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Nussinov R, Yavuz BR, Jang H. Single cell spatial biology over developmental time can decipher pediatric brain pathologies. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 199:106597. [PMID: 38992777 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Pediatric low grade brain tumors and neurodevelopmental disorders share proteins, signaling pathways, and networks. They also share germline mutations and an impaired prenatal differentiation origin. They may differ in the timing of the events and proliferation. We suggest that their pivotal distinct, albeit partially overlapping, outcomes relate to the cell states, which depend on their spatial location, and timing of gene expression during brain development. These attributes are crucial as the brain develops sequentially, and single-cell spatial organization influences cell state, thus function. Our underlying premise is that the root cause in neurodevelopmental disorders and pediatric tumors is impaired prenatal differentiation. Data related to pediatric brain tumors, neurodevelopmental disorders, brain cell (sub)types, locations, and timing of expression in the developing brain are scant. However, emerging single cell technologies, including transcriptomic, spatial biology, spatial high-resolution imaging performed over the brain developmental time, could be transformational in deciphering brain pathologies thereby pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | - Bengi Ruken Yavuz
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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2
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O'Hora KP, Amir CM, Chiem E, Schleifer CH, Grigoryan V, Kushan-Wells L, Chiang JJ, Cole S, Irwin MR, Bearden CE. Differential inflammatory profiles in carriers of reciprocal 22q11.2 copy number variants. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 169:107135. [PMID: 39116521 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic copy number variants (CNVs; i.e., a deletion or duplication) at the 22q11.2 locus confer increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders and immune dysfunction. Inflammatory profiles of 22q11.2 CNV carriers can shed light on gene-immune relationships that may be related to neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, little is known about inflammation and its relationship to clinical phenotypes in 22q11.2 CNV carriers. Here, we investigate differences in peripheral inflammatory markers in 22q11.2 CNV carriers and explore their relationship with psychosis risk symptoms and sleep disturbance. METHODS Blood samples and clinical assessments were collected from 22q11.2 deletion (22qDel) carriers (n=45), 22q11.2 duplication (22qDup) carriers (n=29), and typically developing (TD) control participants (n=92). Blood plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using a MesoScale Discovery multiplex immunoassay. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Linear mixed effects models controlling for age, sex, and body mass index were used to: a) examine group differences in inflammatory markers between 22qDel, 22qDup, and TD controls, b) test differences in inflammatory markers between 22qDel carriers with psychosis risk symptoms (22qDelPS+) and those without (22qDelPS-), and c) conduct an exploratory analysis testing the effect of sleep disturbance on inflammation in 22qDel and 22qDup carriers. A false discovery rate correction was used to correct for multiple comparisons. RESULTS 22qDup carriers exhibited significantly elevated levels of IL-8 relative to TD controls (q<0.001) and marginally elevated IL-8 levels relative to 22qDel carriers (q=0.08). There were no other significant differences in inflammatory markers between the three groups (q>0.13). 22qDelPS+ exhibited increased levels of IL-8 relative to both 22qDelPS- (q=0.02) and TD controls (p=0.002). There were no relationships between sleep and inflammatory markers that survived FDR correction (q>0.14). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that CNVs at the 22q11.2 locus may have differential effects on inflammatory processes related to IL-8, a key mediator of inflammation produced by macrophages and microglia. Further, these IL-8-mediated inflammatory processes may be related to psychosis risk symptoms in 22qDel carriers. Additional research is required to understand the mechanisms contributing to these differential levels of IL-8 between 22q11.2 CNV carriers and IL-8's association with psychosis risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen P O'Hora
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn M Amir
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emily Chiem
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Charles H Schleifer
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vardui Grigoryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Leila Kushan-Wells
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Steven Cole
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael R Irwin
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carrie E Bearden
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Biswal SR, Kumar A, Muthuswamy S, Kumar S. Genetic components of microdeletion syndromes and their role in determining schizophrenia traits. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:804. [PMID: 39001960 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09731-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by various symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. The etiology of this disease is unknown; however, it has been linked to many microdeletion syndromes that are likely to contribute to the pathology of schizophrenia. In this review we have comprehensively analyzed the role of various microdeletion syndromes, like 3q29, 15q13.3, and 22q11.2, which are known to be involved with schizophrenia. A variety of factors lead to schizophrenia phenotypes, but copy number variants that disrupt gene regulation and impair brain function and cognition are one of the causes that have been identified. Multiple case studies have shown that loss of one or more genes in the microdeletion regions lead to brain activity defects. In this article, we present a coherent paradigm that connects copy number variations (CNVs) to numerous neurological and behavioral abnormalities associated with schizophrenia. It would be helpful in understanding the different aspects of the microdeletions and how they contribute in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smruti Rekha Biswal
- Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, Odisha, 769008, India
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India
| | - Srinivasan Muthuswamy
- Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, Odisha, 769008, India.
