1
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Li H, Cui J, Hu C, Li H, Luo X, Hao Y. Identification and Analysis of ZIC-Related Genes in Cerebellum of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2024; 20:325-339. [PMID: 38410689 PMCID: PMC10895985 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s444138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with significant genetic heterogeneity. The ZIC gene family can regulate neurodevelopment, especially in the cerebellum, and has been implicated in ASD-like behaviors in mice. We performed bioinformatic analysis to identify the ZIC gene family in the ASD cerebellum. Methods We explored the roles of ZIC family genes in ASD by investigating (i) the association of ZIC genes with ASD risk genes from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) database and ZIC genes in the brain regions of the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database; (ii) co-expressed gene networks of genes positively and negatively correlated with ZIC1, ZIC2, and ZIC3, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of genes in these networks; and (iii) the relationship between ZIC1, ZIC2, ZIC3, and their related genes with cerebellar immune cells and stromal cells in ASD patients. Results (i) ZIC1, ZIC2, and ZIC3 were associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and risk genes related to ASD in the human cerebellum and (ii) ZIC1, ZIC2, and ZIC3 were highly expressed in the cerebellum, which may play a pathogenic role by affecting neuronal development and the cerebellar internal environment in patients with ASD, including immune cells, astrocytes, and endothelial cells. (iii) OLFM3, SLC27A4, GRB2, TMED1, NR2F1, and STRBP are closely related to ZIC1, ZIC2, and ZIC3 in ASD cerebellum and have good diagnostic accuracy. (iv) ASD mice in the maternal immune activation model demonstrated that Zic3 and Nr2f1 levels were decreased in the immune-activated cerebellum. Conclusion Our study supports the role of ZIC1, ZIC2, and ZIC3 in ASD pathogenesis and provides potential targets for early and accurate prediction of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Li
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinru Cui
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Cong Hu
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Li
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoping Luo
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Hao
- Division of Child Healthcare, Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
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2
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Goovaerts S, Hoskens H, Eller RJ, Herrick N, Musolf AM, Justice CM, Yuan M, Naqvi S, Lee MK, Vandermeulen D, Szabo-Rogers HL, Romitti PA, Boyadjiev SA, Marazita ML, Shaffer JR, Shriver MD, Wysocka J, Walsh S, Weinberg SM, Claes P. Joint multi-ancestry and admixed GWAS reveals the complex genetics behind human cranial vault shape. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7436. [PMID: 37973980 PMCID: PMC10654897 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43237-8] [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: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The cranial vault in humans is highly variable, clinically relevant, and heritable, yet its genetic architecture remains poorly understood. Here, we conduct a joint multi-ancestry and admixed multivariate genome-wide association study on 3D cranial vault shape extracted from magnetic resonance images of 6772 children from the ABCD study cohort yielding 30 genome-wide significant loci. Follow-up analyses indicate that these loci overlap with genomic risk loci for sagittal craniosynostosis, show elevated activity cranial neural crest cells, are enriched for processes related to skeletal development, and are shared with the face and brain. We present supporting evidence of regional localization for several of the identified genes based on expression patterns in the cranial vault bones of E15.5 mice. Overall, our study provides a comprehensive overview of the genetics underlying normal-range cranial vault shape and its relevance for understanding modern human craniofacial diversity and the etiology of congenital malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seppe Goovaerts
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Hanne Hoskens
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ryan J Eller
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Noah Herrick
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Anthony M Musolf
- Statistical Genetics Section, Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, NHGRI, NIH, MD, Baltimore, USA
| | - Cristina M Justice
- Genometrics Section, Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, Division of Intramural Research, NHGRI, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Neurobehavioral Clinical Research Section, Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Meng Yuan
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sahin Naqvi
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Departments of Genetics and Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Myoung Keun Lee
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dirk Vandermeulen
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Heather L Szabo-Rogers
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Paul A Romitti
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Simeon A Boyadjiev
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Mary L Marazita
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - John R Shaffer
