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Leow KQ, Tonta MA, Lu J, Coleman HA, Parkington HC. Towards understanding sex differences in autism spectrum disorders. Brain Res 2024; 1833:148877. [PMID: 38513995 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social deficits, repetitive behaviours and lack of empathy. Its significant genetic heritability and potential comorbidities often lead to diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This review addresses the biological basis of ASD, focusing on the sex differences in gene expression and hormonal influences. ASD is more commonly diagnosed in males at a ratio of 4:1, indicating a potential oversight in female-specific ASD research and a risk of underdiagnosis in females. We consider how ASD manifests differently across sexes by exploring differential gene expression in female and male brains and consider how variations in steroid hormones influence ASD characteristics. Synaptic function, including excitation/inhibition ratio imbalance, is influenced by gene mutations and this is explored as a key factor in the cognitive and behavioural manifestations of ASD. We also discuss the role of micro RNAs (miRNAs) and highlight a novel mutation in miRNA-873, which affects a suite of key synaptic genes, neurexin, neuroligin, SHANK and post-synaptic density proteins, implicated in the pathology of ASD. Our review suggests that genetic predisposition, sex differences in brain gene expression, and hormonal factors significantly contribute to the presentation, identification and severity of ASD, necessitating sex-specific considerations in diagnosis and treatments. These findings advocate for personalized interventions to improve the outcomes for individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Q Leow
- Department of Physiology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mary A Tonta
- Department of Physiology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jing Lu
- Tianjin Institute of Infectious Disease, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Harold A Coleman
- Department of Physiology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Helena C Parkington
- Department of Physiology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
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2
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Iacomino M, Houerbi N, Fortuna S, Howe J, Li S, Scorrano G, Riva A, Cheng KW, Steiman M, Peltekova I, Yusuf A, Baldassari S, Tamburro S, Scudieri P, Musante I, Di Ludovico A, Guerrisi S, Balagura G, Corsello A, Efthymiou S, Murphy D, Uva P, Verrotti A, Fiorillo C, Delvecchio M, Accogli A, Elsabbagh M, Houlden H, Scherer SW, Striano P, Zara F, Chou TF, Salpietro V. Allelic heterogeneity and abnormal vesicle recycling in PLAA-related neurodevelopmental disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1268013. [PMID: 38650658 PMCID: PMC11033462 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1268013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The human PLAA gene encodes Phospholipase-A2-Activating-Protein (PLAA) involved in trafficking of membrane proteins. Through its PUL domain (PLAP, Ufd3p, and Lub1p), PLAA interacts with p97/VCP modulating synaptic vesicles recycling. Although few families carrying biallelic PLAA variants were reported with progressive neurodegeneration, consequences of monoallelic PLAA variants have not been elucidated. Using exome or genome sequencing we identified PLAA de-novo missense variants, affecting conserved residues within the PUL domain, in children affected with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including psychomotor regression, intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Computational and in-vitro studies of the identified variants revealed abnormal chain arrangements at C-terminal and reduced PLAA-p97/VCP interaction, respectively. These findings expand both allelic and phenotypic heterogeneity associated to PLAA-related neurological disorders, highlighting perturbed vesicle recycling as a potential disease mechanism in NDDs due to genetic defects of PLAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Iacomino
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nadia Houerbi
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Sara Fortuna
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Jennifer Howe
- Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shan Li
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Giovanna Scorrano
- Department of Pediatrics, Sant'Annunziata Hospital, University "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Antonella Riva
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Kai-Wen Cheng
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Mandy Steiman
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Iskra Peltekova
- McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Afiqah Yusuf
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Simona Baldassari
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Serena Tamburro
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Paolo Scudieri
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Musante
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Armando Di Ludovico
- Department of Pediatrics, Sant'Annunziata Hospital, University "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
| | - Sara Guerrisi
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ganna Balagura
- 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
| | - Antonio Corsello
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stephanie Efthymiou
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Murphy
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Uva
- Clinical Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Fiorillo
- 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
| | - Maurizio Delvecchio
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrea Accogli
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Specialized Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mayada Elsabbagh
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Federico Zara
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Tsui-Fen Chou
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Vincenzo Salpietro
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
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Cooper JN, Mittal J, Sangadi A, Klassen DL, King AM, Zalta M, Mittal R, Eshraghi AA. Landscape of NRXN1 Gene Variants in Phenotypic Manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2067. [PMID: 38610832 PMCID: PMC11012327 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13072067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors. Recent research has increasingly focused on the genetic underpinnings of ASD, with the Neurexin 1 (NRXN1) gene emerging as a key player. This comprehensive systematic review elucidates the contribution of NRXN1 gene variants in the pathophysiology of ASD. Methods: The protocol for this systematic review was designed a priori and was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023450418). A risk of bias analysis was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. We examined various studies that link NRXN1 gene disruptions with ASD, discussing both the genotypic variability and the resulting phenotypic expressions. Results: Within this review, there was marked heterogeneity observed in ASD genotypic and phenotypic manifestations among individuals with NRXN1 mutations. The presence of NRXN1 mutations in this population emphasizes the gene's role in synaptic function and neural connectivity. Conclusion: This review not only highlights the role of NRXN1 in the pathophysiology of ASD but also highlights the need for further research to unravel the complex genetic underpinnings of the disorder. A better knowledge about the multifaceted role of NRXN1 in ASD can provide crucial insights into the neurobiological foundations of autism and pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimee N. Cooper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
- School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Jeenu Mittal
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Akhila Sangadi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Delany L. Klassen
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Ava M. King
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Max Zalta
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Rahul Mittal
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
| | - Adrien A. Eshraghi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (J.N.C.); (J.M.); (A.S.); (D.L.K.); (A.M.K.); (M.Z.); (R.M.)
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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4
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Boussetta A, Abida N, Jellouli M, Ziadi J, Gargah T. Delayed Graft Function in Pediatric Kidney Transplant: Risk Factors and Outcomes. EXP CLIN TRANSPLANT 2024; 22:110-117. [PMID: 38385384 DOI: 10.6002/ect.mesot2023.o20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to identify risk factors and outcomes of delayed graft function in pediatric kidney transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study included all kidney transplant recipients ≤19 years old followed up in our department for a period of 34 years, from January 1989 to December 2022. RESULTS We included 113 kidney transplant recipients. Delayed graft function occurred in 17 cases (15%). Posttransplant red blood cell transfusion was strongly associated with delayed graft function (adjusted odds ratio = 23.91; 95% CI, 2.889-197.915). Use of allografts with multiple arteries and cold ischemia time >20 hours were risk factors for delayed graft function (adjusted odds ratio = 52.51 and 49.4; 95% CI, 2.576-1070.407 and 1.833-1334.204, respectively). Sex-matched transplants and living donors were protective factors for delayed graft function (adjusted odds ratio = 0.043 and 0.027; 95% CI, 0.005-0.344 and 0.003-0.247, respectively). Total HLA mismatches <3 played a protective role for delayed graft function (adjusted odds ratio = 0.114; 95% CI, 0.020-0.662), whereas transplant within compatible but different blood types increased the risk of delayed graft function (adjusted odds ratio = 20.54; 95% CI, 1.960- 215.263). No significant correlation was shown between delayed graft function and allograft survival (P = .190). Our study suggested delayed graft function as a key factor in allograft rejection-free survival (adjusted odds ratio = 3.832; 95% CI, 1.186-12.377). Delayed graft function was a negative factor for early graft function; patients with delayed graft function had a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate at discharge (P = .024) and at 3 (P = .034), 6 (P = .019), and 12 months (P = .011) posttransplant. CONCLUSIONS Delayed graft function is a major determinant of early graft function and allograft rejection-free survival. Further research is required to establish proper preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abir Boussetta
- From the Pediatric Nephrology Department, Charles Nicolle Hospital and the University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
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5
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Bertelli MO, Boniotti V, Bianco A, Vannucchi G, Buonaguro EF, Micai M, Fatta L, Rossi M, Pecchini E, Bizzari V, Conte M, Lombardi G, Corti S, Scior K, Azeem MW, Hassiotis A, Baghdadli A, Scattoni ML, Salvador-Carulla L, Javed A, Munir K. Caution needed in ascribing subthreshold symptoms as autism spectrum disorder: Commentary on "autistic traits distribution in different psychiatric conditions: A cluster analysis on the basis of the adult autism subthreshold spectrum (AdAS SPECTRUM) questionnaire". Psychiatry Res 2024; 331:115617. [PMID: 38043410 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco O Bertelli
- CREA (Research and Clinical Centre), Fondazione San Sebastiano Della Misericordia di Firenze, Florence, Italy.