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, Odisha, 769008, India.
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Parker DA, Imes S, Ruban G, Ousley OY, Henshey B, Massa NM, Walker E, Cubells JF, Duncan E. Reduced amplitude and slowed latency of the acoustic startle response in adolescents and adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Schizophr Res 2024; 269:9-17. [PMID: 38703519 PMCID: PMC11180576 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is one of the most robust genetic predictors of psychosis and other psychiatric illnesses. In this study, we examined 22q11DS subjects' acoustic startle responses (ASRs), which putatively index psychosis risk. Latency of the ASR is a presumptive marker of neural processing speed and is prolonged (slower) in schizophrenia. ASR measures correlate with increased psychosis risk, depend on glutamate and dopamine receptor signaling, and could serve as translational biomarkers in interventions for groups at high psychosis risk. METHODS Startle magnitude, latency, and prepulse inhibition were assessed with a standard acoustic startle paradigm in 31 individuals with 22q11.2DS and 32 healthy comparison (HC) subjects. Surface electrodes placed on participants' orbicularis oculi recorded the electromyographic signal in ASR eyeblinks. Individuals without measurable startle blinks in the initial habituation block were classified as non-startlers. RESULTS Across the startle session, the ASR magnitude was significantly lower in 22q11DS subjects than HCs because a significantly higher proportion of 22q11DS subjects were non-startlers. Latency of the ASR to pulse-alone stimuli was significantly slower in 22q11DS than HC subjects. Due to the overall lower 22q11DS startle response frequency and magnitudes prepulse inhibition could not be analyzed. CONCLUSIONS Reduced magnitude and slow latency of 22q11DS subjects' responses suggest reduced central nervous system and neuronal responsiveness. These findings are consistent with significant cognitive impairments observed in 22q11DS subjects. Further research is needed to untangle the connections among basic neurotransmission dysfunction, psychophysiological responsiveness, and cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Alan Parker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, United States of America.
| | - Sid Imes
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Gabrielle Ruban
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Opal Yates Ousley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | | | - Nicholas M Massa
- Atlanta Veterans Administration Health Care System, United States of America
| | - Elaine Walker
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, United States of America
| | - Joseph F Cubells
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory Autism Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Erica Duncan
- Atlanta Veterans Administration Health Care System and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, United States of America
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5
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Elman JA, Schork NJ, Rangan AV. Exploring the genetic heterogeneity of Alzheimer's disease: Evidence for genetic subtypes. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.05.02.23289347. [PMID: 37205553 PMCID: PMC10187457 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.02.23289347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibits considerable phenotypic heterogeneity, suggesting the potential existence of subtypes. AD is under substantial genetic influence, thus identifying systematic variation in genetic risk may provide insights into disease origins. Objective We investigated genetic heterogeneity in AD risk through a multi-step analysis. Methods We performed principal component analysis (PCA) on AD-associated variants in the UK Biobank (AD cases=2,739, controls=5,478) to assess structured genetic heterogeneity. Subsequently, a biclustering algorithm searched for distinct disease-specific genetic signatures among subsets of cases. Replication tests were conducted using the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset (AD cases=500, controls=470). We categorized a separate set of ADNI individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n=399) into genetic subtypes and examined cognitive, amyloid, and tau trajectories. Results PCA revealed three distinct clusters ("constellations") driven primarily by different correlation patterns in a region of strong LD surrounding the MAPT locus. Constellations contained a mixture of cases and controls, reflecting disease-relevant but not disease-specific structure. We found two disease-specific biclusters among AD cases. Pathway analysis linked bicluster-associated variants to neuron morphogenesis and outgrowth. Disease-relevant and disease-specific structure replicated in ADNI, and bicluster 2 exhibited increased CSF p-tau and cognitive decline over time. Conclusions This study unveils a hierarchical structure of AD genetic risk. Disease-relevant constellations may represent haplotype structure that does not increase risk directly but may alter the relative importance of other genetic risk factors. Biclusters may represent distinct AD genetic subtypes. This structure is replicable and relates to differential pathological accumulation and cognitive decline over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Schork
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Quantitative Medicine and Systems Biology, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Aaditya V. Rangan
- Department of Mathematics, New York University, New York, New York, USA
