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Wan L, Yang G, Yan Z. Identification of a molecular network regulated by multiple ASD high risk genes. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:1176-1185. [PMID: 38588587 PMCID: PMC11190613 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic sequencing has identified high-confidence ASD risk genes with loss-of-function mutations. How the haploinsufficiency of distinct ASD risk genes causes ASD remains to be elucidated. In this study, we examined the role of four top-ranking ASD risk genes, ADNP, KDM6B, CHD2, and MED13, in gene expression regulation. ChIP-seq analysis reveals that gene targets with the binding of these ASD risk genes at promoters are enriched in RNA processing and DNA repair. Many of these targets are found in ASD gene database (SFARI), and are involved in transcription regulation and chromatin remodeling. Common gene targets of these ASD risk genes include a network of high confidence ASD genes associated with gene expression regulation, such as CTNNB1 and SMARCA4. We further directly examined the transcriptional impact of the deficiency of these ASD risk genes. Our mRNA profiling with qPCR assays in cells with the knockdown of Adnp, Kdm6b, Chd2 or Med13 has revealed an intricate pattern of their cross-regulation, as well as their influence on the expression of other ASD genes. In addition, some synaptic genes, such as Snap25 and Nrxn1, are strongly regulated by deficiency of the four ASD risk genes, which could be through the direct binding at promoters or indirectly through the targets like Ctnnb1 or Smarca4. The identification of convergent and divergent gene targets that are regulated by multiple ASD risk genes will help to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying common and unique phenotypes associated with haploinsufficiency of ASD-associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States
| | - Guojun Yang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States
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2
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Fard YA, Sadeghi EN, Pajoohesh Z, Gharehdaghi Z, Khatibi DM, Khosravifar S, Pishkari Y, Nozari S, Hijazi A, Pakmehr S, Shayan SK. Epigenetic underpinnings of the autistic mind: Histone modifications and prefrontal excitation/inhibition imbalance. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2024:e32986. [PMID: 38837296 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is complex neurobehavioral condition influenced by several cellular and molecular mechanisms that are often concerned with synaptogenesis and synaptic activity. Based on the excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance theory, ASD could be the result of disruption in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission across the brain. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is the chief regulator of executive function and can be affected by altered neuronal excitation and inhibition in the course of ASD. The molecular mechanisms involved in E/I imbalance are subject to epigenetic regulation. In ASD, altered enrichment and spreading of histone H3 and H4 modifications such as the activation-linked H3K4me2/3, H3K9ac, and H3K27ac, and repression-linked H3K9me2, H3K27me3, and H4K20me2 in the PFC result in dysregulation of molecules mediating synaptic excitation (ARC, EGR1, mGluR2, mGluR3, GluN2A, and GluN2B) and synaptic inhibition (BSN, EphA7, SLC6A1). Histone modifications are a dynamic component of the epigenetic regulatory elements with a pronounced effect on patterns of gene expression with regards to any biological process. The excitation/inhibition imbalance associated with ASD is based on the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity in different regions of the brain, including the PFC, the ultimate outcome of which is highly influenced by transcriptional activity of relevant genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zohreh Pajoohesh
- Faculty of Medicine, Zabol Univeristy of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | - Zahra Gharehdaghi
- Department of Pharmacology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | | | | | - Yasamin Pishkari
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shadi Nozari
- School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ahmed Hijazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Sepideh Karkon Shayan
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
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3
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Li P, Yan Z. An epigenetic mechanism of social isolation stress in adolescent female mice. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 29:100601. [PMID: 38213831 PMCID: PMC10776430 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Social isolation during adolescence can increase the risk of mental disorders. Epigenetic changes induced by chronic social isolation may serve as a mechanism underlying emotional disturbances. To test this, we exposed female mice to a post-weaning 6-week social isolation (SI) stress. We found the significantly increased methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9), a histone mark linked to gene repression, as well as the increased H3K9 methyltransferases SUV39H1 and SETDB1, in prefrontal cortex (PFC) of SI females. To find out potential downstream genes affected by this epigenetic alteration, we examined genes linked to neuronal and synaptic functions. Activity-dependent genes, including Arc, c-Fos and Npas4, were significantly reduced in PFC of SI females, correlated with the increased H3K9me2 occupancy around Arc enhancer. Treatment of SI females with UNC0642, a selective inhibitor of H3K9 methylation, significantly attenuated the anxiety-like behavior and elevated Arc expression. These results have revealed an epigenetic mechanism and intervention avenue for anxiety induced by chronic social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Li
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
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4
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Fu Y, Zhang YL, Liu RQ, Xu MM, Xie JL, Zhang XL, Xie GM, Han YT, Zhang XM, Zhang WT, Zhang J, Zhang J. Exosome lncRNA IFNG-AS1 derived from mesenchymal stem cells of human adipose ameliorates neurogenesis and ASD-like behavior in BTBR mice. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:66. [PMID: 38368393 PMCID: PMC10874555 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02338-2] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transplantation of exosomes derived from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) has emerged as a prospective cellular-free therapeutic intervention for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), as well as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Nevertheless, the efficacy of hADSC exosome transplantation for ASD treatment remains to be verified, and the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. RESULTS The exosomal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) from hADSC and human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSC) were sequenced and 13,915 and 729 lncRNAs were obtained, respectively. The lncRNAs present in hADSC-Exos encompass those found in hUCMSC-Exos and are associated with neurogenesis. The biodistribution of hADSC-Exos in mouse brain ventricles and organoids was tracked, and the cellular uptake of hADSC-Exos was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro. hADSC-Exos promote neurogenesis in brain organoid and ameliorate social deficits in ASD mouse model BTBR T + tf/J (BTBR). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed lncRNA Ifngas1 significantly increased in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adult mice after hADSC-Exos intraventricular injection. The lncRNA Ifngas1 can act as a molecular sponge for miR-21a-3p to play a regulatory role and promote neurogenesis through the miR-21a-3p/PI3K/AKT axis. CONCLUSION We demonstrated hADSC-Exos have the ability to confer neuroprotection through functional restoration, attenuation of neuroinflammation, inhibition of neuronal apoptosis, and promotion of neurogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. The hADSC-Exos-derived lncRNA IFNG-AS1 acts as a molecular sponge and facilitates neurogenesis via the miR-21a-3p/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby exerting a regulatory effect. Our findings suggest a potential therapeutic avenue for individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Fu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China
| | - Yuan-Lin Zhang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China
- Department of Pathology, Air Force Medical Center, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Rong-Qi Liu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China
| | - Meng-Meng Xu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China
| | - Jun-Ling Xie
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China
| | - Xing-Liao Zhang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China
| | - Guang-Ming Xie
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China
| | - Yao-Ting Han
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China
| | - Xin-Min Zhang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China
| | - Wan-Ting Zhang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200010, China.
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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Zhong P, Cao Q, Yan Z. Distinct and Convergent Alterations of Entorhinal Cortical Circuits in Two Mouse Models for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 98:1121-1131. [PMID: 38489190 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231413] [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: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Background The impairment of neural circuits controlling cognitive processes has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD). However, it is largely unclear what circuits are specifically changed in ADRD, particularly at the early stage. Objective Our goal of this study is to reveal the functional changes in the circuit of entorhinal cortex (EC), an interface between neocortex and hippocampus, in AD. Methods Electrophysiological, optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches were used to examine and manipulate entorhinal cortical circuits in amyloid-β familial AD model (5×FAD) and tauopathy model (P301S Tau). Results We found that, compared to wild-type mice, electrical stimulation of EC induced markedly smaller responses in subiculum (hippocampal output) of 5×FAD mice (6-month-old), suggesting that synaptic communication in the EC to subiculum circuit is specifically blocked in this AD model. In addition, optogenetic stimulation of glutamatergic terminals from prefrontal cortex (PFC) induced smaller responses in EC of 5×FAD and P301S Tau mice (6-month-old), suggesting that synaptic communication in the PFC to EC pathway is compromised in both ADRD models. Chemogenetic activation of PFC to EC pathway did not affect the bursting activity of EC neurons in 5×FAD mice, but partially restored the diminished EC neuronal activity in P301S Tau mice. Conclusions These data suggest that 5×FAD mice has a specific impairment of short-range hippocampal gateway (EC to subiculum), which may be caused by amyloid-β deposits; while two ADRD models have a common impairment of long-range cortical to hippocampal circuit (PFC to EC), which may be caused by microtubule/tau-based transport deficits. These circuit deficits provide a pathophysiological basis for unique and common impairments of various cognitive processes in ADRD conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zhong
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Al-Aamri M, Alshaqaq M, Al-Abdi SY. A Saudi Girl With Co-occurring CHD1 (Pilarowski-Bjornsson Syndrome) and ASH1L Gene Variants. Cureus 2023; 15:e49905. [PMID: 38174187 PMCID: PMC10763589 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49905] [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] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Pilarowski-Bjornsson Syndrome (PBS) is a recently identified and rare genetic disorder. PBS is caused by missense variants in the CHD1 gene, a chromatin remodeler and helicase DNA-binding protein. In this report, we present the first case of PBS in Saudi Arabia. The patient exhibits a phenotype and genotype that are consistent with previously reported cases of PBS. Notably, this case is unique due to the coexisting presence of an absent, small, and homeotic disks protein 1 homolog like a histone lysine methyltransferase (ASH1L) variant and developmental dissociation. The ASH1L variant may contribute to the developmental dissociation observed in the patient. Furthermore, since the patient is female, this case contributes to the female-skewed distribution of PBS, although the exact cause of this phenomenon requires further investigation. This report highlights the importance of identifying and characterizing rare genetic disorders such as PBS. Understanding the genetic basis of these disorders can lead to improved diagnosis, treatment, and management strategies. Continued research on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying PBS and related disorders is crucial for advancing our knowledge and developing effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Al-Aamri
- Pediatric Nephrology, Maternity and Children Hospital Alahsa, Alahsa, SAU
| | - Moayad Alshaqaq
- Pediatric Neurology, Maternity and Children Hospital Alahsa, Alhasa, SAU
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Zeng J, Gao W, Tang Y, Wang Y, Liu X, Yin J, Su X, Zhang M, Kang E, Tian Y, Ni B, He W. Hypoxia-sensitive cells trigger NK cell activation via the KLF4-ASH1L-ICAM-1 axis, contributing to impairment in the rat epididymis. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113442. [PMID: 37952156 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113442] [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: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is a global health problem especially prevalent in high-altitude regions. The epididymis is essential for sperm maturation, but the influence of environmental cues on its reshaping remains poorly understood. Here, we use single-cell transcriptomics to track the cellular profiles of epidydimal cells in rats raised under normoxia or extended hypoxia. The results show that hypoxia impairs epididymal function, evident in reduced epithelial cells, compromised blood-epididymis barrier integrity, and increased natural killer cells. Through combined analysis of gene-regulatory networks and cell-cell interaction maps, we identify epididymal hypoxia-sensitive cells that communicate with natural killer (NK) cells via increased intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) driven by KLF4 recruitment of the histone methyltransferase ASL1L to the Icam1 promoter. Taken together, our study offers a detailed blueprint of epididymal changes during hypoxia and defines a KLF4-ALSH1L-ICAM-1 axis contributing to NK cell activation, yielding a potential treatment targeting hypoxia-induced infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitao Zeng