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mark D Shriver
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Joanna Wysocka
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Susan Walsh
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Seth M Weinberg
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Peter Claes
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Medical Imaging Research Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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3
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Özcan H. Coexistence of Schizophrenia, Epilepsy, and Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome. Eurasian J Med 2023; 55:167-168. [PMID: 36843425 PMCID: PMC10440948 DOI: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2023.22251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/28/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Halil Özcan
- Department of Psychiatry, Atatürk University, School of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey
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4
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Hou W, Huang S, Li L, Guo X, He Z, Shang S, Jia Z, Zhang L, Qu Y, Huang C, Li Y, Li Y, Lv Z, Tai F. Oxytocin treatments or activation of the paraventricular nucleus-the shell of nucleus accumbens pathway reduce adverse effects of chronic social defeat stress on emotional and social behaviors in Mandarin voles. Neuropharmacology 2023; 230:109482. [PMID: 36893984 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Chronic social stress can cause psychological disease. Although oxytocin (OT) has been showed to modulate effects of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) on emotional and social behaviors, however, how OT circuits mediate effects of CSDS on emotional and social abnormalities remains unclear. Here, we found that repeated intraperitoneal OT administration in the process of CSDS buffered adverse effects of CSDS on emotional and social behaviors in mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus) of both sexes except no effect on depression-like behavior of males. Repeated OT treatments during CSDS prevented decrease of oxytocin receptors in nucleus accumbens (NAc) in females, but produced no effects on males. Furthermore, using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs)-based chemogenetic tools, we determined that the activation of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN)-the shell of NAc (NAcs) projections before social defeat during CSDS process significantly prevented the increase of the anxiety-like behaviors and social avoidance induced by CSDS in both sexes, and reversed the depressive-like behaviors induced by CSDS only in females. Besides, optogenetic activation of PVN-NAcs projections after CSDS reduced anxiety-like behaviors and increased levels of sociality. Collectively, we suggest that PVN-NAcs projections modulate emotional and social behaviors during or after the process of CSDS sex-specifically, although AAV viruses did not specifically infect OT neurons. These findings offer potential targets for preventing or treating emotional and social disorders induced by chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Hou
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Shuying Huang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Lu Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Xing Guo
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Zhixiong He
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Shufeng Shang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China; College of Bioscience and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, 723000, China
| | - Ziyan Jia
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Lizi Zhang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yishan Qu
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Caihong Huang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yin Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yitong Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Zijian Lv
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Fadao Tai
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China.
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5
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Okamoto L, Watanabe S, Deno S, Nie X, Maruyama J, Tomita M, Hatano A, Yugi K. Meta-analysis of transcriptional regulatory networks for lipid metabolism in neural cells from schizophrenia patients based on an open-source intelligence approach. Neurosci Res 2021; 175:82-97. [PMID: 34979163 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
There have been a number of reports about the transcriptional regulatory networks in schizophrenia. However, most of these studies were based on a specific transcription factor or a single dataset, an approach that is inadequate to understand the diverse etiology and underlying common characteristics of schizophrenia. Here we reconstructed and compared the transcriptional regulatory network for lipid metabolism enzymes using 15 public transcriptome datasets of neural cells from schizophrenia patients. Since many of the well-known schizophrenia-related SNPs are in enhancers, we reconstructed a network including enhancer-dependent regulation and found that 53.3 % of the total number of edges (7,577 pairs) involved regulation via enhancers. By examining multiple datasets, we found common and unique transcriptional modes of regulation. Furthermore, enrichment analysis of SNPs that were connected with genes in the transcriptional regulatory networks by eQTL suggested an association with hematological cell counts and some other traits/diseases, whose relationship to schizophrenia was either not or insufficiently reported in previous studies. Based on these results, we suggest that in future studies on schizophrenia, information on genotype, comorbidities and hematological cell counts should be included, along with the transcriptome, for a more detailed genetic stratification and mechanistic exploration of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Okamoto