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Schleifer CH, O'Hora KP, Fung H, Xu J, Robinson TA, Wu AS, Kushan-Wells L, Lin A, Ching CRK, Bearden CE. Effects of gene dosage and development on subcortical nuclei volumes in individuals with 22q11.2 copy number variations. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:1024-1032. [PMID: 38431758 PMCID: PMC11039652 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01832-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The 22q11.2 locus contains genes critical for brain development. Reciprocal Copy Number Variations (CNVs) at this locus impact risk for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Both 22q11.2 deletions (22qDel) and duplications (22qDup) are associated with autism, but 22qDel uniquely elevates schizophrenia risk. Understanding brain phenotypes associated with these highly penetrant CNVs can provide insights into genetic pathways underlying neuropsychiatric disorders. Human neuroimaging and animal models indicate subcortical brain alterations in 22qDel, yet little is known about developmental differences across specific nuclei between reciprocal 22q11.2 CNV carriers and typically developing (TD) controls. We conducted a longitudinal MRI study in a total of 385 scans from 22qDel (n = 96, scans = 191, 53.1% female), 22qDup (n = 37, scans = 64, 45.9% female), and TD controls (n = 80, scans = 130, 51.2% female), across a wide age range (5.5-49.5 years). Volumes of the thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and anatomical subregions were estimated using FreeSurfer, and the linear effects of 22q11.2 gene dosage and non-linear effects of age were characterized with generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs). Positive gene dosage effects (volume increasing with copy number) were observed for total intracranial and whole hippocampus volumes, but not whole thalamus or amygdala volumes. Several amygdala subregions exhibited similar positive effects, with bi-directional effects found across thalamic nuclei. Distinct age-related trajectories were observed across the three groups. Notably, both 22qDel and 22qDup carriers exhibited flattened development of hippocampal CA2/3 subfields relative to TD controls. This study provides novel insights into the impact of 22q11.2 CNVs on subcortical brain structures and their developmental trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H Schleifer
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Kathleen P O'Hora
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hoki Fung
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Xu
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Taylor-Ann Robinson
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Angela S Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Leila Kushan-Wells
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amy Lin
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher R K Ching
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Carrie E Bearden
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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7
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Supekar K, de Los Angeles C, Ryali S, Kushan L, Schleifer C, Repetto G, Crossley NA, Simon T, Bearden CE, Menon V. Robust and replicable functional brain signatures of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and associated psychosis: a deep neural network-based multi-cohort study. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02495-8. [PMID: 38605171 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02495-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
A major genetic risk factor for psychosis is 22q11.2 deletion (22q11.2DS). However, robust and replicable functional brain signatures of 22q11.2DS and 22q11.2DS-associated psychosis remain elusive due to small sample sizes and a focus on small single-site cohorts. Here, we identify functional brain signatures of 22q11.2DS and 22q11.2DS-associated psychosis, and their links with idiopathic early psychosis, using one of the largest multi-cohort data to date. We obtained multi-cohort clinical phenotypic and task-free fMRI data from 856 participants (101 22q11.2DS, 120 idiopathic early psychosis, 101 idiopathic autism, 123 idiopathic ADHD, and 411 healthy controls) in a case-control design. A novel spatiotemporal deep neural network (stDNN)-based analysis was applied to the multi-cohort data to identify functional brain signatures of 22q11.2DS and 22q11.2DS-associated psychosis. Next, stDNN was used to test the hypothesis that the functional brain signatures of 22q11.2DS-associated psychosis overlap with idiopathic early psychosis but not with autism and ADHD. stDNN-derived brain signatures distinguished 22q11.2DS from controls, and 22q11.2DS-associated psychosis with very high accuracies (86-94%) in the primary cohort and two fully independent cohorts without additional training. Robust distinguishing features of 22q11.2DS-associated psychosis emerged in the anterior insula node of the salience network and the striatum node of the dopaminergic reward pathway. These features also distinguished individuals with idiopathic early psychosis from controls, but not idiopathic autism or ADHD. Our results reveal that individuals with 22q11.2DS exhibit a highly distinct functional brain organization compared to controls. Additionally, the brain signatures of 22q11.2DS-associated psychosis overlap with those of idiopathic early psychosis in the salience network and dopaminergic reward pathway, providing substantial empirical support for the theoretical aberrant salience-based model of psychosis. Collectively, our findings, replicated across multiple independent cohorts, advance the understanding of 22q11.2DS and associated psychosis, underscoring the value of 22q11.2DS as a genetic model for probing the neurobiological underpinnings of psychosis and its progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaustubh Supekar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Carlo de Los Angeles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Srikanth Ryali
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Leila Kushan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Charlie Schleifer
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gabriela Repetto
- Center for Genetics and Genomics, Facultad de Medicina, Clinica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolas A Crossley
- Department of Psychiatry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tony Simon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Carrie E Bearden
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vinod Menon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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8