| | - Veronica Boniotti
- CREA (Research and Clinical Centre), Fondazione San Sebastiano Della Misericordia di Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Annamaria Bianco
- CREA (Research and Clinical Centre), Fondazione San Sebastiano Della Misericordia di Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Vannucchi
- Psychiatry Unit, Versilia Hospital, Lido di Camaiore, Lucca, Italy
| | | | - Martina Micai
- National Observatory on Autism, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Fatta
- National Observatory on Autism, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Rossi
- CREA (Research and Clinical Centre), Fondazione San Sebastiano Della Misericordia di Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Edoardo Pecchini
- CREA (Research and Clinical Centre), Fondazione San Sebastiano Della Misericordia di Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Valeria Bizzari
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Husserl Archives, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michele Conte
- IPSICO (Institute of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychology and Psychotherapy), Florence, Italy
| | - Gianpaolo Lombardi
- IAF.F (Institute of Family Psychotherapy and Higher Education), Florence, Italy
| | - Serafino Corti
- Fondazione Istituto Ospedaliero di SospiroOnlus, Cremona, Italy
| | - Katrina Scior
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Waqar Azeem
- Department of Psychiatry, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar; Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar, Qatar
| | - Angela Hassiotis
- Division of Psychiatry, University College of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Amaria Baghdadli
- Department of Paediatric Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, Montpellier, France; Centre de Resources Autisme Languedoc-Roussillon, Languedoc-Roussillon, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Afzal Javed
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; Pakistan Psychiatric Research Centre, Fountain House, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Kerim Munir
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Kereszturi É. Diversity and Classification of Genetic Variations in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16768. [PMID: 38069091 PMCID: PMC10706722 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with symptoms that affect the whole personality and all aspects of life. Although there is a high degree of heterogeneity in both its etiology and its characteristic behavioral patterns, the disorder is well-captured along the autistic triad. Currently, ASD status can be confirmed following an assessment of behavioral features, but there is a growing emphasis on conceptualizing autism as a spectrum, which allows for establishing a diagnosis based on the level of support need, free of discrete categories. Since ASD has a high genetic predominance, the number of genetic variations identified in the background of the condition is increasing exponentially as genetic testing methods are rapidly evolving. However, due to the huge amount of data to be analyzed, grouping the different DNA variations is still challenging. Therefore, in the present review, a multidimensional classification scheme was developed to accommodate most of the currently known genetic variants associated with autism. Genetic variations have been grouped according to six criteria (extent, time of onset, information content, frequency, number of genes involved, inheritance pattern), which are themselves not discrete categories, but form a coherent continuum in line with the autism spectrum approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éva Kereszturi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Semmelweis University, H-1085 Budapest, Hungary
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7
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Nowling RJ, Njoya K, Peters JG, Riehle MM. Prediction accuracy of regulatory elements from sequence varies by functional sequencing technique. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1182567. [PMID: 37600946 PMCID: PMC10433755 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1182567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Various sequencing based approaches are used to identify and characterize the activities of cis-regulatory elements in a genome-wide fashion. Some of these techniques rely on indirect markers such as histone modifications (ChIP-seq with histone antibodies) or chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq, DNase-seq, FAIRE-seq), while other techniques use direct measures such as episomal assays measuring the enhancer properties of DNA sequences (STARR-seq) and direct measurement of the binding of transcription factors (ChIP-seq with transcription factor-specific antibodies). The activities of cis-regulatory elements such as enhancers, promoters, and repressors are determined by their sequence and secondary processes such as chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation, and bound histone markers. Methods Here, machine learning models are employed to evaluate the accuracy with which cis-regulatory elements identified by various commonly used sequencing techniques can be predicted by their underlying sequence alone to distinguish between cis-regulatory activity that is reflective of sequence content versus secondary processes. Results and discussion Models trained and evaluated on D. melanogaster sequences identified through DNase-seq and STARR-seq are significantly more accurate than models trained on sequences identified by H3K4me1, H3K4me3, and H3K27ac ChIP-seq, FAIRE-seq, and ATAC-seq. These results suggest that the activity detected by DNase-seq and STARR-seq can be largely explained by underlying DNA sequence, independent of secondary processes. Experimentally, a subset of DNase-seq and H3K4me1 ChIP-seq sequences were tested for enhancer activity using luciferase assays and compared with previous tests performed on STARR-seq sequences. The experimental data indicated that STARR-seq sequences are substantially enriched for enhancer-specific activity, while the DNase-seq and H3K4me1 ChIP-seq sequences are not. Taken together, these results indicate that the DNase-seq approach identifies a broad class of regulatory elements of which enhancers are a subset and the associated data are appropriate for training models for detecting regulatory activity from sequence alone, STARR-seq data are best for training enhancer-specific sequence models, and H3K4me1 ChIP-seq data are not well suited for training and evaluating sequence-based models for cis-regulatory element prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald J. Nowling
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Kimani Njoya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - John G. Peters
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Michelle M. Riehle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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Dominguez-Alonso S, Carracedo A, Rodriguez-Fontenla C. The non-coding genome in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Eur J Med Genet 2023; 66:104752. [PMID: 37023975 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2023.104752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, repetitive behavior, and restricted interests. While ASD have been proven to have a strong genetic component, current research largely focuses on coding regions of the genome. However, non-coding DNA, which makes up for ∼99% of the human genome, has recently been recognized as an important contributor to the high heritability of ASD, and novel sequencing technologies have been a milestone in opening up new directions for the study of the gene regulatory networks embedded within the non-coding regions. Here, we summarize current progress on the contribution of non-coding alterations to the pathogenesis of ASD and provide an overview of existing methods allowing for the study of their functional relevance, discussing potential ways of unraveling ASD's "missing heritability".
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Affiliation(s)
- S Dominguez-Alonso
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - A Carracedo
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS), Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - C Rodriguez-Fontenla
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Kim JY, Kim W, Lee KH. The role of microRNAs in the molecular link between circadian rhythm and autism spectrum disorder. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2023; 27:38-52. [PMID: 36860270 PMCID: PMC9970207 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2023.2180535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian rhythm regulates physiological cycles of awareness and sleepiness. Melatonin production is primarily regulated by circadian regulation of gene expression and is involved in sleep homeostasis. If the circadian rhythm is abnormal, sleep disorders, such as insomnia and several other diseases, can occur. The term 'autism spectrum disorder (ASD)' is used to characterize people who exhibit a certain set of repetitive behaviors, severely constrained interests, social deficits, and/or sensory behaviors that start very early in life. Because many patients with ASD suffer from sleep disorders, sleep disorders and melatonin dysregulation are attracting attention for their potential roles in ASD. ASD is caused by abnormalities during the neurodevelopmental processes owing to various genetic or environmental factors. Recently, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in circadian rhythm and ASD have gained attraction. We hypothesized that the relationship between circadian rhythm and ASD could be explained by miRNAs that can regulate or be regulated by either or both. In this study, we introduced a possible molecular link between circadian rhythm and ASD. We performed a thorough literature review to understand their complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Young Kim
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Wanil Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-si, Republic of Korea, Wanil Kim Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do52727, Republic of Korea; Kyung-Ha Lee Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Ha Lee
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea, Wanil Kim Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do52727, Republic of Korea; Kyung-Ha Lee Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan46241, Republic of Korea
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Whole Genome Analysis of Dizygotic Twins With Autism Reveals Prevalent Transposon Insertion Within Neuronal Regulatory Elements: Potential Implications for Disease Etiology and Clinical Assessment. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:1091-1106. [PMID: 35759154 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05636-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, our understanding of their roles is far from complete. Herein, we explored de novo TE insertions (dnTEIs) and de novo variants (DNVs) across the genomes of dizygotic twins with ASD and their parents. The neuronal regulatory elements had a tendency to harbor dnTEIs that were shared between twins, but ASD-risk genes had dnTEIs that were unique to each twin. The dnTEIs were 4.6-fold enriched in enhancers that are active in embryonic stem cell (ESC)-neurons (p < 0.001), but DNVs were 1.5-fold enriched in active enhancers of astrocytes (p = 0.0051). Our findings suggest that dnTEIs and DNVs play a role in ASD etiology by disrupting enhancers of neurons and astrocytes.
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11
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Cntnap2-dependent molecular networks in autism spectrum disorder revealed through an integrative multi-omics analysis. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:810-821. [PMID: 36253443 PMCID: PMC9908544 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01822-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a major neurodevelopmental disorder in which patients present with core symptoms of social communication impairment, restricted interest, and repetitive behaviors. Although various studies have been performed to identify ASD-related mechanisms, ASD pathology is still poorly understood. CNTNAP2 genetic variants have been found that represent ASD genetic risk factors, and disruption of Cntnap2 expression has been associated with ASD phenotypes in mice. In this study, we performed an integrative multi-omics analysis by combining quantitative proteometabolomic data obtained with Cntnap2 knockout (KO) mice with multi-omics data obtained from ASD patients and forebrain organoids to elucidate Cntnap2-dependent molecular networks in ASD. To this end, a mass spectrometry-based proteometabolomic analysis of the medial prefrontal cortex in Cntnap2 KO mice led to the identification of Cntnap2-associated molecular features, and these features were assessed in combination with multi-omics data obtained on the prefrontal cortex in ASD patients to identify bona fide ASD cellular processes. Furthermore, a reanalysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data obtained from forebrain organoids derived from patients with CNTNAP2-associated ASD revealed that the aforementioned identified ASD processes were mainly linked to excitatory neurons. On the basis of these data, we constructed Cntnap2-associated ASD network models showing mitochondrial dysfunction, axonal impairment, and synaptic activity. Our results may shed light on the Cntnap2-dependent molecular networks in ASD.