- Laboratory for Integrated Cellular Systems, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan; Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-0882, Japan; Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-0882, Japan
| | - Soyoka Watanabe
- Laboratory for Integrated Cellular Systems, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan; Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-0882, Japan
| | - Senka Deno
- Laboratory for Integrated Cellular Systems, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan; Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-0882, Japan; Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-0882, Japan
| | - Xiang Nie
- Laboratory for Integrated Cellular Systems, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Junichi Maruyama
- Laboratory for Integrated Cellular Systems, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Masaru Tomita
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-0882, Japan; Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-0882, Japan
| | - Atsushi Hatano
- Laboratory for Integrated Cellular Systems, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan; Department of Omics and Systems Biology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 757 Ichibancho, Asahimachi-dori, Chuo Ward, Niigata City, 951-8510, Japan
| | - Katsuyuki Yugi
- Laboratory for Integrated Cellular Systems, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan; Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-0882, Japan; Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
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6
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Sacai H, Sakoori K, Konno K, Nagahama K, Suzuki H, Watanabe T, Watanabe M, Uesaka N, Kano M. Autism spectrum disorder-like behavior caused by reduced excitatory synaptic transmission in pyramidal neurons of mouse prefrontal cortex. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5140. [PMID: 33046712 PMCID: PMC7552417 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18861-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is thought to result from deviation from normal development of neural circuits and synaptic function. Many genes with mutation in ASD patients have been identified. Here we report that two molecules associated with ASD susceptibility, contactin associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) and Abelson helper integration site-1 (AHI1), are required for synaptic function and ASD-related behavior in mice. Knockdown of CNTNAP2 or AHI1 in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons of the developing mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC) reduced excitatory synaptic transmission, impaired social interaction and induced mild vocalization abnormality. Although the causes of reduced excitatory transmission were different, pharmacological enhancement of AMPA receptor function effectively restored impaired social behavior in both CNTNAP2- and AHI1-knockdown mice. We conclude that reduced excitatory synaptic transmission in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons of the PFC leads to impaired social interaction and mild vocalization abnormality in mice. CNTNAP2 or AHI1 are autism-associated genes. Here the authors show using knockdown of the genes that this results in reduced excitatory synaptic transmission in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex and is associated with impaired social interaction in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Sacai
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kazuto Sakoori
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.,International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kohtarou Konno
- Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Nagahama
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.,International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Honoka Suzuki
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.,International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takaki Watanabe
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.,International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Naofumi Uesaka
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. .,International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. .,Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
| | - Masanobu Kano
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. .,International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
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7