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López-Otín C, Kroemer G. The missing hallmark of health: psychosocial adaptation. Cell Stress 2024; 8:21-50. [PMID: 38476764 PMCID: PMC10928495 DOI: 10.15698/cst2024.03.294] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The eight biological hallmarks of health that we initially postulated (Cell. 2021 Jan 7;184(1):33-63) include features of spatial compartmentalization (integrity of barriers, containment of local perturbations), maintenance of homeostasis over time (recycling & turnover, integration of circuitries, rhythmic oscillations) and an array of adequate responses to stress (homeostatic resilience, hormetic regulation, repair & regeneration). These hallmarks affect all eight somatic strata of the human body (molecules, organelles, cells, supracellular units, organs, organ systems, systemic circuitries and meta-organism). Here we postulate that mental and socioeconomic factors must be added to this 8×8 matrix as an additional hallmark of health ("psychosocial adaptation") and as an additional stratum ("psychosocial interactions"), hence building a 9×9 matrix. Potentially, perturbation of each of the somatic hallmarks and strata affects psychosocial factors and vice versa. Finally, we discuss the (patho)physiological bases of these interactions and their implications for mental health improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos López-Otín
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1138, Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida y la Naturaleza, Universidad Nebrija, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1138, Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, Department of Biology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
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9
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Walker EF, Aberizk K, Yuan E, Bilgrami Z, Ku BS, Guest RM. Developmental perspectives on the origins of psychotic disorders: The need for a transdiagnostic approach. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38406831 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424000397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Research on serious mental disorders, particularly psychosis, has revealed highly variable symptom profiles and developmental trajectories prior to illness-onset. As Dante Cicchetti pointed out decades before the term "transdiagnostic" was widely used, the pathways to psychopathology emerge in a system involving equifinality and multifinality. Like most other psychological disorders, psychosis is associated with multiple domains of risk factors, both genetic and environmental, and there are many transdiagnostic developmental pathways that can lead to psychotic syndromes. In this article, we discuss our current understanding of heterogeneity in the etiology of psychosis and its implications for approaches to conceptualizing etiology and research. We highlight the need for examining risk factors at multiple levels and to increase the emphasis on transdiagnostic developmental trajectories as a key variable associated with etiologic subtypes. This will be increasingly feasible now that large, longitudinal datasets are becoming available and researchers have access to more sophisticated analytic tools, such as machine learning, which can identify more homogenous subtypes with the ultimate goal of enhancing options for treatment and preventive intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine F Walker
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Katrina Aberizk
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emerald Yuan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Zarina Bilgrami
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Benson S Ku
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ryan M Guest
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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10
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McClellan JM, Zoghbi AW, Buxbaum JD, Cappi C, Crowley JJ, Flint J, Grice DE, Gulsuner S, Iyegbe C, Jain S, Kuo PH, Lattig MC, Passos-Bueno MR, Purushottam M, Stein DJ, Sunshine AB, Susser ES, Walsh CA, Wootton O, King MC. An evolutionary perspective on complex neuropsychiatric disease. Neuron 2024; 112:7-24. [PMID: 38016473 PMCID: PMC10842497 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The forces of evolution-mutation, selection, migration, and genetic drift-shape the genetic architecture of human traits, including the genetic architecture of complex neuropsychiatric illnesses. Studying these illnesses in populations that are diverse in genetic ancestry, historical demography, and cultural history can reveal how evolutionary forces have guided adaptation over time and place. A fundamental truth of shared human biology is that an allele responsible for a disease in anyone, anywhere, reveals a gene critical to the normal biology underlying that condition in everyone, everywhere. Understanding the genetic causes of neuropsychiatric disease in the widest possible range of human populations thus yields the greatest possible range of insight into genes critical to human brain development. In this perspective, we explore some of the relationships between genes, adaptation, and history that can be illuminated by an evolutionary perspective on studies of complex neuropsychiatric disease in diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon M McClellan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Anthony W Zoghbi
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Carolina Cappi
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - James J Crowley
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jonathan Flint
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dorothy E Grice
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Suleyman Gulsuner
- Department of Medicine and Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Conrad Iyegbe
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Sanjeev Jain
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru 560029, India
| | - Po-Hsiu Kuo
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Meera Purushottam
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru 560029, India
