1
|
Tripathi A, Bartosh A, Mata J, Jacks C, Madeshiya AK, Hussein U, Hong LE, Zhao Z, Pillai A. Microglial type I interferon signaling mediates chronic stress-induced synapse loss and social behavior deficits. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02675-6. [PMID: 39095477 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02675-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Inflammation and synapse loss have been associated with deficits in social behavior and are involved in pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Synapse loss, characterized by reduction in dendritic spines can significantly disrupt synaptic connectivity and neural circuitry underlying social behavior. Chronic stress is known to induce loss of spines and dendrites in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region implicated in social behavior. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the role of type I Interferon (IFN-I) signaling in chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced synapse loss and behavior deficits in mice. We found increased expression of type I IFN receptor (IFNAR) in microglia following CUS. Conditional knockout of microglial IFNAR in adult mice rescued CUS-induced social behavior deficits and synapse loss. Bulk RNA sequencing data show that microglial IFNAR deletion attenuated CUS-mediated changes in the expression of genes such as Keratin 20 (Krt20), Claudin-5 (Cldn5) and Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4 Group A Member 1 (Nr4a1) in the PFC. Cldn5 and Nr4a1 are known for their roles in synaptic plasticity. Krt20 is an intermediate filament protein responsible for the structural integrity of epithelial cells. The reduction in Krt20 following CUS presents a novel insight into the potential contribution of cytokeratin in stress-induced alterations in neuroplasticity. Overall, these results suggest that microglial IFNAR plays a critical role in regulating synaptic plasticity and social behavior deficits associated with chronic stress conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh Tripathi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alona Bartosh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jocelyn Mata
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chale Jacks
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Amit Kumar Madeshiya
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Usama Hussein
- Center for Precision Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Lymphoma & Myeloma, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhongming Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Precision Health, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anilkumar Pillai
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rohm D, Black JB, McCutcheon SR, Barrera A, Morone DJ, Nuttle X, de Esch CE, Tai DJ, Talkowski ME, Iglesias N, Gersbach CA. Activation of the imprinted Prader-Willi Syndrome locus by CRISPR-based epigenome editing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.03.583177. [PMID: 38496583 PMCID: PMC10942373 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.03.583177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Epigenome editing with DNA-targeting technologies such as CRISPR-dCas9 can be used to dissect gene regulatory mechanisms and potentially treat associated disorders. For example, Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is caused by loss of paternally expressed imprinted genes on chromosome 15q11.2-q13.3, although the maternal allele is intact but epigenetically silenced. Using CRISPR repression and activation screens in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we identified genomic elements that control expression of the PWS gene SNRPN from the paternal and maternal chromosomes. We showed that either targeted transcriptional activation or DNA demethylation can activate the silenced maternal SNRPN and downstream PWS transcripts. However, these two approaches function at unique regions, preferentially activating different transcript variants and involving distinct epigenetic reprogramming mechanisms. Remarkably, transient expression of the targeted demethylase leads to stable, long-term maternal SNRPN expression in PWS iPSCs. This work uncovers targeted epigenetic manipulations to reprogram a disease-associated imprinted locus and suggests possible therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dahlia Rohm
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Joshua B. Black
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Sean R. McCutcheon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Alejandro Barrera
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Daniel J. Morone
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Xander Nuttle
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Celine E. de Esch
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Derek J.C. Tai
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Michael E. Talkowski
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Nahid Iglesias