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12
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Brusati A, Ratti A, Pensato V, Peverelli S, Gentilini D, Dalla Bella E, Sorce MN, Meneri M, Gagliardi D, Corti S, Gellera C, Lauria Pinter G, Ticozzi N, Silani V. Analysis of miRNA rare variants in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in silico prediction of their biological effects. Front Genet 2022; 13:1055313. [PMID: 36568378 PMCID: PMC9768194 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1055313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting upper and/or lower motor neurons and characterized by complex etiology. Familial cases show high genetic heterogeneity and sporadic cases (90%) are associated with several genetic and environmental risk factors. Among the genetic risk factors, the contribution of non-coding elements, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), to ALS disease susceptibility remains largely unexplored. Aim: This work aims to identify rare variants in miRNA genes in sporadic ALS (sALS) patients which may cause a defective miRNA maturation or altered target gene recognition by changing miRNA secondary structure or seed sequence, respectively. Methods: Rare variants located in miRNA loci with a minor allele frequency (MAF) < 0.01 were extracted from whole genome sequencing (WGS) data of 100 sALS patients. The secondary pre-miRNA structures were predicted using MiRVas to evaluate the impact of the variants on RNA folding process. Human TargetScan was used to retrieve all the potential target genes of miRNAs with variants in the seed region. Over Representation Analysis (ORA) was conducted to compare the lists of target genes for the reference and mutated miRNAs in the seed sequence. Results: Our analysis identified 86 rare variants in 77 distinct miRNAs and distributed in different parts of the miRNA precursors. The presence of these variants changed miRNA secondary structures in ∼70% of MiRVas predictions. By focusing on the 6 rare variants mapping within the seed sequence, the predicted target genes increased in number compared to the reference miRNA and included novel targets in a proportion ranging from 30 to 82%. Interestingly, ORA revealed significant changes in gene set enrichment only for mutated miR-509-1 and miR-941-3 for which the Gene Ontology term related to "nervous system development" was absent and present, respectively, compared to target lists of the reference miRNA. Conclusion: We here developed a workflow to study miRNA rare variants from WGS data and to predict their biological effects on miRNA folding, maturation and target gene recognition. Although this in silico approach certainly needs functional validation in vitro and in vivo, it may help define the role of miRNA variability in ALS and complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Brusati
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,*Correspondence: Antonia Ratti,
| | - Viviana Pensato
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Peverelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Gentilini
- Department Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy,Bioinformatics and Statistical Genomics Unit,IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano,Milan,Italy
| | | | - Marta Nice Sorce
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Megi Meneri
- Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Delia Gagliardi
- Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefania Corti
- Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Gellera
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lauria Pinter
- Department Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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13
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Kim IB, Lee T, Lee J, Kim J, Lee S, Koh IG, Kim JH, An JY, Lee H, Kim WK, Ju YS, Cho Y, Yu SJ, Kim SA, Oh M, Han DW, Kim E, Choi JK, Yoo HJ, Lee JH. Non-coding de novo mutations in chromatin interactions are implicated in autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:4680-4694. [PMID: 35840799 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01697-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Three-dimensional chromatin interactions regulate gene expressions. The significance of de novo mutations (DNMs) in chromatin interactions remains poorly understood for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We generated 813 whole-genome sequences from 242 Korean simplex families to detect DNMs, and identified target genes which were putatively affected by non-coding DNMs in chromatin interactions. Non-coding DNMs in chromatin interactions were significantly involved in transcriptional dysregulations related to ASD risk. Correspondingly, target genes showed spatiotemporal expressions relevant to ASD in developing brains and enrichment in biological pathways implicated in ASD, such as histone modification. Regarding clinical features of ASD, non-coding DNMs in chromatin interactions particularly contributed to low intelligence quotient levels in ASD probands. We further validated our findings using two replication cohorts, Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) and MSSNG, and showed the consistent enrichment of non-coding DNM-disrupted chromatin interactions in ASD probands. Generating human induced pluripotent stem cells in two ASD families, we were able to demonstrate that non-coding DNMs in chromatin interactions alter the expression of target genes at the stage of early neural development. Taken together, our findings indicate that non-coding DNMs in ASD probands lead to early neurodevelopmental disruption implicated in ASD risk via chromatin interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Il Bin Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, 11923, Republic of Korea
| | - Taeyeop Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.,Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Junehawk Lee
- Center for Supercomputing Applications, Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghun Kim
- Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Suho Lee
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - In Gyeong Koh
- Industry-University Cooperation Foundation, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hyun Kim
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.,BK21FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.,School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon-Yong An
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.,BK21FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.,School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunseong Lee
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05030, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Kyeong Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Seok Ju
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongseong Cho
- Center for Supercomputing Applications, Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Jong Yu
- Center for Supercomputing Applications, Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Ae Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Eulji University, Daejeon, 13135, Republic of Korea
| | - Miae Oh
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Wook Han
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, 529020, China.,Organoid sciences, Ltd., Bundang-gu, Seongnam, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jung Kyoon Choi
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hee Jeong Yoo
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jeong Ho Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea. .,Sovargen Co. Ltd., Daejeon, 34051, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Matta J, Dobrino D, Yeboah D, Howard S, EL-Manzalawy Y, Obafemi-Ajayi T. Connecting phenotype to genotype: PheWAS-inspired analysis of autism spectrum disorder. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:960991. [PMID: 36310845 PMCID: PMC9605200 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.960991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is extremely heterogeneous clinically and genetically. There is a pressing need for a better understanding of the heterogeneity of ASD based on scientifically rigorous approaches centered on systematic evaluation of the clinical and research utility of both phenotype and genotype markers. This paper presents a holistic PheWAS-inspired method to identify meaningful associations between ASD phenotypes and genotypes. We generate two types of phenotype-phenotype (p-p) graphs: a direct graph that utilizes only phenotype data, and an indirect graph that incorporates genotype as well as phenotype data. We introduce a novel methodology for fusing the direct and indirect p-p networks in which the genotype data is incorporated into the phenotype data in varying degrees. The hypothesis is that the heterogeneity of ASD can be distinguished by clustering the p-p graph. The obtained graphs are clustered using network-oriented clustering techniques, and results are evaluated. The most promising clusterings are subsequently analyzed for biological and domain-based relevance. Clusters obtained delineated different aspects of ASD, including differentiating ASD-specific symptoms, cognitive, adaptive, language and communication functions, and behavioral problems. Some of the important genes associated with the clusters have previous known associations to ASD. We found that clusters based on integrated genetic and phenotype data were more effective at identifying relevant genes than clusters constructed from phenotype information alone. These genes included five with suggestive evidence of ASD association and one known to be a strong candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Matta
- Department of Computer Science, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL, United States
| | - Daniel Dobrino
- Department of Computer Science, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL, United States
| | - Dacosta Yeboah
- Department of Computer Science, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, United States
| | - Swade Howard
- Department of Computer Science, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL, United States
| | - Yasser EL-Manzalawy
- Department of Translational Data Science and Informatics, Geisinger, Danville, PA, United States
| | - Tayo Obafemi-Ajayi
- Engineering Program, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, United States
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15
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Wong A, Zhou A, Cao X, Mahaganapathy V, Azaro M, Gwin C, Wilson S, Buyske S, Bartlett CW, Flax JF, Brzustowicz LM, Xing J. MicroRNA and MicroRNA-Target Variants Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Related Disorders. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081329. [PMID: 35893067 PMCID: PMC9329941 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a childhood neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex and heterogeneous genetic etiology. MicroRNA (miRNA), a class of small non-coding RNAs, could regulate ASD risk genes post-transcriptionally and affect broad molecular pathways related to ASD and associated disorders. Using whole-genome sequencing, we analyzed 272 samples in 73 families in the New Jersey Language and Autism Genetics Study (NJLAGS) cohort. Families with at least one ASD patient were recruited and were further assessed for language impairment, reading impairment, and other associated phenotypes. A total of 5104 miRNA variants and 1,181,148 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) variants were identified in the dataset. After applying several filtering criteria, including population allele frequency, brain expression, miRNA functional regions, and inheritance patterns, we identified high-confidence variants in five brain-expressed miRNAs (targeting 326 genes) and 3′ UTR miRNA target regions of 152 genes. Some genes, such as SCP2 and UCGC, were identified in multiple families. Using Gene Ontology overrepresentation analysis and protein–protein interaction network analysis, we identified clusters of genes and pathways that are important for neurodevelopment. The miRNAs and miRNA target genes identified in this study are potentially involved in neurodevelopmental disorders and should be considered for further functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Wong
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.W.); (A.Z.); (X.C.); (V.M.); (M.A.); (C.G.); (S.W.); (J.F.F.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Anbo Zhou
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.W.); (A.Z.); (X.C.); (V.M.); (M.A.); (C.G.); (S.W.); (J.F.F.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Xiaolong Cao
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.W.); (A.Z.); (X.C.); (V.M.); (M.A.); (C.G.); (S.W.); (J.F.F.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Vaidhyanathan Mahaganapathy
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.W.); (A.Z.); (X.C.); (V.M.); (M.A.); (C.G.); (S.W.); (J.F.F.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Marco Azaro
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.W.); (A.Z.); (X.C.); (V.M.); (M.A.); (C.G.); (S.W.); (J.F.F.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Christine Gwin
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.W.); (A.Z.); (X.C.); (V.M.); (M.A.); (C.G.); (S.W.); (J.F.F.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Sherri Wilson
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.W.); (A.Z.); (X.C.); (V.M.); (M.A.); (C.G.); (S.W.); (J.F.F.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Steven Buyske
- Department of Statistics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
| | - Christopher W. Bartlett
- The Steve & Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Battelle Center for Computational Biology, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Judy F. Flax
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.W.); (A.Z.); (X.C.); (V.M.); (M.A.); (C.G.); (S.W.); (J.F.F.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Linda M. Brzustowicz
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.W.); (A.Z.); (X.C.); (V.M.); (M.A.); (C.G.); (S.W.); (J.F.F.); (L.M.B.)
- Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jinchuan Xing
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.W.); (A.Z.); (X.C.); (V.M.); (M.A.); (C.G.); (S.W.); (J.F.F.); (L.M.B.)
- Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Correspondence:
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16
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Giovannetti A, Bianco SD, Traversa A, Panzironi N, Bruselles A, Lazzari S, Liorni N, Tartaglia M, Carella M, Pizzuti A, Mazza T, Caputo V. MiRLog and dbmiR: prioritization and functional annotation tools to study human microRNA sequence variants. Hum Mutat 2022; 43:1201-1215. [PMID: 35583122 PMCID: PMC9546175 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The recent identification of noncoding variants with pathogenic effects suggests that these variations could underlie a significant number of undiagnosed cases. Several computational methods have been developed to predict the functional impact of noncoding variants, but they exhibit only partial concordance and are not integrated with functional annotation resources, making the interpretation of these variants still challenging. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that act as fine regulators of gene expression and play crucial functions in several biological processes, such as cell proliferation and differentiation. An increasing number of studies demonstrate a significant impact of miRNA single nucleotide variants (SNVs) both in Mendelian diseases and complex traits. To predict the functional effect of miRNA SNVs, we implemented a new meta‐predictor, MiRLog, and we integrated it into a comprehensive database, dbmiR, which includes a precompiled list of all possible miRNA allelic SNVs, providing their biological annotations at nucleotide and miRNA levels. MiRLog and dbmiR were used to explore the genetic variability of miRNAs in 15,708 human genomes included in the gnomAD project, finding several ultra‐rare SNVs with a potentially deleterious effect on miRNA biogenesis and function representing putative contributors to human phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnese Giovannetti
- Laboratory of Clinical Genomics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
| | - Salvatore Daniele Bianco
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Unit of Bioinformatics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
| | - Alice Traversa
- Laboratory of Clinical Genomics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
| | - Noemi Panzironi
- Laboratory of Clinical Genomics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
| | - Alessandro Bruselles
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Lazzari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Niccolò Liorni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Unit of Bioinformatics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Carella
- Medical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
| | - Antonio Pizzuti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Tommaso Mazza
- Unit of Bioinformatics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
| | - Viviana Caputo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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17
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Davis KW, Bilancia CG, Martin M, Vanzo R, Rimmasch M, Hom Y, Uddin M, Serrano MA. NeuroSCORE is a genome-wide omics-based model that identifies candidate disease genes of the central nervous system. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5427. [PMID: 35361823 PMCID: PMC8971396 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08938-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To identify candidate disease genes of central nervous system (CNS) phenotypes, we created the Neurogenetic Systematic Correlation of Omics-Related Evidence (NeuroSCORE). We identified five genome-wide metrics highly associated with CNS phenotypes to score 19,601 protein-coding genes. Genes scored one point per metric (range: 0-5), identifying 8298 scored genes (scores ≥ 1) and 1601 "high scoring" genes (scores ≥ 3). Using logistic regression, we determined the odds ratio that genes with a NeuroSCORE from 1 to 5 would be associated with known CNS-related phenotypes compared to genes that scored zero. We tested NeuroSCORE using microarray copy number variants (CNVs) in case-control cohorts and aggregate mouse model data. High scoring genes are associated with CNS phenotypes (OR = 5.5, p < 2E-16), enriched in case CNVs, and mouse ortholog genes that cause behavioral and nervous system abnormalities. We identified 1058 high scoring genes with no disease association in OMIM. Transforming the logistic regression results indicates high scoring genes have an 84-92% chance of being associated with a CNS phenotype. Top scoring genes include GRIA1, MAP4K4, SF1, TNPO2, and ZSWIM8. Finally, we interrogated CNVs in the Clinical Genome Resource, finding the majority of clinically significant CNVs contain high scoring genes. These findings can direct future research and improve molecular diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle W Davis
- Bionano Genomics, Lineagen Division, Inc., 9540 Towne Center, Dr. #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Colleen G Bilancia
- Bionano Genomics, Lineagen Division, Inc., 9540 Towne Center, Dr. #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Megan Martin
- Bionano Genomics, Lineagen Division, Inc., 9540 Towne Center, Dr. #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Rena Vanzo
- Bionano Genomics, Lineagen Division, Inc., 9540 Towne Center, Dr. #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Megan Rimmasch
- Bionano Genomics, Lineagen Division, Inc., 9540 Towne Center, Dr. #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Yolanda Hom
- Bionano Genomics, Lineagen Division, Inc., 9540 Towne Center, Dr. #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Mohammed Uddin
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE
- Cellular Intelligence (Ci) Lab, GenomeArc Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Moises A Serrano
- Bionano Genomics, Lineagen Division, Inc., 9540 Towne Center, Dr. #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
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18
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A Next Generation Sequencing-Based Protocol for Screening of Variants of Concern in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cells 2021; 11:cells11010010. [PMID: 35011571 PMCID: PMC8750892 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with strong genetic influences. There is an increasing demand for ASD genetic testing beyond the traditionally recommended microarray and syndromic autism testing; however, the current whole genome sequencing (WGS) and whole exome sequencing (WES) methods are lacking an academic standard for WGS variant annotation, reporting, and interpretation, tailored towards patients with ASD and offer very limited interpretation for clinical significance. Using WGS data from six family trios, we demonstrate the clinical feasibility and technical implementation of an evidence-based, fully transparent bioinformatics pipeline and report framework for an ASD-focused WGS genetic report. We confirmed a portion of the key variants with Sanger sequencing and provided interpretation with consideration of patients’ clinical symptoms and detailed literature review. Furthermore, we showed that identification of the genetic contributions of ASD core symptoms and comorbidities may promote a better understanding of the ASD pathophysiology, lead to early detection of associated comorbidities, and facilitate pharmacologic intervention based on pathological pathways inferred from the genetic information. We will make the bioinformatics pipeline and interpretation framework publicly available, in an easily accessible format, after validation with a larger cohort. We hope that the present proposed protocol can serve as a starting point to invite discourse and debate to further improve approaches in WGS-based genetic consultation for patients with ASD.
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19
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Chu ECP, Morin A, Chang THC, Nguyen T, Tsai YC, Sharma A, Liu CC, Pavlidis P. Experiment level curation of transcriptional regulatory interactions in neurodevelopment. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009484. [PMID: 34665801 PMCID: PMC8565786 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To facilitate the development of large-scale transcriptional regulatory networks (TRNs) that may enable in-silico analyses of disease mechanisms, a reliable catalogue of experimentally verified direct transcriptional regulatory interactions (DTRIs) is needed for training and validation. There has been a long history of using low-throughput experiments to validate single DTRIs. Therefore, we reason that a reliable set of DTRIs could be produced by curating the published literature for such evidence. In our survey of previous curation efforts, we identified the lack of details about the quantity and the types of experimental evidence to be a major gap, despite the theoretical importance of such details for the identification of bona fide DTRIs. We developed a curation protocol to inspect the published literature for support of DTRIs at the experiment level, focusing on genes important to the development of the mammalian nervous system. We sought to record three types of low-throughput experiments: Transcription factor (TF) perturbation, TF-DNA binding, and TF-reporter assays. Using this protocol, we examined a total of 1,310 papers to assemble a collection of 1,499 unique DTRIs, involving 251 TFs and 825 target genes, many of which were not reported in any other DTRI resource. The majority of DTRIs (965; 64%) were supported by two or more types of experimental evidence and 27% were supported by all three. Of the DTRIs with all three types of evidence, 170 had been tested using primary tissues or cells and 44 had been tested directly in the central nervous system. We used our resource to document research biases among reports towards a small number of well-studied TFs. To demonstrate a use case for this resource, we compared our curation to a previously published high-throughput perturbation screen and found significant enrichment of the curated targets among genes differentially expressed in the developing brain in response to Pax6 deletion. This study demonstrates a proof-of-concept for the assembly of a high resolution DTRI resource to support the development of large-scale TRNs. The capacity to computationally reconstruct gene regulatory networks using large-scale biological data is currently limited by the absence of a high confidence set of one-to-one regulatory interactions. Given the lengthy history of using small scale experimental assays to investigate individual interactions, we reason that a reliable collection of gene regulatory interactions could be compiled by systematically inspecting the published literature. To this end, we developed a curation protocol to examine and record evidence of regulatory interactions at the individual experiment level. Focusing on the area of brain development, we applied our pipeline to 1,310 publications. We identified 3,601 individual experiments, providing detailed information about 1,499 regulatory interactions. Many of these interactions have verified activity specifically in the embryonic brain. By capturing reports of regulatory interactions at this level of detail, we equip the users with more granular information than other similar resources, enabling more informed assessments of reliability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Ching-Pan Chu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alexander Morin
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tak Hou Calvin Chang
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tue Nguyen
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yi-Cheng Tsai
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Aman Sharma
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Chao Chun Liu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Paul Pavlidis
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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20
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Khoshkhoo S, Lal D, Walsh CA. Application of single cell genomics to focal epilepsies: A call to action. Brain Pathol 2021; 31:e12958. [PMID: 34196990 PMCID: PMC8412079 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Focal epilepsies are the largest epilepsy subtype and associated with significant morbidity. Somatic variation is a newly recognized genetic mechanism underlying a subset of focal epilepsies, but little is known about the processes through which somatic mosaicism causes seizures, the cell types carrying the pathogenic variants, or their developmental origin. Meanwhile, the inception of single cell biology has completely revolutionized the study of neurological diseases and has the potential to answer some of these key questions. Focusing on single cell genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics in focal epilepsy research, circumvents the averaging artifact associated with studying bulk brain tissue and offers the kind of granularity that is needed for investigating the consequences of somatic mosaicism. Here we have provided a brief overview of some of the most developed single cell techniques and the major considerations around applying them to focal epilepsy research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sattar Khoshkhoo
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dennis Lal
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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21
