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Ogino J, Dou Y. Histone methyltransferase KMT2A: Developmental regulation to oncogenic transformation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107791. [PMID: 39303915 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Our current understanding of epigenetic regulation is deeply rooted in the founding contributions of Dr C. David Allis. In 2002, Allis and colleagues first characterized the lysine methyltransferase activity of the mammalian KMT2A (MLL1), a paradigm-shifting discovery that brings epigenetic dysregulation into focus for many human diseases that carry KMT2A mutations. This review will discuss the current understanding of the multifaceted roles of KMT2A in development and disease, which has paved the way for innovative and upcoming approaches to cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayme Ogino
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Department of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yali Dou
- Department of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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2
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Faillace MP, Ortiz J, Rocco L, Bernabeu R. Histone Methyltransferase G9a Plays an Essential Role on Nicotine Preference in Zebrafish. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:6245-6263. [PMID: 38289455 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03961-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Psychostimulants regulate behavioral responses in zebrafish via epigenetic mechanisms. We have previously shown that DNA methylation and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition abolish nicotine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) but little is known about the role of histone methylation in addictive-like behaviors. To assess the influence of histone methylation on nicotine-CPP, zebrafish were treated with a histone (H3) lysine-9 (K9) dimethyltransferase G9a/GLP inhibitor, BIX-01294 (BIX), which was administered before conditioning sessions. We observed a dual effect of the inhibitor BIX: at high doses inhibited while at low doses potentiated nicotine reward. Transcriptional expression of α6 and α7 subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and of G9a, DNA methyl transferase-3, and HDAC-1 was upregulated in zebrafish with positive scores for nicotine-CPP. Changes in relative levels of these mRNA molecules reflected the effects of BIX on nicotine reward. BIX treatment per sé did not affect transcriptional levels of epigenetic enzymes that regulate trimethylation or demethylation of H3. BIX reduced H3K9me2 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner in key structures of the reward pathway. Thus, our findings indicated that different doses of BIX differentially affect nicotine CPP via strong or weak inhibition of G9a/GLP activity. Additionally, we found that the lysine demethylase inhibitor daminozide abolished nicotine-CPP and drug seeking. Our data demonstrate that H3 methylation catalyzed by G9a/GLP is involved in nicotine-CPP induction. Dimethylation of K9 at H3 is an important epigenetic modification that should be considered as a potential therapeutic target to treat nicotine reward and perhaps other drug addictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Paula Faillace
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO-Houssay, UBA-CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 7th floor (C1121ABG), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Joaquin Ortiz
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO-Houssay, UBA-CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 7th floor (C1121ABG), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro Rocco
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO-Houssay, UBA-CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 7th floor (C1121ABG), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ramon Bernabeu
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Physiology and Biophysics (IFIBIO-Houssay, UBA-CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 7th floor (C1121ABG), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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3
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Blaze J, Browne CJ, Futamura R, Javidfar B, Zachariou V, Nestler EJ, Akbarian S. tRNA epitranscriptomic alterations associated with opioid-induced reward-seeking and long-term opioid withdrawal in male mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:1276-1284. [PMID: 38332016 PMCID: PMC11224224 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01813-6] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
DNA cytosine methylation has been documented as a potential epigenetic mechanism of transcriptional regulation underlying opioid use disorder. However, methylation of RNA cytosine residues, which would drive another level of biological influence as an epitranscriptomic mechanism of gene and protein regulation has not been studied in the context of addiction. Here, we probed whether chronic morphine exposure could alter tRNA cytosine methylation (m5C) and resulting expression levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a brain region crucial for reward processing and executive function that exhibits opioid-induced molecular restructuring. We identified dynamic changes in glycine tRNA (tRNAGlyGCC) cytosine methylation, corresponding to altered expression levels of this tRNA at multiple timepoints following 15 days of daily morphine. Additionally, a robust increase in methylation, coupled with decreased expression, was present after 30 days of withdrawal, suggesting that repeated opioid administration produces changes to the tRNA regulome long after discontinuation. Furthermore, forebrain-wide knockout of neuronal Nsun2, a tRNA methyltransferase, was associated with disruption of opioid conditioned place preference, and this effect was recapitulated by regional mPFC Nsun2 knockout. Taken together, these studies provide a foundational link between the regulation of tRNA cytosine methylation and opioid reward and highlight the tRNA machinery as a potential therapeutic target in addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Blaze
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Caleb J Browne
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Brain Health Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rita Futamura
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Behnam Javidfar
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Venetia Zachariou
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Zou T, Sugimoto K, Zhao Y, Li B, Zhou X, Peng C. Zhi-zi-chi decoction mitigates depression by enhancing lncRNA Six3os1 expression and promoting histone H3K4 methylation at the BDNF promoter. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18365. [PMID: 38818577 PMCID: PMC11140235 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Traditional Chinese medicine, particularly Zhi-zi-chi decoction (ZZCD), is gaining recognition as a potential treatment for depression. This study aimed to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind ZZCD's antidepressant effects, focusing on lncRNA Six3os1 and histone H3K4 methylation at the BDNF promoter. Network pharmacology and in vivo experiments were conducted to identify ZZCD targets and evaluate its impact on depression-related behaviours and neuron injury. The role of Six3os1 in recruiting KMT2A to the BDNF promoter and its effects on oxidative stress and neuron injury were investigated. ZZCD reduced depression-like behaviours and neuron injury in mice subjected to chronic stress. It upregulated Six3os1, which facilitated KMT2A recruitment to the BDNF promoter, leading to increased histone H3K4 methylation and enhanced BDNF expression. ZZCD also inhibited CORT-induced neuron injury, inflammatory response and oxidative stress in vitro. ZZCD's antidepressant properties involve Six3os1 upregulation, which exerts neuroprotective effects by inhibiting oxidative stress and neuron injury, thereby alleviating depressive symptoms. Targeting Six3os1 upregulation may offer a potential therapeutic intervention for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zou
- Department of EncephalopathyShenzhen Luohu District Hospital of Traditional Chinese MedicineShenzhenChina
- Department of EncephalopathyShenzhen Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShenzhenChina
| | - Kazuo Sugimoto
- Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen HospitalBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
- Institute for Brain DisordersBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated HospitalHeilongjiang University of Chinese MedicineHarbinChina