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Charles A. Gersbach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li C, Zheng Z, Ha P, Jiang W, Soo C, Ting K. Neural EGFL-like 1, a craniosynostosis-related osteochondrogenic molecule, strikingly associates with neurodevelopmental pathologies. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:227. [PMID: 38102659 PMCID: PMC10725010 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01174-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Various craniofacial syndromes cause skeletal malformations and are accompanied by neurological abnormalities at different levels, leading to tremendous biomedical, financial, social, and psychological burdens. Accumulating evidence highlights the importance of identifying and characterizing the genetic basis that synchronously modulates musculoskeletal and neurobehavioral development and function. Particularly, previous studies from different groups have suggested that neural EGFL-like-1 (Nell-1), a well-established osteochondrogenic inducer whose biopotency was initially identified in the craniofacial tissues, may also play a vital role in the central nervous system, particularly regarding neurological disorder pathologies. To provide first-hand behavior evidence if Nell-1 also has a role in central nervous system abnormalities, we compared the Nell-1-haploinsufficient (Nell-1+/6R) mice with their wild-type counterparts regarding their repetitive, social communication, anxiety-related, locomotor, sensory processing-related, motor coordination, and Pavlovian learning and memory behaviors, as well as their hippocampus transcriptional profile. Interestingly, Nell-1+/6R mice demonstrated core autism spectrum disorder-like deficits, which could be corrected by Risperidone, an FDA-approved anti-autism, anti-bipolar medicine. Besides, transcriptomic analyses identified 269 differential expressed genes, as well as significantly shifted alternative splicing of ubiquitin B pseudogene Gm1821, in the Nell-1+/6R mouse hippocampus, which confirmed that Nell-1 plays a role in neurodevelopment. Therefore, the current study verifies that Nell-1 regulates neurological development and function for the first time. Moreover, this study opens new avenues for understanding and treating craniofacial patients suffering from skeletal deformities and behavior, memory, and cognition difficulties by uncovering a novel bone-brain-crosstalk network. Furthermore, the transcriptomic analysis provides the first insight into deciphering the mechanism of Nell-1 in neurodevelopment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenshuang Li
- Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Zhong Zheng
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Pin Ha
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Wenlu Jiang
- School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Chia Soo
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Orthopedic Hospital Research Center and David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- MacDonald Research Laboratories (MRL), 675 Charles E. Young Dr. South Room 2641A, Box 951759, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1759, USA.
| | - Kang Ting
- American Dental Association Forsyth Institute, 245 First Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Montanucci L, Lewis-Smith D, Collins RL, Niestroj LM, Parthasarathy S, Xian J, Ganesan S, Macnee M, Brünger T, Thomas RH, Talkowski M, Helbig I, Leu C, Lal D. Genome-wide identification and phenotypic characterization of seizure-associated copy number variations in 741,075 individuals. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4392. [PMID: 37474567 PMCID: PMC10359300 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39539-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Copy number variants (CNV) are established risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders with seizures or epilepsy. With the hypothesis that seizure disorders share genetic risk factors, we pooled CNV data from 10,590 individuals with seizure disorders, 16,109 individuals with clinically validated epilepsy, and 492,324 population controls and identified 25 genome-wide significant loci, 22 of which are novel for seizure disorders, such as deletions at 1p36.33, 1q44, 2p21-p16.3, 3q29, 8p23.3-p23.2, 9p24.3, 10q26.3, 15q11.2, 15q12-q13.1, 16p12.2, 17q21.31, duplications at 2q13, 9q34.3, 16p13.3, 17q12, 19p13.3, 20q13.33, and reciprocal CNVs at 16p11.2, and 22q11.21. Using genetic data from additional 248,751 individuals with 23 neuropsychiatric phenotypes, we explored the pleiotropy of these 25 loci. Finally, in a subset of individuals with epilepsy and detailed clinical data available, we performed phenome-wide association analyses between individual CNVs and clinical annotations categorized through the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO). For six CNVs, we identified 19 significant associations with specific HPO terms and generated, for all CNVs, phenotype signatures across 17 clinical categories relevant for epileptologists. This is the most comprehensive investigation of CNVs in epilepsy and related seizure disorders, with potential implications for clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Montanucci
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA
| | - David Lewis-Smith
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Clinical Neurosciences, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics (DBHi), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ryan L Collins
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and Harvard, Cambridge, USA
| | | | - Shridhar Parthasarathy
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics (DBHi), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Julie Xian
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics (DBHi), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shiva Ganesan
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics (DBHi), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marie Macnee
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tobias Brünger
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Rhys H Thomas
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Clinical Neurosciences, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Michael Talkowski
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and Harvard, Cambridge, USA
| | - Ingo Helbig
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics (DBHi), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Costin Leu
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA.