- Reproductive Medical Center, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weiwu Gao
- Institute of Immunology, People's Liberation Army (PLA), and Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaona Liu
- Reproductive Medical Center, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jun Yin
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of High-Altitude Military Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xingxing Su
- Hepatological Surgery Department, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mengjie Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of High-Altitude Military Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Enchuan Kang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Tian
- Institute of Immunology, People's Liberation Army (PLA), and Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bing Ni
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of High-Altitude Military Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei He
- Reproductive Medical Center, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Li P, Wei J, Zhu Y. CellGO: a novel deep learning-based framework and webserver for cell-type-specific gene function interpretation. Brief Bioinform 2023; 25:bbad417. [PMID: 37995133 PMCID: PMC10790717 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad417] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Interpreting the function of genes and gene sets identified from omics experiments remains a challenge, as current pathway analysis tools often fail to consider the critical biological context, such as tissue or cell-type specificity. To address this limitation, we introduced CellGO. CellGO tackles this challenge by leveraging the visible neural network (VNN) and single-cell gene expressions to mimic cell-type-specific signaling propagation along the Gene Ontology tree within a cell. This design enables a novel scoring system to calculate the cell-type-specific gene-pathway paired active scores, based on which, CellGO is able to identify cell-type-specific active pathways associated with single genes. In addition, by aggregating the activities of single genes, CellGO extends its capability to identify cell-type-specific active pathways for a given gene set. To enhance biological interpretation, CellGO offers additional features, including the identification of significantly active cell types and driver genes and community analysis of pathways. To validate its performance, CellGO was assessed using a gene set comprising mixed cell-type markers, confirming its ability to discern active pathways across distinct cell types. Subsequent benchmarking analyses demonstrated CellGO's superiority in effectively identifying cell types and their corresponding cell-type-specific pathways affected by gene knockouts, using either single genes or sets of genes differentially expressed between knockout and control samples. Moreover, CellGO demonstrated its ability to infer cell-type-specific pathogenesis for disease risk genes. Accessible as a Python package, CellGO also provides a user-friendly web interface, making it a versatile and accessible tool for researchers in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Junfeng Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science and Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Cao Q, Kumar M, Frazier A, Williams JB, Zhao S, Yan Z. Longitudinal characterization of behavioral, morphological and transcriptomic changes in a tauopathy mouse model. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:11697-11719. [PMID: 37925173 PMCID: PMC10683589 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205057] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), have the gradual onset of neurobiological changes preceding clinical diagnosis by decades. To elucidate how brain dysfunction proceeds in neurodegenerative disorders, we performed longitudinal characterization of behavioral, morphological, and transcriptomic changes in a tauopathy mouse model, P301S transgenic mice. P301S mice exhibited cognitive deficits as early as 3 months old, and deficits in social preference and social cognition at 5-6 months. They had a significant decrease of arborization in basal dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons from 3 months and apical dendrites of PFC pyramidal neurons at 9 months. Transcriptomic analysis of genome-wide changes revealed the enrichment of synaptic gene upregulation at 3 months of age, while most of these synaptic genes were downregulated in PFC and hippocampus of P301S mice at 9 months. These time-dependent changes in gene expression may lead to progressive alterations of neuronal structure and function, resulting in the manifestation of behavioral symptoms in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Manasa Kumar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Allea Frazier
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Jamal B. Williams
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Shengkai Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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Xie M, Zhang L, Han L, Huang L, Huang Y, Yang M, Zhang N. The ASH1L-AS1-ASH1L axis controls NME1-mediated activation of the RAS signaling in gastric cancer. Oncogene 2023; 42:3435-3445. [PMID: 37805663 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02855-8] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most leading cause of malignancies. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying stomach carcinogenesis remain incompletely understood. Dysregulated genetic and epigenetic alternations significantly contribute to GC development. Here, we report that ASH1L and its antisense lncRNA ASH1L-AS1, which are transcribed from the most significant GC-risk signal at 1q22, act as novel oncogenes. The high levels of ASH1L or lncRNA ASH1L-AS1 expression in GC specimens are associated with worse prognosis of patients. In line with this, ASH1L and ASH1L-AS1 are functionally important in promoting GC disease progression. LncRNA ASH1L-AS1 up-regulates ASH1L transcription, increases histone methyltransferase ASH1L expression and elevates genome-wide H3K4me3 modification levels in GC cells. Furthermore, ASH1L-AS1 directly interacts with transcription factor NME1 protein to form the ASH1L-AS1-NME1 ribonucleoprotein, which transcriptionally promotes expression of ASH1L, ASH1L-AS1, KRAS and RAF1, and activates the RAS signaling pathway in GC cells. Taken together, our data demonstrated that the ASH1L-AS1-ASH1L regulatory axis controls histone modification reprogram and activation of the RAS signaling in cancers. Thus, ASH1L-AS1 might be a novel targets of GC therapeutics and diagnosis in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Xie
- Departemnt of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Linyu Han
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Linying Huang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Yizhou Huang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Nasha Zhang
- Departemnt of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China.
