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Soto JS, Neupane C, Kaur M, Pandey V, Wohlschlegel JA, Khakh BS. Astrocyte Gi-GPCR signaling corrects compulsive-like grooming and anxiety-related behaviors in Sapap3 knockout mice. Neuron 2024:S0896-6273(24)00541-5. [PMID: 39163865 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes are morphologically complex cells that serve essential roles. They are widely implicated in central nervous system (CNS) disorders, with changes in astrocyte morphology and gene expression accompanying disease. In the Sapap3 knockout (KO) mouse model of compulsive and anxiety-related behaviors related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), striatal astrocytes display reduced morphology and altered actin cytoskeleton and Gi-G-protein-coupled receptor (Gi-GPCR) signaling proteins. Here, we show that normalizing striatal astrocyte morphology, actin cytoskeleton, and essential homeostatic support functions by targeting the astrocyte Gi-GPCR pathway using chemogenetics corrected phenotypes in Sapap3 KO mice, including anxiety-related and compulsive behaviors. Our data portend an astrocytic pharmacological strategy for rescuing phenotypes in brain disorders that include compromised astrocyte morphology and tissue support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joselyn S Soto
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA.
| | - Chiranjivi Neupane
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Muskan Kaur
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Vijaya Pandey
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - James A Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Baljit S Khakh
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA; Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA.
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2
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Pfennig A, Lachance J. The evolutionary fate of Neanderthal DNA in 30,780 admixed genomes with recent African-like ancestry. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.25.605203. [PMID: 39091830 PMCID: PMC11291122 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.25.605203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Following introgression, Neanderthal DNA was initially purged from non-African genomes, but the evolutionary fate of remaining introgressed DNA has not been explored yet. To fill this gap, we analyzed 30,780 admixed genomes with African-like ancestry from the All of Us research program, in which Neanderthal alleles encountered novel genetic backgrounds during the last 15 generations. Observed amounts of Neanderthal DNA approximately match expectations based on ancestry proportions, suggesting neutral evolution. Nevertheless, we identified genomic regions that have significantly less or more Neanderthal ancestry than expected and are associated with spermatogenesis, innate immunity, and other biological processes. We also identified three novel introgression desert-like regions in recently admixed genomes, whose genetic features are compatible with hybrid incompatibilities and intrinsic negative selection. Overall, we find that much of the remaining Neanderthal DNA in human genomes is not under strong selection, and complex evolutionary dynamics have shaped introgression landscapes in our species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Pfennig
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr, Atlanta, 30332, GA, USA
| | - Joseph Lachance
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr, Atlanta, 30332, GA, USA
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3
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Lochner C, Naudé PJ, Stein DJ. Use of Post-mortem Brain Tissue in Investigations of Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder: A Systematic Review. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:963-975. [PMID: 37644747 PMCID: PMC10845092 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230829145425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-mortem examination of the brain is a key strategy to increase our understanding of the neurobiology of mental disorders. While extensive post-mortem research has been undertaken on some mental disorders, others appear to have been relatively neglected. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to conduct a systematic review of post-mortem research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHODS A systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to provide an overview of quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods primary research studies on OCD. Search platforms included NCBI Pubmed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. RESULTS A total of 52 publications were found, and after the removal of works not meeting the inclusion criteria, six (6) peer-reviewed publications remained. These post-mortem studies have provided data on DNA methylation, cellular and molecular alterations, and gene expression profiling in brain areas associated with OCD. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Included studies highlight the potential value of post-mortem brains from well-characterized individuals with OCD and suggest the need for additional work in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Lochner