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and M.I.T, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, US.
| | - Dennis Lal
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA.
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and Harvard, Cambridge, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and M.I.T, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, US.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Timalsina B, Choi HJ, Moon IS. N-Acetylglucosamine Kinase-Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Polypeptide N Interaction Promotes Axodendritic Branching in Neurons via Dynein-Mediated Microtubule Transport. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11672. [PMID: 37511433 PMCID: PMC10380243 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
N-acetylglucosamine kinase (NAGK) has been identified as an anchor protein that facilitates neurodevelopment with its non-canonical structural role. Similarly, small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide N (SNRPN) regulates neurodevelopment and cognitive ability. In our previous study, we revealed the interaction between NAGK and SNRPN in the neuron. However, the precise role in neurodevelopment is elusive. In this study, we investigate the role of NAGK and SNRPN in the axodendritic development of neurons. NAGK and SNRPN interaction is significantly increased in neurons at the crucial stages of neurodevelopment. Furthermore, overexpression of the NAGK and SNRPN proteins increases axodendritic branching and neuronal complexity, whereas the knockdown inhibits neurodevelopment. We also observe the interaction of NAGK and SNRPN with the dynein light-chain roadblock type 1 (DYNLRB1) protein variably during neurodevelopment, revealing the microtubule-associated delivery of the complex. Interestingly, NAGK and SNRPN proteins rescued impaired axodendritic development in an SNRPN depletion model of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell neurons. Taken together, these findings are crucial in developing therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Binod Timalsina
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Jin Choi
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea
| | - Il Soo Moon
- Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ryan NM, Heron EA. Evidence for parent-of-origin effects in autism spectrum disorder: a narrative review. J Appl Genet 2023; 64:303-317. [PMID: 36710277 PMCID: PMC10076404 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-022-00742-8] [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: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous group of early-onset neurodevelopmental disorders known to be highly heritable with a complex genetic architecture. Abnormal brain developmental trajectories that impact synaptic functioning, excitation-inhibition balance and brain connectivity are now understood to play a central role in ASD. Ongoing efforts to identify the genetic underpinnings still prove challenging, in part due to phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity.This review focuses on parent-of-origin effects (POEs), where the phenotypic effect of an allele depends on its parental origin. POEs include genomic imprinting, transgenerational effects, mitochondrial DNA, sex chromosomes and mutational transmission bias. The motivation for investigating these mechanisms in ASD has been driven by their known impacts on early brain development and brain functioning, in particular for the most well-documented POE, genomic imprinting. Moreover, imprinting is implicated in syndromes such as Angelman and Prader-Willi, which frequently share comorbid symptoms with ASD. In addition to other regions in the genome, this comprehensive review highlights the 15q11-q13 and 7q chromosomal regions as well as the mitochondrial DNA as harbouring the majority of currently identified POEs in ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niamh M Ryan
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elizabeth A Heron
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Eisfeldt J, Rezayee F, Pettersson M, Lagerstedt K, Malmgren H, Falk A, Grigelioniene G, Lindstrand A. Multi-omics analysis reveals multiple mechanisms causing Prader-Willi like syndrome in a family with a X;15 translocation. Hum Mutat 2022; 43:1567-1575. [PMID: 35842787 PMCID: PMC9796698 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS; MIM# 176270) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the loss of expression of paternally imprinted genes within the PWS region located on 15q11.2. It is usually caused by either maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 15 (UPD15) or 15q11.2 recurrent deletion(s). Here, we report a healthy carrier of a balanced X;15 translocation and her two