 ubiquitin ligase variants, regulates target proteins by either modifying their properties/functions or leading them to degradation through the proteasome. Over time, animal models, particularly the Ube3a mat-/pat+ Knock-Out (KO) mice, have significantly contributed to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AS. However, a shift toward human pluripotent stem cell models (PSCs), such as human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), has gained momentum. These stem cell models accurately capture human genetic and cellular characteristics, offering an alternative or a complement to animal experimentation. Human stem cells possess the remarkable ability to recapitulate neurogenesis and generate "brain-in-a-dish" models, making them valuable tools for studying neurodevelopmental disorders like AS. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art human stem cell models of AS and explore their potential to become the preclinical models of choice for drug screening and development, thus propelling AS therapeutic advancements and improving the lives of affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Camões dos Santos
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carolina Appleton
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francisca Cazaux Mateus
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita Covas
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Evguenia Pavlovna Bekman
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- The Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Caparica, Portugal
| | - Simão Teixeira da Rocha
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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7
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Chaudhary P, Proulx J, Park IW. Ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A) mediation of viral infection and human diseases. Virus Res 2023; 335:199191. [PMID: 37541588 PMCID: PMC10430597 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
The Ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A, UBE3A, also known as E6-associated protein (E6-AP), is known to play an essential role in regulating the degradation of various proteins by transferring Ub from E2 Ub conjugating enzymes to the substrate proteins. Several studies indicate that UBE3A regulates the stabilities of key viral proteins in the virus-infected cells and, thereby, the infected virus-mediated diseases, even if it were reported that UBE3A participates in non-viral-related human diseases. Furthermore, mutations such as deletions and duplications in the maternally inherited gene in the brain cause human neurodevelopmental disorders such as Angelman syndrome (AS) and autism. It is also known that UBE3A functions as a transcriptional coactivator for the expression of steroid hormone receptors. These reports establish that UBE3A is distinguished by its multitudinous functions that are paramount to viral pathology and human diseases. This review is focused on molecular mechanisms for such intensive participation of UBE3A in disease formation and virus regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Chaudhary
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, United States.
| | - Jessica Proulx
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, United States
| | - In-Woo Park
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, United States.
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8
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Wang SE, Jiang YH. Novel epigenetic molecular therapies for imprinting disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3182-3193. [PMID: 37626134 PMCID: PMC10618104 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02208-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting disorders are caused by the disruption of genomic imprinting processes leading to a deficit or increase of an active allele. Their unique molecular mechanisms underlying imprinted genes offer an opportunity to investigate epigenetic-based therapy for reactivation of an inactive allele or reduction of an active allele. Current treatments are based on managing symptoms, not targeting the molecular mechanisms underlying imprinting disorders. Here, we highlight molecular approaches of therapeutic candidates in preclinical and clinical studies for individual imprinting disorders. These include the significant progress of discovery and testing of small molecules, antisense oligonucleotides, and CRISPR mediated genome editing approaches as new therapeutic strategies. We discuss the significant challenges of translating these promising therapies from the preclinical stage to the clinic, especially for genome editing based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Eun Wang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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9
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Tjeertes J, Bacino CA, Bichell TJ, Bird LM, Bustamante M, Crean R, Jeste S, Komorowski RW, Krishnan ML, Miller MT, Nobbs D, Ochoa-Lubinoff C, Parkerson KA, Rotenberg A, Sadhwani A, Shen MD, Squassante L, Tan WH, Vincenzi B, Wheeler AC, Hipp JF, Berry-Kravis E. Enabling endpoint development for interventional clinical trials in individuals with Angelman syndrome: a prospective, longitudinal, observational clinical study (FREESIAS). J Neurodev Disord 2023; 15:22. [PMID: 37495977 PMCID: PMC10373389 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09494-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the absence of a functional UBE3A gene, which causes developmental, behavioral, and medical challenges. While currently untreatable, comprehensive data could help identify appropriate endpoints assessing meaningful improvements in clinical trials. Herein are reported the results from the FREESIAS study assessing the feasibility and utility of in-clinic and at-home measures of key AS symptoms. METHODS Fifty-five individuals with AS (aged < 5 years: n = 16, 5-12 years: n = 27, ≥ 18 years: n = 12; deletion genotype: n = 40, nondeletion genotype: n = 15) and 20 typically developing children (aged 1-12 years) were enrolled across six USA sites. Several clinical outcome assessments and digital health technologies were tested, together with overnight 19-lead electroencephalography (EEG) and additional polysomnography (PSG) sensors. Participants were assessed at baseline (Clinic Visit 1), 12 months later (Clinic Visit 2), and during intermittent home visits. RESULTS The participants achieved high completion rates for the clinical outcome assessments (adherence: 89-100% [Clinic Visit 1]; 76-91% [Clinic Visit 2]) and varied feasibility of and adherence to digital health technologies. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted participants' uptake of and/or adherence to some measures. It also potentially impacted the at-home PSG/EEG recordings, which were otherwise feasible. Participants achieved Bayley-III results comparable to the available natural history data, showing similar scores between individuals aged ≥ 18 and 5-12 years. Also, participants without a deletion generally scored higher on most clinical outcome assessments than participants with a deletion. Furthermore, the observed AS EEG phenotype of excess delta-band power was consistent with prior reports. CONCLUSIONS Although feasible clinical outcome assessments and digital health technologies are reported herein, further improved assessments of meaningful AS change are needed. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, remote assessments facilitated high adherence levels and the results suggested that at-home PSG/EEG might be a feasible alternative to the in-clinic EEG assessments. Taken altogether, the combination of in-clinic/at-home clinical outcome assessments, digital health technologies, and PSG/EEG may improve protocol adherence, reduce patient burden, and optimize study outcomes in AS and other rare disease populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorrit Tjeertes
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Carlos A Bacino
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Lynne M Bird
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Division of Dysmorphology/Genetics, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mariana Bustamante
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Shafali Jeste
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Meghan T Miller
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Nobbs
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cesar Ochoa-Lubinoff
- Departments of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Alexander Rotenberg
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anjali Sadhwani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark D Shen
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities & UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lisa Squassante
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wen-Hann Tan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brenda Vincenzi
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anne C Wheeler
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, NC, USA
- RTI International, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joerg F Hipp
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth Berry-Kravis
- Departments of Pediatrics, Neurological Sciences, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 W Harrison St, Suite 718, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
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10
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Hao X, Sun J, Zhong L, Baudry M, Bi X. UBE3A deficiency-induced autophagy is associated with activation of AMPK-ULK1 and p53 pathways. Exp Neurol 2023; 363:114358. [PMID: 36849003 PMCID: PMC10073344 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114358] [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: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by deficiency of the maternally expressed UBE3A gene. The UBE3A proteins functions both as an E3 ligase in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), and as a transcriptional co-activator for steroid hormone receptors. Here we investigated the effects of UBE3A deficiency on autophagy in the cerebellum of AS mice and in COS1 cells. Numbers and size of LC3- and LAMP2-immunopositive puncta were increased in cerebellar Purkinje cells of AS mice, as compared to wildtype mice. Western blot analysis showed an increase in the conversion of LC3I to LC3II in AS mice, as expected from increased autophagy. Levels of active AMPK and of one of its substrates, ULK1, a factor involved in autophagy initiation, were also increased. Colocalization of LC3 with LAMP2 was increased and p62 levels were decreased, indicating an increase in autophagy flux. UBE3A deficiency was also associated with reduced levels of phosphorylated p53 in the cytosol and increased levels in nuclei, which favors autophagy induction. UBE3A siRNA knockdown in COS-1 cells resulted in increased size and intensity of LC3-immunopositive puncta and increased the LC3 II/I ratio, as compared to control siRNA-treated cells, confirming the results found in the cerebellum of AS mice. These results indicate that UBE3A deficiency enhances autophagic activity through activation of the AMPK-ULK1 pathway and alterations in p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoning Hao
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Jiandong Sun
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Li Zhong
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Michel Baudry
- College of Dental Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Xiaoning Bi
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA.