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Levitskiy D, Confair A, Wagner KE, DeVita S, Shea N, McKernan EP, Kopec J, Russo N, Middleton FA, Hicks SD. Longitudinal stability of salivary microRNA biomarkers in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2021; 85:101788. [PMID: 34025747 PMCID: PMC8139124 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurological condition with increasing prevalence. Few tools accurately predict the developmental trajectory of children with ASD. Such tools would allow clinicians to provide accurate prognoses and track the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. Salivary RNAs that reflect the genetic-environmental interactions underlying ASD may provide objective measures of symptom severity and developmental outcomes. This study investigated whether salivary RNAs previously identified in childhood ASD remain perturbed in older children. We also explored whether RNA candidates changed with therapeutic intervention. METHOD A case-control design was used to characterize levels of 78 saliva RNA candidates among 96 children (48 ASD, 48 non-ASD, mean age: 11 years). Thirty-one children (22 ASD, 9 non-ASD developmental delay, mean age: 4 years) were followed longitudinally to explore changes of RNA candidates during early intervention. Saliva RNA and standardized behavioral assessments were collected for each participant. Associations between candidate RNAs and behavioral scores were determined in both groups via Spearman Correlation. Changes in candidate RNAs across two time-points were assessed in the younger cohort via Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS Seven RNAs were associated with VABS-II and BASC scores in the older group ([R] >0.25, FDR< 0.15). Within the younger cohort, 12 RNAs displayed significant changes over time (FDR< 0.05). Three microRNAs were associated with behavioral scores and changed over time (miR-182-5p, miR-146b-5p, miR-374a-5p). CONCLUSION Several salivary RNAs are strongly associated with autistic behaviors in older individuals with ASD and change as early as three months after therapy initiation in younger children. These molecules could be used to track treatment effectiveness and provide prognoses. Further validation is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Levitskiy
- Quadrant Biosciences Inc., 505 Irving Ave, Suite 3100 AB, Syracuse, NY 13210
| | - Alexandra Confair
- Penn State College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hershey PA, 17033
| | - Kayla E. Wagner
- Quadrant Biosciences Inc., 505 Irving Ave, Suite 3100 AB, Syracuse, NY 13210
| | - Samantha DeVita
- Quadrant Biosciences Inc., 505 Irving Ave, Suite 3100 AB, Syracuse, NY 13210
| | - Nicole Shea
- Syracuse University, Department of Psychology, Syracuse NY13210
| | | | - Justin Kopec
- Syracuse University, Department of Psychology, Syracuse NY13210
| | - Natalie Russo
- Syracuse University, Department of Psychology, Syracuse NY13210
| | - Frank A. Middleton
- SUNY Upstate Medical University, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Syracuse, NY 13210
| | - Steven D. Hicks
- Penn State College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hershey PA, 17033
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22
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Novel treatments for autism spectrum disorder based on genomics and systems biology. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 230:107939. [PMID: 34174273 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex underlying genetic architecture. There are currently no known pharmacologic treatments for the core ASD symptoms of social deficits and restricted/ repetitive behavior. However, there are dozens of clinical trials currently underway that are testing the impact of novel and existing agents on core and associated symptoms in ASD. METHODS We present a narrative synthesis of the historical and contemporary challenges to drug discovery in ASD. We then provide an overview of novel treatments currently under investigation from a genomics and systems biology perspective. RESULTS Data driven network and cluster analyses suggest alterations in transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodelling, synaptic transmission, neuropeptide signalling, and/or immunological mechanisms may contribute to or underlie the development of ASD. Agents and upcoming trials targeting each of the above listed systems are reviewed. CONCLUSION Identifying effective pharmacologic treatments for the core and associated symptom domains in ASD will require further collaboration and innovation in the areas of outcome measurement, biomarker research, and genomics, as well as systematic efforts to identify and treat subgroups of individuals with ASD who may be differentially responsive to specific treatments.
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23
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Watts M, Williams G, Lu J, Nithianantharajah J, Claudianos C. MicroRNA-210 Regulates Dendritic Morphology and Behavioural Flexibility in Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:1330-1344. [PMID: 33165828 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02197-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are known to be critical regulators of neuronal plasticity. The highly conserved, hypoxia-regulated microRNA-210 (miR-210) has been shown to be associated with long-term memory in invertebrates and dysregulated in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease models. However, the role of miR-210 in mammalian neuronal function and cognitive behaviour remains unexplored. Here we generated Nestin-cre-driven miR-210 neuronal knockout mice to characterise miR-210 regulation and function using in vitro and in vivo methods. We identified miR-210 localisation throughout neuronal somas and dendritic processes and increased levels of mature miR-210 in response to neural activity in vitro. Loss of miR-210 in neurons resulted in higher oxidative phosphorylation and ROS production following hypoxia and increased dendritic arbour density in hippocampal cultures. Additionally, miR-210 knockout mice displayed altered behavioural flexibility in rodent touchscreen tests, particularly during early reversal learning suggesting processes underlying updating of information and feedback were impacted. Our findings support a conserved, activity-dependent role for miR-210 in neuroplasticity and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Watts
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Gabrielle Williams
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Jing Lu
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Jess Nithianantharajah
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia.
- Florey Department of Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Charles Claudianos
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia.
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24
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Rodin RE, Dou Y, Kwon M, Sherman MA, D'Gama AM, Doan RN, Rento LM, Girskis KM, Bohrson CL, Kim SN, Nadig A, Luquette LJ, Gulhan DC, Park PJ, Walsh CA. The landscape of somatic mutation in cerebral cortex of autistic and neurotypical individuals revealed by ultra-deep whole-genome sequencing. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:176-185. [PMID: 33432195 PMCID: PMC7983596 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-00765-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
We characterize the landscape of somatic mutations-mutations occurring after fertilization-in the human brain using ultra-deep (~250×) whole-genome sequencing of prefrontal cortex from 59 donors with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 15 control donors. We observe a mean of 26 somatic single-nucleotide variants per brain present in ≥4% of cells, with enrichment of mutations in coding and putative regulatory regions. Our analysis reveals that the first cell division after fertilization produces ~3.4 mutations, followed by 2-3 mutations in subsequent generations. This suggests that a typical individual possesses ~80 somatic single-nucleotide variants present in ≥2% of cells-comparable to the number of de novo germline mutations per generation-with about half of individuals having at least one potentially function-altering somatic mutation somewhere in the cortex. ASD brains show an excess of somatic mutations in neural enhancer sequences compared with controls, suggesting that mosaic enhancer mutations may contribute to ASD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Rodin
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yanmei Dou
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Minseok Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maxwell A Sherman
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alissa M D'Gama
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan N Doan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lariza M Rento
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly M Girskis
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Craig L Bohrson
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sonia N Kim
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ajay Nadig
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lovelace J Luquette
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Doga C Gulhan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter J Park
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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25
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Autism-associated miR-873 regulates ARID1B, SHANK3 and NRXN2 involved in neurodevelopment. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:418. [PMID: 33262327 PMCID: PMC7708977 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01106-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorders with significant genetic heterogeneity. Noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) are recognised as playing key roles in development of ASD albeit the function of these regulatory genes remains unclear. We previously conducted whole-exome sequencing of Australian families with ASD and identified four novel single nucleotide variations in mature miRNA sequences. A pull-down transcriptome analysis using transfected SH-SY5Y cells proposed a mechanistic model to examine changes in binding affinity associated with a unique mutation found in the conserved 'seed' region of miR-873-5p (rs777143952: T > A). Results suggested several ASD-risk genes were differentially targeted by wild-type and mutant miR-873 variants. In the current study, a dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed miR-873 variants have a 20-30% inhibition/dysregulation effect on candidate autism risk genes ARID1B, SHANK3 and NRXN2 and also confirmed the affected expression with qPCR. In vitro mouse hippocampal neurons transfected with mutant miR-873 showed less morphological complexity and enhanced sodium currents and excitatory neurotransmission compared to cells transfected with wild-type miR-873. A second in vitro study showed CRISPR/Cas9 miR-873 disrupted SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells acquired a neuronal-like morphology and increased expression of ASD important genes ARID1B, SHANK3, ADNP2, ANK2 and CHD8. These results represent the first functional evidence that miR-873 regulates key neural genes involved in development and cell differentiation.
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26
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Bjørklund G, Tinkov AA, Hosnedlová B, Kizek R, Ajsuvakova OP, Chirumbolo S, Skalnaya MG, Peana M, Dadar M, El-Ansary A, Qasem H, Adams JB, Aaseth J, Skalny AV. The role of glutathione redox imbalance in autism spectrum disorder: A review. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 160:149-162. [PMID: 32745763 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The role of glutathione in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is emerging as a major topic, due to its role in the maintenance of the intracellular redox balance. Several studies have implicated glutathione redox imbalance as a leading factor in ASD, and both ASD and many other neurodevelopmental disorders involve low levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), high levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and abnormalities in the expressions of glutathione-related enzymes in the blood or brain. Glutathione metabolism, through its impact on redox environment or redox-independent mechanisms, interferes with multiple mechanisms involved in ASD pathogenesis. Glutathione-mediated regulation of glutamate receptors [e.g., N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor], as well as the role of glutamate as a substrate for glutathione synthesis, may be involved in the regulation of glutamate excitotoxicity. However, the interaction between glutathione and glutamate in the pathogenesis of brain diseases may vary from synergism to antagonism. Modulation of glutathione is also associated with regulation of redox-sensitive transcription factors nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) and downstream signaling (proinflammatory cytokines and inducible enzymes), thus providing a significant impact on neuroinflammation. Mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as neuronal apoptosis, may also provide a significant link between glutathione metabolism and ASD. Furthermore, it has been recently highlighted that glutathione can affect and modulate DNA methylation and epigenetics. Review analysis including research studies meeting the required criteria for analysis showed statistically significant differences between the plasma GSH and GSSG levels as well as GSH:GSSG ratio in autistic patients compared with healthy individuals (P = 0.0145, P = 0.0150 and P = 0.0202, respectively). Therefore, the existing data provide a strong background on the role of the glutathione system in ASD pathogenesis. Future research is necessary to investigate the role of glutathione redox signaling in ASD, which could potentially also lead to promising therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Mo I Rana, Norway.