| | - Dan J Stein
- SAMRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anna B Sunshine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Medicine and Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ezra S Susser
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Division of Genetics and Genomics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Olivia Wootton
- SAMRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mary-Claire King
- Department of Medicine and Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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11
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Elman JA, Schork NJ, Rangan AV. Exploring the Genetic Heterogeneity of Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence for Genetic Subtypes. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 100:1209-1226. [PMID: 38995775 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231252] [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] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibits considerable phenotypic heterogeneity, suggesting the potential existence of subtypes. AD is under substantial genetic influence, thus identifying systematic variation in genetic risk may provide insights into disease origins. Objective We investigated genetic heterogeneity in AD risk through a multi-step analysis. Methods We performed principal component analysis (PCA) on AD-associated variants in the UK Biobank (AD cases = 2,739, controls = 5,478) to assess structured genetic heterogeneity. Subsequently, a biclustering algorithm searched for distinct disease-specific genetic signatures among subsets of cases. Replication tests were conducted using the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset (AD cases = 500, controls = 470). We categorized a separate set of ADNI individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 399) into genetic subtypes and examined cognitive, amyloid, and tau trajectories. Results PCA revealed three distinct clusters ("constellations") driven primarily by different correlation patterns in a region of strong LD surrounding the MAPT locus. Constellations contained a mixture of cases and controls, reflecting disease-relevant but not disease-specific structure. We found two disease-specific biclusters among AD cases. Pathway analysis linked bicluster-associated variants to neuron morphogenesis and outgrowth. Disease-relevant and disease-specific structure replicated in ADNI, and bicluster 2 exhibited increased cerebrospinal fluid p-tau and cognitive decline over time. Conclusions This study unveils a hierarchical structure of AD genetic risk. Disease-relevant constellations may represent haplotype structure that does not increase risk directly but may alter the relative importance of other genetic risk factors. Biclusters may represent distinct AD genetic subtypes. This structure is replicable and relates to differential pathological accumulation and cognitive decline over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas J Schork
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Quantitative Medicine and Systems Biology, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Aaditya V Rangan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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12
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Walkowiak D, Domaradzki J. Parental experiences and needs of caring for a child with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:379. [PMID: 38049864 PMCID: PMC10696670 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02980-3] [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: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For a variety of reasons, raising a child with 22q11.2DS has significant psychosocial and financial repercussions for the family caregivers. Our aim was to identify and explain the expectations and concerns of Polish parents of 22q11.2DS children. An online survey was developed consisting of four sections: demographics, emotions experienced by caregivers while performing their duties, attitudes of the respondents about providing care, and finally different aspects of the caregivers' life satisfaction. The study was conducted with the support of the Polish 22q11 Association. RESULTS Forty-four caregivers of Polish origin completed the survey, all but one of whom were mothers. Thirty-four per cent (n = 15/44) declared full-time employment. According to 73% (n = 32/44) of those surveyed, the child's disease has not harmed their relationship with the partner. In spite of the fact that the median diagnosis time was 1.9 years (ranging from 0 to 12 years), the caregivers indicated that they had contacted on average 3.9 doctors before obtaining the right diagnosis (range 1-17). The Internet was the main source of information and knowledge about their child's disease for 93% of respondents (n = 41/44), while for 54% (n = 24/44) it was the association for people with 22q11DS. Only 26% rated as very good or good the support for caregivers offered by the central and local government or its agendas. The physicians' knowledge about 22q11DS was positively rated by 14% of respondents (n = 6/44). The most frequently chosen source of support for 66% of respondents (n = 29/44) turned out to be their families, and for 34% - a Facebook support group (n = 15/44). Asked how often they rated their quality of life (QoL) highly, none of our respondents chose the option "always", although 64% (28/44) gave the answer "often". CONCLUSION Our study is the first one in Poland to develop an online survey specifically for use with caregivers of paediatric patients with 22q11.2DS. Our respondents revealed that caring for 22q11.2 children entails a burden that extends far beyond clinical facets and has a significant impact on every dimension of the caregivers' lives, including their mental health, everyday activities, families, professional career and social lives. At the same time, caregivers are de facto left alone with the bureaucracy of the healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Walkowiak
- Department of Organization and Management in Health Care, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 39, Poznań, 60-356, Poland.