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11
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Shaffer RC, Reisinger DL, Schmitt LM, Lamy M, Dominick KC, Smith EG, Coffman MC, Esbensen AJ. Systematic Review: Emotion Dysregulation in Syndromic Causes of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 62:518-557. [PMID: 36007813 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2022.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarize the current state of the literature regarding emotion dysregulation (ED) in syndromic intellectual disabilities (S-IDs) in 6 of the most common forms of S-IDs-Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome (FXS), tuberous sclerosis complex, Williams syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Angelman syndrome-and to determine future research directions for identification and treatment of ED. METHOD PubMed bibliographic database was searched from date of inception to May 2021. PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed with the flowchart, table of included studies, list of excluded studies, and checklist provided. Filters applied included human research and English. Only original research articles were included in the final set, but review articles were used to identify secondary citations of primary studies. All articles were reviewed for appropriateness by 2 authors and summarized. Inclusion criteria were met by 145 articles (Down syndrome = 29, FXS = 55, tuberous sclerosis complex = 11, Williams syndrome = 18, Prader-Willi syndrome = 24, Angelman syndrome = 8). RESULTS Each syndrome review was summarized separately and further subdivided into articles related to underlying neurobiology, behaviors associated with ED, assessment, and targeted intervention. FXS had the most thorough research base, followed by Down syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome, with the other syndromes having more limited available research. Very limited research was available regarding intervention for all disorders except FXS. CONCLUSION Core underlying characteristics of S-IDs appear to place youth at higher risk for ED, but further research is needed to better assess and treat ED in S-IDs. Future studies should have a standard assessment measure of ED, such as the Emotion Dysregulation Inventory, and explore adapting established curricula for ED from the neurotypical and autism spectrum disorder fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C Shaffer
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
| | | | - Lauren M Schmitt
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Martine Lamy
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kelli C Dominick
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Elizabeth G Smith
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | - Anna J Esbensen
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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12
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Peng K, Wang S, Liu R, Zhou L, Jeong GH, Jeong IH, Liu X, Kiyokawa H, Xue B, Zhao B, Shi H, Yin J. Effects of UBE3A on Cell and Liver Metabolism through the Ubiquitination of PDHA1 and ACAT1. Biochemistry 2023; 62:1274-1286. [PMID: 36920305 PMCID: PMC10077595 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is substantiated by the reprogramming of liver metabolic pathways that disrupts the homeostasis of lipid and glucose metabolism and thus promotes the progression of the disease. The metabolic pathways associated with NAFLD are regulated at different levels from gene transcription to various post-translational modifications including ubiquitination. Here, we used a novel orthogonal ubiquitin transfer platform to identify pyruvate dehydrogenase A1 (PDHA1) and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1 (ACAT1), two important enzymes that regulate glycolysis and ketogenesis, as substrates of E3 ubiquitin ligase UBE3A/E6AP. We found that overexpression of UBE3A accelerated the degradation of PDHA1 and promoted glycolytic activities in HEK293 cells. Furthermore, a high-fat diet suppressed the expression of UBE3A in the mouse liver, which was associated with increased ACAT1 protein levels, while forced expression of UBE3A in the mouse liver resulted in decreased ACAT1 protein contents. As a result, the mice with forced expression of UBE3A in the liver exhibited enhanced accumulation of triglycerides, cholesterol, and ketone bodies. These results reveal the role of UBE3A in NAFLD development by inducing the degradation of ACAT1 in the liver and promoting lipid storage. Overall, our work uncovers an important mechanism underlying the regulation of glycolysis and lipid metabolism through UBE3A-mediated ubiquitination of PDHA1 and ACAT1 to regulate their stabilities and enzymatic activities in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangli Peng
- Engineering
Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education,
and School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong
University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Department
of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Shirong Wang
- Department
of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Ruochuan Liu
- Department
of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Li Zhou
- Department
of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Geon H. Jeong
- Department
of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - In Ho Jeong
- Department
of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Xianpeng Liu
- Department
of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Hiroaki Kiyokawa
- Department
of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Bingzhong Xue
- Department
of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Bo Zhao
- Engineering
Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education,
and School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong
University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hang Shi
- Department
of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Jun Yin
- Department
of Chemistry, Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
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13
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Dindot SV, Christian S, Murphy WJ, Berent A, Panagoulias J, Schlafer A, Ballard J, Radeva K, Robinson R, Myers L, Jepp T, Shaheen H, Hillman P, Konganti K, Hillhouse A, Bredemeyer KR, Black L, Douville J. An ASO therapy for Angelman syndrome that targets an evolutionarily conserved region at the start of the UBE3A-AS transcript. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eabf4077. [PMID: 36947593 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abf4077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Angelman syndrome is a devastating neurogenetic disorder for which there is currently no effective treatment. It is caused by mutations or epimutations affecting the expression or function of the maternally inherited allele of the ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A) gene. The paternal UBE3A allele is imprinted in neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) by the UBE3A antisense (UBE3A-AS) transcript, which represents the distal end of the small nucleolar host gene 14 (SNHG14) transcription unit. Reactivating the expression of the paternal UBE3A allele in the CNS has long been pursued as a therapeutic option for Angelman syndrome. Here, we described the development of an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy for Angelman syndrome that targets an evolutionarily conserved region demarcating the start of the UBE3A-AS transcript. We designed and chemically optimized gapmer ASOs targeting specific sequences at the start of the human UBE3A-AS transcript. We showed that ASOs targeting this region precisely and efficiently repress the transcription of UBE3A-AS, reactivating the expression of the paternal UBE3A allele in neurotypical and Angelman syndrome induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. We further showed that human-targeted ASOs administered to the CNS of cynomolgus macaques by lumbar intrathecal injection repress UBE3A-AS and reactivate the expression of the paternal UBE3A allele throughout the CNS. These findings support the advancement of this investigational molecular therapy for Angelman syndrome into clinical development (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04259281).
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott V Dindot
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- GeneTx Biotherapeutics LLC, Sarasota, FL 34233, USA
- Research Department, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Novato, CA 94949, USA
| | - Sarah Christian
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - William J Murphy
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | | | | | - Annalise Schlafer
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Johnathan Ballard
- Texas A&M Institute for Genomic Medicine (TIGM), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Kamelia Radeva
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Ruth Robinson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Luke Myers
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Thomas Jepp
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Hillary Shaheen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Paul Hillman
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Kranti Konganti
- Texas A&M University Institute for Genome Sciences and Society (TIGSS), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Andrew Hillhouse
- Texas A&M University Institute for Genome Sciences and Society (TIGSS), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Kevin R Bredemeyer
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | | | - Julie Douville
- Charles River Laboratories, Montreal, Senneville, Quebec H9X 1C1, Canada
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14
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Romero LO, Caires R, Kaitlyn Victor A, Ramirez J, Sierra-Valdez FJ, Walsh P, Truong V, Lee J, Mayor U, Reiter LT, Vásquez V, Cordero-Morales JF. Linoleic acid improves PIEZO2 dysfunction in a mouse model of Angelman Syndrome. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1167. [PMID: 36859399 PMCID: PMC9977963 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36818-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability and atypical behaviors. AS results from loss of expression of the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase UBE3A from the maternal allele in neurons. Individuals with AS display impaired coordination, poor balance, and gait ataxia. PIEZO2 is a mechanosensitive ion channel essential for coordination and balance. Here, we report that PIEZO2 activity is reduced in Ube3a deficient male and female mouse sensory neurons, a human Merkel cell carcinoma cell line and female human iPSC-derived sensory neurons with UBE3A knock-down, and de-identified stem cell-derived neurons from individuals with AS. We find that loss of UBE3A decreases actin filaments and reduces PIEZO2 expression and function. A linoleic acid (LA)-enriched diet increases PIEZO2 activity, mechano-excitability, and improves gait in male AS mice. Finally, LA supplementation increases PIEZO2 function in stem cell-derived neurons from individuals with AS. We propose a mechanism whereby loss of UBE3A expression reduces PIEZO2 function and identified a fatty acid that enhances channel activity and ameliorates AS-associated mechano-sensory deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis O Romero
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38103, USA
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Graduate Health Sciences, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Rebeca Caires
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38103, USA
| | - A Kaitlyn Victor
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38103, USA
| | - Juanma Ramirez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Francisco J Sierra-Valdez
- School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, Monterrey, 64849, Mexico
| | | | | | - Jungsoo Lee
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38103, USA
| | - Ugo Mayor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Lawrence T Reiter
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38103, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38104, USA
| | - Valeria Vásquez
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38103, USA.
| | - Julio F Cordero-Morales
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38103, USA.
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15
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Lee D, Chen W, Kaku HN, Zhuo X, Chao ES, Soriano A, Kuncheria A, Flores S, Kim JH, Rivera A, Rigo F, Jafar-Nejad P, Beaudet AL, Caudill MS, Xue M. Antisense oligonucleotide therapy rescues disturbed brain rhythms and sleep in juvenile and adult mouse models of Angelman syndrome. eLife 2023; 12:e81892. [PMID: 36594817 PMCID: PMC9904759 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
UBE3A encodes ubiquitin protein ligase E3A, and in neurons its expression from the paternal allele is repressed by the UBE3A antisense transcript (UBE3A-ATS). This leaves neurons susceptible to loss-of-function of maternal UBE3A. Indeed, Angelman syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder, is caused by maternal UBE3A deficiency. A promising therapeutic approach to treating Angelman syndrome is to reactivate the intact paternal UBE3A by suppressing UBE3A-ATS. Prior studies show that many neurological phenotypes of maternal Ube3a knockout mice can only be rescued by reinstating Ube3a expression in early development, indicating a restricted therapeutic window for Angelman syndrome. Here, we report that reducing Ube3a-ATS by antisense oligonucleotides in juvenile or adult maternal Ube3a knockout mice rescues the abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) rhythms and sleep disturbance, two prominent clinical features of Angelman syndrome. Importantly, the degree of phenotypic improvement correlates with the increase of Ube3a protein levels. These results indicate that the therapeutic window of genetic therapies for Angelman syndrome is broader than previously thought, and EEG power spectrum and sleep architecture should be used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongwon Lee
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, United States
| | - Wu Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, United States
| | - Heet Naresh Kaku
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, United States
| | - Xinming Zhuo
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Eugene S Chao
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, United States
| | | | - Allen Kuncheria
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Stephanie Flores
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Joo Hyun Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, United States
| | - Armando Rivera
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, United States
| | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, United States
| | | | - Arthur L Beaudet
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Matthew S Caudill
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, United States
| | - Mingshan Xue
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
- The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, United States
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
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16
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Viho EMG, Punt AM, Distel B, Houtman R, Kroon J, Elgersma Y, Meijer OC. The Hippocampal Response to Acute Corticosterone Elevation Is Altered in a Mouse Model for Angelman Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010303. [PMID: 36613751 PMCID: PMC9820460 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder, caused by the neuronal absence of the ubiquitin protein ligase E3A (UBE3A). UBE3A promotes ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation and functions as a transcriptional coregulator of nuclear hormone receptors, including the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Previous studies showed anxiety-like behavior and hippocampal-dependent memory disturbances in AS mouse models. Hippocampal GR is an important regulator of the stress response and memory formation, and we therefore investigated whether the absence of UBE3A in AS mice disrupted GR signaling in the hippocampus. We first established a strong cortisol-dependent interaction between the GR ligand binding domain and a UBE3A nuclear receptor box in a high-throughput interaction screen. In vivo, we found that UBE3A-deficient AS mice displayed significantly more variation in circulating corticosterone levels throughout the day compared to wildtypes (WT), with low to undetectable levels of corticosterone at the trough of the circadian cycle. Additionally, we observed an enhanced transcriptomic response in the AS hippocampus following acute corticosterone treatment. Surprisingly, chronic corticosterone treatment showed less contrast between AS and WT mice in the hippocampus and liver transcriptomic responses. This suggests that UBE3A limits the acute stimulation of GR signaling, likely as a member of the GR transcriptional complex. Altogether, these data indicate that AS mice are more sensitive to acute glucocorticoid exposure in the brain compared to WT mice. This suggests that stress responsiveness is altered in AS which could lead to anxiety symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva M. G. Viho
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
| | - A. Mattijs Punt
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ben Distel
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - René Houtman
- Precision Medicine Lab, 5349 AB Oss, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Kroon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Onno C. Meijer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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17
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Tsujimura K, Shiohama T, Takahashi E. microRNA Biology on Brain Development and Neuroimaging Approach. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12101366. [PMID: 36291300 PMCID: PMC9599180 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12101366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper brain development requires the precise coordination and orchestration of various molecular and cellular processes and dysregulation of these processes can lead to neurological diseases. In the past decades, post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression has been shown to contribute to various aspects of brain development and function in the central nervous system. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), short non-coding RNAs, are emerging as crucial players in post-transcriptional gene regulation in a variety of tissues, such as the nervous system. In recent years, miRNAs have been implicated in multiple aspects of brain development, including neurogenesis, migration, axon and dendrite formation, and synaptogenesis. Moreover, altered expression and dysregulation of miRNAs have been linked to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful imaging technology to obtain high-quality, detailed structural and functional information from the brains of human and animal models in a non-invasive manner. Because the spatial expression patterns of miRNAs in the brain, unlike those of DNA and RNA, remain largely unknown, a whole-brain imaging approach using MRI may be useful in revealing biological and pathological information about the brain affected by miRNAs. In this review, we highlight recent advancements in the research of miRNA-mediated modulation of neuronal processes that are important for brain development and their involvement in disease pathogenesis. Also, we overview each MRI technique, and its technological considerations, and discuss the applications of MRI techniques in miRNA research. This review aims to link miRNA biological study with MRI analytical technology and deepen our understanding of how miRNAs impact brain development and pathology of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Tsujimura
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Group of Brain Function and Development, Nagoya University Neuroscience Institute of the Graduate School of Science, Nagoya 4648602, Japan
- Research Unit for Developmental Disorders, Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya 4648602, Japan
- Correspondence: (K.T.); (E.T.)
| | - Tadashi Shiohama
- Department of Pediatrics, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 2608677, Japan
| | - Emi Takahashi
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Correspondence: (K.T.); (E.T.)