- SA MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Petrus J.W. Naudé
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health & Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dan J. Stein
- SA MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health & Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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4
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Gagliano A, Carta A, Tanca MG, Sotgiu S. Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome: Current Perspectives. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:1221-1250. [PMID: 37251418 PMCID: PMC10225150 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s362202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) features a heterogeneous constellation of acute obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating restriction, cognitive, behavioral and/or affective symptoms, often followed by a chronic course with cognitive deterioration. An immune-mediated etiology is advocated in which the CNS is hit by different pathogen-driven (auto)immune responses. This narrative review focused on recent clinical (ie, diagnostic criteria, pre-existing neurodevelopmental disorders, neuroimaging) and pathophysiological (ie, CSF, serum, genetic and autoimmune findings) aspects of PANS. We also summarized recent points to facilitate practitioners with the disease management. Relevant literature was obtained from PubMed database which included only English-written, full-text clinical studies, case reports, and reviews. Among a total of 1005 articles, 205 were pertinent to study inclusion. Expert opinions are converging on PANS as the effect of post-infectious events or stressors leading to "brain inflammation", as it is well-established for anti-neuronal psychosis. Interestingly, differentiating PANS from either autoimmune encephalitides and Sydenham's chorea or from alleged "pure" psychiatric disorders (OCD, tics, Tourette's syndrome), reveals several overlaps and more analogies than differences. Our review highlights the need for a comprehensive algorithm to help both patients during their acute distressing phase and physicians during their treatment decision. A full agreement on the hierarchy of each therapeutical intervention is missing owing to the limited number of randomized controlled trials. The current approach to PANS treatment emphasizes immunomodulation/anti-inflammatory treatments in association with both psychotropic and cognitive-behavioral therapies, while antibiotics are suggested when an active bacterial infection is established. A dimensional view, taking into account the multifactorial origin of psychiatric disorders, should suggest neuro-inflammation as a possible shared substrate of different psychiatric phenotypes. Hence, PANS and PANS-related disorders should be considered as a conceptual framework describing the etiological and phenotypical complexity of many psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Gagliano
- Department of Health Science, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari & "A. Cao" Paediatric Hospital, Child & Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Carta
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry, Sassari, Italy
| | - Marcello G Tanca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari & "A. Cao" Paediatric Hospital, Child & Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Stefano Sotgiu
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry, Sassari, Italy
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5
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D'Acquisto F, D'Addario C, Cooper D, Pallanti S, Blacksell I. Peripheral control of psychiatric disorders: Focus on OCD. Are we there yet? Compr Psychiatry 2023; 123:152388. [PMID: 37060625 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152388] [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: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
"We are all in this together" - we often hear this phrase when we want to flag up a problem that is not for a single individual but concerns us all. A similar reflection has been recently made in the field of mental disorders where brain-centric scientists have started to zoom out their brain-focused graphical representations of the mechanisms regulating psychiatric diseases to include other organs or mediators that did not belong historically to the world of neuroscience. The brain itself - that has long been seen as a master in command secluded in its fortress (the blood brain barrier), has now become a collection of Airbnb(s) where all sorts of cells come in and out and sometimes even rearrange the furniture! Under this new framework of reference, mental disorders have become multisystem pathologies where different biological systems - not just the CNS -contribute 'all together' to the development and severity of the disease. In this narrative review article, we will focus on one of the most popular biological systems that has been shown to influence the functioning of the CNS: the immune system. We will specifically highlight the two main features of the immune system and the CNS that we think are important in the context of mental disorders: plasticity and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulvio D'Acquisto
- School of Life and Health Science, University of Roehampton, London, UK.