| | - Baitao Li
- Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated HospitalHeilongjiang University of Chinese MedicineHarbinChina
| | - Xiaomao Zhou
- Department of EncephalopathyShenzhen Luohu District Hospital of Traditional Chinese MedicineShenzhenChina
- Department of EncephalopathyShenzhen Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShenzhenChina
| | - Cheng Peng
- Department of EncephalopathyShenzhen Luohu District Hospital of Traditional Chinese MedicineShenzhenChina
- Department of EncephalopathyShenzhen Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShenzhenChina
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Jakkamsetti V, Ma Q, Angulo G, Scudder W, Beutler B, Pascual JM. Genetic influences on motor learning and performance and superperforming mutants revealed by random mutational survey of the mouse genome. J Physiol 2024; 602:2649-2664. [PMID: 38299894 PMCID: PMC11142877 DOI: 10.1113/jp285505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Evolution depends upon genetic variations that influence physiology. As defined in a genetic screen, phenotypic performance may be enhanced or degraded by such mutations. We set out to detect mutations that influence motor function, including motor learning. Thus, we tested the motor effects of 36,444 non-synonymous coding/splicing mutations induced in the germline of C57BL/6J mice with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea by measuring changes in the performance of repetitive rotarod trials while blinded to genotype. Automated meiotic mapping was used to implicate individual mutations in causation. In total, 32,726 mice bearing all the variant alleles were screened. This was complemented with the simultaneous testing of 1408 normal mice for reference. In total, 16.3% of autosomal genes were thus rendered detectably hypomorphic or nullified by mutations in homozygosity and motor tested in at least three mice. This approach allowed us to identify superperformance mutations in Rif1, Tk1, Fan1 and Mn1. These genes are primarily related, among other less well-characterized functions, to nucleic acid biology. We also associated distinct motor learning patterns with groups of functionally related genes. These functional sets included, preferentially, histone H3 methyltransferase activity for mice that learnt at an accelerated rate relative to the remaining mutant mice. The results allow for an estimation of the fraction of mutations that can modify a behaviour influential for evolution such as locomotion. They may also enable, once the loci are further validated and the mechanisms elucidated, the harnessing of the activity of the newly identified genes to enhance motor ability or to counterbalance disability or disease. KEY POINTS: We studied the effect of chemically induced random mutations on mouse motor performance. An array of mutations influenced the rate of motor learning. DNA regulation genes predominated among these mutant loci. Several mutations in unsuspected genes led to superperformance. Assuming little-biased mutagenicity, the results allow for an estimation of the probability for any spontaneous mutation to influence a behaviour such as motor learning and ultimate performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Jakkamsetti
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Qian Ma
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Gustavo Angulo
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - William Scudder
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Bruce Beutler
- Center for Genetics of Host Defense, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Juan M. Pascual
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Physiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth & Development / Center for Human Genetics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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6
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Ell MA, Schiele MA, Iovino N, Domschke K. Epigenetics of Fear, Anxiety and Stress - Focus on Histone Modifications. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:843-865. [PMID: 36946487 PMCID: PMC10845084 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230322154158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear-, anxiety- and stress-related disorders are among the most frequent mental disorders. Given substantial rates of insufficient treatment response and often a chronic course, a better understanding of the pathomechanisms of fear-, anxiety- and stress-related disorders is urgently warranted. Epigenetic mechanisms such as histone modifications - positioned at the interface between the biological and the environmental level in the complex pathogenesis of mental disorders - might be highly informative in this context. The current state of knowledge on histone modifications, chromatin-related pharmacology and animal models modified for genes involved in the histone-related epigenetic machinery will be reviewed with respect to fear-, anxiety- and stress-related states. Relevant studies, published until 30th June 2022, were identified using a multi-step systematic literature search of the Pub- Med and Web of Science databases. Animal studies point towards histone modifications (e.g., H3K4me3, H3K9me1/2/3, H3K27me2/3, H3K9ac, H3K14ac and H4K5ac) to be dynamically and mostly brain region-, task- and time-dependently altered on a genome-wide level or gene-specifically (e.g., Bdnf) in models of fear conditioning, retrieval and extinction, acute and (sub-)chronic stress. Singular and underpowered studies on histone modifications in human fear-, anxiety- or stress-related phenotypes are currently restricted to the phenotype of PTSD. Provided consistent validation in human phenotypes, epigenetic biomarkers might ultimately inform indicated preventive interventions as well as personalized treatment approaches, and could inspire future innovative pharmacological treatment options targeting the epigenetic machinery improving treatment response in fear-, anxiety- and stressrelated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A. Ell
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Miriam A. Schiele
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nicola Iovino
- Department of Chromation Regulation, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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7
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Tremmel R, Zhou Y, Schwab M, Lauschke VM. Structural variation of the coding and non-coding human pharmacogenome. NPJ Genom Med 2023; 8:24. [PMID: 37684227 PMCID: PMC10491600 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-023-00371-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic variants in drug targets and genes encoding factors involved in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) can have pronounced impacts on drug pharmacokinetics, response, and toxicity. While the landscape of genetic variability at the level of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) has been extensively studied in these pharmacogenetic loci, their structural variation is only poorly understood. Thus, we systematically analyzed the genetic structural variability across 908 pharmacogenes (344 ADME genes and 564 drug targets) based on publicly available whole genome sequencing data from 10,847 unrelated individuals. Overall, we extracted 14,984 distinct structural variants (SVs) ranging in size from 50 bp to 106 Mb. Each individual harbored on average 10.3 and 1.5 SVs with putative functional effects that affected the coding regions of ADME genes and drug targets, respectively. In addition, by cross-referencing pharmacogenomic SVs with experimentally determined binding data of 224 transcription factors across 130 cell types, we identified 1276 non-coding SVs that overlapped with gene regulatory elements. Based on these data, we estimate that non-coding structural variants account for 22% of the genetically encoded pharmacogenomic variability. Combined, these analyses provide the first comprehensive map of structural variability across pharmacogenes, derive estimates for the functional impact of non-coding SVs and incentivize the incorporation of structural genomic data into personalized drug response predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Tremmel
- Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany
- University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yitian Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthias Schwab
- Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany
- University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Departments of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Volker M Lauschke
- Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.
