Modeling PTSD neuronal stress responses in a dish

Multiple genes in a single GWAS risk locus synergistically mediate aberrant synaptic development and function in human neurons

The mechanistic tie between genome-wide association study (GWAS)-implicated risk variants and disease-relevant cellular phenotypes remains largely unknown. Here, using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons as a neurodevelopmental model, we identify multiple schizophrenia (SZ) risk variants that display allele-specific open chromatin (ASoC) and are likely to be functional. Editing the strongest ASoC SNP, rs2027349, near vacuolar protein sorting 45 homolog (VPS45) alters the expression of VPS45, lncRNA AC244033.2, and a distal gene, C1orf54. Notably, the transcriptomic changes in neurons are associated with SZ and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurons carrying the risk allele exhibit increased dendritic complexity and hyperactivity. Interestingly, individual/combinatorial gene knockdown shows that these genes alter cellular phenotypes in a non-additive synergistic manner. Our study reveals that multiple genes at a single GWAS risk locus mediate a compound effect on neural function, providing a mechanistic link between a non-coding risk variant and disease-related cellular phenotypes.

Human stem cell modeling of neuropsychiatric disorders: from polygenicity to convergence

Neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD) are prevalent and devastating, posing an enormous socioeconomic burden to modern society. Recent genetic studies of NPD have identified a plethora of common genetic risk variants with small effect sizes and rare risk variants of high penetrance. While exciting, there is a pressing need to translate these genetic discoveries into better understanding of disease biology and more tailored clinical interventions. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived 2D and 3D neural cultures are becoming a promising cellular model for bridging the gap between genetic findings and disease biology for NPD. Leveraging the accessibility of patient biospecimen to convert into stem cells and the power of genome editing technology to engineer disease risk variants, hiPSC model holds the promise to disentangle the disease polygenicity, model genetic interaction with environmental factors, and uncover convergent gene pathways that may be targeted for more tailored clinical intervention.

Brain Lipids and Lipid Droplet Dysregulation in Alzheimer's Disease and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Background

Lipids are essential components of the structure and for the function of brain cells. The intricate balance of lipids, including phospholipids, glycolipids, cholesterol, cholesterol ester, and triglycerides, is crucial for maintaining normal brain function. The roles of lipids and lipid droplets and their relevance to neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) remain largely unknown.

Summary

Here, we reviewed the basic role of lipid components as well as a specific lipid organelle, lipid droplets, in brain function, highlighting the potential impact of altered lipid metabolism in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and NDPs.

Key Messages

Brain lipid dysregulation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative and NPDs including AD and schizophrenia. Understanding the cell type-specific mechanisms of lipid dysregulation in these diseases is crucial for identifying better diagnostic biomarkers and for developing therapeutic strategies aiming at restoring lipid homeostasis.