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China.
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Zhang L, Xu X, Ma L, Wang X, Jin M, Li L, Ni H. Zinc Water Prevents Autism-Like Behaviors in the BTBR Mice. Biol Trace Elem Res 2023; 201:4779-4792. [PMID: 36602746 PMCID: PMC10415509 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-022-03548-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to explore the effects of zinc water on autism-like behavior, convulsion threshold, and neurogenesis in ASD model animals. This study used the young BTBR ASD mouse model to explore the effect of a 6-week zinc water supplementation on ASD-like behaviors such as repetitive behavior and social communication disorder, seizure threshold, and the correlation with excitability regulation. The mice were divided into four groups of normal controls (B6) and models (BTBR) who did and did not receive zinc supplementation in water (B6, B6 + zinc, BTBR, and BTBR + zinc). For morphological changes in the hippocampus, we selected two indicators: hippocampal mossy fiber sprouting and neurogenesis. ASD-like behavior testing, seizure threshold determination, Timm staining, and neurogenesis-related assays-represented by Ki67 and DCX-were performed after 6 weeks of zinc supplementation. Our results show that zinc water can prevent autism-like behavior, reduce susceptibility to convulsions, and increase the proliferation of hippocampal progenitor cells in BTBR mice but has less effect on mossy fiber sprouting and neural progenitor cell differentiation. Zinc water reduces autism-like behavior in a partially inherited autism model mice-BTBR-which may be associated with hippocampal neural precursor cell proliferation and reversed hyperexcitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Division of Brain Science, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaowen Xu
- Division of Brain Science, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Liya Ma
- Division of Brain Science, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Division of Brain Science, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Meifang Jin
- Division of Brain Science, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lili Li
- Division of Brain Science, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hong Ni
- Division of Brain Science, Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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12
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Wang X, Zhao Z, Guo J, Mei D, Duan Y, Zhang Y, Gou L. GABA B1 receptor knockdown in prefrontal cortex induces behavioral aberrations associated with autism spectrum disorder in mice. Brain Res Bull 2023; 202:110755. [PMID: 37678443 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110755] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by social interaction deficit, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors. Apart from these core symptoms, a great number of individuals with ASD exhibit higher levels of anxiety and memory deficits. Previous studies demonstrate pronounced decrease of γ-aminobutyric acid B1 receptor (GABAB1R) protein level of frontal lobe in both ASD patients and animal models. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of GABAB1R in ASD-related behavioral aberrations. Herein, the protein and mRNA levels of GABAB1R in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of sodium valproic acid (VPA)-induced mouse ASD model were determined by Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis, respectively. Moreover, the behavioral abnormalities in naive mice with GABAB1R knockdown mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) were assessed in a comprehensive test battery consisted of social interaction, marble burying, self-grooming, open-field, Y-maze and novel object recognition tests. Furthermore, the action potential changes induced by GABAB1R deficiency were examined in neurons within the PFC of mouse. The results show that the mRNA and protein levels of GABAB1R in the PFC of prenatal VPA-induced mouse ASD model were decreased. Concomitantly, naive mice with GABAB1R knockdown exhibited ASD-like behaviors, such as impaired social interaction and communication, elevated stereotypes, anxiety and memory deficits. Patch-clamp recordings also revealed that GABAB1R knockdown provoked enhanced neuronal excitability by increasing action potential discharge frequencies. Overall, these findings support a notion that GABAB1R deficiency might contribute to ASD-like phenotypes, with the pathogenesis most likely resulting from enhanced neuronal excitability. SUBHEADINGS: GABAB1 Knockdown Induces Behavioral Aberrations with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaona Wang
- Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Zhengqin Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Jisheng Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Yantai Campus of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai City, Shandong, China
| | - Daoqi Mei
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongtao Duan
- Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaodong Zhang
- Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Neurodevelopment Engineering Research Center, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Lingshan Gou
- Peninsula Cancer Research Center, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China.