- University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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8
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Jakkamsetti V, Ma Q, Angulo G, Scudder W, Beutler B, Pascual JM. Genetic influences on motor learning and superperformance mutants revealed by random mutational survey of mouse locomotion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.28.546756. [PMID: 37425744 PMCID: PMC10327015 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.28.546756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Evolution depends upon genetic variations that influence physiology. As defined in a genetic screen, phenotypic performance may be enhanced or degraded by such mutations. We set out to detect mutations that influence motor function, including motor learning. Thus, we tested the motor effects of 36,444 non-synonymous coding/splicing mutations induced in the germline of C57BL/6J mice with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea by measuring changes in the performance of repetitive rotarod trials while blinded to genotype. Automated meiotic mapping was used to implicate individual mutations in causation. 32,726 mice bearing all the variant alleles were screened. This was complemented with the simultaneous testing of 1,408 normal mice for reference. 16.3% of autosomal genes were thus rendered detectably hypomorphic or nullified by mutations in homozygosity and motor tested in at least 3 mice. This approach allowed us to identify superperformance mutations in Rif1, Tk1, Fan1 and Mn1. These genes are primarily related, among other less well characterized functions, to nucleic acid biology. We also associated distinct motor learning patterns with groups of functionally related genes. These functional sets included preferentially histone H3 methyltransferase activity for mice that learnt at an accelerated rate relative to the rest of mutant mice. The results allow for an estimation of the fraction of mutations that can modify a behavior influential for evolution such as locomotion. They may also enable, once the loci are further validated and the mechanisms elucidated, the harnessing of the activity of the newly identified genes to enhance motor ability or to counterbalance disability or disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Jakkamsetti
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Qian Ma
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Gustavo Angulo
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - William Scudder
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Bruce Beutler
- Center for Genetics of Host Defense, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Juan M. Pascual
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Physiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth & Development / Center for Human Genetics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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Tseng CC, Wang SC, Yang YC, Fu HC, Chou CK, Kang HY, Hung YY. Aberrant Histone Modification of TNFAIP3, TLR4, TNIP2, miR-146a, and miR-155 in Major Depressive Disorder. Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s12035-023-03374-z. [PMID: 37148522 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03374-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Activated toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling has been well investigated in major depressive disorder (MDD). We previously reported that TNFAIP3, TLR4, TNIP2, miR-146a, and miR-155 play important roles in regulating the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway and may serve as novel targets in the pathogenesis of MDD. Recently, aberrant histone modification has been implicated in several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and mood disorder; the most thoroughly studied modification is histone 3 lysine 4 tri-methylation (H3K4me3). In this work, we aimed to explore H3K4me3 differences in the promotors of genes encoding the abovementioned factors in patients with MDD, and whether they were altered after antidepressant treatment. A total of 30 MDD patients and 28 healthy controls were recruited. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected. The levels of H3K4me3 in the promoters of TNFAIP3, TLR4, TNIP2, miR-146a, and miR-155 were measured through chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) followed by DNA methylation assay. Analysis of covariance was used to evaluate between-group differences after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and smoking. In comparison with healthy controls, patients with MDD showed significantly lower H3K4me3 levels in the promoters of TNFAIP3, TLR4, TNIP2, miR-146a, and miR-155 in PBMCs. These levels were not significantly altered after completion of a 4-week antidepressant treatment. To explore the association between depression severity and H3K4me3 levels, a multiple linear regression model was generated. The results revealed that levels of H3K4me3 in the TNIP2 promoters a negative correlation with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAND-17) score, whereas that of TLR4 had a positive correlation with this score. The present results suggest that decreased H3K4me3 levels in the promoters of the genes encoding TNFAIP3, TLR4, miR-146a, miR-155, and TNIP2 are involved in psychopathology of major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu-Chiao Tseng
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Cheng Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, 33004, Taiwan
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Nurse-Midwifery and Women Health, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chien Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chun Fu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Kai Chou
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Yo Kang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Yung Hung
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Feng Shan Hospital - Under the management of Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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10
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Medina E, Peterson S, Ford K, Singletary K, Peixoto L. Critical periods and Autism Spectrum Disorders, a role for sleep. Neurobiol Sleep Circadian Rhythms 2023; 14:100088. [PMID: 36632570 PMCID: PMC9826922 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbscr.2022.100088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain development relies on both experience and genetically defined programs. Time windows where certain brain circuits are particularly receptive to external stimuli, resulting in heightened plasticity, are referred to as "critical periods". Sleep is thought to be essential for normal brain development. Importantly, studies have shown that sleep enhances critical period plasticity and promotes experience-dependent synaptic pruning in the developing mammalian brain. Therefore, normal plasticity during critical periods depends on sleep. Problems falling and staying asleep occur at a higher rate in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) relative to typical development. In this review, we explore the potential link between sleep, critical period plasticity, and ASD. First, we review the importance of critical period plasticity in typical development and the role of sleep in this process. Next, we summarize the evidence linking ASD with deficits in synaptic plasticity in rodent models of high-confidence ASD gene candidates. We then show that the high-confidence rodent models of ASD that show sleep deficits also display plasticity deficits. Given how important sleep is for critical period plasticity, it is essential to understand the connections between synaptic plasticity, sleep, and brain development in ASD. However, studies investigating sleep or plasticity during critical periods in ASD mouse models are lacking. Therefore, we highlight an urgent need to consider developmental trajectory in studies of sleep and plasticity in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Medina
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Sarah Peterson
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Kaitlyn Ford
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Kristan Singletary
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Lucia Peixoto
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
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11
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Sahly AN, Srour M, Buhas D, Scheffer IE, Myers KA. The epileptology of Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome: Electroclinical findings in five patients with KMT2A pathogenic variants. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2023; 44:46-50. [PMID: 37075569 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome (WSTS) is a rare chromatinopathy caused by pathogenic variants in KMT2A. WSTS is characterized by neurodevelopmental disorders and distinct dysmorphic features. Epilepsy has been reported in only 33 individuals with WSTS, with only limited clinical details described. METHODS We identified patients with pathogenic KMT2A variants and epilepsy, and performed thorough phenotyping. RESULTS Five patients were identified, all of whom presented with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). Epilepsy syndromes observed included Lennox-Gastaut syndrome [2], infantile epileptic spasms syndrome, and DEE with spike-wave activation in sleep. Seizure types observed included absence, generalized tonic-clonic, myoclonic, tonic, atonic, epileptic spasms, and focal seizures. CONCLUSIONS The spectrum of epilepsy phenotypes in patients with WSTS can be broad, but presentation is typically severe, usually involving a form of DEE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed N Sahly
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Myriam Srour
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Research Institute of the McGill University Medical Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Daniela Buhas
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Specialized Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kenneth A Myers
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Research Institute of the McGill University Medical Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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12
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Kim YA, Siddiqui T, Blaze J, Cosacak MI, Winters T, Kumar A, Tein E, Sproul AA, Teich AF, Bartolini F, Akbarian S, Kizil C, Hargus G, Santa-Maria I. RNA methyltransferase NSun2 deficiency promotes neurodegeneration through epitranscriptomic regulation of tau phosphorylation. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 145:29-48. [PMID: 36357715 PMCID: PMC9807547 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02511-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Epitranscriptomic regulation adds a layer of post-transcriptional control to brain function during development and adulthood. The identification of RNA-modifying enzymes has opened the possibility of investigating the role epitranscriptomic changes play in the disease process. NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase 2 (NSun2) is one of the few known brain-enriched methyltransferases able to methylate mammalian non-coding RNAs. NSun2 loss of function due to autosomal-recessive mutations has been associated with neurological abnormalities in humans. Here, we show NSun2 is expressed in adult human neurons in the hippocampal formation and prefrontal cortex. Strikingly, we unravel decreased NSun2 protein expression and an increased ratio of pTau/NSun2 in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) as demonstrated by Western blotting and immunostaining, respectively. In a well-established Drosophila melanogaster model of tau-induced toxicity, reduction of NSun2 exacerbated tau toxicity, while overexpression of NSun2 partially abrogated the toxic effects. Conditional ablation of NSun2 in the mouse brain promoted a decrease in the miR-125b m6A levels and tau hyperphosphorylation. Utilizing human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal cultures, we confirmed NSun2 deficiency results in tau hyperphosphorylation. We also found that neuronal NSun2 levels decrease in response to amyloid-beta oligomers (AβO). Notably, AβO-induced tau phosphorylation and cell toxicity in human neurons could be rescued by overexpression of NSun2. Altogether, these results indicate that neuronal NSun2 deficiency promotes dysregulation of miR-125b and tau phosphorylation in AD and highlights a novel avenue for therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon A Kim
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Tohid Siddiqui
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jennifer Blaze
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Mehmet Ilyas Cosacak
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tristan Winters
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Atul Kumar
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Ellen Tein
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Andrew A Sproul
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Andrew F Teich
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Francesca Bartolini
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Caghan Kizil
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Helmholtz Association, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA
| | - Gunnar Hargus
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA.
| | - Ismael Santa-Maria
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA.
- Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Edificio E, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, 28223, Spain.