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia; Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems, Agro-technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Božena Hosnedlová
- Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; CONEM Metallomics Nanomedicine Research Group (CMNRG), Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rene Kizek
- Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; CONEM Metallomics Nanomedicine Research Group (CMNRG), Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Laboratory Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Olga P Ajsuvakova
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia; Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems, Agro-technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; CONEM Scientific Secretary, Verona, Italy
| | - Margarita G Skalnaya
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems, Agro-technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
| | | | - Maryam Dadar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Afaf El-Ansary
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Autism Research and Treatment Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; CONEM Saudi Autism Research Group, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanan Qasem
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; CONEM Saudi Autism Research Group, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - James B Adams
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jan Aaseth
- Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
| | - Anatoly V Skalny
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems, Agro-technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
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27
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Baldassari S, Musante I, Iacomino M, Zara F, Salpietro V, Scudieri P. Brain Organoids as Model Systems for Genetic Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:590119. [PMID: 33154971 PMCID: PMC7586734 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.590119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of disorders in which the development of the central nervous system (CNS) is disturbed, resulting in different neurological and neuropsychiatric features, such as impaired motor function, learning, language or non-verbal communication. Frequent comorbidities include epilepsy and movement disorders. Advances in DNA sequencing technologies revealed identifiable genetic causes in an increasingly large proportion of NDDs, highlighting the need of experimental approaches to investigate the defective genes and the molecular pathways implicated in abnormal brain development. However, targeted approaches to investigate specific molecular defects and their implications in human brain dysfunction are prevented by limited access to patient-derived brain tissues. In this context, advances of both stem cell technologies and genome editing strategies during the last decade led to the generation of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro-models of cerebral organoids, holding the potential to recapitulate precise stages of human brain development with the aim of personalized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Recent progresses allowed to generate 3D-structures of both neuronal and non-neuronal cell types and develop either whole-brain or region-specific cerebral organoids in order to investigate in vitro key brain developmental processes, such as neuronal cell morphogenesis, migration and connectivity. In this review, we summarized emerging methodological approaches in the field of brain organoid technologies and their application to dissect disease mechanisms underlying an array of pediatric brain developmental disorders, with a particular focus on autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and epileptic encephalopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Baldassari
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCSS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Musante
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCSS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Michele Iacomino
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCSS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Federico Zara
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCSS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, 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, IRCSS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Scudieri
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCSS Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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Wu X, Li W, Zheng Y. Recent Progress on Relevant microRNAs in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165904. [PMID: 32824515 PMCID: PMC7460584 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose pathogenesis is unclear and is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. The microRNAs (miRNAs) are a kind of single-stranded non-coding RNA with 20-22 nucleotides, which normally inhibit their target mRNAs at a post-transcriptional level. miRNAs are involved in almost all biological processes and are closely related to ASD and many other diseases. In this review, we summarize relevant miRNAs in ASD, and analyze dysregulated miRNAs in brain tissues and body fluids of ASD patients, which may contribute to the pathogenesis and diagnosis of ASD.
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Liu S, Yu Y, Zhang S, Cole JB, Tenesa A, Wang T, McDaneld TG, Ma L, Liu GE, Fang L. Epigenomics and genotype-phenotype association analyses reveal conserved genetic architecture of complex traits in cattle and human. BMC Biol 2020; 18:80. [PMID: 32620158 PMCID: PMC7334855 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00792-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lack of comprehensive functional annotations across a wide range of tissues and cell types severely hinders the biological interpretations of phenotypic variation, adaptive evolution, and domestication in livestock. Here we used a combination of comparative epigenomics, genome-wide association study (GWAS), and selection signature analysis, to shed light on potential adaptive evolution in cattle. Results We cross-mapped 8 histone marks of 1300 samples from human to cattle, covering 178 unique tissues/cell types. By uniformly analyzing 723 RNA-seq and 40 whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) datasets in cattle, we validated that cross-mapped histone marks captured tissue-specific expression and methylation, reflecting tissue-relevant biology. Through integrating cross-mapped tissue-specific histone marks with large-scale GWAS and selection signature results, we for the first time detected relevant tissues and cell types for 45 economically important traits and artificial selection in cattle. For instance, immune tissues are significantly associated with health and reproduction traits, multiple tissues for milk production and body conformation traits (reflecting their highly polygenic architecture), and thyroid for the different selection between beef and dairy cattle. Similarly, we detected relevant tissues for 58 complex traits and diseases in humans and observed that immune and fertility traits in humans significantly correlated with those in cattle in terms of relevant tissues, which facilitated the identification of causal genes for such traits. For instance, PIK3CG, a gene highly specifically expressed in mononuclear cells, was significantly associated with both age-at-menopause in human and daughter-still-birth in cattle. ICAM, a T cell-specific gene, was significantly associated with both allergic diseases in human and metritis in cattle. Conclusion Collectively, our results highlighted that comparative epigenomics in conjunction with GWAS and selection signature analyses could provide biological insights into the phenotypic variation and adaptive evolution. Cattle may serve as a model for human complex traits, by providing additional information beyond laboratory model organisms, particularly when more novel phenotypes become available in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuli Liu
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.,College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ying Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Shengli Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - John B Cole
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Albert Tenesa
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.,The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Tara G McDaneld
- US Meat Animal Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Clay Center, NE, 68933, USA
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
| | - George E Liu
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
| | - Lingzhao Fang
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA. .,MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK. .,Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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30
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Bocher O, Génin E. Rare variant association testing in the non-coding genome. Hum Genet 2020; 139:1345-1362. [PMID: 32500240 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-020-02190-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The development of next-generation sequencing technologies has opened-up some new possibilities to explore the contribution of genetic variants to human diseases and in particular that of rare variants. Statistical methods have been developed to test for association with rare variants that require the definition of testing units and, in these testing units, the selection of qualifying variants to include in the test. In the coding regions of the genome, testing units are usually the different genes and qualifying variants are selected based on their functional effects on the encoded proteins. Extending these tests to the non-coding regions of the genome is challenging. Testing units are difficult to define as the non-coding genome organisation is still rather unknown. Qualifying variants are difficult to select as the functional impact of non-coding variants on gene expression is hard to predict. These difficulties could explain why very few investigators so far have analysed the non-coding parts of their whole genome sequencing data. These non-coding parts yet represent the vast majority of the genome and some studies suggest that they could play a major role in disease susceptibility. In this review, we discuss recent experimental and statistical developments to gain knowledge on the non-coding genome and how this knowledge could be used to include rare non-coding variants in association tests. We describe the few studies that have considered variants from the non-coding genome in association tests and how they managed to define testing units and select qualifying variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozvan Bocher
- Génétique, Génomique Fonctionnelle Et Biotechnologies, Faculté de Médecine, Univ Brest, Inserm, Inserm UMR1078, Bâtiment E-IBRBS 2ieme étage, 22 avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238, Brest Cedex 3, France.
| | - Emmanuelle Génin
- Génétique, Génomique Fonctionnelle Et Biotechnologies, Faculté de Médecine, Univ Brest, Inserm, Inserm UMR1078, Bâtiment E-IBRBS 2ieme étage, 22 avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238, Brest Cedex 3, France.
- CHU Brest, Brest, France.
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Abstract
Recent advances in understanding the genetic architecture of autism spectrum disorder have allowed for unprecedented insight into its biological underpinnings. New studies have elucidated the contributions of a variety of forms of genetic variation to autism susceptibility. While the roles of de novo copy number variants and single-nucleotide variants-causing loss-of-function or missense changes-have been increasingly recognized and refined, mosaic single-nucleotide variants have been implicated more recently in some cases. Moreover, inherited variants (including common variants) and, more recently, rare recessive inherited variants have come into greater focus. Finally, noncoding variants-both inherited and de novo-have been implicated in the last few years. This work has revealed a convergence of diverse genetic drivers on common biological pathways and has highlighted the ongoing importance of increasing sample size and experimental innovation. Continuing to synthesize these genetic findings with functional and phenotypic evidence and translating these discoveries to clinical care remain considerable challenges for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Dias
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
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32
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Ross PJ, Mok RSF, Smith BS, Rodrigues DC, Mufteev M, Scherer SW, Ellis J. Modeling neuronal consequences of autism-associated gene regulatory variants with human induced pluripotent stem cells. Mol Autism 2020; 11:33. [PMID: 32398033 PMCID: PMC7218542 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00333-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic factors contribute to the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and although non-protein-coding regions of the genome are being increasingly implicated in ASD, the functional consequences of these variants remain largely uncharacterized. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) enable the production of personalized neurons that are genetically matched to people with ASD and can therefore be used to directly test the effects of genomic variation on neuronal gene expression, synapse function, and connectivity. The combined use of human pluripotent stem cells with genome editing to introduce or correct specific variants has proved to be a powerful approach for exploring the functional consequences of ASD-associated variants in protein-coding genes and, more recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Here, we review recent studies that implicate lncRNAs, other non-coding mutations, and regulatory variants in ASD susceptibility. We also discuss experimental design considerations for using iPSCs and genome editing to study the role of the non-protein-coding genome in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Joel Ross
- Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada.
| | - Rebecca S F Mok
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brandon S Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | - Deivid C Rodrigues
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marat Mufteev
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Genetics & Genome Biology Program and The Centre for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James Ellis
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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33
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Kim Y, An JY. Spatio-Temporal Roles of ASD-Associated Variants in Human Brain Development. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11050535. [PMID: 32403330 PMCID: PMC7291218 DOI: 10.3390/genes11050535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation of the genome arguably provides the basis for the anatomical elaboration and dynamic operation of the human brain. It logically follows that genetic variations affecting gene transcription contribute to mental health disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A number of recent studies have shown the role of de novo variants (DNVs) in disrupting early neurodevelopment. However, there is limited knowledge concerning the role of inherited variants during the early brain development of ASD. In this study, we investigate the role of rare inherited variations in neurodevelopment. We conducted co-expression network analyses using an anatomically comprehensive atlas of the developing human brain and examined whether rare coding and regulatory variants, identified from our genetic screening of Australian families with ASD, work in different spatio-temporal functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Kim
- School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea;
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Joon-Yong An
- School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea;
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-3290-5646
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34
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Whole genome investigation of an atypical autism case identifies a novel ANOS1 mutation with subsequent diagnosis of Kallmann syndrome. Mol Genet Metab Rep 2020; 23:100593. [PMID: 32382505 PMCID: PMC7200310 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2020.100593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We report an actionable secondary finding from whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of a 10-year-old boy with autism. WGS identified non-synonymous variants in several genes, including a nonsense mutation in the ANOS1 gene which is an X-linked cause of Kallmann syndrome. WGS can provide insights into complex genetic disorders such as autism, and actionable incidental findings can offer the potential for therapeutic interventions.