daughters, both with the karyotype 45,X,der(X)t(X;15)(p22;q11.2),-15. Both daughters display symptoms consistent with haploinsufficiency of the SHOX gene and PWS. We explored the architecture of the derivative chromosomes and investigated effects on gene expression in patient-derived neural cells. First, a multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification methylation assay was used to determine the methylation status of the PWS-region revealing maternal UPD15 in daughter 2, explaining her clinical symptoms. Next, short read whole genome sequencing and 10X genomics linked read sequencing was used to pinpoint the exact breakpoints of the translocation. Finally, we performed transcriptome sequencing on neuroepithelial stem cells from the mother and from daughter 1 and observed biallelic expression of genes in the PWS region (including SNRPN) in daughter 1. In summary, our multi-omics analysis highlights two different PWS mechanisms in one family and provide an example of how structural variation can affect imprinting through long-range interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesper Eisfeldt
- Department of Molecular Medicine and SurgeryKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden,Department of Clinical GeneticsKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden,Science for Life LaboratoryKarolinska Institutet Science ParkSolnaSweden
| | - Fatemah Rezayee
- Department of Molecular Medicine and SurgeryKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden,Department of Clinical GeneticsKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Maria Pettersson
- Department of Molecular Medicine and SurgeryKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden,Department of Clinical GeneticsKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Kristina Lagerstedt
- Department of Molecular Medicine and SurgeryKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden,Department of Clinical GeneticsKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Helena Malmgren
- Department of Molecular Medicine and SurgeryKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden,Department of Clinical GeneticsKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Anna Falk
- Department of NeuroscienceKarolinska InstituteStockholmSweden
| | - Giedre Grigelioniene
- Department of Molecular Medicine and SurgeryKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden,Department of Clinical GeneticsKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Anna Lindstrand
- Department of Molecular Medicine and SurgeryKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden,Department of Clinical GeneticsKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Li M, Shi Q, Jiang X, Liu X, Han W, Fan X, Li P, Qi K. Paternal preconceptional diet enriched with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids affects offspring brain function in mice. Front Nutr 2022; 9:969848. [PMID: 36386900 PMCID: PMC9650249 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.969848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrate that paternal nutrition prior to conception may determine offspring development and health through epigenetic modification. This study aims to investigate the effects of paternal supplementation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) on the brain development and function, and associated gene imprinting in the offspring. Three to four-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (founder) were fed with an n-3 PUFA-deficient diet (n-3 D), and two n-3 PUFA supplementation diets – a normal n-3 PUFA content diet (n-3 N) and a high n-3 PUFA content diet (n-3 H) for 12 weeks. Then they were mated to 10-week-old virgin female C57BL/6J mice to generate the offspring. The results showed that paternal n-3 PUFA supplementation in preconception reduced the anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, and improved sociability, learning and memory in the offspring, along with increased synaptic number, upregulated expressions of neuron specific enolase, myelin basic protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, and altered expressions of genes associated with mitochondria biogenesis, fusion, fission and autophagy. Furthermore, with paternal n-3 PUFA supplementation, the expression of imprinted gene Snrpn was downregulated both in testes of the founder mice and their offspring, but upregulated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, with altered DNA methylation in its differentially methylated region. The data suggest that higher paternal intake of n-3 PUFAs in preconception may help to maintain optimal brain development and function in the offspring, and further raise the possibility of paternal nutritional intervention for mental health issues in subsequent generations.