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Faculty of Bioscience, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dianne Cooper
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Stefano Pallanti
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine,New York, USA; Istituto di Neuroscienze, Florence, Italy
| | - Isobel Blacksell
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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6
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Soto JS, Jami-Alahmadi Y, Chacon J, Moye SL, Diaz-Castro B, Wohlschlegel JA, Khakh BS. Astrocyte-neuron subproteomes and obsessive-compulsive disorder mechanisms. Nature 2023; 616:764-773. [PMID: 37046092 PMCID: PMC10132990 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05927-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes and neurons extensively interact in the brain. Identifying astrocyte and neuron proteomes is essential for elucidating the protein networks that dictate their respective contributions to physiology and disease. Here we used cell-specific and subcompartment-specific proximity-dependent biotinylation1 to study the proteomes of striatal astrocytes and neurons in vivo. We evaluated cytosolic and plasma membrane compartments for astrocytes and neurons to discover how these cells differ at the protein level in their signalling machinery. We also assessed subcellular compartments of astrocytes, including end feet and fine processes, to reveal their subproteomes and the molecular basis of essential astrocyte signalling and homeostatic functions. Notably, SAPAP3 (encoded by Dlgap3), which is associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and repetitive behaviours2-8, was detected at high levels in striatal astrocytes and was enriched within specific astrocyte subcompartments where it regulated actin cytoskeleton organization. Furthermore, genetic rescue experiments combined with behavioural analyses and molecular assessments in a mouse model of OCD4 lacking SAPAP3 revealed distinct contributions of astrocytic and neuronal SAPAP3 to repetitive and anxiety-related OCD-like phenotypes. Our data define how astrocytes and neurons differ at the protein level and in their major signalling pathways. Moreover, they reveal how astrocyte subproteomes vary between physiological subcompartments and how both astrocyte and neuronal SAPAP3 mechanisms contribute to OCD phenotypes in mice. Our data indicate that therapeutic strategies that target both astrocytes and neurons may be useful to explore in OCD and potentially other brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joselyn S Soto
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yasaman Jami-Alahmadi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jakelyn Chacon
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stefanie L Moye
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Blanca Diaz-Castro
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - James A Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Baljit S Khakh
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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7
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Wu X, Yang H, Lin H, Suo A, Wu S, Xie W, Zhou N, Guo S, Ding H, Zhou G, Qiu Z, Shi H, Yang J, Zheng Y. Characterizing microRNA editing and mutation sites in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1105278. [PMID: 36743290 PMCID: PMC9895120 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1105278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose pathogenesis is still unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a kind of endogenous small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes. Recent researches show that miRNAs are edited in multiple ways especially in central nervous systems. A-to-I editing of RNA catalyzed by Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs) happens intensively in brain and is also noticed in other organs and tissues. Although miRNAs are widely edited in human brain, miRNA editing in ASD is still largely unexplored. In order to reveal the editing events of miRNAs in ASD, we analyzed 131 miRNA-seq samples from 8 different brain regions of ASD patients and normal controls. We identified 834 editing sites with significant editing levels, of which 70 sites showed significantly different editing levels in the superior frontal gyrus samples of ASD patients (ASD-SFG) when compared with those of control samples. The editing level of an A-to-I editing site in hsa-mir-376a-1 (hsa-mir-376a-1_9_A_g) in ASD-SFG is higher than that of normal controls, and the difference is exaggerated in individuals under 10 years. The increased expression of ADAR1 is consistent with the increased editing level of hsa-mir-376a-1_9_A_g in ASD-SFG samples compared to normal SFG samples. Furthermore, we verify that A-to-I edited hsa-mir-376a-5p directly represses GPR85 and NAPB, which may contribute to the abnormal neuronal development of ASD patients. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingwang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Huaide Yang
- Faculty of Information Engineering and Automation, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Han Lin
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Angbaji Suo
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Shuai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Wenping Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Nan Zhou
- Faculty of Information Engineering and Automation, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Shiyong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hao Ding
- Faculty of Information Engineering and Automation, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Guangchen Zhou
- Faculty of Information Engineering and Automation, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhichao Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jun Yang