| | - Jan Domaradzki
- Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
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13
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Schleifer CH, O’Hora KP, Fung H, Xu J, Robinson TA, Wu AS, Kushan-Wells L, Lin A, Ching CRK, Bearden CE. Effects of Gene Dosage and Development on Subcortical Nuclei Volumes in Individuals with 22q11.2 Copy Number Variations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.31.564553. [PMID: 37961662 PMCID: PMC10635019 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.31.564553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The 22q11.2 locus contains genes critical for brain development. Reciprocal Copy Number Variations (CNVs) at this locus impact risk for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Both 22q11.2 deletions (22qDel) and duplications (22qDup) are associated with autism, but 22qDel uniquely elevates schizophrenia risk. Understanding brain phenotypes associated with these highly penetrant CNVs can provide insights into genetic pathways underlying neuropsychiatric disorders. Human neuroimaging and animal models indicate subcortical brain alterations in 22qDel, yet little is known about developmental differences across specific nuclei between reciprocal 22q11.2 CNV carriers and typically developing (TD) controls. We conducted a longitudinal MRI study in 22qDel (n=96, 53.1% female), 22qDup (n=37, 45.9% female), and TD controls (n=80, 51.2% female), across a wide age range (5.5-49.5 years). Volumes of the thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and anatomical subregions were estimated using FreeSurfer, and the effect of 22q11.2 gene dosage was examined using linear mixed models. Age-related changes were characterized with general additive mixed models (GAMMs). Positive gene dosage effects (22qDel < TD < 22qDup) were observed for total intracranial and whole hippocampus volumes, but not whole thalamus or amygdala volumes. Several amygdala subregions exhibited similar positive effects, with bi-directional effects found across thalamic nuclei. Distinct age-related trajectories were observed across the three groups. Notably, both 22qDel and 22qDup carriers exhibited flattened development of hippocampal CA2/3 subfields relative to TD controls. This study provides novel insights into the impact of 22q11.2 CNVs on subcortical brain structures and their developmental trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H. Schleifer
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kathleen P. O’Hora
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hoki Fung
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Xu
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Taylor-Ann Robinson
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Angela S. Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Leila Kushan-Wells
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amy Lin
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher R. K. Ching
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Carrie E. Bearden
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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14
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Lai MC. Mental health challenges faced by autistic people. Nat Hum Behav 2023; 7:1620-1637. [PMID: 37864080 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01718-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Mental health challenges impede the well-being of autistic people. This Review outlines contributing neurodevelopmental and physical health conditions, rates and developmental trajectories of mental health challenges experienced by autistic people, as well as unique clinical presentations. A framework is proposed to consider four contributing themes to aid personalized formulation: social-contextual determinants, adverse life experiences, autistic cognitive features, and shared genetic and early environmental predispositions. Current evidence-based and clinical-knowledge-informed intervention guidance and ongoing development of support are highlighted for specific mental health areas. Tailored mental health support for autistic people should be neurodivergence-informed, which is fundamentally humanistic and compatible with the prevailing bio-psycho-social frameworks. The personalized formulation should be holistic, considering physical health and transdiagnostic neurodevelopmental factors, intellectual and communication abilities, and contextual-experiential determinants and their interplay with autistic cognition and biology, alongside resilience. Supporting family well-being is integral. Mutual empathic understanding is fundamental to creating societies in which people across neurotypes are all empowered to thrive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Chuan Lai
- Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health and Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
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15
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Vorstman JAS, Scherer SW. Contemplating syndromic autism. Genet Med 2023; 25:100919. [PMID: 37330697 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2023.100919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A S Vorstman
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; The Centre for Applied Genomics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; The Centre for Applied Genomics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; McLaughlin Centre and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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16
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Raven EP, Veraart J, Kievit RA, Genc S, Ward IL, Hall J, Cunningham A, Doherty J, van den Bree MBM, Jones DK. In vivo evidence of microstructural hypo-connectivity of brain white matter in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4342-4352. [PMID: 37495890 PMCID: PMC7615578 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02178-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