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35
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Gurwitz D. Genomics and the future of psychopharmacology: MicroRNAs offer novel therapeutics
. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2020. [PMID: 31636487 PMCID: PMC6787538 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2019.21.2/dgurwitz] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, noncoding RNAs functioning as regulators of the
transcription of protein-coding genes in eukaryotes. During the last two decades,
studies on miRNAs indicate that they have potential as diagnostic and prognostic
biomarkers for a wide range of cancers. Research interest in miRNAs has moved to
embrace further medical disciplines, including neuropsychiatric disorders, comparing
miRNA expression and mRNA targets between patient and control blood samples and
postmortem brain tissues, as well as in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders.
This manuscript reviews recent findings on miRNAs implicated in the pathology of mood
disorders, schizophrenia, and autism, as well as their diagnostic potential, and
their potential as tentative targets for future therapeutics. The plausible
contribution of X chromosome miRNAs to the larger prevalence of major depression
among women is also evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gurwitz
- Author affiliations: Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Address for correspondence: David Gurwitz, Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978 Israel.
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36
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Abstract
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) can be primarily attributed to genetic causes. The genetic landscape of DEEs has been largely shaped by the rise of high-throughput sequencing, which led to the discovery of new DEE-associated genes and helped identify de novo pathogenic variants. We discuss briefly the contribution of de novo variants to DEE and also focus on alternative inheritance models that contribute to DEE. First, autosomal recessive inheritance in outbred populations may have a larger contribution than previously appreciated, accounting for up to 13% of DEEs. A small subset of genes that typically harbor de novo variants have been associated with recessive inheritance, and often these individuals have more severe clinical presentations. Additionally, pathogenic variants in X-linked genes have been identified in both affected males and females, possibly due to a lack of X-chromosome inactivation skewing. Collectively, exome sequencing has resulted in a molecular diagnosis for many individuals with DEE, but this still leaves many cases unsolved. Multiple factors contribute to the missing etiology, including nonexonic variants, mosaicism, epigenetics, and oligogenic inheritance. Here, we focus on the first 2 factors. We discuss the promises and challenges of genome sequencing, which allows for a more comprehensive analysis of the genome, including interpretation of structural and noncoding variants and also yields a high number of de novo variants for interpretation. We also consider the contribution of genetic mosaicism, both what it means for a molecular diagnosis in mosaic individuals and the important implications for genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah C Happ
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Gemma L Carvill
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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37
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Cellular and molecular characterization of multiplex autism in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. Mol Autism 2019; 10:51. [PMID: 31893020 PMCID: PMC6936127 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0306-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with pronounced heritability in the general population. This is largely attributable to the effects of polygenic susceptibility, with inherited liability exhibiting distinct sex differences in phenotypic expression. Attempts to model ASD in human cellular systems have principally involved rare de novo mutations associated with ASD phenocopies. However, by definition, these models are not representative of polygenic liability, which accounts for the vast share of population-attributable risk. Methods Here, we performed what is, to our knowledge, the first attempt to model multiplex autism using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in a family manifesting incremental degrees of phenotypic expression of inherited liability (absent, intermediate, severe). The family members share an inherited variant of uncertain significance (VUS) in GPD2, a gene that was previously associated with developmental disability but here is insufficient by itself to cause ASD. iPSCs from three first-degree relatives and an unrelated control were differentiated into both cortical excitatory (cExN) and cortical inhibitory (cIN) neurons, and cellular phenotyping and transcriptomic analysis were conducted. Results cExN neurospheres from the two affected individuals were reduced in size, compared to those derived from unaffected related and unrelated individuals. This reduction was, at least in part, due to increased apoptosis of cells from affected individuals upon initiation of cExN neural induction. Likewise, cIN neural progenitor cells from affected individuals exhibited increased apoptosis, compared to both unaffected individuals. Transcriptomic analysis of both cExN and cIN neural progenitor cells revealed distinct molecular signatures associated with affectation, including the misregulation of suites of genes associated with neural development, neuronal function, and behavior, as well as altered expression of ASD risk-associated genes. Conclusions We have provided evidence of morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic signatures of polygenic liability to ASD from an analysis of cellular models derived from a multiplex autism family. ASD is commonly inherited on the basis of additive genetic liability. Therefore, identifying convergent cellular and molecular phenotypes resulting from polygenic and monogenic susceptibility may provide a critical bridge for determining which of the disparate effects of rare highly deleterious mutations might also apply to common autistic syndromes.
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38
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Hu Z, Xiao X, Zhang Z, Li M. Genetic insights and neurobiological implications from NRXN1 in neuropsychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:1400-1414. [PMID: 31138894 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0438-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Many neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders commonly share genetic risk factors. To date, the mechanisms driving the pathogenesis of these disorders, particularly how genetic variations affect the function of risk genes and contribute to disease symptoms, remain largely unknown. Neurexins are a family of synaptic adhesion molecules, which play important roles in the formation and establishment of synaptic structure, as well as maintenance of synaptic function. Accumulating genomic findings reveal that genetic variations within genes encoding neurexins are associated with a variety of psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and some developmental abnormalities. In this review, we focus on NRXN1, one of the most compelling psychiatric risk genes of the neurexin family. We performed a comprehensive survey and analysis of current genetic and molecular data including both common and rare alleles within NRXN1 associated with psychiatric illnesses, thus providing insights into the genetic risk conferred by NRXN1. We also summarized the neurobiological evidences, supporting the function of NRXN1 and its protein products in synaptic formation, organization, transmission and plasticity, as well as disease-relevant behaviors, and assessed the mechanistic link between the mutations of NRXN1 and synaptic and behavioral pathology in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Hu
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Department of Psychiatry, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhuohua Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China. .,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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Cardoso AR, Lopes-Marques M, Silva RM, Serrano C, Amorim A, Prata MJ, Azevedo L. Essential genetic findings in neurodevelopmental disorders. Hum Genomics 2019; 13:31. [PMID: 31288856 PMCID: PMC6617629 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-019-0216-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) represent a growing medical challenge in modern societies. Ever-increasing sophisticated diagnostic tools have been continuously revealing a remarkably complex architecture that embraces genetic mutations of distinct types (chromosomal rearrangements, copy number variants, small indels, and nucleotide substitutions) with distinct frequencies in the population (common, rare, de novo). Such a network of interacting players creates difficulties in establishing rigorous genotype-phenotype correlations. Furthermore, individual lifestyles may also contribute to the severity of the symptoms fueling a large spectrum of gene-environment interactions that have a key role on the relationships between genotypes and phenotypes.Herein, a review of the genetic discoveries related to NDDs is presented with the aim to provide useful general information for the medical community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana R Cardoso
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Population Genetics and Evolution Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho 45, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mónica Lopes-Marques
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Population Genetics and Evolution Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho 45, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel M Silva
- Department of Medical Sciences and iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.,Present Address: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS), Institute of Health Sciences (ICS), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 3504-505, Viseu, Portugal
| | - Catarina Serrano
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Population Genetics and Evolution Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho 45, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - António Amorim
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Population Genetics and Evolution Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho 45, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria J Prata
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Population Genetics and Evolution Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho 45, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luísa Azevedo
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Population Genetics and Evolution Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal. .,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho 45, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
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40
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Boutwell BB, White MA. Gene regulation and the architecture of complex human traits in the genomics era. Curr Opin Psychol 2019; 27:93-97. [PMID: 30933894 PMCID: PMC10868639 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Virtually all human psychological and behavioral traits are at least partially heritable. For nearly a century, classical genetic studies have sought to understand how genetic variation contributes to human variation in these traits. More recently, genome-wide association studies have identified large numbers of specific genetic variants linked with complex traits. Many of these variants fall outside of protein-coding genes, in putative gene regulatory elements. This suggests that some fraction of causal human genetic variation acts through gene regulation. New developments in the field of regulatory genomics offer resources and methods to understand how genetic variants that alter gene expression contribute to human psychology and risk for psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian B Boutwell
- Criminology and Criminal Justice, Saint Louis University, 3550 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63013, United States.