Collapse
|
9
|
Punt AM, Judson MC, Sidorov MS, Williams BN, Johnson NS, Belder S, den Hertog D, Davis CR, Feygin MS, Lang PF, Jolfaei MA, Curran PJ, van IJcken WF, Elgersma Y, Philpot BD. Molecular and behavioral consequences of Ube3a gene overdosage in mice. JCI Insight 2022; 7:158953. [PMID: 36134658 PMCID: PMC9675564 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.158953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosome 15q11.2-q13.1 duplication syndrome (Dup15q syndrome) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, impaired motor coordination, and autism spectrum disorder. Chromosomal multiplication of the UBE3A gene is presumed to be the primary driver of Dup15q pathophysiology, given that UBE3A exhibits maternal monoallelic expression in neurons and that maternal duplications typically yield far more severe neurodevelopmental outcomes than paternal duplications. However, studies into the pathogenic effects of UBE3A overexpression in mice have yielded conflicting results. Here, we investigated the neurodevelopmental impact of Ube3a gene overdosage using bacterial artificial chromosome-based transgenic mouse models (Ube3aOE) that recapitulate the increases in Ube3a copy number most often observed in Dup15q. In contrast to previously published Ube3a overexpression models, Ube3aOE mice were indistinguishable from wild-type controls on a number of molecular and behavioral measures, despite suffering increased mortality when challenged with seizures, a phenotype reminiscent of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Collectively, our data support a model wherein pathogenic synergy between UBE3A and other overexpressed 15q11.2-q13.1 genes is required for full penetrance of Dup15q syndrome phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A. Mattijs Punt
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neuroscience and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Matthew C. Judson
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Michael S. Sidorov
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Brittany N. Williams
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Naomi S. Johnson
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Sabine Belder
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neuroscience and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dion den Hertog
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neuroscience and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Courtney R. Davis
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Maximillian S. Feygin
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Patrick F. Lang
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| | - Mehrnoush Aghadavoud Jolfaei
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neuroscience and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Patrick J. Curran
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Neuroscience and
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Benjamin D. Philpot
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Dual imaging of dendritic spines and mitochondria in vivo reveals hotspots of plasticity and metabolic adaptation to stress. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100402. [PMID: 34611532 PMCID: PMC8477201 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic adaptation is a critical feature of synaptic plasticity. Indeed, synaptic plasticity requires the utilization and resupply of metabolites, in particular when the turnover is high and fast such as in stress conditions. What accounts for the localized energy burden of the post-synaptic compartment to the build up of chronic stress is currently not understood. We used in vivo microscopy of genetically encoded fluorescent probes to track changes of mitochondria, dendritic spines, ATP and H2O2 levels in pyramidal neurons of cortex before and after chronic unpredictable mild stress. Data revealed hotspots of postsynaptic mitochondria and dendritic spine turnover. Pharmacogenetic approach to force expression of the metabolic stress gene NR4A1 caused the fragmentation of postsynaptic mitochondria and loss of proximal dendritic spine clusters, whereas a dominant-negative mutant counteracted the effect of chronic stress. When fragmented, dendritic mitochondria produced lesser ATP at resting state and more on acute demand. This corresponded with significant production of mitochondrial H2O2 oxidative species in the dendritic compartment. Together, data indicate that pyramidal neurons adjust proximal dendritic spine turnover and mitochondria functions in keeping with synaptic demands. Addition of dendritic spine clusters match with more proximal mitochondria coverage. Loss of dendritic spine clusters match with less proximal mitochondria coverage. Dendrites alter spine dynamics, ATP and H202 production in keeping with excitation. In excess, the transcription factor NR4A1 promotes cross-clustering losses. Blocking NR4A1 prevents net cross-clustering losses mediated by chronic stress.