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18
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Sun J, Liu Y, Hao X, Baudry M, Bi X. Lack of UBE3A-Mediated Regulation of Synaptic SK2 Channels Contributes to Learning and Memory Impairment in the Female Mouse Model of Angelman Syndrome. Neural Plast 2022; 2022:3923384. [PMID: 36237484 PMCID: PMC9553421 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3923384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe developmental delay, motor impairment, language and cognition deficits, and often with increased seizure activity. AS is caused by deficiency of UBE3A, which is both an E3 ligase and a cofactor for transcriptional regulation. We previously showed that the small conductance potassium channel protein SK2 is a UBE3A substrate, and that increased synaptic SK2 levels contribute to impairments in synaptic plasticity and fear-conditioning memory, as inhibition of SK2 channels significantly improved both synaptic plasticity and fear memory in male AS mice. In the present study, we investigated UBE3a-mediated regulation of synaptic plasticity and fear-conditioning in female AS mice. Results from both western blot and immunofluorescence analyses showed that synaptic SK2 levels were significantly increased in hippocampus of female AS mice, as compared to wild-type (WT) littermates. Like in male AS mice, long-term potentiation (LTP) was significantly reduced while long-term depression (LTD) was enhanced at hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses of female AS mice, as compared to female WT mice. Both alterations were significantly reduced by treatment with the SK2 inhibitor, apamin. The shunting effect of SK2 channels on NMDA receptor was significantly larger in female AS mice as compared to female WT mice. Female AS mice also showed impairment in both contextual and tone memory recall, and this impairment was significantly reduced by apamin treatment. Our results indicate that like male AS mice, female AS mice showed significant impairment in both synaptic plasticity and fear-conditioning memory due to increased levels of synaptic SK2 channels. Any therapeutic strategy to reduce SK2-mediated inhibition of NMDAR should be beneficial to both male and female patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiandong Sun
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California 91766, USA
| | - Yan Liu
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California 91766, USA
| | - Xiaoning Hao
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California 91766, USA
| | - Michel Baudry
- College of Dental Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California 91766, USA
| | - Xiaoning Bi
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California 91766, USA
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19
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Punt AM, Judson MC, Sidorov MS, Williams BN, Johnson NS, Belder S, den Hertog D, Davis CR, Feygin MS, Lang PF, Jolfaei MA, Curran PJ, van IJcken WF, Elgersma Y, Philpot BD. Molecular and behavioral consequences of Ube3a gene overdosage in mice. JCI Insight 2022; 7:158953. [PMID: 36134658 PMCID: PMC9675564 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.158953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosome 15q11.2-q13.1 duplication syndrome (Dup15q syndrome) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, impaired motor coordination, and autism spectrum disorder. Chromosomal multiplication of the UBE3A gene is presumed to be the primary driver of Dup15q pathophysiology, given that UBE3A exhibits maternal monoallelic expression in neurons and that maternal duplications typically yield far more severe neurodevelopmental outcomes than paternal duplications. However, studies into the pathogenic effects of UBE3A overexpression in mice have yielded conflicting results. Here, we investigated the neurodevelopmental impact of Ube3a gene overdosage using bacterial artificial chromosome-based transgenic mouse models (Ube3aOE) that recapitulate the increases in Ube3a copy number most often observed in Dup15q. In contrast to previously published Ube3a overexpression models, Ube3aOE mice were indistinguishable from wild-type controls on a number of molecular and behavioral measures, despite suffering increased mortality when challenged with seizures, a phenotype reminiscent of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Collectively, our data support a model wherein pathogenic synergy between UBE3A and other overexpressed 15q11.2-q13.1 genes is required for full penetrance of Dup15q syndrome phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Mattijs Punt
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neuroscience and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Matthew C. Judson
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Michael S. Sidorov
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Brittany N. Williams
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Naomi S. Johnson
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Sabine Belder
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neuroscience and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dion den Hertog
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neuroscience and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Courtney R. Davis
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Maximillian S. Feygin
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Patrick F. Lang
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Mehrnoush Aghadavoud Jolfaei
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neuroscience and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Patrick J. Curran
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neuroscience and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Benjamin D. Philpot
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
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20
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Generation and Characterization of a Novel Angelman Syndrome Mouse Model with a Full Deletion of the Ube3a Gene. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182815. [PMID: 36139390 PMCID: PMC9496699 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by deficits in maternally inherited UBE3A. The disease is characterized by intellectual disability, impaired motor skills, and behavioral deficits, including increased anxiety and autism spectrum disorder features. The mouse models used so far in AS research recapitulate most of the cardinal AS characteristics. However, they do not mimic the situation found in the majority of AS patients who have a large deletion spanning 4–6 Mb. There is also a large variability in phenotypes reported in the available models, which altogether limits development of therapeutics. Therefore, we have generated a mouse model in which the Ube3a gene is deleted entirely from the 5′ UTR to the 3′ UTR of mouse Ube3a isoform 2, resulting in a deletion of 76 kb. To investigate its phenotypic suitability as a model for AS, we employed a battery of behavioral tests directed to reveal AS pathology and to find out whether this model better mirrors AS development compared to other available models. We found that the maternally inherited Ube3a-deficient line exhibits robust motor dysfunction, as seen in the rotarod and DigiGait tests, and displays abnormalities in additional behavioral paradigms, including reduced nest building and hypoactivity, although no apparent cognitive phenotype was observed in the Barnes maze and novel object recognition tests. The AS mice did, however, underperform in more complex cognition tasks, such as place reversal in the IntelliCage system, and exhibited a different circadian rhythm activity pattern. We show that the novel UBE3A-deficient model, based on a whole-gene deletion, is suitable for AS research, as it recapitulates important phenotypes characteristic of AS. This new mouse model provides complementary possibilities to study the Ube3a gene and its function in health and disease as well as possible therapeutic interventions to restore function.
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21
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Latchney SE, Cadney MD, Hopkins A, Garland T. DNA Methylation Analysis of Imprinted Genes in the Cortex and Hippocampus of Cross-Fostered Mice Selectively Bred for Increased Voluntary Wheel-Running. Behav Genet 2022; 52:281-297. [PMID: 35988119 PMCID: PMC9463359 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-022-10112-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractWe have previously shown that high runner (HR) mice (from a line genetically selected for increased wheel-running behavior) have distinct, genetically based, neurobiological phenotypes as compared with non-selected control (C) mice. However, developmental programming effects during early life, including maternal care and parent-of-origin-dependent expression of imprinted genes, can also contribute to variation in physical activity. Here, we used cross-fostering to address two questions. First, do HR mice have altered DNA methylation profiles of imprinted genes in the brain compared to C mice? Second, does maternal upbringing further modify the DNA methylation status of these imprinted genes? To address these questions, we cross-fostered all offspring at birth to create four experimental groups: C pups to other C dams, HR pups to other HR dams, C pups to HR dams, and HR pups to C dams. Bisulfite sequencing of 16 imprinted genes in the cortex and hippocampus revealed that the HR line had altered DNA methylation patterns of the paternally imprinted genes, Rasgrf1 and Zdbf2, as compared with the C line. Both fostering between the HR and C lines and sex modified the DNA methylation profiles for the paternally expressed genes Mest, Peg3, Igf2, Snrpn, and Impact. Ig-DMR, a gene with multiple paternal and maternal imprinted clusters, was also affected by maternal upbringing and sex. Our results suggest that differential methylation patterns of imprinted genes in the brain could contribute to evolutionary increases in wheel-running behavior and are also dependent on maternal upbringing and sex.