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13
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Individuals with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome show nonverbal reasoning and visuospatial defects with relative verbal skill sparing. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2022; 29:512-518. [PMID: 36062544 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617722000467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is a rare Mendelian disorder of the epigenetic machinery caused by heterozygous pathogenic variants in KMT2A. Currently, the specific neurocognitive profile of this syndrome remains unknown. This case series provides insight into the cognitive phenotype of WSS. METHODS This study involves a retrospective medical chart review of 10 pediatric patients, each with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of WSS who underwent clinical neuropsychological evaluation at an academic medical center. RESULTS The majority of patients performed in the below average to very low ranges in Nonverbal Reasoning, Visual/Spatial Perception, Visuoconstruction, Visual Memory, Attention, Working Memory and Math Computation skills. In contrast, over half the sample performed within normal limits on Receptive Vocabulary, Verbal Memory, and Word Reading. Wilcoxon signed rank test showed weaker Nonverbal versus Verbal Reasoning skills (p = .005). Most caregivers reported deficits in executive functioning, most notably in emotion regulation. CONCLUSIONS Nonverbal reasoning/memory, visuospatial/construction, attention, working memory, executive functioning, and math computation skills are areas of weakness among those with WSS. These findings overlap with research on Kabuki syndrome, which is caused by variants in KMT2D, and suggest disruption in the neurogenesis of the hippocampal formation may drive shared pathogenesis of the two syndromes.
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14
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Castiglioni S, Di Fede E, Bernardelli C, Lettieri A, Parodi C, Grazioli P, Colombo EA, Ancona S, Milani D, Ottaviano E, Borghi E, Massa V, Ghelma F, Vignoli A, Lesma E, Gervasini C. KMT2A: Umbrella Gene for Multiple Diseases. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13030514. [PMID: 35328068 PMCID: PMC8949091 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
KMT2A (Lysine methyltransferase 2A) is a member of the epigenetic machinery, encoding a lysine methyltransferase responsible for the transcriptional activation through lysine 4 of histone 3 (H3K4) methylation. KMT2A has a crucial role in gene expression, thus it is associated to pathological conditions when found mutated. KMT2A germinal mutations are associated to Wiedemann–Steiner syndrome and also in patients with initial clinical diagnosis of several other chromatinopathies (i.e., Coffin–Siris syndromes, Kabuki syndrome, Cornelia De Lange syndrome, Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome), sharing an overlapping phenotype. On the other hand, KMT2A somatic mutations have been reported in several tumors, mainly blood malignancies. Due to its evolutionary conservation, the role of KMT2A in embryonic development, hematopoiesis and neurodevelopment has been explored in different animal models, and in recent decades, epigenetic treatments for disorders linked to KMT2A dysfunction have been extensively investigated. To note, pharmaceutical compounds acting on tumors characterized by KMT2A mutations have been formulated, and even nutritional interventions for chromatinopathies have become the object of study due to the role of microbiota in epigenetic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Castiglioni
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Elisabetta Di Fede
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Clara Bernardelli
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Antonella Lettieri
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
- “Aldo Ravelli” Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Parodi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Paolo Grazioli
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Elisa Adele Colombo
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Silvia Ancona
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Donatella Milani
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Emerenziana Ottaviano
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Elisa Borghi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Valentina Massa
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
- “Aldo Ravelli” Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy
| | - Filippo Ghelma
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Aglaia Vignoli
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
- Child NeuroPsychiatry Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Lesma
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Cristina Gervasini
- Department of Health Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (E.D.F.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (C.P.); (P.G.); (E.A.C.); (S.A.); (E.O.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (F.G.); (A.V.); (E.L.)
- “Aldo Ravelli” Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0250-3230-28
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15
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Kanlayaprasit S, Thongkorn S, Panjabud P, Jindatip D, Hu VW, Kikkawa T, Osumi N, Sarachana T. Autism-Related Transcription Factors Underlying the Sex-Specific Effects of Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure on Transcriptome-Interactome Profiles in the Offspring Prefrontal Cortex. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13201. [PMID: 34947998 PMCID: PMC8708761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). BPA exposure dysregulates ASD-related genes in the hippocampus and neurological functions of offspring. However, whether prenatal BPA exposure has an impact on genes in the prefrontal cortex, another brain region highly implicated in ASD, and through what mechanisms have not been investigated. Here, we demonstrated that prenatal BPA exposure disrupts the transcriptome-interactome profiles of the prefrontal cortex of neonatal rats. Interestingly, the list of BPA-responsive genes was significantly enriched with known ASD candidate genes, as well as genes that were dysregulated in the postmortem brain tissues of ASD cases from multiple independent studies. Moreover, several differentially expressed genes in the offspring's prefrontal cortex were the targets of ASD-related transcription factors, including AR, ESR1, and RORA. The hypergeometric distribution analysis revealed that BPA may regulate the expression of such genes through these transcription factors in a sex-dependent manner. The molecular docking analysis of BPA and ASD-related transcription factors revealed novel potential targets of BPA, including RORA, SOX5, TCF4, and YY1. Our findings indicated that prenatal BPA exposure disrupts ASD-related genes in the offspring's prefrontal cortex and may increase the risk of ASD through sex-dependent molecular mechanisms, which should be investigated further.
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Grants
- FRB65_hea(80)_175_37_05 Fundamental Fund, Chulalongkorn University
- AHS-CU 61004 Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Research Fund, Chulalongkorn University
- GRU 6300437001-1 Ratchadapisek Somphot Fund for Supporting Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University
- GRU_64_033_37_004 Ratchadapisek Somphot Fund for Supporting Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University
- The 100th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University Fund for Doctoral Scholarship, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
- The Overseas Research Experience Scholarship for Graduate Students from Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
- PHD/0029/2561 The Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Programme Scholarship, Thailand Research Fund and National Research Council of Thailand
- National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT)
- GCUGR1125623067D-67 The 90th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University Fund (Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund), Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
- GCUGR1125632108D-108 The 90th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University Fund (Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund), Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
- 2073011 Chulalongkorn University Laboratory Animal Center (CULAC) Grant
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Affiliation(s)
- Songphon Kanlayaprasit
- The Ph.D. Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (S.K.); (S.T.); (P.P.)
| | - Surangrat Thongkorn
- The Ph.D. Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (S.K.); (S.T.); (P.P.)
| | - Pawinee Panjabud
- The Ph.D. Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (S.K.); (S.T.); (P.P.)
| | - Depicha Jindatip
- Systems Neuroscience of Autism and PSychiatric Disorders (SYNAPS) Research Unit, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Valerie W. Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA;
| | - Takako Kikkawa
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8577, Miyagi, Japan; (T.K.); (N.O.)
| | - Noriko Osumi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8577, Miyagi, Japan; (T.K.); (N.O.)
| | - Tewarit Sarachana
- Systems Neuroscience of Autism and PSychiatric Disorders (SYNAPS) Research Unit, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
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MLL1 is required for maintenance of intestinal stem cells. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009250. [PMID: 34860830 PMCID: PMC8641872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms are gatekeepers for the gene expression patterns that establish and maintain cellular identity in mammalian development, stem cells and adult homeostasis. Amongst many epigenetic marks, methylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) is one of the most widely conserved and occupies a central position in gene expression. Mixed lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1/KMT2A) is the founding mammalian H3K4 methyltransferase. It was discovered as the causative mutation in early onset leukemia and subsequently found to be required for the establishment of definitive hematopoiesis and the maintenance of adult hematopoietic stem cells. Despite wide expression, the roles of MLL1 in non-hematopoietic tissues remain largely unexplored. To bypass hematopoietic lethality, we used bone marrow transplantation and conditional mutagenesis to discover that the most overt phenotype in adult Mll1-mutant mice is intestinal failure. MLL1 is expressed in intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and transit amplifying (TA) cells but not in the villus. Loss of MLL1 is accompanied by loss of ISCs and a differentiation bias towards the secretory lineage with increased numbers and enlargement of goblet cells. Expression profiling of sorted ISCs revealed that MLL1 is required to promote expression of several definitive intestinal transcription factors including Pitx1, Pitx2, Foxa1, Gata4, Zfp503 and Onecut2, as well as the H3K27me3 binder, Bahcc1. These results were recapitulated using conditional mutagenesis in intestinal organoids. The stem cell niche in the crypt includes ISCs in close association with Paneth cells. Loss of MLL1 from ISCs promoted transcriptional changes in Paneth cells involving metabolic and stress responses. Here we add ISCs to the MLL1 repertoire and observe that all known functions of MLL1 relate to the properties of somatic stem cells, thereby highlighting the suggestion that MLL1 is a master somatic stem cell regulator.