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13
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Wang J, Gao Y, Xiao L, Lin Y, Huang L, Chen J, Liang G, Li W, Yi W, Lao J, Zhang B, Gao TM, Zhong M, Yang X. Increased NMDARs in neurons and glutamine synthetase in astrocytes underlying autistic-like behaviors of Gabrb1-/- mice. iScience 2023; 26:107476. [PMID: 37599823 PMCID: PMC10433130 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107476] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations of the GABA-A receptor subunit β1 (GABRB1) gene are found in autism patients. However, it remains unclear how mutations in Gabrb1 may lead to autism. We generated Gabrb1-/- mouse model, which showed autistic-like behaviors. We carried out RNA-seq on the hippocampus and found glutamatergic pathway may be involved. We further carried out single-cell RNA sequencing on the whole brain followed by qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, electrophysiology, and metabolite detection on specific cell types. We identified the up-regulated Glul/Slc38a3 in astrocytes, Grin1/Grin2b in neurons, glutamate, and the ratio of Glu/GABA in the hippocampus. Consistent with these results, increased NMDAR-currents and reduced GABAAR-currents in the CA1 neurons were detected in Gabrb1-/- mice. NMDAR antagonist memantine or Glul inhibitor methionine sulfoximine could rescue the abnormal behaviors in Gabrb1-/- mice. Our data reveal that upregulation of the glutamatergic synapse pathway, including NMDARs at neuronal synapses and glutamine exported by astrocytes, may lead to autistic-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Center for Genetics and Developmental Systems Biology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yue Gao
- Center for Genetics and Developmental Systems Biology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Liuyan Xiao
- Center for Genetics and Developmental Systems Biology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yanmei Lin
- Center for Genetics and Developmental Systems Biology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lang Huang
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jinfa Chen
- Center for Genetics and Developmental Systems Biology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Guanmei Liang
- Center for Genetics and Developmental Systems Biology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Weiming Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Wenjuan Yi
- Center for Genetics and Developmental Systems Biology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jianpei Lao
- Center for Genetics and Developmental Systems Biology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Tian-Ming Gao
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Mei Zhong
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xinping Yang
- Center for Genetics and Developmental Systems Biology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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14
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Pang S, Luo Z, Dong W, Gao S, Chen W, Liu N, Zhang X, Gao X, Li J, Gao K, Shi X, Guan F, Zhang L, Zhang L. Integrin β1/FAK/SRC signal pathway is involved in autism spectrum disorder in Tspan7 knockout rats. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:6/3/e202201616. [PMID: 36625203 PMCID: PMC9768919 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
TSPAN7 is related to various neurological disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the underlying synaptic mechanism of TSPAN7 in ASD is still unclear. Here, we showed that Tspan7 knockout rats exhibited ASD-like and ID-like behavioral phenotypes, brain structure alterations including decreased hippocampal and cortical volume, and related pathological changes including reduced hippocampal neurons number, neuronal complexity, dendritic spines, and synapse-associated proteins. Then, we found that TSPAN7 deletion interrupted the integrin β1/FAK/SRC signal pathway that was followed by the down-regulation of PSD95, SYN, and GluR1/2, which are key synaptic integrity-related proteins. Furthermore, reactivation of SRC restored the expression of synaptic integrity-related proteins in primary neurons of TSPAN7 knockout brains. Taken together, our results suggested that TSPAN7 knockout caused ASD-like and ID-like behaviors in rats and impaired neuronal synapses possibly through the down-regulation of the integrin β1/FAK/SRC signal pathway, which might be a new mechanism on regulation of synaptic proteins expression and on ASD pathogenesis by mutated TSPAN7. These findings provide novel insights into the role of TSPAN7 in psychiatric diseases and highlight integrin β1/FAK/SRC as a potential target for ASD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Pang
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuohui Luo
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Gao
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xudong Shi
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Feifei Guan
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lianfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Health Commission of China, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China .,Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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15
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Functional investigation of SLC1A2 variants associated with epilepsy. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:1063. [PMID: 36543780 PMCID: PMC9772344 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05457-6] [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: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder and glutamate excitotoxicity plays a key role in epileptic pathogenesis. Astrocytic glutamate transporter GLT-1 is responsible for preventing excitotoxicity via clearing extracellular accumulated glutamate. Previously, three variants (G82R, L85P, and P289R) in SLC1A2 (encoding GLT-1) have been clinically reported to be associated with epilepsy. However, the functional validation and underlying mechanism of these GLT-1 variants in epilepsy remain undetermined. In this study, we reported that these disease-linked mutants significantly decrease glutamate uptake, cell membrane expression of the glutamate transporter, and glutamate-elicited current. Additionally, we found that these variants may disturbed stromal-interacting molecule 1 (STIM1)/Orai1-mediated store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) machinery in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), in which GLT-1 may be a new partner of SOCE. Furthermore, knock-in mice with disease-associated variants showed a hyperactive phenotype accompanied by reduced glutamate transporter expression. Therefore, GLT-1 is a promising and reliable therapeutic target for epilepsy interventions.