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22
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Lim HK, Yoon JH, Song M. Autism Spectrum Disorder Genes: Disease-Related Networks and Compensatory Strategies. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:922840. [PMID: 35726297 PMCID: PMC9206533 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.922840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian brain comprises structurally and functionally distinct regions. Each of these regions has characteristic molecular mechanisms that mediate higher-order tasks, such as memory, learning, emotion, impulse, and motor control. Many genes are involved in neuronal signaling and contribute to normal brain development. Dysfunction of essential components of neural signals leads to various types of brain disorders. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social deficits, communication challenges, and compulsive repetitive behaviors. Long-term genetic studies have uncovered key genes associated with autism spectrum disorder, such as SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3, methyl-CpG binding protein 2, neurexin 1, and chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 8. In addition, disease-associated networks have been identified using animal models, and the understanding of the impact of these genes on disease susceptibility and compensation is deepening. In this review, we examine rescue strategies using key models of autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Kyung Lim
- Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
| | - Jong Hyuk Yoon
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Jong Hyuk Yoon,
| | - Minseok Song
- Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
- Minseok Song,
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23
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Keary CJ, Thom RP, McDougle CJ. Stimulant intolerance in children with Angelman syndrome with hyperactivity: a case series. Psychiatr Genet 2022; 32:80-86. [PMID: 35348128 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Angelman syndrome is a neurogenetic disorder resulting from the loss of expression of the ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A gene on chromosome 15. Problematic behaviors including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention are highly prevalent in Angelman syndrome. The efficacy, safety and tolerability of stimulant medications in children with Angelman syndrome for the treatment of ADHD symptoms have not been previously reported. METHODS We describe three boys with Angelman syndrome who were treated with open-label stimulant medications for ADHD symptoms. RESULTS Stimulant medications were highly intolerable, and treatment had to be discontinued after limited dosing in all three cases due to marked increases in hyperactivity and impulsivity along with worsened distractibility. CONCLUSION The findings of this study suggest that stimulant medications may be ineffective and poorly tolerated in children with Angelman syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Keary
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robyn P Thom
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher J McDougle
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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24
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Mapelli L, Soda T, D’Angelo E, Prestori F. The Cerebellar Involvement in Autism Spectrum Disorders: From the Social Brain to Mouse Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073894. [PMID: 35409253 PMCID: PMC8998980 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders that include a variety of forms and clinical phenotypes. This heterogeneity complicates the clinical and experimental approaches to ASD etiology and pathophysiology. To date, a unifying theory of these diseases is still missing. Nevertheless, the intense work of researchers and clinicians in the last decades has identified some ASD hallmarks and the primary brain areas involved. Not surprisingly, the areas that are part of the so-called “social brain”, and those strictly connected to them, were found to be crucial, such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, limbic system, and dopaminergic pathways. With the recent acknowledgment of the cerebellar contribution to cognitive functions and the social brain, its involvement in ASD has become unmistakable, though its extent is still to be elucidated. In most cases, significant advances were made possible by recent technological developments in structural/functional assessment of the human brain and by using mouse models of ASD. Mouse models are an invaluable tool to get insights into the molecular and cellular counterparts of the disease, acting on the specific genetic background generating ASD-like phenotype. Given the multifaceted nature of ASD and related studies, it is often difficult to navigate the literature and limit the huge content to specific questions. This review fulfills the need for an organized, clear, and state-of-the-art perspective on cerebellar involvement in ASD, from its connections to the social brain areas (which are the primary sites of ASD impairments) to the use of monogenic mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Mapelli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
- Correspondence: (L.M.); (F.P.)
| | - Teresa Soda
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
| | - Egidio D’Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
- Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Prestori
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
- Correspondence: (L.M.); (F.P.)
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25
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Shi SQ, Mahoney CE, Houdek P, Zhao W, Anderson MP, Zhuo X, Beaudet A, Sumova A, Scammell TE, Johnson CH. Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Are Dependent Upon Expression Levels of Key Ubiquitin Ligase Ube3a. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:837523. [PMID: 35401134 PMCID: PMC8989470 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.837523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Normal neurodevelopment requires precise expression of the key ubiquitin ligase gene Ube3a. Comparing newly generated mouse models for Ube3a downregulation (models of Angelman syndrome) vs. Ube3a upregulation (models for autism), we find reciprocal effects of Ube3a gene dosage on phenotypes associated with circadian rhythmicity, including the amount of locomotor activity. Consistent with results from neurons in general, we find that Ube3a is imprinted in neurons of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the pacemaking circadian brain locus, despite other claims that SCN neurons were somehow exceptional to these imprinting rules. In addition, Ube3a-deficient mice lack the typical drop in wake late in the dark period and have blunted responses to sleep deprivation. Suppression of physical activity by light in Ube3a-deficient mice is not due to anxiety as measured by behavioral tests and stress hormones; quantification of stress hormones may provide a mechanistic link to sleep alteration and memory deficits caused by Ube3a deficiency, and serve as an easily measurable biomarker for evaluating potential therapeutic treatments for Angelman syndrome. We conclude that reduced Ube3a gene dosage affects not only neurodevelopment but also sleep patterns and circadian rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-qun Shi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Carrie E. Mahoney
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Pavel Houdek
- Laboratory of Biological Rhythms, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Wenling Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matthew P. Anderson
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Xinming Zhuo
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | - Alena Sumova
- Laboratory of Biological Rhythms, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Thomas E. Scammell
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Carl Hirschie Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Carl Hirschie Johnson,
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26
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Hubert JN, Demars J. Genomic Imprinting in the New Omics Era: A Model for Systems-Level Approaches. Front Genet 2022; 13:838534. [PMID: 35368671 PMCID: PMC8965095 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.838534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting represents a noteworthy inheritance mechanism leading to allele-specific regulations dependent of the parental origin. Imprinted loci are especially involved in essential mammalian functions related to growth, development and behavior. In this mini-review, we first offer a summary of current representations associated with genomic imprinting through key results of the three last decades. We then outline new perspectives allowed by the spread of new omics technologies tackling various interacting levels of imprinting regulations, including genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics. We finally discuss the expected contribution of new omics data to unresolved big questions in the field.
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27
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Grebe SC, Limon DL, McNeel MM, Guzick A, Peters SU, Tan WH, Sadhwani A, Bacino CA, Bird LM, Samaco RC, Berry LN, Goodman WK, Schneider SC, Storch EA. Anxiety in Angelman Syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2022; 127:1-10. [PMID: 34979033 PMCID: PMC8803540 DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-127.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder most commonly caused by the impaired expression of the maternal UBE3A gene on chromosome 15. Though anxiety has been identified as a frequently present characteristic in AS, there are limited studies examining anxiety in this population. Studies of anxiety in other neurodevelopmental disorders have found disorder specific symptoms of anxiety and age specific displays of anxiety symptoms. However, there is a consistent challenge in identifying anxiety in people with neurodevelopmental disorders given the lack of measurement instruments specifically designed for this population. Given the limited information about AS and anxiety, the aims of the current project were to (a) examine symptoms of anxiety in children with AS and (b) determine the correlates of anxiety in children with AS. Participants included 42 adult caregivers of youth with AS in the AS Natural History study who completed the Developmental Behavior Checklist (DBC). The results found that 26% of the sample demonstrated elevated symptoms of anxiety and established a relationship between elevated anxiety in youth with AS and higher levels of irritability, hyperactivity, self-absorbed behaviors, and disruptive/antisocial behaviors. Findings from this research provide a foundation for tailoring evidence-based assessments and treatments for youth with AS and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey C Grebe
- Stacey C. Grebe, Danica L. Limon, Morgan M. McNeel, and Andrew Guzick, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Danica L Limon
- Stacey C. Grebe, Danica L. Limon, Morgan M. McNeel, and Andrew Guzick, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Morgan M McNeel
- Stacey C. Grebe, Danica L. Limon, Morgan M. McNeel, and Andrew Guzick, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Andrew Guzick
- Stacey C. Grebe, Danica L. Limon, Morgan M. McNeel, and Andrew Guzick, Baylor College of Medicine
| | | | - Wen-Hann Tan
- Wen-Hann Tan and Anjali Sadhwani, Boston Children's Hospital
| | - Anjali Sadhwani
- Wen-Hann Tan and Anjali Sadhwani, Boston Children's Hospital
| | - Carlos A Bacino
- Carlos A. Bacino, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital
| | - Lynne M Bird
- Lynne M. Bird, University of California and Boston Children's Hospital
| | | | - Leandra N Berry
- Leandra N. Berry, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital
| | | | | | - Eric A Storch
- Sophie C. Schneider and Eric A. Storch, Baylor College of Medicine
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28
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Weston KP, Gao X, Zhao J, Kim KS, Maloney SE, Gotoff J, Parikh S, Leu YC, Wu KP, Shinawi M, Steimel JP, Harrison JS, Yi JJ. Identification of disease-linked hyperactivating mutations in UBE3A through large-scale functional variant analysis. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6809. [PMID: 34815418 PMCID: PMC8635412 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27156-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms that underlie the extensive phenotypic diversity in genetic disorders are poorly understood. Here, we develop a large-scale assay to characterize the functional valence (gain or loss-of-function) of missense variants identified in UBE3A, the gene whose loss-of-function causes the neurodevelopmental disorder Angelman syndrome. We identify numerous gain-of-function variants including a hyperactivating Q588E mutation that strikingly increases UBE3A activity above wild-type UBE3A levels. Mice carrying the Q588E mutation exhibit aberrant early-life motor and communication deficits, and individuals possessing hyperactivating UBE3A variants exhibit affected phenotypes that are distinguishable from Angelman syndrome. Additional structure-function analysis reveals that Q588 forms a regulatory site in UBE3A that is conserved among HECT domain ubiquitin ligases and perturbed in various neurodevelopmental disorders. Together, our study indicates that excessive UBE3A activity increases the risk for neurodevelopmental pathology and suggests that functional variant analysis can help delineate mechanistic subtypes in monogenic disorders. UBE3A gene dysregulation is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, but predicting the function of UBE3A variants remains difficult. The authors use a high-throughput assay to categorize variants by functional activity, and show that UBE3A hyperactivity increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellan P Weston
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Xiaoyi Gao
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jinghan Zhao
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Kwang-Soo Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Susan E Maloney
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jill Gotoff
- Department of Pediatrics, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA, 17822, USA
| | - Sumit Parikh
- Department of Neurogenetics, Neurosciences Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Yen-Chen Leu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuen-Phon Wu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Marwan Shinawi
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Joshua P Steimel
- Deparment of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, USA
| | - Joseph S Harrison
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, USA
| | - Jason J Yi
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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29
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Excessive Laughter-like Vocalizations, Microcephaly, and Translational Outcomes in the Ube3a Deletion Rat Model of Angelman Syndrome. J Neurosci 2021; 41:8801-8814. [PMID: 34475199 PMCID: PMC8528495 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0925-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disabilities, motor and balance deficits, impaired communication, and a happy, excitable demeanor with frequent laughter. We sought to elucidate a preclinical outcome measure in male and female rats that addressed communication abnormalities of AS and other neurodevelopmental disorders in which communication is atypical and/or lack of speech is a core feature. We discovered, and herein report for the first time, excessive laughter-like 50 kHz ultrasonic emissions in the Ube3a mat-/pat+ rat model of AS, which suggests an excitable, playful demeanor and elevated positive affect, similar to the demeanor of individuals with AS. Also in line with the AS phenotype, Ube3a mat-/pat+ rats demonstrated aberrant social interactions with a novel partner, distinctive gait abnormalities, impaired cognition, an underlying LTP deficit, and profound reductions in brain volume. These unique, robust phenotypes provide advantages compared with currently available mouse models and will be highly valuable as outcome measures in the evaluation of therapies for AS.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Angelman syndrome (AS) is a severe neurogenetic disorder for which there is no cure, despite decades of research using mouse models. This study used a recently developed rat model of AS to delineate disease-relevant outcome measures to facilitate therapeutic development. We found the rat to be a strong model of AS, offering several advantages over mouse models by exhibiting numerous AS-relevant phenotypes, including overabundant laughter-like vocalizations, reduced hippocampal LTP, and volumetric anomalies across the brain. These findings are unconfounded by detrimental motor abilities and background strain, issues plaguing mouse models. This rat model represents an important advancement in the field of AS, and the outcome metrics reported herein will be central to the therapeutic pipeline.