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17
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Linking Depression to Epigenetics: Role of the Circadian Clock. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1344:43-53. [PMID: 34773225 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-81147-1_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
The circadian clock governs multiple biological functions at the molecular level and plays an essential role in providing temporal diversity of behavior and physiology including neuronal activity. Studies spanning the past two decades have deciphered the molecular mechanisms of the circadian clock, which appears to operate as an essential interface in linking cellular metabolism to epigenetic control. Accumulating evidence illustrates that disruption of circadian rhythms through jet lag, shift work, and temporary irregular life-style could lead to depression-like symptoms. Remarkably, abnormal neuronal activity and depression-like behavior appear in animals lacking elements of the molecular clock. Recent studies demonstrate that neuronal and synaptic gene induction is under epigenetic control, and robust epigenetic remodeling is observed under depression and related psychiatric disorders. Thus, the intertwined links between the circadian clock and epigenetics may point to novel approaches for antidepressant treatments, epigenetic therapy, and chronotherapy. In this chapter we summarize how the circadian clock is involved in neuronal functions and depressive-like behavior and propose that potential strategies for antidepressant therapy by incorporating circadian genomic and epigenetic rewiring of neuronal signaling pathways.
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18
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Blaze J, Navickas A, Phillips HL, Heissel S, Plaza-Jennings A, Miglani S, Asgharian H, Foo M, Katanski CD, Watkins CP, Pennington ZT, Javidfar B, Espeso-Gil S, Rostandy B, Alwaseem H, Hahn CG, Molina H, Cai DJ, Pan T, Yao WD, Goodarzi H, Haghighi F, Akbarian S. Neuronal Nsun2 deficiency produces tRNA epitranscriptomic alterations and proteomic shifts impacting synaptic signaling and behavior. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4913. [PMID: 34389722 PMCID: PMC8363735 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24969-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Epitranscriptomic mechanisms linking tRNA function and the brain proteome to cognition and complex behaviors are not well described. Here, we report bi-directional changes in depression-related behaviors after genetic disruption of neuronal tRNA cytosine methylation, including conditional ablation and transgene-derived overexpression of Nsun2 in the mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC). Neuronal Nsun2-deficiency was associated with a decrease in tRNA m5C levels, resulting in deficits in expression of 70% of tRNAGly isodecoders. Altogether, 1488/5820 proteins changed upon neuronal Nsun2-deficiency, in conjunction with glycine codon-specific defects in translational efficiencies. Loss of Gly-rich proteins critical for glutamatergic neurotransmission was associated with impaired synaptic signaling at PFC pyramidal neurons and defective contextual fear memory. Changes in the neuronal translatome were also associated with a 146% increase in glycine biosynthesis. These findings highlight the methylation sensitivity of glycinergic tRNAs in the adult PFC. Furthermore, they link synaptic plasticity and complex behaviors to epitranscriptomic modifications of cognate tRNAs and the proteomic homeostasis associated with specific amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Blaze
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - A Navickas
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - H L Phillips
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - S Heissel
- The Rockefeller University Proteomics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - A Plaza-Jennings
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Miglani
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - H Asgharian
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - M Foo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - C D Katanski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - C P Watkins
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Z T Pennington
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - B Javidfar
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Espeso-Gil
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - B Rostandy
- The Rockefeller University Proteomics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - H Alwaseem
- The Rockefeller University Proteomics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - C G Hahn
- Department of Neurosciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - H Molina
- The Rockefeller University Proteomics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - D J Cai
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - T Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - W D Yao
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - H Goodarzi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - F Haghighi
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - S Akbarian
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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19
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Inhibiting MLL1-WDR5 interaction ameliorates neuropathic allodynia by attenuating histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation-dependent spinal mGluR5 transcription. Pain 2021; 161:1995-2009. [PMID: 32345914 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Mixed lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1)-mediated histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) of a subset of genes has been linked to the transcriptional activation critical for synaptic plasticity, but its potential contribution to neuropathic allodynia development remains poorly explored. Here, we show that MLL1, which is induced in dorsal horn neuron after spinal nerve ligation (SNL), is responsible for mechanical allodynia and increased H3K4me3 at metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) promoter. Moreover, SNL induced WD (Trp-Asp) repeat domain 5 subunit (WDR5) expression as well as the MLL1-WDR5 interaction accompany with H3K4me3 enrichment and transcription of mGluR5 gene in the dorsal horn in neuropathic allodynia progression. Conversely, WDR5-0103, a novel inhibitor of the MLL1-WDR5 interaction, reversed SNL-induced allodynia and inhibited SNL-enhanced mGluR5 transcription/expression as well as MLL1, WDR5, and H3K4me3 at the mGluR5 promoter in the dorsal horn. Furthermore, disrupting the expression of MLL1 or WDR5 using small interfering RNA attenuated mechanical allodynia and reversed protein transcription/expression and complex localizing at mGluR5 promoter in the dorsal horn induced by SNL. This finding revealed that MLL1-WDR5 complex integrity regulates MLL1 and WDR5 recruitment to H3K4me3 enrichment at mGluR5 promoter in the dorsal horn underlying neuropathic allodynia. Collectively, our findings indicated that SNL enhances the MLL1-WDR5 complex, which facilitates MLL1 and WDR5 recruitment to H3K4me3 enrichment at mGluR5 promoter in spinal plasticity contributing to neuropathic allodynia pathogenesis.