| | - Michael A White
- Department of Genetics and Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Couch Biomedical Research Building, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
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Casanova EL, Switala AE, Dandamudi S, Hickman AR, Vandenbrink J, Sharp JL, Feltus FA, Casanova MF. Autism risk genes are evolutionarily ancient and maintain a unique feature landscape that echoes their function. Autism Res 2019; 12:860-869. [PMID: 31025836 PMCID: PMC6613973 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Previous research on autism risk (ASD), developmental regulatory (DevReg), and central nervous system (CNS) genes suggests they tend to be large in size, enriched in nested repeats, and mutation intolerant. The relevance of these genomic features is intriguing yet poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the feature landscape of these gene groups to discover structural themes useful in interpreting their function, developmental patterns, and evolutionary history. ASD, DevReg, CNS, housekeeping, and whole genome control (WGC) groups were compiled using various resources. Multiple gene features of interest were extracted from NCBI/UCSC Bioinformatics. Residual variation intolerance scores, Exome Aggregation Consortium pLI scores, and copy number variation data from Decipher were used to estimate variation intolerance. Gene age and protein-protein interactions (PPI) were estimated using Ensembl and EBI Intact databases, respectively. Compared to WGC: ASD, DevReg, and CNS genes are longer, produce larger proteins, maintain greater numbers/density of conserved noncoding elements and transposable elements, produce more transcript variants, and are comparatively variation intolerant. After controlling for gene size, mutation tolerance, and clinical association, ASD genes still retain many of these same features. In addition, we also found that ASD genes that are extremely mutation intolerant have larger PPI networks. These data support many of the recent findings within the field of autism genetics but also expand our understanding of the evolution of these broad gene groups, their potential regulatory complexity, and the extent to which they interact with the cellular network. Autism Res 2019, 12: 860-869. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Autism risk genes are more ancient compared to other genes in the genome. As such, they exhibit physical features related to their age, including long gene and protein size and regulatory sequences that help to control gene expression. They share many of these same features with other genes that are expressed in the brain and/or are associated with prenatal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L. Casanova
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South
Carolina, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Greenville Health System,
Greenville, USA
| | - Andrew E. Switala
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville,
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Srini Dandamudi
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort
Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Allison R. Hickman
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson
University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | | | - Julia L. Sharp
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort
Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - F. Alex Feltus
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson
University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Manuel F. Casanova
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South
Carolina, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Greenville Health System,
Greenville, USA
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Zhou M, Du W, Salvador-Carulla L, Glasgow N. Adverse drug event-related hospitalisation in persons with neurodevelopmental disorders: a state-wide retrospective cohort study. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2019; 63:429-440. [PMID: 30609156 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of adverse drug events (ADEs) in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to describe and compare the demographic details of people with and without NDD hospitalised due to ADEs. METHODS The all-inclusive New South Wales Admitted Patient Data Collection from 2001 to 2014 was employed to identify ADE-related hospitalisations in patients with NDD using the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision Australian modification codes. We derived case sets specific to different clinical groups and patient characteristics and compared proportional differences between patients with and without intellectual disability using chi squared tests. RESULTS A total of 2173 patients with NDD were admitted for acute care of ADEs, accounting for 0.7% of all ADE-related hospitalisations. Hospitalised ADEs among patients with NDD increased by twofold over the 14-year study period. Psychotropic medications and opioid analgesic medications were leading causes of ADE-related hospitalisations in patients with NDD. Compared with their counterparts, patients with NDD were younger, experienced more socio-economic disadvantage and less private insurance coverage, suffered with less severe but different co-morbid clinical conditions and incurred more challenges in the acute hospital care setting. CONCLUSION Although the pattern of ADE-related hospitalisations in patients with NDD differed from that in patients without NDD, there is a lack of targeted healthcare programmes to meet their special needs. This study suggests the need for countermeasures in primary healthcare settings to reduce the burden of ADEs in this vulnerable group.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Zhou
- Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Pharmacy department, People's Hospital of Xinjiang, Urumqi, China
| | - W Du
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - L Salvador-Carulla
- Centre of Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - N Glasgow
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Pervolaraki E, Tyson AL, Pibiri F, Poulter SL, Reichelt AC, Rodgers RJ, Clapcote SJ, Lever C, Andreae LC, Dachtler J. The within-subject application of diffusion tensor MRI and CLARITY reveals brain structural changes in Nrxn2 deletion mice. Mol Autism 2019; 10:8. [PMID: 30858964 PMCID: PMC6394023 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0261-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Of the many genetic mutations known to increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder, a large proportion cluster upon synaptic proteins. One such family of presynaptic proteins are the neurexins (NRXN), and recent genetic and mouse evidence has suggested a causative role for NRXN2 in generating altered social behaviours. Autism has been conceptualised as a disorder of atypical connectivity, yet how single-gene mutations affect such connectivity remains under-explored. To attempt to address this, we have developed a quantitative analysis of microstructure and structural connectivity leveraging diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) with high-resolution 3D imaging in optically cleared (CLARITY) brain tissue in the same mouse, applied here to the Nrxn2α knockout (KO) model. Methods Fixed brains of Nrxn2α KO mice underwent DTI using 9.4 T MRI, and diffusion properties of socially relevant brain regions were quantified. The same tissue was then subjected to CLARITY to immunolabel axons and cell bodies, which were also quantified. Results DTI revealed increases in fractional anisotropy in the amygdala (including the basolateral nuclei), the anterior cingulate cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex and the hippocampus. Axial diffusivity of the anterior cingulate cortex and orbitofrontal cortex was significantly increased in Nrxn2α KO mice, as were tracts between the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex. Using CLARITY, we find significantly altered axonal orientation in the amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex, which was unrelated to cell density. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that deleting a single neurexin gene (Nrxn2α) induces atypical structural connectivity within socially relevant brain regions. More generally, our combined within-subject DTI and CLARITY approach presents a new, more sensitive method of revealing hitherto undetectable differences in the autistic brain. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13229-019-0261-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam L Tyson
- 2Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL UK.,3MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL UK.,4Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Francesca Pibiri
- 5Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE UK
| | - Steven L Poulter
- 5Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE UK
| | - Amy C Reichelt
- 6Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7 Canada
| | - R John Rodgers
- 7School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
| | - Steven J Clapcote
- 1School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
| | - Colin Lever
- 5Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE UK
| | - Laura C Andreae
- 2Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL UK.,3MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL UK
| | - James Dachtler
- 1School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK.,5Department of Psychology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE UK
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Turner TN, Eichler EE. The Role of De Novo Noncoding Regulatory Mutations in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Trends Neurosci 2019; 42:115-127. [PMID: 30563709 PMCID: PMC6382467 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Advances in sequencing technology have significantly expanded our understanding of the genetics of autism and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Continued technological improvements and cost reductions have now shifted the focus to investigations into the functional noncoding portions of the genome. There is a patient trend toward an excess of de novo and potentially disruptive mutations among conserved noncoding sequences implicated in the regulation of genes. The signals become stronger when restricted to genes already implicated in NDDs, but de novo mutation in such elements is estimated to account for <5% of patients. Larger sample sizes, improved variant detection, functional testing, and better approaches to classify noncoding variation will be required to identify specific pathogenic variants underlying disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tychele N Turner
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Tonacci A, Bagnato G, Pandolfo G, Billeci L, Sansone F, Conte R, Gangemi S. MicroRNA Cross-Involvement in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Atopic Dermatitis: A Literature Review. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8010088. [PMID: 30646527 PMCID: PMC6352260 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8010088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a category of neurodevelopmental disturbances seriously affecting social skills, to which the scientific community has paid great attention in last decades. To date, their pathogenesis is still unknown, but several studies highlighted the relevance of gene-environment interactions in the onset of ASD. In addition, an immune involvement was seen in a wide number of ASD subjects, leading several researchers to hypothesize a possible common pathogenesis between ASD and immune disturbances, including Atopic Dermatitis (AD). In general, among potential contributing factors, microRNAs (miRNAs), small molecules capable of controlling gene expression and targeting mRNA transcripts, might represent one of the major circulating link, possibly unraveling the connections between neurodevelopmental and immune conditions. Under such premises, we conducted a systematic literature review, under the PRISMA guidelines, trying to define the panel of common miRNAs involved in both ASD and AD. The review retrieved articles published between January 1, 2005, and December 13, 2018, in PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsycARTICLES, and Google Scholar. We found a handful of works dealing with miRNAs in ASD and AD, with the most overlapping dysregulated miRNAs being miR-146 and miR-155. Two possible compounds are abnormally regulated in both ASD and AD subjects, possibly cross-contributing to the interactions between the two disorders, setting the basis to investigate more precisely the possible link between ASD and AD from another, not just clinical, perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Tonacci
- Clinical Physiology Institute-National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Gianluca Bagnato
- School and Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital "G. Martino", Via Consolare Valeria SNC, 98125 Messina, Italy.
| | - Gianluca Pandolfo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
| | - Lucia Billeci
- Clinical Physiology Institute-National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Francesco Sansone
- Clinical Physiology Institute-National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Raffaele Conte
- Clinical Physiology Institute-National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- School and Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital "G. Martino", Via Consolare Valeria SNC, 98125 Messina, Italy.
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Gurwitz D. Genomics and the future of psychopharmacology: MicroRNAs offer novel therapeutics
. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2019; 21:131-148. [PMID: 31636487 PMCID: PMC6787538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2024]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, noncoding RNAs functioning as regulators of the transcription of protein-coding genes in eukaryotes. During the last two decades, studies on miRNAs indicate that they have potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for a wide range of cancers. Research interest in miRNAs has moved to embrace further medical disciplines, including neuropsychiatric disorders, comparing miRNA expression and mRNA targets between patient and control blood samples and postmortem brain tissues, as well as in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders. This manuscript reviews recent findings on miRNAs implicated in the pathology of mood disorders, schizophrenia, and autism, as well as their diagnostic potential, and their potential as tentative targets for future therapeutics. The plausible contribution of X chromosome miRNAs to the larger prevalence of major depression among women is also evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gurwitz
- Author affiliations: Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Address for correspondence: David Gurwitz, Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978 Israel.
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