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30
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Sell GL, Xin W, Cook EK, Zbinden MA, Schaffer TB, O'Meally RN, Cole RN, Margolis SS. Deleting a UBE3A substrate rescues impaired hippocampal physiology and learning in Angelman syndrome mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19414. [PMID: 34593829 PMCID: PMC8484563 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97898-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, loss-of-function mutations in the UBE3A gene lead to the neurodevelopmental disorder Angelman syndrome (AS). AS patients have severe impairments in speech, learning and memory, and motor coordination, for which there is currently no treatment. In addition, UBE3A is duplicated in > 1-2% of patients with autism spectrum disorders-a further indication of the significant role it plays in brain development. Altered expression of UBE3A, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is hypothesized to lead to impaired levels of its target proteins, but identifying the contribution of individual UBE3A targets to UBE3A-dependent deficits remains of critical importance. Ephexin5 is a putative UBE3A substrate that has restricted expression early in development, regulates synapse formation during hippocampal development, and is abnormally elevated in AS mice, modeled by maternally-derived Ube3a gene deletion. Here, we report that Ephexin5 can be directly ubiquitylated by UBE3A. Furthermore, removing Ephexin5 from AS mice specifically rescued hippocampus-dependent behaviors, CA1 physiology, and deficits in dendritic spine number. Our findings identify Ephexin5 as a key driver of hippocampal dysfunction and related behavioral deficits in AS mouse models. These results demonstrate the exciting potential of targeting Ephexin5, and possibly other UBE3A substrates, to improve symptoms of AS and other UBE3A-related developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle L Sell
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Wendy Xin
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
- Department of Neurology and the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Emily K Cook
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Mark A Zbinden
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Human Metabolome Technologies America, Inc., Boston, MA, 02134, USA
| | - Thomas B Schaffer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- NextCure Inc., Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Robert N O'Meally
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Robert N Cole
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Seth S Margolis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Wood Basic Science Building Room 517, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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31
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Schmid RS, Deng X, Panikker P, Msackyi M, Breton C, Wilson JM. CRISPR/Cas9 directed to the Ube3a antisense transcript improves Angelman syndrome phenotype in mice. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:142574. [PMID: 33411694 DOI: 10.1172/jci142574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene editing holds the potential to correct mutations and cure devastating genetic disorders. The technology has not yet proven efficacious for therapeutic use in CNS diseases with ubiquitous neuronal defects. Angelman syndrome (AS), a severe neurodevelopmental disorder, is caused by a lack of maternal expression of the UBE3A gene. Because of genomic imprinting, only neurons are affected. One therapeutic approach focuses on the intact paternal UBE3A copy in patients with AS that is silenced by an antisense transcript (UBE3A-ATS). We show here that gene editing of Ube3a-ATS in the mouse brain resulted in the formation of base pair insertions/deletions (indels) in neurons and the subsequent unsilencing of the paternal Ube3a allele in neurons, which partially corrected the behavioral phenotype of a murine AS model. This study provides compelling evidence to further investigate editing of the homologous region of the human UBE3A-ATS because this may provide a lasting therapeutic effect for patients with AS.
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32
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Berg EL, Petkova SP, Born HA, Adhikari A, Anderson AE, Silverman JL. Insulin-like growth factor-2 does not improve behavioral deficits in mouse and rat models of Angelman Syndrome. Mol Autism 2021; 12:59. [PMID: 34526125 PMCID: PMC8444390 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00467-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder for which there is currently no cure or effective therapeutic. Since the genetic cause of AS is known to be dysfunctional expression of the maternal allele of ubiquitin protein ligase E3A (UBE3A), several genetic animal models of AS have been developed. Both the Ube3a maternal deletion mouse and rat models of AS reliably demonstrate behavioral phenotypes of relevance to AS and therefore offer suitable in vivo systems in which to test potential therapeutics. One promising candidate treatment is insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2), which has recently been shown to ameliorate behavioral deficits in the mouse model of AS and improve cognitive abilities across model systems. METHODS We used both the Ube3a maternal deletion mouse and rat models of AS to evaluate the ability of IGF-2 to improve electrophysiological and behavioral outcomes. RESULTS Acute systemic administration of IGF-2 had an effect on electrophysiological activity in the brain and on a metric of motor ability; however the effects were not enduring or extensive. Additional metrics of motor behavior, learning, ambulation, and coordination were unaffected and IGF-2 did not improve social communication, seizure threshold, or cognition. LIMITATIONS The generalizability of these results to humans is difficult to predict and it remains possible that dosing schemes (i.e., chronic or subchronic dosing), routes, and/or post-treatment intervals other than that used herein may show more efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Despite a few observed effects of IGF-2, our results taken together indicate that IGF-2 treatment does not profoundly improve behavioral deficits in mouse or rat models of AS. These findings shed cautionary light on the potential utility of acute systemic IGF-2 administration in the treatment of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L. Berg
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Stela P. Petkova
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Heather A. Born
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
- Gene Therapy Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Anna Adhikari
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Anne E. Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Jill L. Silverman
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA USA
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33
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Bicker F, Nardi L, Maier J, Vasic V, Schmeisser MJ. Criss-crossing autism spectrum disorder and adult neurogenesis. J Neurochem 2021; 159:452-478. [PMID: 34478569 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a group of multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorders primarily characterized by deficits in social interaction and repetitive behavior. Although the onset is typically in early childhood, ASD poses a lifelong challenge for both patients and caretakers. Adult neurogenesis (AN) is the process by which new functional neurons are created from neural stem cells existing in the post-natal brain. The entire event is based on a sequence of cellular processes, such as proliferation, specification of cell fate, maturation, and ultimately, synaptic integration into the existing neural circuits. Hence, AN is implicated in structural and functional brain plasticity throughout life. Accumulating evidence shows that impaired AN may underlie some of the abnormal behavioral phenotypes seen in ASD. In this review, we approach the interconnections between the molecular pathways related to AN and ASD. We also discuss existing therapeutic approaches targeting such pathways both in preclinical and clinical studies. A deeper understanding of how ASD and AN reciprocally affect one another could reveal important converging pathways leading to the emergence of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Bicker
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Leonardo Nardi
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jannik Maier
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Verica Vasic
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael J Schmeisser
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.,Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
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34
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Keary CJ, Mullett JE, Nowinski L, Wagner K, Walsh B, Saro HK, Erhabor G, Thibert RL, McDougle CJ, Ravichandran CT. Parent Description of Anxiety in Angelman Syndrome. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:3612-3625. [PMID: 34417655 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05238-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety is being increasingly identified in Angelman syndrome (AS). Qualitative questions and quantitative assessments were used to evaluate for anxiety in 50 subjects with AS. In-person evaluations assessed behaviors concerning for anxiety and circumstances wherein they occurred. Caregivers completed anxiety and other behavioral rating scales. Caregiver responses were categorized and compared to items from anxiety rating scales. The most common behavioral manifestation of anxiety was "aggression." The most common circumstance was "separation from caregiver/parent." Subjects had elevated scores on anxiety, irritability and hyperactivity scales with lower mean scores among subjects with a maternal deletion. The Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale best captured behaviors described by caregivers. Existing anxiety scales should be adapted for use in AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Keary
- Angelman Syndrome Program, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA. .,Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Jennifer E Mullett
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA
| | - Lisa Nowinski
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karyn Wagner
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA
| | - Briana Walsh
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA
| | - Hannah K Saro
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA
| | - Gillian Erhabor
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ronald L Thibert
- Angelman Syndrome Program, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA.,Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher J McDougle
- Angelman Syndrome Program, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA.,Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caitlin T Ravichandran
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA.,McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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35
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Saravanapandian V, Nadkarni D, Hsu SH, Hussain SA, Maski K, Golshani P, Colwell CS, Balasubramanian S, Dixon A, Geschwind DH, Jeste SS. Abnormal sleep physiology in children with 15q11.2-13.1 duplication (Dup15q) syndrome. Mol Autism 2021; 12:54. [PMID: 34344470 PMCID: PMC8336244 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00460-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sleep disturbances in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represent a common and vexing comorbidity. Clinical heterogeneity amongst these warrants studies of the mechanisms associated with specific genetic etiologies. Duplications of 15q11.2-13.1 (Dup15q syndrome) are highly penetrant for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as intellectual disability and ASD, as well as sleep disturbances. Genes in the 15q region, particularly UBE3A and a cluster of GABAA receptor genes, are critical for neural development, synaptic protein synthesis and degradation, and inhibitory neurotransmission. During awake electroencephalography (EEG), children with Dup15q syndrome demonstrate increased beta band oscillations (12-30 Hz) that likely reflect aberrant GABAergic neurotransmission. Healthy sleep rhythms, necessary for robust cognitive development, are also highly dependent on GABAergic neurotransmission. We therefore hypothesized that sleep physiology would be abnormal in children with Dup15q syndrome. METHODS To test the hypothesis that elevated beta oscillations persist in sleep in Dup15q syndrome and that NREM sleep rhythms would be disrupted, we computed: (1) beta power, (2) spindle density, and (3) percentage of slow-wave sleep (SWS) in overnight sleep EEG recordings from a cohort of children with Dup15q syndrome (n = 15) and compared them to age-matched neurotypical children (n = 12). RESULTS Children with Dup15q syndrome showed abnormal sleep physiology with elevated beta power, reduced spindle density, and reduced or absent SWS compared to age-matched neurotypical controls. LIMITATIONS This study relied on clinical EEG where sleep staging was not available. However, considering that clinical polysomnograms are challenging to collect in this population, the ability to quantify these biomarkers on clinical EEG-routinely ordered for epilepsy monitoring-opens the door for larger-scale studies. While comparable to other human studies in rare genetic disorders, a larger sample would allow for examination of the role of seizure severity, medications, and developmental age that may impact sleep physiology. CONCLUSIONS We have identified three quantitative EEG biomarkers of sleep disruption in Dup15q syndrome, a genetic condition highly penetrant for ASD. Insights from this study not only promote a greater mechanistic understanding of the pathophysiology defining Dup15q syndrome, but also lay the foundation for studies that investigate the association between sleep and cognition. Abnormal sleep physiology may undermine healthy cognitive development and may serve as a quantifiable and modifiable target for behavioral and pharmacological interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya Saravanapandian
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA. .,Neuroscience Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Divya Nadkarni
- Division of Pediatric Epilepsy, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron, Akron, OH, 44308, USA
| | - Sheng-Hsiou Hsu
- Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience, UC San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Shaun A Hussain
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kiran Maski
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peyman Golshani
- Department of Neurology and Semel Institute for Neuroscience, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90073, USA
| | - Christopher S Colwell
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | | | - Amos Dixon
- Undergraduate Interdepartmental Program for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
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36
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Sommese M, Corrado B. A Comprehensive Approach to Rehabilitation Interventions in Patients with Angelman Syndrome: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Neurol Int 2021; 13:359-370. [PMID: 34449677 PMCID: PMC8395863 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint13030036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic disease affecting the central nervous system and neurobehavioral development causing severe mental, linguistic, and physical disabilities. The purpose of this review was to analyze the most recent evidence regarding the rehabilitation of subjects affected by this syndrome. The review was carried out in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A total of 3661 studies were identified in the databases. Once the inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, 15 studies were considered for the paper's preparation. The level of evidence of the studies was established according to the criteria of the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine-Levels of Evidence. From the selected studies, five rehabilitative approaches emerged: physiotherapy, applied behavioral analysis, toilet training, microswitch-cluster technology, and augmentative and alternative communication. Although the studies did not have a high level of evidence, the reported results appear to be encouraging and pave the way for further studies. It seems that individualized and multidisciplinary rehabilitation interventions help to improve patients' autonomy and quality of life. In some studies, the caregivers' role was fundamental to identify preferences and long-term improvements. Further studies on larger populations and with better methodological quality are needed to confirm the results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Corrado
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
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37
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Copping NA, McTighe SM, Fink KD, Silverman JL. Emerging Gene and Small Molecule Therapies for the Neurodevelopmental Disorder Angelman Syndrome. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:1535-1547. [PMID: 34528170 PMCID: PMC8608975 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01082-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare (~1:15,000) neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe developmental delay and intellectual disability, impaired communication skills, and a high prevalence of seizures, sleep disturbances, ataxia, motor deficits, and microcephaly. AS is caused by loss-of-function of the maternally inherited UBE3A gene. UBE3A is located on chromosome 15q11-13 and is biallelically expressed throughout the body but only maternally expressed in the brain due to an RNA antisense transcript that silences the paternal copy. There is currently no cure for AS, but advancements in small molecule drugs and gene therapies offer a promising approach for the treatment of the disorder. Here, we review AS and how loss-of-function of the maternal UBE3A contributes to the disorder. We also discuss the strengths and limitations of current animal models of AS. Furthermore, we examine potential small molecule drug and gene therapies for the treatment of AS and associated challenges faced by the therapeutic design. Finally, gene therapy offers the opportunity for precision medicine in AS and advancements in the treatment of this disorder can serve as a foundation for other single-gene neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nycole A Copping
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California, Research II Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Suite 1001B, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, Department of Neurology, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | | | - Kyle D Fink
- Stem Cell Program and Gene Therapy Center, Department of Neurology, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California, Research II Building 96, 4625 2nd Avenue, Suite 1001B, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
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38
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Fang M, Li Y, Ren J, Hu R, Gao X, Chen L. Epilepsy-Associated UBE3A Deficiency Downregulates Retinoic Acid Signalling Pathway. Front Genet 2021; 12:681295. [PMID: 33995501 PMCID: PMC8113777 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.681295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A) has dual functions as a E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase and coactivator of nuclear hormone receptors. Mutations or deletions of the maternally inherited UBE3A gene cause Angelman syndrome. Here, we performed transcriptome profiling in the hippocampus of Ube3am+/p+ and Ube3am–/p+ mice, and determined that the expression of the retinoic acid (RA) signalling pathway was downregulated in Ube3a-deficient mice compared to WT mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that UBE3A directly interacts with RARα and may function as a coactivator of the nuclear receptor RARα to participate in the regulation of gene expression. Loss of UBE3A expression caused the downregulation of the expression of RA-related genes, including Erbb4, Dpysl3, Calb1, Pten, and Arhgap5 in Ube3am–/p+ mice brain tissues. This work revealed a new role for UBE3A in regulating retinoic acid (RA) signalling downstream genes and hopefully to shed light on the potential drug target of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meimiao Fang
- School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yali Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Ren
- School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ronggui Hu
- School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaobo Gao
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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39
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Adhikari A, Copping NA, Beegle J, Cameron DL, Deng P, O'Geen H, Segal DJ, Fink KD, Silverman JL, Anderson JS. Functional rescue in an Angelman syndrome model following treatment with lentivector transduced hematopoietic stem cells. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1067-1083. [PMID: 33856035 PMCID: PMC8188406 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired communication skills, ataxia, motor and balance deficits, intellectual disabilities, and seizures. The genetic cause of AS is the neuronal loss of UBE3A expression in the brain. A novel approach, described here, is a stem cell gene therapy which uses lentivector-transduced hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to deliver functional UBE3A to affected cells. We have demonstrated both the prevention and reversal of AS phenotypes upon transplantation and engraftment of human CD34+ cells transduced with a Ube3a lentivector in a novel immunodeficient Ube3amat−/pat+ IL2rg−/y mouse model of AS. A significant improvement in motor and cognitive behavioral assays as well as normalized delta power measured by electroencephalogram was observed in neonates and adults transplanted with the gene modified cells. Human hematopoietic profiles observed in the lymphoid organs by detection of human immune cells were normal. Expression of UBE3A was detected in the brains of the adult treatment group following immunohistochemical staining illustrating engraftment of the gene-modified cells expressing UBE3A in the brain. As demonstrated with our data, this stem cell gene therapy approach offers a promising treatment strategy for AS, not requiring a critical treatment window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Adhikari
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Nycole A Copping
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Julie Beegle
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - David L Cameron
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Neurology, Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Peter Deng
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Neurology, Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Henriette O'Geen
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Microbiology, UC Davis Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - David J Segal
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Microbiology, UC Davis Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kyle D Fink
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Neurology, Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Joseph S Anderson
- Stem Cell Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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40
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Keute M, Miller MT, Krishnan ML, Sadhwani A, Chamberlain S, Thibert RL, Tan WH, Bird LM, Hipp JF. Angelman syndrome genotypes manifest varying degrees of clinical severity and developmental impairment. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3625-3633. [PMID: 32792659 PMCID: PMC8505254 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0858-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder due to impaired expression of UBE3A in neurons. There are several genetic mechanisms that impair UBE3A expression, but they differ in how neighboring genes on chromosome 15 at 15q11-q13 are affected. There is evidence that different genetic subtypes present with different clinical severity, but a systematic quantitative investigation is lacking. Here we analyze natural history data on a large sample of individuals with AS (n = 250, 848 assessments), including clinical scales that quantify development of motor, cognitive, and language skills (Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Third Edition; Preschool Language Scale, Fourth Edition), adaptive behavior (Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scales, Second Edition), and AS-specific symptoms (AS Clinical Severity Scale). We found that clinical severity, as captured by these scales, differs between genetic subtypes: individuals with UBE3A pathogenic variants and imprinting defects (IPD) are less affected than individuals with uniparental paternal disomy (UPD); of those with UBE3A pathogenic variants, individuals with truncating mutations are more impaired than those with missense mutations. Individuals with a deletion that encompasses UBE3A and other genes are most impaired, but in contrast to previous work, we found little evidence for an influence of deletion length (class I vs. II) on severity of manifestations. The results of this systematic analysis highlight the relevance of genomic regions beyond UBE3A as contributing factors in the AS phenotype, and provide important information for the development of new therapies for AS. More generally, this work exemplifies how increasing genetic irregularities are reflected in clinical severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Keute
- grid.417570.00000 0004 0374 1269Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland ,grid.5807.a0000 0001 1018 4307Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Meghan T. Miller
- grid.417570.00000 0004 0374 1269Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michelle L. Krishnan
- grid.417570.00000 0004 0374 1269Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anjali Sadhwani
- grid.2515.30000 0004 0378 8438Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XHarvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Stormy Chamberlain
- grid.63054.340000 0001 0860 4915Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT USA
| | - Ronald L. Thibert
- grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | - Wen-Hann Tan
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XHarvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,grid.2515.30000 0004 0378 8438Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | - Lynne M. Bird
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, CA USA ,grid.286440.c0000 0004 0383 2910Department of Genetics/Dysmorphology, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Joerg F. Hipp
- grid.417570.00000 0004 0374 1269Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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An Unbiased Drug Screen for Seizure Suppressors in Duplication 15q Syndrome Reveals 5-HT 1A and Dopamine Pathway Activation as Potential Therapies. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 88:698-709. [PMID: 32507391 PMCID: PMC7554174 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Duplication 15q (Dup15q) syndrome is a rare neurogenetic disorder characterized by autism and pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Most individuals with isodicentric duplications have been on multiple medications to control seizures. We recently developed a model of Dup15q in Drosophila by elevating levels of fly Dube3a in glial cells using repo-GAL4, not neurons. In contrast to other Dup15q models, these flies develop seizures that worsen with age. METHODS We screened repo>Dube3a flies for approved compounds that can suppress seizures. Flies 3 to 5 days old were exposed to compounds in the fly food during development. Flies were tested using a bang sensitivity assay for seizure recovery time. At least 40 animals were tested per experiment, with separate testing for male and female flies. Studies of K+ content in glial cells of the fly brain were also performed using a fluorescent K+ indicator. RESULTS We identified 17 of 1280 compounds in the Prestwick Chemical Library that could suppress seizures. Eight compounds were validated in secondary screening. Four of these compounds regulated either serotonergic or dopaminergic signaling, and subsequent experiments confirmed that seizure suppression occurred primarily through stimulation of serotonin receptor 5-HT1A. Additional studies of K+ levels showed that Dube3a regulation of the Na+/K+ exchanger ATPα (adenosine triphosphatase α) in glia may be modulated by serotonin/dopamine signaling, causing seizure suppression. CONCLUSIONS Based on these pharmacological and genetic studies, we present an argument for the use of 5-HT1A agonists in the treatment of Dup15q epilepsy.