22q11.2 deletion syndrome, or 22q11.2DS, is a genetic syndrome associated with high rates of schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders, in addition to widespread structural and functional abnormalities throughout the brain. Experimental animal models have identified neuronal connectivity deficits, e.g., decreased axonal length and complexity of axonal branching, as a primary mechanism underlying atypical brain development in 22q11.2DS. However, it is still unclear whether deficits in axonal morphology can also be observed in people with 22q11.2DS. Here, we provide an unparalleled in vivo characterization of white matter microstructure in participants with 22q11.2DS (12-15 years) and those undergoing typical development (8-18 years) using a customized magnetic resonance imaging scanner which is sensitive to axonal morphology. A rich array of diffusion MRI metrics are extracted to present microstructural profiles of typical and atypical white matter development, and provide new evidence of connectivity differences in individuals with 22q11.2DS. A recent, large-scale consortium study of 22q11.2DS identified higher diffusion anisotropy and reduced overall diffusion mobility of water as hallmark microstructural alterations of white matter in individuals across a wide age range (6-52 years). We observed similar findings across the white matter tracts included in this study, in addition to identifying deficits in axonal morphology. This, in combination with reduced tract volume measurements, supports the hypothesis that abnormal microstructural connectivity in 22q11.2DS may be mediated by densely packed axons with disproportionately small diameters. Our findings provide insight into the in vivo white matter phenotype of 22q11.2DS, and promote the continued investigation of shared features in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika P Raven
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jelle Veraart
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rogier A Kievit
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sila Genc
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Neuroscience Advanced Clinical Imaging Service (NACIS), Department of Neurosurgery, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Isobel L Ward
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jessica Hall
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Adam Cunningham
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Joanne Doherty
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marianne B M van den Bree
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Derek K Jones
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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17
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Parker DA, Cubells JF, Imes SL, Ruban GA, Henshey BT, Massa NM, Walker EF, Duncan EJ, Ousley OY. Deep psychophysiological phenotyping of adolescents and adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: a multilevel approach to defining core disease processes. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:425. [PMID: 37312091 PMCID: PMC10262114 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04888-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is the most common chromosomal interstitial-deletion disorder, occurring in approximately 1 in 2000 to 6000 live births. Affected individuals exhibit variable clinical phenotypes that can include velopharyngeal anomalies, heart defects, T-cell-related immune deficits, dysmorphic facial features, neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, early cognitive decline, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric disorders. Developing comprehensive treatments for 22q11.2DS requires an understanding of both the psychophysiological and neural mechanisms driving clinical outcomes. Our project probes the core psychophysiological abnormalities of 22q11.2DS in parallel with molecular studies of stem cell-derived neurons to unravel the basic mechanisms and pathophysiology of 22q11.2-related psychiatric disorders, with a primary focus on psychotic disorders. Our study is guided by the central hypothesis that abnormal neural processing associates with psychophysiological processing and underlies clinical diagnosis and symptomatology. Here, we present the scientific background and justification for our study, sharing details of our study design and human data collection protocol. METHODS Our study is recruiting individuals with 22q11.2DS and healthy comparison subjects between the ages of 16 and 60 years. We are employing an extensive psychophysiological assessment battery (e.g., EEG, evoked potential measures, and acoustic startle) to assess fundamental sensory detection, attention, and reactivity. To complement these unbiased measures of cognitive processing, we will develop stem-cell derived neurons and examine neuronal phenotypes relevant to neurotransmission. Clinical characterization of our 22q11.2DS and control participants relies on diagnostic and research domain criteria assessments, including standard Axis-I diagnostic and neurocognitive measures, following from the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) and the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS) batteries. We are also collecting measures of autism spectrum (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms. DISCUSSION Studying 22q11.2DS in adolescence and adulthood via deep phenotyping across multiple clinical and biological domains may significantly increase our knowledge of its core disease processes. Our manuscript describes our ongoing study's protocol in detail. These paradigms could be adapted by clinical researchers studying 22q11.2DS, other CNV/single gene disorders, or idiopathic psychiatric syndromes, as well as by basic researchers who plan to incorporate biobehavioral outcome measures into their studies of 22q11.2DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Parker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Biomedical Research Building 615 Michael Street Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Joseph F Cubells