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Yamaguchi T, Wei D, Song SC, Lim B, Tritsch NX, Lin D. Posterior amygdala regulates sexual and aggressive behaviors in male mice. Nat Neurosci 2020; 23:1111-1124. [PMID: 32719562 PMCID: PMC7483354 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-0675-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Sexual and aggressive behaviors are fundamental to animals’ survival and reproduction. The medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) and ventrolateral part of ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) are essential regions for male sexual and aggressive behaviors, respectively. While key inhibitory inputs to VMHvl and MPN are identified, the extra-hypothalamic excitatory inputs essential for the social behaviors remain elusive. Here we identify estrogen receptor alpha (Esr1) expressing cells in posterior amygdala (PA) as a main source of excitatory inputs to hypothalamus and key mediators for mating and fighting in male mice. We find two largely distinct PA subpopulations that differ in connectivity, gene expression, in vivo responses and social behavior relevance. MPN projecting PAEsr1+ cells are activated during mating and necessary and sufficient for male sexual behaviors, while VMHvl projecting PAEsr1+ are excited during inter-male aggression and promote attacks. These findings place PA as a key node in both male aggression and reproduction circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Yamaguchi
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Dongyu Wei
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Soomin C Song
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Byungkook Lim
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicolas X Tritsch
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dayu Lin
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. .,Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Abdusselamoglu MD, Eroglu E, Burkard TR, Knoblich JA. The transcription factor odd-paired regulates temporal identity in transit-amplifying neural progenitors via an incoherent feed-forward loop. eLife 2019; 8:46566. [PMID: 31329099 PMCID: PMC6645715 DOI: 10.7554/elife.46566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural progenitors undergo temporal patterning to generate diverse neurons in a chronological order. This process is well-studied in the developing Drosophila brain and conserved in mammals. During larval stages, intermediate neural progenitors (INPs) serially express Dichaete (D), grainyhead (Grh) and eyeless (Ey/Pax6), but how the transitions are regulated is not precisely understood. Here, we developed a method to isolate transcriptomes of INPs in their distinct temporal states to identify a complete set of temporal patterning factors. Our analysis identifies odd-paired (opa), as a key regulator of temporal patterning. Temporal patterning is initiated when the SWI/SNF complex component Osa induces D and its repressor Opa at the same time but with distinct kinetics. Then, high Opa levels repress D to allow Grh transcription and progress to the next temporal state. We propose that Osa and its target genes opa and D form an incoherent feedforward loop (FFL) and a new mechanism allowing the successive expression of temporal identities. The brain consists of billions of neurons that come in a range of shapes and sizes, with different types of neurons specialized to perform different tasks. Despite their diversity, all of these neurons originate from a single population known as neural stem cells. As the brain develops, each neural stem cell divides to produce two daughter cells: one remains a stem cell, which can then divide again, and the other becomes a neuron. A longstanding question in developmental biology is how a limited pool of neural stem cells can generate so many different types of neurons. The answer seems to lie in a process known as temporal identity, whereby neural stem cells of different ages give rise to different types of neurons. This requires neural stem cells to keep track of their own age, but it is still unclear how they can do so. Abdusselamoglu et al. have now uncovered part of the underlying mechanism behind temporal identity by studying fruit flies, an insect in which the early stages of brain development are similar to the ones in mammals. A method was developed to sort fly neural stem cells into groups based on their age. Comparing these groups revealed that a protein called Opa make neural stem cells switch from being 'young' to being 'middle-aged'. Another protein, Osa activates Opa, which in turn represses a protein called Dichaete. As Dichaete is mainly active in young neural stem cells, the actions of Osa and Opa push neural stem cells into middle age. Fruit flies are therefore a valuable system with which to study the mechanisms that regulate neural stem cell aging. Revealing how the brain generates different types of neurons could help us study the way these cells organize themselves into complex circuits. This knowledge could then be harnessed to understand how these processes go wrong and disrupt development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Deniz Abdusselamoglu
- IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Elif Eroglu
- IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas R Burkard
- IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen A Knoblich
- IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
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9