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Mitake M, Hirano S, Kishino T. Imprinting analysis by droplet digital PCR coupled with locked nucleic acid TaqMan probes. Epigenetics 2020; 16:729-740. [PMID: 32970510 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2020.1823160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Imprinted genes are differentially expressed in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. Parental origin of the alleles is discriminated by intragenic DNA polymorphisms. Comparisons of parental allelic expression have been analysed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Here, we developed a novel quantitative method for allelic expression of the imprinted gene Ube3a, which inactivation and mutations cause Angelman syndrome and predominantly expressed by the maternal allele in neuronal tissues. In this method, cDNA was amplified by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) coupled with allele-specific locked nucleic acid (LNA) TaqMan probes, which labelled by FAM and HEX were designed to detect the SNPs in the target regions. ddPCR assay demonstrated that the sense transcript of Ube3a was equally expressed from both parental alleles in adult tissues except neuronal tissues, where Ube3a expression from the paternal allele was about 10 to 14% of total Ube3a expression in adult brain, and 20% in spinal cord. The antisense transcript of Ube3a was expressed at 60% to 70% of the sense transcript of Ube3a in adult brain. Changes in the Ube3a transcripts during postnatal brain development were also evaluated by ddPCR. The ddPCR method is far more reliable and simpler to use than semiquantitative PCR to analyse skewed or faint allelic expression of imprinted genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Mitake
- Division of Functional Genomics, Centre for Frontier Life Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shiori Hirano
- Division of Functional Genomics, Centre for Frontier Life Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kishino
- Division of Functional Genomics, Centre for Frontier Life Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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43
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Varrault A, Dubois E, Le Digarcher A, Bouschet T. Quantifying Genomic Imprinting at Tissue and Cell Resolution in the Brain. EPIGENOMES 2020; 4:21. [PMID: 34968292 PMCID: PMC8594728 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes4030021] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Imprinted genes are a group of ~150 genes that are preferentially expressed from one parental allele owing to epigenetic marks asymmetrically distributed on inherited maternal and paternal chromosomes. Altered imprinted gene expression causes human brain disorders such as Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes and additional rare brain diseases. Research data principally obtained from the mouse model revealed how imprinted genes act in the normal and pathological brain. However, a better understanding of imprinted gene functions calls for building detailed maps of their parent-of-origin-dependent expression and of associated epigenetic signatures. Here we review current methods for quantifying genomic imprinting at tissue and cell resolutions, with a special emphasis on methods to detect parent-of-origin dependent expression and their applications to the brain. We first focus on bulk RNA-sequencing, the main method to detect parent-of-origin-dependent expression transcriptome-wide. We discuss the benefits and caveats of bulk RNA-sequencing and provide a guideline to use it on F1 hybrid mice. We then review methods for detecting parent-of-origin-dependent expression at cell resolution, including single-cell RNA-seq, genetic reporters, and molecular probes. Finally, we provide an overview of single-cell epigenomics technologies that profile additional features of genomic imprinting, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and chromatin conformation and their combination into sc-multimodal omics approaches, which are expected to yield important insights into genomic imprinting in individual brain cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Varrault
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (A.L.D.)
| | - Emeric Dubois
- Montpellier GenomiX (MGX), Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France;
| | - Anne Le Digarcher
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (A.L.D.)
| | - Tristan Bouschet
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (A.L.D.)
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44
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Javed S, Selliah T, Lee YJ, Huang WH. Dosage-sensitive genes in autism spectrum disorders: From neurobiology to therapy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 118:538-567. [PMID: 32858083 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of heterogenous neurodevelopmental disorders affecting 1 in 59 children. Syndromic ASDs are commonly associated with chromosomal rearrangements or dosage imbalance involving a single gene. Many of these genes are dosage-sensitive and regulate transcription, protein homeostasis, and synaptic function in the brain. Despite vastly different molecular perturbations, syndromic ASDs share core symptoms including social dysfunction and repetitive behavior. However, each ASD subtype has a unique pathogenic mechanism and combination of comorbidities that require individual attention. We have learned a great deal about how these dosage-sensitive genes control brain development and behaviors from genetically-engineered mice. Here we describe the clinical features of eight monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders caused by dosage imbalance of four genes, as well as recent advances in using genetic mouse models to understand their pathogenic mechanisms and develop intervention strategies. We propose that applying newly developed quantitative molecular and neuroscience technologies will advance our understanding of the unique neurobiology of each disorder and enable the development of personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sehrish Javed
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Tharushan Selliah
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yu-Ju Lee
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Wei-Hsiang Huang
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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45
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Saravanapandian V, Frohlich J, Hipp JF, Hyde C, Scheffler AW, Golshani P, Cook EH, Reiter LT, Senturk D, Jeste SS. Properties of beta oscillations in Dup15q syndrome. J Neurodev Disord 2020; 12:22. [PMID: 32791992 PMCID: PMC7425173 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-020-09326-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Duplications of 15q11.2-q13.1 (Dup15q syndrome) are highly penetrant for autism, intellectual disability, hypotonia, and epilepsy. The 15q region harbors genes critical for brain development, particularly UBE3A and a cluster of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR) genes. We recently described an electrophysiological biomarker of the syndrome, characterized by excessive beta oscillations (12–30 Hz), resembling electroencephalogram (EEG) changes induced by allosteric modulation of GABAARs. In this follow-up study, we tested a larger cohort of children with Dup15q syndrome to comprehensively examine properties of this EEG biomarker that would inform its use in future clinical trials, specifically, its (1) relation to basic clinical features, such as age, duplication type, and epilepsy; (2) relation to behavioral characteristics, such as cognition and adaptive function; (3) stability over time; and (4) reproducibility of the signal in clinical EEG recordings. Methods We computed EEG power and beta peak frequency (BPF) in a cohort of children with Dup15q syndrome (N = 41, age range 9–189 months). To relate EEG parameters to clinical (study 1) and behavioral features (study 2), we examined age, duplication type, epilepsy, cognition, and daily living skills (DLS) as predictors of beta power and BPF. To evaluate stability over time (study 3), we derived the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) from beta power and BPF computed from children with multiple EEG recordings (N = 10, age range 18–161 months). To evaluate reproducibility in a clinical setting (study 4), we derived ICCs from beta power computed from children (N = 8, age range 19–96 months), who had undergone both research EEG and clinical EEG. Results The most promising relationships between EEG and clinical traits were found using BPF. BPF was predicted both by epilepsy status (R2 = 0.11, p = 0.038) and the DLS component of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (R2 = 0.17, p = 0.01). Beta power and peak frequency showed high stability across repeated visits (beta power ICC = 0.93, BPF ICC = 0.92). A reproducibility analysis revealed that beta power estimates are comparable between research and clinical EEG (ICC = 0.94). Conclusions In this era of precision health, with pharmacological and neuromodulatory therapies being developed and tested for specific genetic etiologies of neurodevelopmental disorders, quantification and examination of mechanistic biomarkers can greatly improve clinical trials. To this end, the robust beta oscillations evident in Dup15q syndrome are clinically reproducible and stable over time. With future preclinical and computational studies that will help disentangle the underlying mechanism, it is possible that this biomarker could serve as a robust measure of drug target engagement or a proximal outcome measure in future disease modifying intervention trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya Saravanapandian
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA.