- Department of Human Genetics; Emory Autism Center; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1551 Shoup Court, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
| | - Sid L Imes
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Biomedical Research Building 615 Michael Street Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Gabrielle A Ruban
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Biomedical Research Building 615 Michael Street Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Brett T Henshey
- Emory University, Whitehead Biomedical Research Building 615 Michael Street Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Nicholas M Massa
- Atlanta Veterans Administration Health Care System, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
| | - Elaine F Walker
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Psychology and Interdisciplinary Sciences Building Suite 487, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Erica J Duncan
- Atlanta Veterans Administration Health Care System, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Brain Health Center, 12 Executive Park Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Opal Y Ousley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1551 Shoup Court, Decatur, GA, USA
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18
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Accinni T, Fanella M, Frascarelli M, Buzzanca A, Kotzalidis GD, Putotto C, Marino B, Panzera A, Moschillo A, Pasquini M, Biondi M, Di Bonaventura C, Di Fabio F. The Relationship between Motor Symptoms, Signs, and Parkinsonism with Facial Emotion Recognition Deficits in Individuals with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome at High Genetic Risk for Psychosis. Acta Neurol Scand 2023. [DOI: 10.1155/2023/8546610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Background. The 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a genetic condition at high risk of developing both psychosis and motor disorders. Social Cognition (SC) deficits have been associated not only with schizophrenia but also with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The present study assessed SC deficits in 22q11.2DS and investigated the interaction between motor symptoms and deficits in Facial Emotion Expressions (FEE) recognition and in Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks in people with 22q11.2DS. Methods. We recruited 38 individuals with 22q11.2DS without psychosis (
, DEL) and 18 with 22q11.2DS and psychosis (
, DEL_SCZ). The Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Ekman’s 60 Faces Test (EK-60F), the Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT EmRec), and the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS III) were administered. Correlations were sought between UPDRS III and both TASIT EmRec and EK-60F scores. Analyses were conducted separately for each psychopathological subgroup. Results. Higher UPDRS III (
) and lower EK-60F (
) scores were observed in the DEL_SCZ group. We found inverse correlations between UPDRS III and both TASIT EmRec (
,
) and EK-60F (
,
) scores in the whole sample. Correlations were no longer significant in the DEL_SCZ group (UPDRS III-TASIT EmRec
; UPDRS III-EK60F
) whilst being stronger in the DEL group (TASIT EmRec,
,
; EK60F,
,
). Analyses were adjusted for CPZ Eq and IQ. Conclusions. A modulation between FEE recognition deficits and motor symptoms and signs was observed in the 22q11.2DS group, likely affecting patients’ quality of life.
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19
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Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress in Individuals Affected by DiGeorge Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044242. [PMID: 36835652 PMCID: PMC9965448 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) is a rare genetic disease caused by microdeletions of the 22q11.2 region (DGS1). A haploinsufficiency at 10p level has been proposed also as a DGS cause (DGS2). Clinical manifestations are variable. The most frequent features are thymic hypoplasia or aplasia with consequent immune deficiency, cardiac malformations, hypoparathyroidism, facial and palatine abnormalities, variable degrees of cognitive impairment and psychiatric disorders. The specific aim of this descriptive report is to discuss the correlation between oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in DGS patients with microdeletions of the 22q11.2 region. The deleted chromosomic region maps various genes involved in mitochondrial metabolisms, such as DGCR8 and TXNRD2, that could lead to reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased production and antioxidant depletion. Furthermore, increased levels of ROS in mitochondria would lead to the destruction of the projection neurons in the cerebral cortex with consequent neurocognitive impairment. Finally, the increase in modified protein belonging to the family of sulfoxide compounds and hexoses, acting as inhibitors of the IV and V mitochondria complex, could result in direct ROS overproduction. Neuroinflammation in DGS individuals could be directly related to the development of the syndrome's characteristic psychiatric and cognitive disorders. In patients with psychotic disorders, the most frequent psychiatric manifestation in DGS, Th-17, Th-1 and Th-2 cells are increased with consequent elevation of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and IL1β. In patients with anxiety disorders, both CD3 and CD4 are increased. Some patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have an augmented level of proinflammatory cytokines IL-12, IL-6 and IL-1β, while IFNγ and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 seem to be reduced. Other data proposed that altered synaptic plasticity could be directly involved in DGS cognitive disorders. In conclusion, the use of antioxidants for restoring mitochondrial functionality in DGS could be a useful tool to protect cortical connectivity and cognitive behavior.
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