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Singh K, Jayaram M, Kaare M, Leidmaa E, Jagomäe T, Heinla I, Hickey MA, Kaasik A, Schäfer MK, Innos J, Lilleväli K, Philips MA, Vasar E. Neural cell adhesion molecule Negr1 deficiency in mouse results in structural brain endophenotypes and behavioral deviations related to psychiatric disorders. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5457. [PMID: 30932003 PMCID: PMC6443666 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41991-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) belongs to the immunoglobulin (IgLON) superfamily of cell adhesion molecules involved in cortical layering. Recent functional and genomic studies implicate the role of NEGR1 in a wide spectrum of psychiatric disorders, such as major depression, schizophrenia and autism. Here, we investigated the impact of Negr1 deficiency on brain morphology, neuronal properties and social behavior of mice. In situ hybridization shows Negr1 expression in the brain nuclei which are central modulators of cortical-subcortical connectivity such as the island of Calleja and the reticular nucleus of thalamus. Brain morphological analysis revealed neuroanatomical abnormalities in Negr1−/− mice, including enlargement of ventricles and decrease in the volume of the whole brain, corpus callosum, globus pallidus and hippocampus. Furthermore, decreased number of parvalbumin-positive inhibitory interneurons was evident in Negr1−/− hippocampi. Behaviorally, Negr1−/− mice displayed hyperactivity in social interactions and impairments in social hierarchy. Finally, Negr1 deficiency resulted in disrupted neurite sprouting during neuritogenesis. Our results provide evidence that NEGR1 is required for balancing the ratio of excitatory/inhibitory neurons and proper formation of brain structures, which is prerequisite for adaptive behavioral profiles. Therefore, Negr1−/− mice have a high potential to provide new insights into the neural mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katyayani Singh
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia. .,Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Mohan Jayaram
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.,Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Maria Kaare
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.,Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Este Leidmaa
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str.25, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Toomas Jagomäe
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.,Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Indrek Heinla
- Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Postboks 6050 Langnes, 9037, Tromso, Norway
| | - Miriam A Hickey
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Allen Kaasik
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Michael K Schäfer
- Department for Anesthesiology, University Medical Center and Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jürgen Innos
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.,Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kersti Lilleväli
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.,Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mari-Anne Philips
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.,Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Eero Vasar
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.,Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
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Link between the causative genes of holoprosencephaly: Zic2 directly regulates Tgif1 expression. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2140. [PMID: 29391420 PMCID: PMC5794963 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the causal genes for holoprosencephaly (HPE) is ZIC2 (HPE5). It belongs to the zinc finger protein of the cerebellum (Zic) family of genes that share a C2H2-type zinc finger domain, similar to the GLI family of genes. In order to clarify the role of Zic2 in gene regulation, we searched for its direct target genes using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). We identified TGIF1 (HPE4), another holoprosencephaly-causative gene in humans. We identified Zic2-binding sites (ZBS) on the 5′ flanking region of Tgif1 by in vitro DNA binding assays. ZBS were essential for Zic2-dependent transcriptional activation in reporter gene assays. Zic2 showed a higher affinity to ZBS than GLI-binding sequences. Zic2-binding to the cis-regulatory element near the Tgif1 promoter may be involved in the mechanism underlying forebrain development and incidences of HPE.
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Zic Family Proteins in Emerging Biomedical Studies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1046:233-248. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-7311-3_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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12
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Liu M, Xu P, Guan Z, Qian X, Dockery P, Fitzgerald U, O'Brien T, Shen S. Ulk4 deficiency leads to hypomyelination in mice. Glia 2017; 66:175-190. [PMID: 29034508 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Brain nerve fibers are insulated by myelin which is produced by oligodendrocytes. Defects in myelination are increasingly recognized as a common pathology underlying neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, which are associated with deletions of the Unc-51-like kinase 4 (ULK4) gene. Key transcription factors have been identified for oligodendrogenesis, but little is known about their associated regulators. Here we report that Ulk4 acts as a key regulator of myelination. Myelination is reduced by half in the Ulk4tm1a/tm1a hypomorph brain, whereas expression of axonal marker genes Tubb3, Nefh, Nefl and Nefm remains unaltered. Transcriptome analyses reveal that 8 (Gfap, Mbp, Mobp, Plp1, Slc1a2, Ttr, Cnp, Scd2) of the 10 most significantly altered genes in the Ulk4tm1a/tm1a brain are myelination-related. Ulk4 is co-expressed in Olig2+ (pan-oligodendrocyte