Collapse
|
11
|
Tamada K, Fukumoto K, Toya T, Nakai N, Awasthi JR, Tanaka S, Okabe S, Spitz F, Saitow F, Suzuki H, Takumi T. Genetic dissection identifies Necdin as a driver gene in a mouse model of paternal 15q duplications. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4056. [PMID: 34210967 PMCID: PMC8249516 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24359-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternally inherited duplication of chromosome 15q11-q13 (Dup15q) is a pathogenic copy number variation (CNV) associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recently, paternally derived duplication has also been shown to contribute to the development of ASD. The molecular mechanism underlying paternal Dup15q remains unclear. Here, we conduct genetic and overexpression-based screening and identify Necdin (Ndn) as a driver gene for paternal Dup15q resulting in the development of ASD-like phenotypes in mice. An excess amount of Ndn results in enhanced spine formation and density as well as hyperexcitability of cortical pyramidal neurons. We generate 15q dupΔNdn mice with a normalized copy number of Ndn by excising its one copy from Dup15q mice using a CRISPR-Cas9 system. 15q dupΔNdn mice do not show ASD-like phenotypes and show dendritic spine dynamics and cortical excitatory-inhibitory balance similar to wild type animals. Our study provides an insight into the role of Ndn in paternal 15q duplication and a mouse model of paternal Dup15q syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kota Tamada
- grid.474690.8RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan ,grid.257022.00000 0000 8711 3200Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima, Japan ,grid.31432.370000 0001 1092 3077Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, Japan
| | - Keita Fukumoto
- grid.474690.8RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan ,grid.257022.00000 0000 8711 3200Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Toya
- grid.474690.8RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan ,grid.26091.3c0000 0004 1936 9959Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University, Minato, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nakai
- grid.474690.8RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan ,grid.257022.00000 0000 8711 3200Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima, Japan ,grid.31432.370000 0001 1092 3077Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, Japan
| | - Janak R. Awasthi
- grid.474690.8RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan ,grid.263023.60000 0001 0703 3735Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura, Saitama, Japan
| | - Shinji Tanaka
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Cellular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeo Okabe
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Cellular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - François Spitz
- grid.170205.10000 0004 1936 7822Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Fumihito Saitow
- grid.410821.e0000 0001 2173 8328Department of Pharmacology, Garduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidenori Suzuki
- grid.410821.e0000 0001 2173 8328Department of Pharmacology, Garduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toru Takumi
- grid.474690.8RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan ,grid.257022.00000 0000 8711 3200Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Minami, Hiroshima, Japan ,grid.31432.370000 0001 1092 3077Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, Japan ,grid.263023.60000 0001 0703 3735Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura, Saitama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Huang Y, Grand K, Kimonis V, Butler MG, Jain S, Huang AYW, Martinez-Agosto JA, Nelson SF, Sanchez-Lara PA. Mosaic de novo SNRPN gene variant associated with Prader-Willi syndrome. J Med Genet 2021; 59:719-722. [PMID: 34099539 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2020-107674] [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: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is an imprinting disorder caused by the absence of paternal expressed genes in the Prader-Willi critical region (PWCR) on chromosome 15q11.2-q13. Three molecular mechanisms have been known to cause PWS, including a deletion in the PWCR, uniparental disomy 15 and imprinting defects. RESULTS We report the first case of PWS associated with a single-nucleotide SNRPN variant in a 10-year-old girl presenting with clinical features consistent with PWS, including infantile hypotonia and feeding difficulty, developmental delay with cognitive impairment, excessive eating with central obesity, sleep disturbances, skin picking and related behaviour issues. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a de novo mosaic nonsense variant of the SNRPN gene (c.73C>T, p.R25X) in 10% of DNA isolated from buccal cells and 19% of DNA from patient-derived lymphoblast cells. DNA methylation study did not detect an abnormal methylation pattern in the SNRPN locus. Parental origin studies showed a paternal source of an intronic single-nucleotide polymorphism within the locus in proximity to the SNRPN variant. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report that provides evidence of a de novo point mutation of paternal origin in SNRPN as a new disease-causing mechanism for PWS. This finding suggests that gene sequencing should be considered as part of the diagnostic workup in patients with clinical suspicion of PWS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Katheryn Grand