- School of Criminal Investigation, Yunnan Police College, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yun Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Faculty of Information Engineering and Automation, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,College of Landscape and Horticulture, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China,*Correspondence: Yun Zheng ✉
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8
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Chen J, Tian C, Zhang Q, Xiang H, Wang R, Hu X, Zeng X. Changes in Volume of Subregions Within Basal Ganglia in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: A Study With Atlas-Based and VBM Methods. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:890616. [PMID: 35794954 PMCID: PMC9251343 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.890616] [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: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe role of basal ganglia in the pathogenesis of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) remains unclear. The studies on volume changes of basal ganglia in OCD commonly use the VBM method; however, the Atlas-based method used in such research has not been reported. Atlas-based method has a lower false positive rate compared with VBM method, thus having advantages partly.ObjectivesThe current study aimed to detect the volume changes of subregions within basal ganglia in OCD using Atlas-based method to further delineate the precise neural circuitry of OCD. What is more, we explored the influence of software used in Atlas-based method on the volumetric analysis of basal ganglia and compared the results of Atlas-based method and regularly used VBM method.MethodsWe analyzed the brain structure images of 37 patients with OCD and 41 healthy controls (HCs) using the VBM method, Atlas-based method based on SPM software, or Freesurfer software to find the areas with significant volumetric variation between the two groups, and calculated the effects size of these areas.ResultsVBM analysis revealed a significantly increased volume of bilateral lenticular nucleus in patients compared to HCs. In contrast, Atlas-based method based on Freesurfer revealed significantly increased volume of left globus pallidus in patients, and the largest effect size of volumetric variation was revealed by Freesurfer analysis.ConclusionsThis study showed that the volume of bilateral lenticular nucleus significantly increased in patients compared to HCs, especially left globus pallidus, which was in accordance with the previous findings. In addition, Freesurfer is better than SPM and a good choice for Atlas-based volumetric analysis of basal ganglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxiang Chen
- School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Chong Tian
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Qun Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Hui Xiang
- Department of Psychology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Rongpin Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Xiaofei Hu
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaofei Hu
| | - Xianchun Zeng
- School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China
- Xianchun Zeng
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9
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de Oliveira KC, Camilo C, Gastaldi VD, Sant'Anna Feltrin A, Lisboa BCG, de Jesus Rodrigues de Paula V, Moretto AC, Lafer B, Hoexter MQ, Miguel EC, Maschietto M, Brentani H. Brain areas involved with obsessive-compulsive disorder present different DNA methylation modulation. BMC Genom Data 2021; 22:45. [PMID: 34717534 PMCID: PMC8557022 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-021-00993-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive actions, that presents the involvement of the cortico-striatal areas. The contribution of environmental risk factors to OCD development suggests that epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to its pathophysiology. DNA methylation changes and gene expression were evaluated in post-mortem brain tissues of the cortical (anterior cingulate gyrus and orbitofrontal cortex) and ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus and putamen) areas from eight OCD patients and eight matched controls. Results There were no differentially methylated CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanine) sites (DMSs) in any brain area, nevertheless gene modules generated from CpG sites and protein-protein-interaction (PPI) showed enriched gene modules for all brain areas between OCD cases and controls. All brain areas but nucleus accumbens presented a predominantly hypomethylation pattern for the differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Although there were common transcriptional factors that targeted these DMRs, their targeted differentially expressed genes were different among all brain areas. The protein-protein interaction network based on methylation and gene expression data reported that all brain areas were enriched for G-protein signaling pathway, immune response, apoptosis and synapse biological processes but each brain area also presented enrichment of specific signaling pathways. Finally, OCD patients and controls did not present significant DNA methylation age differences. Conclusions DNA methylation changes in brain areas involved with OCD, especially those involved with genes related to synaptic plasticity and the immune system could mediate the action of genetic and environmental factors associated with OCD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12863-021-00993-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kátia Cristina de Oliveira
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.,Center of Mathematics, Computation and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil.,Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caroline Camilo
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.