| | - Joel Frohlich
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA.,Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, 3423 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Joerg F Hipp
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carly Hyde
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
| | - Aaron W Scheffler
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health, Room 21-254C CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Peyman Golshani
- Department of Neurology and Semel Institute for Neuroscience, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90073, USA
| | - Edwin H Cook
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 W Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL, 60608, USA
| | - Lawrence T Reiter
- Department of Neurology, Pediatrics and Anatomy & Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Ave., Link, Memphis, TN, 415, USA
| | - Damla Senturk
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health, Room 21-254C CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Shafali S Jeste
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
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46
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Lopez SJ, Laufer BI, Beitnere U, Berg EL, Silverman JL, O'Geen H, Segal DJ, LaSalle JM. Imprinting effects of UBE3A loss on synaptic gene networks and Wnt signaling pathways. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3842-3852. [PMID: 31625566 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin E3 ligase 3A (UBE3A) encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase whose loss from the maternal allele causes the neurodevelopmental disorder Angelman syndrome (AS). Previous studies of UBE3A function have not examined full Ube3a deletion in mouse, the complexity of imprinted gene networks in brain nor the molecular basis of systems-level cognitive dysfunctions in AS. We therefore utilized a systems biology approach to elucidate how UBE3A loss impacts the early postnatal brain in a novel CRISPR/Cas9-engineered rat Angelman model of a complete Ube3a deletion. Strand-specific transcriptome analysis of offspring from maternally or paternally inherited Ube3a deletions revealed the expected parental expression patterns of Ube3a sense and antisense transcripts by postnatal day 2 (P2) in hypothalamus and day 9 (P9) in cortex, compared to wild-type littermates. The dependency of genome-wide effects on parent-of-origin, Ube3a genotype and time (P2 and P9) was investigated through transcriptome (RNA sequencing of cortex and hypothalamus) and methylome (whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of hypothalamus). Weighted gene co-expression and co-methylation network analyses identified co-regulated networks in maternally inherited Ube3a deletion offspring enriched in postnatal developmental processes including Wnt signaling, synaptic regulation, neuronal and glial functions, epigenetic regulation, ubiquitin, circadian entrainment and splicing. Furthermore, we showed that loss of the paternal Ube3a antisense transcript resulted in both unique and overlapping dysregulated gene pathways with maternal loss, predominantly at the level of differential methylation. Together, these results provide a holistic examination of the molecular impacts of UBE3A loss in brain, supporting the existence of interactive epigenetic networks between maternal and paternal transcripts at the Ube3a locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Jesse Lopez
- Medical Immunology and Microbiology, University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Integrative Genetics and Genomics, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Benjamin I Laufer
- Medical Immunology and Microbiology, University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Ulrika Beitnere
- Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Berg
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.,Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacromento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.,Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacromento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Henriette O'Geen
- Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - David J Segal
- Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Integrative Genetics and Genomics, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Janine M LaSalle
- Medical Immunology and Microbiology, University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Genome Center, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Integrative Genetics and Genomics, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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47
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Katz DC, Aponte JD, Liu W, Green RM, Mayeux JM, Pollard KM, Pomp D, Munger SC, Murray SA, Roseman CC, Percival CJ, Cheverud J, Marcucio RS, Hallgrímsson B. Facial shape and allometry quantitative trait locus intervals in the Diversity Outbred mouse are enriched for known skeletal and facial development genes. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233377. [PMID: 32502155 PMCID: PMC7274373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The biology of how faces are built and come to differ from one another is complex. Discovering normal variants that contribute to differences in facial morphology is one key to untangling this complexity, with important implications for medicine and evolutionary biology. This study maps quantitative trait loci (QTL) for skeletal facial shape using Diversity Outbred (DO) mice. The DO is a randomly outcrossed population with high heterozygosity that captures the allelic diversity of eight inbred mouse lines from three subspecies. The study uses a sample of 1147 DO animals (the largest sample yet employed for a shape QTL study in mouse), each characterized by 22 three-dimensional landmarks, 56,885 autosomal and X-chromosome markers, and sex and age classifiers. We identified 37 facial shape QTL across 20 shape principal components (PCs) using a mixed effects regression that accounts for kinship among observations. The QTL include some previously identified intervals as well as new regions that expand the list of potential targets for future experimental study. Three QTL characterized shape associations with size (allometry). Median support interval size was 3.5 Mb. Narrowing additional analysis to QTL for the five largest magnitude shape PCs, we found significant overrepresentation of genes with known roles in growth, skeletal and facial development, and sensory organ development. For most intervals, one or more of these genes lies within 0.25 Mb of the QTL's peak. QTL effect sizes were small, with none explaining more than 0.5% of facial shape variation. Thus, our results are consistent with a model of facial diversity that is influenced by key genes in skeletal and facial development and, simultaneously, is highly polygenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C. Katz
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute and McCaig Bone and Joint Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - J. David Aponte
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute and McCaig Bone and Joint Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute and McCaig Bone and Joint Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Rebecca M. Green
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute and McCaig Bone and Joint Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jessica M. Mayeux
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - K. Michael Pollard
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Daniel Pomp
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Steven C. Munger
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States of America
| | | | - Charles C. Roseman
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America
| | - Christopher J. Percival
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States of America
| | - James Cheverud
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Ralph S. Marcucio
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Benedikt Hallgrímsson
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute and McCaig Bone and Joint Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
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48
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Rotaru DC, Mientjes EJ, Elgersma Y. Angelman Syndrome: From Mouse Models to Therapy. Neuroscience 2020; 445:172-189. [PMID: 32088294 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The UBE3A gene is part of the chromosome 15q11-q13 region that is frequently deleted or duplicated, leading to several neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Angelman syndrome (AS) is caused by the absence of functional maternally derived UBE3A protein, while the paternal UBE3A gene is present but silenced specifically in neurons. Patients with AS present with severe neurodevelopmental delay, with pronounced motor deficits, absence of speech, intellectual disability, epilepsy, and sleep problems. The pathophysiology of AS is still unclear and a treatment is lacking. Animal models of AS recapitulate the genotypic and phenotypic features observed in AS patients, and have been invaluable for understanding the disease process as well as identifying apropriate drug targets. Using these AS mouse models we have learned that loss of UBE3A probably affects many areas of the brain, leading to increased neuronal excitability and a loss of synaptic spines, along with changes in a number of distinct behaviours. Inducible AS mouse models have helped to identify the critical treatment windows for the behavioral and physiological phenotypes. Additionally, AS mouse models indicate an important role for the predominantly nuclear UBE3A isoform in generating the characteristic AS pathology. Last, but not least, the AS mice have been crucial in guiding Ube3a gene reactivation treatments, which present a very promising therapy to treat AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C Rotaru
- Department of Neuroscience, The ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Edwin J Mientjes
- Department of Neuroscience, The ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Neuroscience, The ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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49
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Aguilera-Albesa S, de la Hoz AB, Ibarluzea N, Ordóñez-Castillo AR, Busto-Crespo O, Villate O, Ibiricu-Yanguas MA, Yoldi-Petri ME, García de Gurtubay I, Perez de Nanclares G, Pereda A, Tejada MI. Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and Intellectual Disability: Clinicogenetic Lessons From a Family Suggesting a Dual Genetics Diagnosis. Front Neurol 2020; 11:41. [PMID: 32117010 PMCID: PMC7033498 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders with spastic paraparesis as the main clinical feature. Complex forms may co-occur with other motor, sensory, and cognitive impairment. A growing number of loci and genes are being identified, but still more than 50% of the patients remain without molecular diagnosis. We present a Spanish family with autosomal dominant HSP and intellectual disability (ID) in which we found a possible dual genetic diagnosis with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity in the parents and three siblings: a heterozygous duplication of 15q11.2–q13.1 found by array CGH and a novel missense heterozygous change in REEP1 [c.73A>G; p.(Lys25Glu)] found by whole exome sequencing (WES). Following the standard genetic diagnosis approach in ID, array CGH analysis was first performed in both brothers affected by spastic paraparesis and ID from school age, and a heterozygous duplication of 15q11.2–q13.1 was found. Subsequently, the duplication was also found in the healthy mother and in the sister, who presented attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms from school age and pes cavus with mild pyramidal signs at 22 years of age. Methylation analysis revealed that the three siblings carried the duplication unmethylated in the maternal allele, whereas their mother harbored it methylated in her paternal allele. Functional studies revealed an overexpression of UBE3A and ATP10A in the three siblings, and the slightest cognitive phenotype of the sister seems to be related to a lower expression of ATP10A. Later, searching for the cause of HSP, WES was performed revealing the missense heterozygous variant in REEP1 in all three siblings and the father, who presented subtle pyramidal signs in the lower limbs as well as the sister. Our findings reinforce the association of maternally derived UBE3A overexpression with neurodevelopmental disorders and support that a spectrum of clinical severity is present within families. They also reveal that a dual genetic diagnosis is possible in patients with presumed complex forms of HSP and cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Aguilera-Albesa
- Paediatric Neurology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Navarra Health Service Hospital, Pamplona, Spain.,Navarrabiomed Health Research Institute, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ana Belén de la Hoz
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Clinical Group Affiliated With the Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Nekane Ibarluzea
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Clinical Group Affiliated With the Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Olivia Busto-Crespo
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Navarra Health Service, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Olatz Villate
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Clinical Group Affiliated With the Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain.,Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Genetics Service, Cruces University Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - María Asunción Ibiricu-Yanguas
- Navarrabiomed Health Research Institute, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Neurophysiology, Navarra Health Service Hospital, Pamplona, Spain
| | - María E Yoldi-Petri
- Paediatric Neurology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Navarra Health Service Hospital, Pamplona, Spain.,Navarrabiomed Health Research Institute, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Iñaki García de Gurtubay
- Navarrabiomed Health Research Institute, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Neurophysiology, Navarra Health Service Hospital, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Guiomar Perez de Nanclares
- Rare Diseases Research Group, Molecular (Epi)Genetics Laboratory, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Araba University Hospital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Arrate Pereda
- Rare Diseases Research Group, Molecular (Epi)Genetics Laboratory, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Araba University Hospital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - María Isabel Tejada
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Clinical Group Affiliated With the Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain.,Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Genetics Service, Cruces University Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo, Spain
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Berg EL, Pride MC, Petkova SP, Lee RD, Copping NA, Shen Y, Adhikari A, Fenton TA, Pedersen LR, Noakes LS, Nieman BJ, Lerch JP, Harris S, Born HA, Peters MM, Deng P, Cameron DL, Fink KD, Beitnere U, O'Geen H, Anderson AE, Dindot SV, Nash KR, Weeber EJ, Wöhr M, Ellegood J, Segal DJ, Silverman JL. Translational outcomes in a full gene deletion of ubiquitin protein ligase E3A rat model of Angelman syndrome. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:39. [PMID: 32066685 PMCID: PMC7026078 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0720-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by developmental delay, impaired communication, motor deficits and ataxia, intellectual disabilities, microcephaly, and seizures. The genetic cause of AS is the loss of expression of UBE3A (ubiquitin protein ligase E6-AP) in the brain, typically due to a deletion of the maternal 15q11-q13 region. Previous studies have been performed using a mouse model with a deletion of a single exon of Ube3a. Since three splice variants of Ube3a exist, this has led to a lack of consistent reports and the theory that perhaps not all mouse studies were assessing the effects of an absence of all functional UBE3A. Herein, we report the generation and functional characterization of a novel model of Angelman syndrome by deleting the entire Ube3a gene in the rat. We validated that this resulted in the first comprehensive gene deletion rodent model. Ultrasonic vocalizations from newborn Ube3am-/p+ were reduced in the maternal inherited deletion group with no observable change in the Ube3am+/p- paternal transmission cohort. We also discovered Ube3am-/p+ exhibited delayed reflex development, motor deficits in rearing and fine motor skills, aberrant social communication, and impaired touchscreen learning and memory in young adults. These behavioral deficits were large in effect size and easily apparent in the larger rodent species. Low social communication was detected using a playback task that is unique to rats. Structural imaging illustrated decreased brain volume in Ube3am-/p+ and a variety of intriguing neuroanatomical phenotypes while Ube3am+/p- did not exhibit altered neuroanatomy. Our report identifies, for the first time, unique AS relevant functional phenotypes and anatomical markers as preclinical outcomes to test various strategies for gene and molecular therapies in AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Berg
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - M C Pride
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - S P Petkova
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - R D Lee
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - N A Copping
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Y Shen
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - A Adhikari
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - T A Fenton
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - L R Pedersen
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - L S Noakes
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - B J Nieman
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J P Lerch
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - S Harris
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - H A Born
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M M Peters
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - P Deng
- Stem Cell Program, Institute for Regenerative Cures, and Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - D L Cameron
- Stem Cell Program, Institute for Regenerative Cures, and Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - K D Fink
- Stem Cell Program, Institute for Regenerative Cures, and Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - U Beitnere
- MIND Institute, Genome Center, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - H O'Geen
- MIND Institute, Genome Center, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - A E Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S V Dindot
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - K R Nash
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - E J Weeber
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - M Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - J Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - D J Segal
- MIND Institute, Genome Center, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - J L Silverman
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA.
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