marker) and CC1+ (mature myelinated oligodendrocyte marker) cells during postnatal development. Major oligodendrogeneic transcription factors, including Olig2, Olig1, Myrf, Sox10, Sox8, Sox6, Sox17, Nkx2-2, Nkx6-2 and Carhsp1, are significantly downregulated in the mutants. mRNA transcripts enriched in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), the newly formed oligodendrocytes (NFOs) and myelinating oligodendrocytes (MOs), are significantly attenuated. Expression of stage-specific oligodendrocyte factors including Cspg4, Sox17, Nfasc, Enpp6, Sirt2, Cnp, Plp1, Mbp, Ugt8, Mag and Mog are markedly decreased. Indirect effects of axon caliber and neuroinflammation may also contribute to the hypomyelination, as Ulk4 mutants display smaller axons and increased neuroinflammation. This is the first evidence demonstrating that ULK4 is a crucial regulator of myelination, and ULK4 may therefore become a novel therapeutic target for hypomyelination diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Ping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Engineering Research Center for Protein Drugs, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Zhenlong Guan
- Department of Physiology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaohong Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Engineering Research Center for Protein Drugs, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Peter Dockery
- Anatomy, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Una Fitzgerald
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Sanbing Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
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13
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Miyamoto H, Shimohata A, Abe M, Abe T, Mazaki E, Amano K, Suzuki T, Tatsukawa T, Itohara S, Sakimura K, Yamakawa K. Potentiation of excitatory synaptic transmission ameliorates aggression in mice with Stxbp1 haploinsufficiency. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:4961-4974. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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14
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Sedykh I, Yoon B, Roberson L, Moskvin O, Dewey CN, Grinblat Y. Zebrafish zic2 controls formation of periocular neural crest and choroid fissure morphogenesis. Dev Biol 2017; 429:92-104. [PMID: 28689736 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The vertebrate retina develops in close proximity to the forebrain and neural crest-derived cartilages of the face and jaw. Coloboma, a congenital eye malformation, is associated with aberrant forebrain development (holoprosencephaly) and with craniofacial defects (frontonasal dysplasia) in humans, suggesting a critical role for cross-lineage interactions during retinal morphogenesis. ZIC2, a zinc-finger transcription factor, is linked to human holoprosencephaly. We have previously used morpholino assays to show zebrafish zic2 functions in the developing forebrain, retina and craniofacial cartilage. We now report that zebrafish with genetic lesions in zebrafish zic2 orthologs, zic2a and zic2b, develop with retinal coloboma and craniofacial anomalies. We demonstrate a requirement for zic2 in restricting pax2a expression and show evidence that zic2 function limits Hh signaling. RNA-seq transcriptome analysis identified an early requirement for zic2 in periocular neural crest as an activator of alx1, a transcription factor with essential roles in craniofacial and ocular morphogenesis in human and zebrafish. Collectively, these data establish zic2 mutant zebrafish as a powerful new genetic model for in-depth dissection of cell interactions and genetic controls during craniofacial complex development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Sedykh
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Baul Yoon
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Genetics Ph. D. Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Laura Roberson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Oleg Moskvin
- Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Colin N Dewey
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Yevgenya Grinblat
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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15
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Altered expression of mRNA profiles in blood of early-onset schizophrenia. Sci Rep 2016; 6:16767. [PMID: 26733343 PMCID: PMC4702094 DOI: 10.1038/srep16767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
To identify gene expression abnormalities in schizophrenia (SZ), we generated whole-genome gene expression profiles using microarrays on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 18 early-onset SZ cases and 12 controls. We detected 84 transcripts differentially expressed by diagnostic status, with 82 genes being upregulated and 2 downregulated. We identified two SZ associated gene coexpression modules (green and red), including 446 genes . The green module is positively correlated with SZ, encompassing predominantly up-regulated genes in SZ; while the red module was negatively correlated with disease status, involving mostly nominally down-regulated genes in SZ. The olfactory transduction pathway was the most enriched pathways for the genes within the two modules. The expression levels of several hub genes, including AKT1, BRCA1, CCDC134, UBD, and ZIC2 were validated using real-time quantitative PCR. Our findings indicate that mRNA coexpression abnormalities may serve as a promising mechanism underlying the development of SZ.