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20
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Nardello R, Mangano GD, Fontana A, Gagliardo C, Midiri F, Borgia P, Brighina F, Raieli V, Mangano S, Salpietro V. Broad neurodevelopmental features and cortical anomalies associated with a novel de novo KMT2A variant in Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome. Eur J Med Genet 2020; 64:104133. [PMID: 33387673 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2020.104133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WDSTS) is a rare genetic disorder including developmental delay/intellectual disability (DD/ID), hypertrichosis cubiti, short stature, and distinctive facial features, caused by mutation in KMT2A gene, which encodes a histone methyltransferase (H3K4) that regulates chromatin-mediated transcription. Different neurodevelopmental phenotypes have been described within the WDSTS spectrum, including a peculiar Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASDs) subtype in some affected individuals. Here, we report a 9-year-old Caucasian male found by next-generation panel sequencing to carry a novel heterozygous de novo KMT2A frameshift variant (NM_001197104.2:c.4433delG; p. Arg1478LeufsTer108). This boy presented a WDSTS phenotype associated with broad neurodevelopmental features, including an unusual speech difficulty (i.e., palilalia), and brain imaging studies revealed an array of cortical anomalies (e.g., frontal simplified gyration, focal frontal cortical dysplasia). These clinical and radiological observations expand the known WDSTS-related neurodevelopmental phenotypes and further strengthen the important role of KMT2A in brain function and cortical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Nardello
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities "G. D'Alessandro," University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Donato Mangano
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities "G. D'Alessandro," University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonina Fontana
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities "G. D'Alessandro," University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Cesare Gagliardo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Federico Midiri
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paola Borgia
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Filippo Brighina
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Raieli
- Child Neuropsychiatry Department, Di Cristina - ARNAS Civico Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Mangano
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities "G. D'Alessandro," University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Salpietro
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS, Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy
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21
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Möhrle D, Fernández M, Peñagarikano O, Frick A, Allman B, Schmid S. What we can learn from a genetic rodent model about autism. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 109:29-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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22
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Li W, Pozzo-Miller L. Dysfunction of the corticostriatal pathway in autism spectrum disorders. J Neurosci Res 2019; 98:2130-2147. [PMID: 31758607 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The corticostriatal pathway that carries sensory, motor, and limbic information to the striatum plays a critical role in motor control, action selection, and reward. Dysfunction of this pathway is associated with many neurological and psychiatric disorders. Corticostriatal synapses have unique features in their cortical origins and striatal targets. In this review, we first describe axonal growth and synaptogenesis in the corticostriatal pathway during development, and then summarize the current understanding of the molecular bases of synaptic transmission and plasticity at mature corticostriatal synapses. Genes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been implicated in axonal growth abnormalities, imbalance of the synaptic excitation/inhibition ratio, and altered long-term synaptic plasticity in the corticostriatal pathway. Here, we review a number of ASD-associated high-confidence genes, including FMR1, KMT2A, GRIN2B, SCN2A, NLGN1, NLGN3, MET, CNTNAP2, FOXP2, TSHZ3, SHANK3, PTEN, CHD8, MECP2, DYRK1A, RELN, FOXP1, SYNGAP1, and NRXN, and discuss their relevance to proper corticostriatal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lucas Pozzo-Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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23
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Wang Z, Liu H. Lysine methylation regulates nervous system diseases. Neuropeptides 2019; 76:101929. [PMID: 31076097 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Lysine methylation is an important dynamic modification which is essential in the epigenetic regulation of gene transcription. Unlike acetylation markers, lysine methylation signals at gene promoters could be viewed as markers that either activate or silence gene expression in different contexts or states. This article briefly reviews lysine methylation sites involved in nervous system diseases. The methyltransferases and demethylases which cause abnormal methylation signals in nervous system diseases are also discussed. Methylated proteins correlated with nervous system biological processes are extracted from databases and known writer-code-eraser patterns are analyzed, which could provide insight into the design of methylation-based interference peptides for the investigation of nervous system diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Huadong Liu
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
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24
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Chan AJS, Cytrynbaum C, Hoang N, Ambrozewicz PM, Weksberg R, Drmic I, Ritzema A, Schachar R, Walker S, Uddin M, Zarrei M, Yuen RKC, Scherer SW. Expanding the neurodevelopmental phenotypes of individuals with de novo KMT2A variants. NPJ Genom Med 2019; 4:9. [PMID: 31044088 PMCID: PMC6486600 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-019-0083-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
De novo loss-of-function (LoF) variants in the KMT2A gene are associated with Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome (WSS). Recently, de novo KMT2A variants have been identified in sequencing studies of cohorts of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). However, most of these studies lack the detailed clinical information required to determine whether those individuals have isolated NDDs or WSS (i.e. syndromic NDDs). We performed thorough clinical and neurodevelopmental phenotyping on six individuals with de novo KMT2A variants. From these data, we found that all six patients met clinical criteria for WSS and we further define the neurodevelopmental phenotypes associated with KMT2A variants and WSS. In particular, we identified a subtype of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in five individuals, characterized by marked rigid, repetitive and inflexible behaviours, emotional dysregulation, externalizing behaviours, but relative social motivation. To further explore the clinical spectrum associated with KMT2A variants, we also conducted a meta-analysis of individuals with KMT2A variants reported in the published literature. We found that de novo LoF or missense variants in KMT2A were significantly more prevalent than predicted by a previously established statistical model of de novo mutation rate for KMT2A. Our genotype-phenotype findings better define the clinical spectrum associated with KMT2A variants and suggest that individuals with de novo LoF and missense variants likely have a clinically unrecognized diagnosis of WSS, rather than isolated NDD or ASD alone. This highlights the importance of a clinical genetic and neurodevelopmental assessment for individuals with such variants in KMT2A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada J. S. Chan
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Cheryl Cytrynbaum
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Genetic Counselling, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Ny Hoang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Genetic Counselling, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Autism Research Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Patricia M. Ambrozewicz
- Autism Research Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Rosanna Weksberg
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Irene Drmic
- Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre, Hamilton Health Services, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Anne Ritzema
- Autism Research Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Russell Schachar
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Susan Walker
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Mohammed Uddin
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mehdi Zarrei
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Ryan K. C. Yuen
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Stephen W. Scherer
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- McLaughin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
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25
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Strasser A, Xin L, Gruetter R, Sandi C. Nucleus accumbens neurochemistry in human anxiety: A 7 T 1H-MRS study. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:365-375. [PMID: 30600114 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Individual differences in anxiety provide a differential predisposition to develop neuropsychiatric disorders. The neurochemical underpinnings of anxiety remain elusive, particularly in deep structures, such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc) whose involvement in anxiety is being increasingly recognized. We examined the associations between the neurochemical profile of human NAc metabolites involved in neural excitation and inhibition and inter-individual variation in temperamental and situational anxiety. Twenty-seven healthy 20-30 years-old human males were phenotyped with questionnaires for state and trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), social anxiety (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale), negative mood (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) and fatigue (Mental and Physical State Energy and Fatigue Scales, SEF). Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) at 7 Tesla (7T), we measured metabolite levels for glutamate, glutamine, GABA and taurine in the NAc. Salivary cortisol was also measured. Strikingly, trait anxiety was negatively associated with NAc taurine content. Perceived situational stress was negatively associated with NAc GABA, while positively with the Glu/GABA ratio. No correlation was observed between NAc taurine or GABA and other phenotypic variables examined (i.e., state anxiety, social anxiety, negative mood, or cortisol), except for a negative correlation between taurine and state physical fatigue. This first 7T study of NAc neurochemistry shows relevant metabolite associations with individual variation in anxiety traits and situational stress and state anxiety measurements. The novel identified association between NAc taurine levels and trait anxiety may pave the way for clinical studies aimed at identifying new treatments for anxiety and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Strasser
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
| | - Lijing Xin
- Animal Imaging and Technology Core, Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rolf Gruetter
- Laboratory of Functional and Metabolic Imaging, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Radiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Radiology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.