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16
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Dehkordi HT, Bijad E, Saghaei E, Korrani MS, Amini-Khoei H. Chronic stress but not acute stress decreases the seizure threshold in PTZ-induced seizure in mice: role of inflammatory response and oxidative stress. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 396:973-982. [PMID: 36542120 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02364-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Seizure is paroxysmal abnormal electrical discharges in the cerebral cortex. Inflammatory pathways and oxidative stress are involved in the pathophysiology of seizures. Stress can induce an oxidative stress state and increase the production of inflammatory mediators in the brain. We investigated the effects of acute and chronic stresses on the seizure threshold in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in mice, considering oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators in the prefrontal cortex. In this study, 30 male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice were divided into 3 groups, including acute stress, chronic stress, and control groups. PTZ was used for the induction of seizures. The gene expression of inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TNF-α, NLRP3, and iNOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, nitrite level, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in the prefrontal cortex and serum. Our results showed that stress could increase the expression of inflammatory cytokines genes and oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex of the brain and serum following PTZ-induced seizures, which is associated with increased seizure sensitivity and decreased the seizure threshold. The effects of chronic stress were much more significant than acute stress. We concluded that the effects of chronic stress on seizure sensitivity and enhancement of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are much greater than acute stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Tahmasebi Dehkordi
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Elham Bijad
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Elham Saghaei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Shahrani Korrani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Hossein Amini-Khoei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
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17
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Garrett L, Trümbach D, Spielmann N, Wurst W, Fuchs H, Gailus-Durner V, Hrabě de Angelis M, Hölter SM. A rationale for considering heart/brain axis control in neuropsychiatric disease. Mamm Genome 2022:10.1007/s00335-022-09974-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00335-022-09974-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractNeuropsychiatric diseases (NPD) represent a significant global disease burden necessitating innovative approaches to pathogenic understanding, biomarker identification and therapeutic strategy. Emerging evidence implicates heart/brain axis malfunction in NPD etiology, particularly via the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and brain central autonomic network (CAN) interaction. This heart/brain inter-relationship harbors potentially novel NPD diagnosis and treatment avenues. Nevertheless, the lack of multidisciplinary clinical approaches as well as a limited appreciation of molecular underpinnings has stymied progress. Large-scale preclinical multi-systemic functional data can therefore provide supplementary insight into CAN and ANS interaction. We here present an overview of the heart/brain axis in NPD and establish a unique rationale for utilizing a preclinical cardiovascular disease risk gene set to glean insights into heart/brain axis control in NPD. With a top-down approach focusing on genes influencing electrocardiogram ANS function, we combined hierarchical clustering of corresponding regional CAN expression data and functional enrichment analysis to reveal known and novel molecular insights into CAN and NPD. Through ‘support vector machine’ inquiries for classification and literature validation, we further pinpointed the top 32 genes highly expressed in CAN brain structures altering both heart rate/heart rate variability (HRV) and behavior. Our observations underscore the potential of HRV/hyperactivity behavior as endophenotypes for multimodal disease biomarker identification to index aberrant executive brain functioning with relevance for NPD. This work heralds the potential of large-scale preclinical functional genetic data for understanding CAN/ANS control and introduces a stepwise design leveraging preclinical data to unearth novel heart/brain axis control genes in NPD.
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18
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Wang W, Tan T, Cao Q, Zhang F, Rein B, Duan WM, Yan Z. Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Restores Behavioral and Synaptic Function in a Mouse Model of 16p11.2 Deletion. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 25:877-889. [PMID: 35907244 PMCID: PMC9593221 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac048] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microdeletion of the human 16p11.2 gene locus confers risk for autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability. How 16p11.2 deletion is linked to these neurodevelopmental disorders and whether there are treatment avenues for the manifested phenotypes remain to be elucidated. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic aberrations are strongly implicated in autism. METHODS We performed behavioral and electrophysiological experiments to examine the therapeutic effects of epigenetic drugs in transgenic mice carrying 16p11.2 deletion (16p11del/+). RESULTS We found that 16p11del/+ mice exhibited a significantly reduced level of histone acetylation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). A short (3-day) treatment with class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor MS-275 or Romidepsin led to the prolonged (3-4 weeks) rescue of social and cognitive deficits in 16p11del/+ mice. Concomitantly, MS-275 treatment reversed the hypoactivity of PFC pyramidal neurons and the hyperactivity of PFC fast-spiking interneurons. Moreover, the diminished N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated synaptic currents and the elevated GABAA receptor-mediated synaptic currents in PFC pyramidal neurons of 16p11del/+ mice were restored to control levels by MS-275 treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that HDAC inhibition provides a highly effective therapeutic strategy for behavioral deficits and excitation/inhibition imbalance in 16p11del/+ mice, likely via normalization of synaptic function in the PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Tao Tan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Freddy Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin Rein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Wei-Ming Duan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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19
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Griffin A, Mahesh A, Tiwari VK. Disruption of the gene regulatory programme in neurodevelopmental disorders. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2022; 1865:194860. [PMID: 36007842 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2022.194860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cortical development consists of a series of synchronised events, including fate transition of cortical progenitors, neuronal migration, specification and connectivity. It is becoming clear that gene expression programs governing these events rely on the interplay between signalling molecules, transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms. When genetic or environmental factors disrupt expression of genes involved in important brain development processes, neurodevelopmental disorders can occur. This review aims to highlight how recent advances in technologies have helped uncover and imitate the gene regulatory mechanisms commonly disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoife Griffin
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queens University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom
| | - Arun Mahesh
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queens University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom
| | - Vijay K Tiwari
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queens University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom.