| | - Vinícius Daguano Gastaldi
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Arthur Sant'Anna Feltrin
- Center of Mathematics, Computation and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
| | - Bianca Cristina Garcia Lisboa
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Vanessa de Jesus Rodrigues de Paula
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil
| | | | - Beny Lafer
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Queiroz Hoexter
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.,Laboratório de Psicopatologia e Terapêutica Psiquiátrica (LIM23), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Euripedes Constantino Miguel
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.,Laboratório de Psicopatologia e Terapêutica Psiquiátrica (LIM23), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Helena Brentani
- Departamento & Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 - LIM23 (Térreo), São Paulo, 05403-010, Brazil.,Laboratório de Psicopatologia e Terapêutica Psiquiátrica (LIM23), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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10
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Engeln M, Song Y, Chandra R, La A, Fox ME, Evans B, Turner MD, Thomas S, Francis TC, Hertzano R, Lobo MK. Individual differences in stereotypy and neuron subtype translatome with TrkB deletion. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1846-1859. [PMID: 32366954 PMCID: PMC8480032 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0746-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Motor stereotypies occurring in early-onset neuropsychiatric diseases are associated with dysregulated basal ganglia direct-pathway activity. Disruptions in network connectivity through impaired neuronal structure have been implicated in both rodents and humans. However, the neurobiological mechanisms leading to direct-pathway neuron disconnectivity in stereotypy remain poorly understood. We have a mouse line with Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) receptor deletion from D1-expressing cells (D1-Cre-flTrkB) in which a subset of animals shows repetitive rotations and head tics with juvenile onset. Here we demonstrate these behaviors may be associated with abnormal direct-pathway activity by reducing rotations using chemogenetic inhibition of dorsal striatum D1-medium spiny neurons (D1-MSNs) in both juvenile and young-adult mice. Taking advantage of phenotypical differences in animals with similar genotypes, we then interrogated the D1-MSN specific translatome associated with repetitive behavior by using RNA sequencing of ribosome-associated mRNA. Detailed translatome analysis followed by multiplexed gene expression assessment revealed profound alterations in neuronal projection and synaptic structure related genes in stereotypy mice. Examination of neuronal morphology demonstrated dendritic atrophy and dendritic spine loss in dorsal striatum D1-MSNs from mice with repetitive behavior. Together, our results uncover phenotype-specific molecular alterations in D1-MSNs that relate to morphological adaptations in mice displaying stereotypy behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Engeln
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yang Song
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ashley La
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Megan E. Fox
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brianna Evans
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Makeda D. Turner
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shavin Thomas
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - T. Chase Francis
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ronna Hertzano
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA., Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA., Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mary Kay Lobo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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11
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Maternal autoimmunity and inflammation are associated with childhood tics and obsessive-compulsive disorder: Transcriptomic data show common enriched innate immune pathways. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 94:308-317. [PMID: 33422639 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although genetic variation is a major risk factor of neurodevelopmental disorders, environmental factors during pregnancy and early life are also important in disease expression. Animal models demonstrate that maternal inflammation causes fetal neuroinflammation and neurodevelopmental deficits, and brain transcriptomics of neurodevelopmental disorders in humans show upregulated differentially expressed genes are enriched in immune pathways. We prospectively recruited 200 sequentially referred children with tic disorders/obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 100 autoimmune neurological controls, and 100 age-matched healthy controls. A structured interview captured the maternal and family history of autoimmune disease and other pro-inflammatory states. Maternal blood and published Tourette brain transcriptomes were analysed for overlapping enriched pathways. Mothers of children with tics/OCD had a higher rate of autoimmune disease compared with mothers of children with autoimmune neurological conditions (p = 0.054), and mothers of healthy controls (p = 0.0004). Autoimmunity was similarly elevated in first- and second-degree maternal relatives of children with tics/OCD (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.014 respectively). Other pro-inflammatory states were also more common in mothers of children with tics/OCD than controls (p < 0.0001). Upregulated differentially expressed genes in maternal autoimmune disease and Tourette brain transcriptomes were commonly enriched in innate immune processes. Pro-inflammatory states, including autoimmune disease, are more common in the mothers and families of children with tics/OCD. Exploratory transcriptome analysis indicates innate immune signalling may link maternal inflammation and childhood tics/OCD. Targeting inflammation may represent preventative strategies in pregnancy and treatment opportunities for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