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Abstract
UNLABELLED Human mutations in ZIC2 have been identified in patients with holoprosencephaly and schizophrenia. Similarly, Zic2 mutant mice exhibit holoprosencephaly in homozygosis and behavioral and morphological schizophrenic phenotypes associated with forebrain defects in heterozygosis. Despite the devastating effects of mutations in Zic2, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that provoke Zic2-deficiency phenotypes are yet unclear. Here, we report a novel role for this transcription factor in the migration of three different types of forebrain neurons: the Cajal-Retzius cells that populate the surface of the telencephalic vesicles, an amygdaloid group of cells originated in the caudal pole of the telencephalic pallium, and a cell population that travels from the prethalamic neuroepithelium to the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. Our results also suggest that the receptor EphB1, previously identified as a Zic2 target, may mediate, at least partially, Zic2-dependent migratory events. According to these results, we propose that deficiencies in cell motility and guidance contribute to most of the forebrain pathologies associated with Zic2 mutations. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Although the phenotype of Zic2 mutant individuals was reported more than 10 years ago, until now, the main function of this transcription factor during early development has not been precisely defined. Here, we reveal a previously unknown role for Zic2 in the migration of forebrain neurons such as Cajal-Retzius cells, interneurons moving to the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, and neocortical cells going to the amygdala. We believe that the role of this transcription factor in certain populations of migratory cells contributes to defects in cortical layering and hypocellularity in the ventral LGN and amygdala and will contribute to our understanding of the devastating phenotypes associated with Zic2 mutations in both humans and mice.
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Kerr TM, Muller CL, Miah M, Jetter CS, Pfeiffer R, Shah C, Baganz N, Anderson GM, Crawley JN, Sutcliffe JS, Blakely RD, Veenstra-Vanderweele J. Genetic background modulates phenotypes of serotonin transporter Ala56 knock-in mice. Mol Autism 2013; 4:35. [PMID: 24083388 PMCID: PMC3851031 DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-4-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previously, we identified multiple, rare serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) variants in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although in our study the SERT Ala56 variant was over-transmitted to ASD probands, it was also seen in some unaffected individuals, suggesting that associated ASD risk is influenced by the epistatic effects of other genetic variation. Subsequently, we established that mice expressing the SERT Ala56 variant on a 129S6/S4 genetic background display multiple biochemical, physiological and behavioral changes, including hyperserotonemia, altered 5-HT receptor sensitivity, and altered social, communication, and repetitive behavior. Here we explore the effects of genetic background on SERT Ala56 knock-in phenotypes. Methods To explore the effects of genetic background, we backcrossed SERT Ala56 mice on the 129 background into a C57BL/6 (B6) background to achieve congenic B6 SERT Ala56 mice, and assessed autism-relevant behavior, including sociability, ultrasonic vocalizations, and repetitive behavior in the home cage, as well as serotonergic phenotypes, including whole blood serotonin levels and serotonin receptor sensitivity. Results One consistent phenotype between the two strains was performance in the tube test for dominance, where mutant mice displayed a greater tendency to withdraw from a social encounter in a narrow tube as compared to wildtype littermate controls. On the B6 background, mutant pup ultrasonic vocalizations were significantly increased, in contrast to decreased vocalizations seen previously on the 129 background. Several phenotypes seen on the 129 background were reduced or absent when the mutation was placed on the B6 background, including hyperserotonemia, 5-HT receptor hypersensivity, and repetitive behavior. Conclusions Our findings provide a cogent example of how epistatic interactions can modulate the impact of functional genetic variation and suggest that some aspects of social behavior may be especially sensitive to changes in SERT function. Finally, these results provide a platform for the identification of genes that may modulate the risk of ASD in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis M Kerr
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, 465 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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Xenopus Zic3 controls notochord and organizer development through suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Dev Biol 2012; 361:220-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Revised: 09/30/2011] [Accepted: 10/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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