- Department of Pediatrics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Virginia Kimonis
- Department of Pediatrics, UCI and Children's Hospital of Orange County, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Merlin G Butler
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Suparna Jain
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alden Yen-Wen Huang
- Institute for Precision Health, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Julian A Martinez-Agosto
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Stanley F Nelson
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Pedro A Sanchez-Lara
- Department of Pediatrics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Pellikaan K, van Woerden GM, Kleinendorst L, Rosenberg AGW, Horsthemke B, Grosser C, van Zutven LJCM, van Rossum EFC, van der Lely AJ, Resnick JL, Brüggenwirth HT, van Haelst MM, de Graaff LCG. The Diagnostic Journey of a Patient with Prader-Willi-Like Syndrome and a Unique Homozygous SNURF-SNRPN Variant; Bio-Molecular Analysis and Review of the Literature. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12060875. [PMID: 34200226 PMCID: PMC8227738 DOI: 10.3390/genes12060875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic condition characterized by hypotonia, intellectual disability, and hypothalamic dysfunction, causing pituitary hormone deficiencies and hyperphagia, ultimately leading to obesity. PWS is most often caused by the loss of expression of a cluster of genes on chromosome 15q11.2-13. Patients with Prader–Willi-like syndrome (PWLS) display features of the PWS phenotype without a classical PWS genetic defect. We describe a 46-year-old patient with PWLS, including hypotonia, intellectual disability, hyperphagia, and pituitary hormone deficiencies. Routine genetic tests for PWS were normal, but a homozygous missense variant NM_003097.3(SNRPN):c.193C>T, p.(Arg65Trp) was identified. Single nucleotide polymorphism array showed several large regions of homozygosity, caused by high-grade consanguinity between the parents. Our functional analysis, the ‘Pipeline for Rapid in silico, in vivo, in vitro Screening of Mutations’ (PRiSM) screen, showed that overexpression of SNRPN-p.Arg65Trp had a dominant negative effect, strongly suggesting pathogenicity. However, it could not be confirmed that the variant was responsible for the phenotype of the patient. In conclusion, we present a unique homozygous missense variant in SNURF-SNRPN in a patient with PWLS. We describe the diagnostic trajectory of this patient and the possible contributors to her phenotype in light of the current literature on the genotype–phenotype relationship in PWS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karlijn Pellikaan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (K.P.); (A.G.W.R.); (E.F.C.v.R.); (A.J.v.d.L.)
- Dutch Centre of Reference for Prader-Willi Syndrome, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Geeske M. van Woerden
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
- The ENCORE Expertise Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (L.J.C.M.v.Z.); (H.T.B.)
| | - Lotte Kleinendorst
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (L.K.); (M.M.v.H.)
| | - Anna G. W. Rosenberg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (K.P.); (A.G.W.R.); (E.F.C.v.R.); (A.J.v.d.L.)
- Dutch Centre of Reference for Prader-Willi Syndrome, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Horsthemke
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.H.); (C.G.)
| | - Christian Grosser
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.H.); (C.G.)
- Praxis für Humangenetik Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Laura J. C. M. van Zutven
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (L.J.C.M.v.Z.); (H.T.B.)
| | - Elisabeth F. C. van Rossum
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (K.P.); (A.G.W.R.); (E.F.C.v.R.); (A.J.v.d.L.)
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aart J. van der Lely
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (K.P.); (A.G.W.R.); (E.F.C.v.R.); (A.J.v.d.L.)
| | - James L. Resnick
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Hennie T. Brüggenwirth
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (L.J.C.M.v.Z.); (H.T.B.)
| | - Mieke M. van Haelst
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (L.K.); (M.M.v.H.)
| | - Laura C. G. de Graaff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (K.P.); (A.G.W.R.); (E.F.C.v.R.); (A.J.v.d.L.)