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12
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Transcriptome alterations are enriched for synapse-associated genes in the striatum of subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:171. [PMID: 33723209 PMCID: PMC7961029 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01290-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and severe psychiatric disorder for which effective treatment options are limited. Structural and functional neuroimaging studies have consistently implicated the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and striatum in the pathophysiology of the disorder. Recent genetic evidence points to involvement of components of the excitatory synapse in the etiology of OCD. However, the transcriptional alterations that could link genetic risk to known structural and functional abnormalities remain mostly unknown. To assess potential transcriptional changes in the OFC and two striatal regions (caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens) of OCD subjects relative to unaffected comparison subjects, we sequenced messenger RNA transcripts from these brain regions. In a joint analysis of all three regions, 904 transcripts were differentially expressed between 7 OCD versus 8 unaffected comparison subjects. Region-specific analyses highlighted a smaller number of differences, which concentrated in caudate and nucleus accumbens. Pathway analyses of the 904 differentially expressed transcripts showed enrichment for genes involved in synaptic signaling, with these synapse-associated genes displaying lower expression in OCD subjects relative to unaffected comparison subjects. Finally, we estimated that cell type fractions of medium spiny neurons were lower whereas vascular cells and astrocyte fractions were higher in tissue of OCD subjects. Together, these data provide the first unbiased examination of differentially expressed transcripts in both OFC and striatum of OCD subjects. These transcripts encoded synaptic proteins more often than expected by chance, and thus implicate the synapse as a vulnerable molecular compartment for OCD.
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13
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Abstract
Initial reports supporting the possibility of inflammation in the brain in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) evolved from the models of Sydenham's Chorea, and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS), which implicated excessive autoimmune responses following exposure to group A B-hemolytic streptococcal infections. Subsequently, this model was expanded to Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) which applied the same concept but included other infections. A critical shortcoming of this model was that it was attributable to a small minority of OCD cases. The relationship between inflammation and OCD was more broadly demonstrated through translocator protein (TSPO) positron emission tomography imaging, a method that detects gliosis, an important component of brain inflammation, in neuropsychiatric diseases, including morphological activation and proliferation of microglia and to some extent astroglia. This method identified greater TSPO binding in the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuit in OCD, providing a direct brain measure of an important component of inflammation. To identify OCD cases with prominent elevations in TSPO binding in clinical research settings with lower cost peripheral markers, a promising approach is to apply blood serum biomarkers of inflammatory molecules produced by activated microglia and astroglia (gliosis). Such measures may aid stratification in future clinical trials. Several inflammatory-modifying interventions, including celecoxib, minocycline, and n-acetylcysteine, have been tested as treatments in randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trials and there is a tendency toward positive results, although these medications are not optimized for brain penetration and sample sizes for most trials were small. Future clinical trials of medications that target gliosis in OCD should apply larger sample sizes, ideally incorporating stratification approaches to enrich samples for the presence of gliosis.
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14
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Sarbu M, Dehelean L, Munteanu CVA, Ica R, Petrescu AJ, Zamfir AD. Human caudate nucleus exhibits a highly complex ganglioside pattern as revealed by high-resolution multistage Orbitrap MS. J Carbohydr Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/07328303.2019.1669632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mirela Sarbu
- Department of Applied Physics, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Liana Dehelean
- Department of Neurosciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cristian V. A. Munteanu
- Department of Bioinformatics and Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Raluca Ica
- Department of Applied Physics, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Andrei J. Petrescu
- Department of Bioinformatics and Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alina D. Zamfir
- Department of Applied Physics, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Technical and Natural Sciences, “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad, Arad, Romania
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