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26
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Collins BE, Greer CB, Coleman BC, Sweatt JD. Histone H3 lysine K4 methylation and its role in learning and memory. Epigenetics Chromatin 2019; 12:7. [PMID: 30616667 PMCID: PMC6322263 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-018-0251-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications such as histone methylation permit change in chromatin structure without accompanying change in the underlying genomic sequence. A number of studies in animal models have shown that dysregulation of various components of the epigenetic machinery causes cognitive deficits at the behavioral level, suggesting that proper epigenetic control is necessary for the fundamental processes of learning and memory. Histone H3 lysine K4 (H3K4) methylation comprises one component of such epigenetic control, and global levels of this mark are increased in the hippocampus during memory formation. Modifiers of H3K4 methylation are needed for memory formation, shown through animal studies, and many of the same modifiers are mutated in human cognitive diseases. Indeed, all of the known H3K4 methyltransferases and four of the known six H3K4 demethylases have been associated with impaired cognition in a neurologic or psychiatric disorder. Cognitive impairment in such patients often manifests as intellectual disability, consistent with a role for H3K4 methylation in learning and memory. As a modification quintessentially, but not exclusively, associated with transcriptional activity, H3K4 methylation provides unique insights into the regulatory complexity of writing, reading, and erasing chromatin marks within an activated neuron. The following review will discuss H3K4 methylation and connect it to transcriptional events required for learning and memory within the developed nervous system. This will include an initial discussion of the most recent advances in the developing methodology to analyze H3K4 methylation, namely mass spectrometry and deep sequencing, as well as how these methods can be applied to more deeply understand the biology of this mark in the brain. We will then introduce the core enzymatic machinery mediating addition and removal of H3K4 methylation marks and the resulting epigenetic signatures of these marks throughout the neuronal genome. We next foray into the brain, discussing changes in H3K4 methylation marks within the hippocampus during memory formation and retrieval, as well as the behavioral correlates of H3K4 methyltransferase deficiency in this region. Finally, we discuss the human cognitive diseases connected to each H3K4 methylation modulator and summarize advances in developing drugs to target them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget E Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Celeste B Greer
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Benjamin C Coleman
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - J David Sweatt
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
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27
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Arnau-Soler A, Adams MJ, Hayward C, Thomson PA. Genome-wide interaction study of a proxy for stress-sensitivity and its prediction of major depressive disorder. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0209160. [PMID: 30571770 PMCID: PMC6301766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual response to stress is correlated with neuroticism and is an important predictor of both neuroticism and the onset of major depressive disorder (MDD). Identification of the genetics underpinning individual differences in response to negative events (stress-sensitivity) may improve our understanding of the molecular pathways involved, and its association with stress-related illnesses. We sought to generate a proxy for stress-sensitivity through modelling the interaction between SNP allele and MDD status on neuroticism score in order to identify genetic variants that contribute to the higher neuroticism seen in individuals with a lifetime diagnosis of depression compared to unaffected individuals. Meta-analysis of genome-wide interaction studies (GWIS) in UK Biobank (N = 23,092) and Generation Scotland: Scottish Family Health Study (N = 7,155) identified no genome-wide significance SNP interactions. However, gene-based tests identified a genome-wide significant gene, ZNF366, a negative regulator of glucocorticoid receptor function implicated in alcohol dependence (p = 1.48x10-7; Bonferroni-corrected significance threshold p < 2.79x10-6). Using summary statistics from the stress-sensitivity term of the GWIS, SNP heritability for stress-sensitivity was estimated at 5.0%. In models fitting polygenic risk scores of both MDD and neuroticism derived from independent GWAS, we show that polygenic risk scores derived from the UK Biobank stress-sensitivity GWIS significantly improved the prediction of MDD in Generation Scotland. This study may improve interpretation of larger genome-wide association studies of MDD and other stress-related illnesses, and the understanding of the etiological mechanisms underpinning stress-sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleix Arnau-Soler
- Medical Genetics Section, Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Adams
- Division of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Caroline Hayward
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Pippa A. Thomson
- Medical Genetics Section, Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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28
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MLL1 is essential for retinal neurogenesis and horizontal inner neuron integrity. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11902. [PMID: 30093671 PMCID: PMC6085291 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30355-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of retinal structure and function is controlled by cell type-specific transcription factors and widely expressed co-regulators. The latter includes the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) family of histone methyltransferases that catalyze histone H3 lysine 4 di- and tri-methylation associated with gene activation. One such member, MLL1, is widely expressed in the central nervous system including the retina. However, its role in retinal development is unknown. To address this question, we knocked out Mll1 in mouse retinal progenitors, and discovered that MLL1 plays multiple roles in retinal development by regulating progenitor cell proliferation, cell type composition and neuron-glia balance, maintenance of horizontal neurons, and formation of functional synapses between neuronal layers required for visual signal transmission and processing. Altogether, our results suggest that MLL1 is indispensable for retinal neurogenesis and function development, providing a new paradigm for cell type-specific roles of known histone modifying enzymes during CNS tissue development.
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29
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Gitik M, Holliday ED, Leung M, Yuan Q, Logue SF, Tikkanen R, Goldman D, Gould TJ. Choline ameliorates adult learning deficits and reverses epigenetic modification of chromatin remodeling factors related to adolescent nicotine exposure. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 155:239-248. [PMID: 30099202 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Earlier initiation of smoking correlates with higher risk of nicotine dependence, mental health problems, and cognitive impairments. Additionally, exposure to nicotine and/or tobacco smoke during critical developmental periods is associated with lasting epigenetic modifications and altered gene expression. This study examined whether adolescent nicotine exposure alters adult hippocampus-dependent learning, involving persistent changes in hippocampal DNA methylation and if choline, a dietary methyl donor, would reverse and mitigate these alterations. Mice were chronically treated with nicotine (12.6 mg/kg/day) starting at post-natal day 23 (pre-adolescent), p38 (late adolescent), or p54 (adult) for 12 days followed by a 30-day period during which they consumed either standard chow or chow supplemented with choline (9 g/kg). Mice then were tested for fear-conditioning and dorsal hippocampi were dissected for whole genome methylation and selected gene expression analyses. Nicotine exposure starting at p21 or p38, but not p54, disrupted adult hippocampus-dependent fear conditioning. Choline supplementation ameliorated these deficits. 462 genes in adult dorsal hippocampus from mice exposed to nicotine as adolescents showed altered promoter methylation that was reversed by choline supplementation. Gene network analysis revealed that chromatin remodeling genes were the most enriched category whose methylation was altered by nicotine and reversed by choline dietary supplementation. Two key chromatin remodeling genes, Smarca2 and Bahcc1, exhibited inversely correlated changes in methylation and expression due to nicotine exposure; this was reversed by choline. Our findings support a role for epigenetic modification of hippocampal chromatin remodeling genes in long-term learning deficits induced by adolescent nicotine and their amelioration by dietary choline supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miri Gitik
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Erica D Holliday
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Weiss Hall, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Ming Leung
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Qiaoping Yuan
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Sheree F Logue
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Roope Tikkanen
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Helsinki, Finland
| | - David Goldman
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Thomas J Gould
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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30
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KMT2A and KMT2B Mediate Memory Function by Affecting Distinct Genomic Regions. Cell Rep 2018; 20:538-548. [PMID: 28723559 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.06.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Kmt2a and Kmt2b are H3K4 methyltransferases of the Set1/Trithorax class. We have recently shown the importance of Kmt2b for learning and memory. Here, we report that Kmt2a is also important in memory formation. We compare the decrease in H3K4 methylation and de-regulation of gene expression in hippocampal neurons of mice with knockdown of either Kmt2a or Kmt2b. Kmt2a and Kmt2b control largely distinct genomic regions and different molecular pathways linked to neuronal plasticity. Finally, we show that the decrease in H3K4 methylation resulting from Kmt2a knockdown partially recapitulates the pattern previously reported in CK-p25 mice, a model for neurodegeneration and memory impairment. Our findings point to the distinct functions of even closely related histone-modifying enzymes and provide essential insight for the development of more efficient and specific epigenetic therapies against brain diseases.