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20
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Abstract
The fundamental commonality across pharmacotherapies for the epilepsies
is the modulation of neuronal excitability. This poses a clear
challenge—patterned neuronal excitation is essential to normal
function, thus disrupting this activity leads to side effects.
Moreover, the efficacy of current pharmacotherapy remains incomplete
despite decades of drug development. Approaches that allow for the
selective targeting of critical populations of cells and particular
pathways in the brain have the potential to both avoid side effects
and improve efficacy. Chemogenetic methods, which combine the
selective expression of designer receptors with designer drugs, have
rapidly grown in use in the neurosciences, including in epilepsy. This
review will briefly highlight the history of chemogenetics, their
applications to date in epilepsy, and the potential (and potential
hurdles to overcome) for future translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A. Forcelli
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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21
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Conrow-Graham M, Williams JB, Martin J, Zhong P, Cao Q, Rein B, Yan Z. A convergent mechanism of high risk factors ADNP and POGZ in neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain 2022; 145:3250-3263. [PMID: 35775424 PMCID: PMC10233273 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
ADNP and POGZ are two top-ranking risk factors for autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, but how they are linked to these neurodevelopmental disorders is largely unknown. Both ADNP and POGZ are chromatin regulators, which could profoundly affect gene transcription and cellular function in the brain. Using post-mortem tissue from patients with autism spectrum disorder, we found diminished expression of ADNP and POGZ in the prefrontal cortex, a region highly implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. To understand the functional role of these neurodevelopmental disorder risk factors, we used viral-based gene transfer to investigate how Adnp or Pogz deficiency in mouse prefrontal cortex affects behavioural, transcriptomic and synaptic function. Mice with prefrontal cortex deficiency of Adnp or Pogz exhibited specific impairment of cognitive task performance. RNA-sequencing revealed that Adnp or Pogz deficiency induced prominent upregulation of overlapping genes enriched in neuroinflammation, similar to the elevation of pro-inflammatory genes in humans with neurodevelopmental disorders. Concomitantly, Adnp or Pogz deficiency led to the significant increase of pro-phagocytic microglial activation in prefrontal cortex, as well as the significant decrease of glutamatergic transmission and postsynaptic protein expression. These findings have uncovered the convergent functions of two top risk factors for autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability in prefrontal cortex, providing a mechanism linking chromatin, transcriptional and synaptic dysregulation to cognitive deficits associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Conrow-Graham
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Jamal B Williams
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Jennifer Martin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Ping Zhong
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Benjamin Rein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
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22
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Jiang CC, Lin LS, Long S, Ke XY, Fukunaga K, Lu YM, Han F. Signalling pathways in autism spectrum disorder: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:229. [PMID: 35817793 PMCID: PMC9273593 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01081-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent and complex neurodevelopmental disorder which has strong genetic basis. Despite the rapidly rising incidence of autism, little is known about its aetiology, risk factors, and disease progression. There are currently neither validated biomarkers for diagnostic screening nor specific medication for autism. Over the last two decades, there have been remarkable advances in genetics, with hundreds of genes identified and validated as being associated with a high risk for autism. The convergence of neuroscience methods is becoming more widely recognized for its significance in elucidating the pathological mechanisms of autism. Efforts have been devoted to exploring the behavioural functions, key pathological mechanisms and potential treatments of autism. Here, as we highlight in this review, emerging evidence shows that signal transduction molecular events are involved in pathological processes such as transcription, translation, synaptic transmission, epigenetics and immunoinflammatory responses. This involvement has important implications for the discovery of precise molecular targets for autism. Moreover, we review recent insights into the mechanisms and clinical implications of signal transduction in autism from molecular, cellular, neural circuit, and neurobehavioural aspects. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives are discussed with regard to novel strategies predicated on the biological features of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chen Jiang
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Li-Shan Lin
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Sen Long
- Department of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Mental Health Center Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Ke
- Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Kohji Fukunaga
- Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Ying-Mei Lu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Feng Han
- International Joint Laboratory for Drug Target of Critical Illnesses; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. .,Institute of Brain Science, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China. .,Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China.
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23
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Integrative analysis prioritised oxytocin-related biomarkers associated with the aetiology of autism spectrum disorder. EBioMedicine 2022; 81:104091. [PMID: 35665681 PMCID: PMC9301877 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. The common variants of specific oxytocin-related genes (OTRGs), particularly OXTR, are associated with the aetiology of ASD. The contribution of rare genetic variations in OTRGs to ASD aetiology remains unclear. Methods We catalogued publicly available de novo mutations (DNMs) [from 6,511 patients with ASD and 3,391 controls], rare inherited variants (RIVs) [from 1,786 patients with ASD and 1,786 controls], and both de novo copy number variations (dnCNVs) and inherited CNVs (ihCNVs) [from 15,581 patients with ASD and 6,017 controls] in 963 curated OTRGs to explore their contribution to ASD pathology, respectively. Finally, a combined model was designed to prioritise the contribution of each gene to ASD aetiology by integrating DNMs and CNVs. Findings The rare genetic variations of OTRGs were significantly associated with ASD aetiology, in the order of dnCNVs > ihCNVs > DNMs. Furthermore, 172 OTRGs and their connected 286 ASD core genes were prioritised to positively contribute to ASD aetiology, including top-ranked MAPK3. Probands carrying rare disruptive variations in these genes were estimated to account for 10∼11% of all ASD probands. Interpretation Our findings suggest that rare disruptive variations in 172 OTRGs and their connected 286 ASD core genes are associated with ASD aetiology and may be potential biomarkers predicting the effects of oxytocin treatment. Funding Guangdong Key Project, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province.
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24
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Epigenetic switch controls social actions. Neuron 2022; 110:1085-1087. [PMID: 35390284 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in epigenetic factors are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this issue of Neuron, Yan et al. (2022) show that the antagonism of ASH1L and PRC2 switches the equilibrium of histone methylation at the ephrin receptor A7 locus, causing decreased EphA7 expression, deficits in synaptic pruning, and ASD-like behaviors.
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25
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Cheon S, Culver AM, Bagnell AM, Ritchie FD, Vacharasin JM, McCord MM, Papendorp CM, Chukwurah E, Smith AJ, Cowen MH, Moreland TA, Ghate PS, Davis SW, Liu JS, Lizarraga SB. Counteracting epigenetic mechanisms regulate the structural development of neuronal circuitry in human neurons. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2291-2303. [PMID: 35210569 PMCID: PMC9133078 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01474-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with defects in neuronal connectivity and are highly heritable. Genetic findings suggest that there is an overrepresentation of chromatin regulatory genes among the genes associated with ASD. ASH1 like histone lysine methyltransferase (ASH1L) was identified as a major risk factor for ASD. ASH1L methylates Histone H3 on Lysine 36, which is proposed to result primarily in transcriptional activation. However, how mutations in ASH1L lead to deficits in neuronal connectivity associated with ASD pathogenesis is not known. We report that ASH1L regulates neuronal morphogenesis by counteracting the catalytic activity of Polycomb Repressive complex 2 group (PRC2) in stem cell-derived human neurons. Depletion of ASH1L decreases neurite outgrowth and decreases expression of the gene encoding the neurotrophin receptor TrkB whose signaling pathway is linked to neuronal morphogenesis. The neuronal morphogenesis defect is overcome by inhibition of PRC2 activity, indicating that a balance between the Trithorax group protein ASH1L and PRC2 activity determines neuronal morphology. Thus, our work suggests that ASH1L may epigenetically regulate neuronal morphogenesis by modulating pathways like the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway. Defects in neuronal morphogenesis could potentially impair the establishment of neuronal connections which could contribute to the neurodevelopmental pathogenesis associated with ASD in patients with ASH1L mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seonhye Cheon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Allison M Culver
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Anna M Bagnell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Foster D Ritchie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Janay M Vacharasin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Mikayla M McCord
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Carin M Papendorp
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Evelyn Chukwurah
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Austin J Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Mara H Cowen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Trevor A Moreland
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Pankaj S Ghate
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Shannon W Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Judy S Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital and Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Sofia B Lizarraga
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
- Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
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26
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Harnessing the Power of Stem Cell Models to Study Shared Genetic Variants in Congenital Heart Diseases and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030460. [PMID: 35159270 PMCID: PMC8833927 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technology allow one to deconstruct the human body into specific disease-relevant cell types or create functional units representing various organs. hPSC-based models present a unique opportunity for the study of co-occurring disorders where “cause and effect” can be addressed. Poor neurodevelopmental outcomes have been reported in children with congenital heart diseases (CHD). Intuitively, abnormal cardiac function or surgical intervention may stunt the developing brain, leading to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). However, recent work has uncovered several genetic variants within genes associated with the development of both the heart and brain that could also explain this co-occurrence. Given the scalability of hPSCs, straightforward genetic modification, and established differentiation strategies, it is now possible to investigate both CHD and NDD as independent events. We will first overview the potential for shared genetics in both heart and brain development. We will then summarize methods to differentiate both cardiac & neural cells and organoids from hPSCs that represent the developmental process of the heart and forebrain. Finally, we will highlight strategies to rapidly screen several genetic variants together to uncover potential phenotypes and how therapeutic advances could be achieved by hPSC-based models.
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