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31
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Javidfar B, Park R, Kassim BS, Bicks LK, Akbarian S. The epigenomics of schizophrenia, in the mouse. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2017; 174:631-640. [PMID: 28699694 PMCID: PMC5573750 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale consortia including the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, the Common Minds Consortium, BrainSeq and PsychENCODE, and many other studies taken together provide increasingly detailed insights into the genetic and epigenetic risk architectures of schizophrenia (SCZ) and offer vast amounts of molecular information, but with largely unexplored therapeutic potential. Here we discuss how epigenomic studies in human brain could guide animal work to test the impact of disease-associated alterations in chromatin structure and function on cognition and behavior. For example, transcription factors such as MYOCYTE-SPECIFIC ENHANCER FACTOR 2C (MEF2C), or multiple regulators of the open chromatin mark, methyl-histone H3-lysine 4, are associated with the genetic risk architectures of common psychiatric disease and alterations in chromatin structure and function in diseased brain tissue. Importantly, these molecules also affect cognition and behavior in genetically engineered mice, including virus-mediated expression changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and other key nodes in the circuitry underlying psychosis. Therefore, preclinical and small laboratory animal work could target genomic sequences affected by chromatin alterations in SCZ. To this end, in vivo editing of enhancer and other regulatory non-coding DNA by RNA-guided nucleases including CRISPR-Cas, and designer transcription factors, could be expected to deliver pipelines for novel therapeutic approaches aimed at improving cognitive dysfunction and other core symptoms of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lucy K. Bicks
- Department of Psychiatry; Friedman Brain Institute; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York New York
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry; Friedman Brain Institute; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York New York
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32
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Wang Y, Santerre M, Tempera I, Martin K, Mukerjee R, Sawaya BE. HIV-1 Vpr disrupts mitochondria axonal transport and accelerates neuronal aging. Neuropharmacology 2017; 117:364-375. [PMID: 28212984 PMCID: PMC5397298 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Disruption of mitochondria axonal transport, essential for the maintenance of synaptic and neuronal integrity and function, has been identified in neurodegenerative diseases. Whether HIV-1 viral proteins affect mitochondria axonal transport is unknown, albeit HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders occur in around half of the patients living with HIV. Therefore, we sought to examine the effect of HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) on mitochondria axonal transport. Using mice primary neuronal cultures, we demonstrated that 4-day Vpr treatment reduced the ratio of moving mitochondria associated with (i) less energy (ATP) supply, (ii) reduction in Miro-1 and (iii) increase of α-synuclein which led to loss of microtubule stability as demonstrated by inconsecutive distribution of acetylated α-tubulin along the axons. Interestingly, the effect of Vpr on mitochondria axonal transport was partially restored in the presence of bongkrekic acid, a compound that negatively affected the Vpr-adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) interaction and totally restored the ATP level in neurons. This indicated Vpr impaired mitochondria axonal transport partially related to its interaction with ANT. The above effect of Vpr was similar to the data obtained from hippocampal tissues isolated from 18-month-old aging mice compared to 5-month-old mice. In accord with previous clinical findings that HIV infection prematurely ages the brain and increases the susceptibility to HAND, we found that Vpr induced aging markers in neurons. Thus, we concluded that instead of causing cell death, low concentration of HIV-1 Vpr altered neuronal function related with inhibition of mitochondria axonal transport which might contribute to the accelerated neuronal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, United States; Department of Neurology, The Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, United States.
| | - Maryline Santerre
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, United States; Department of Neurology, The Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, United States
| | - Italo Tempera
- Department of Neurology, The Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, United States
| | - Kayla Martin
- Department of Neurology, The Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, United States
| | - Ruma Mukerjee
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, United States; Department of Neurology, The Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, United States
| | - Bassel E Sawaya
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, United States; Department of Neurology, The Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, United States; Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, United States.
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33
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Histone Lysine Demethylases of JMJD2 or KDM4 Family are Important Epigenetic Regulators in Reward Circuitry in the Etiopathology of Depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2017; 42:854-863. [PMID: 27711046 PMCID: PMC5312068 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2016.231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is debilitating mental illness and is one of the leading contributors to global burden of disease, but unfortunately newer and better drugs are not forthcoming. The reason is lack of complete understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the development of this disorder. Recent research shows dysregulation in epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, particularly the transcriptionally repressive di- and tri-methylation of histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2/me3) in nucleus accumbens (NAc), a critical region of the reward pathway involved in the development of anhedonia, the hallmark of depression. However, the role of histone lysine demethylases, which can remove methylation from H3K9, in particular Jumonji domain containing demethylases 2 or Jmjd2 family, has not been studied. Using social defeat stress-induced mouse model of depression, this study uncovered that transcripts of most of the Jmjd2 members were unchanged after 5 days of defeat during the onset of depression, but were downregulated after 10 days of defeat in full-blown depression. Blocking the Jumonji domain containing demethylases by chronic administration of inhibitors dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) and ML324 resulted in depression-like phenotype even in absence of stress exposure, which was associated with an increase in transcriptionally repressive epigenetic marks H3K9me2/me3 in NAc, causing altered neuroplastic changes as reported in NAc in depression models. Thus, we report for the first time that Jmjd2 class demethylases are critical epigenetic regulators involved in etiopathology of depression and related disorders and activation of these demethylases can be a good strategy in the treatment of MDD and related psychiatric disorders.
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34
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Deussing JM, Jakovcevski M. Histone Modifications in Major Depressive Disorder and Related Rodent Models. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 978:169-183. [PMID: 28523546 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53889-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial disease, weakly linked to multiple genetic risk factors. In contrast to that, environmental factors and "gene × environment" interaction between specific risk genes and environmental factors, such as severe or early stress exposure, have been strongly linked to MDD vulnerability. Stressors can act on the interface between an organism and the environment, the epigenome. The molecular foundation for the impact of stressors on the risk to develop MDD is based on the hormonal stress response itself: the glucocorticoid receptor (GR, encoded by NR3C1). NR3C1 can directly interact with the epigenome in the cell nucleus. Besides DNA methylation, histone modifications have been reported to be crucial targets for the interaction with the stress response system. Here, we review critical findings on the impact of the most relevant histone modifications, i.e. histone acetylation and methylation, in the context of MDD and related animal models. We discuss new treatment options which have been based on these findings, including histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) and drugs targeting specific histone marks, closely linked to psychiatric disease. In this context we talk about contemporary and future approaches required to fully understand (1) the epigenetics of stress-related disease and (2) the mode of action of potential MDD drugs targeting histone modifications. This includes harnessing the unprecedented potentials of genome-wide analysis of the epigenome and transcriptome, in a cell type-specific manner, and the use of epigenome editing technologies to clearly link epigenetic marks on specific genomic loci to functional relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan M Deussing
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2, 80804, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Mira Jakovcevski
- Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2, 80804, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
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