- Dutch Centre of Reference for Prader-Willi Syndrome, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- The ENCORE Expertise Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Academic Centre for Growth Disorders, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-618843010
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Liu R, Tearle R, Low WY, Chen T, Thomsen D, Smith TPL, Hiendleder S, Williams JL. Distinctive gene expression patterns and imprinting signatures revealed in reciprocal crosses between cattle sub-species. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:410. [PMID: 34082698 PMCID: PMC8176687 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07667-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There are two genetically distinct subspecies of cattle, Bos taurus taurus and Bos taurus indicus, which arose from independent domestication events. The two types of cattle show substantial phenotypic differences, some of which emerge during fetal development and are reflected in birth outcomes, including birth weight. We explored gene expression profiles in the placenta and four fetal tissues at mid-gestation from one taurine (Bos taurus taurus; Angus) and one indicine (Bos taurus indicus; Brahman) breed and their reciprocal crosses. Results In total 120 samples were analysed from a pure taurine breed, an indicine breed and their reciprocal cross fetuses, which identified 6456 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two pure breeds in at least one fetal tissue of which 110 genes were differentially expressed in all five tissues examined. DEGs shared across tissues were enriched for pathways related to immune and stress response functions. Only the liver had a substantial number of DEGs when reciprocal crossed were compared among which 310 DEGs were found to be in common with DEGs identified between purebred livers; these DEGs were significantly enriched for metabolic process GO terms. Analysis of DEGs across purebred and crossbred tissues suggested an additive expression pattern for most genes, where both paternal and maternal alleles contributed to variation in gene expression levels. However, expression of 5% of DEGs in each tissue was consistent with parent of origin effects, with both paternal and maternal dominance effects identified. Conclusions These data identify candidate genes potentially driving the tissue-specific differences between these taurine and indicine breeds and provide a biological insight into parental genome effects underlying phenotypic differences in bovine fetal development. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07667-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruijie Liu
- Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Rick Tearle
- Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Wai Yee Low
- Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Tong Chen
- Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Dana Thomsen
- Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Timothy P L Smith
- USMARC, USDA-ARS-US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, USA
| | - Stefan Hiendleder
- Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - John L Williams
- Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. .,Present address: Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kummerfeld DM, Raabe CA, Brosius J, Mo D, Skryabin BV, Rozhdestvensky TS. A Comprehensive Review of Genetically Engineered Mouse Models for Prader-Willi Syndrome Research. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3613. [PMID: 33807162 PMCID: PMC8037846 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurogenetic multifactorial disorder caused by the deletion or inactivation of paternally imprinted genes on human chromosome 15q11-q13. The affected homologous locus is on mouse chromosome 7C. The positional conservation and organization of genes including the imprinting pattern between mice and men implies similar physiological functions of this locus. Therefore, considerable efforts to recreate the pathogenesis of PWS have been accomplished in mouse models. We provide a summary of different mouse models that were generated for the analysis of PWS and discuss their impact on our current understanding of corresponding genes, their putative functions and the pathogenesis of PWS. Murine models of PWS unveiled the contribution of each affected gene to this multi-facetted disease, and also enabled the establishment of the minimal critical genomic region (PWScr) responsible for core symptoms, highlighting the importance of non-protein coding genes in the PWS locus. Although the underlying disease-causing mechanisms of PWS remain widely unresolved and existing mouse models do not fully capture the entire spectrum of the human PWS disorder, continuous improvements of genetically engineered mouse models have proven to be very powerful and valuable tools in PWS research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Delf-Magnus Kummerfeld
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| | - Carsten A. Raabe
- Research Group Regulatory Mechanisms of Inflammation, Institute of Medical Biochemistry (ZMBE), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
- Institute of Experimental Pathology (ZMBE), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| | - Juergen Brosius
- Institute of Experimental Pathology (ZMBE), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dingding Mo
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China;
| | - Boris V. Skryabin
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| | - Timofey S. Rozhdestvensky
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lorgen-Ritchie M, Murray AD, Staff R, Ferguson-Smith AC, Richards M, Horgan GW, Phillips LH, Hoad G, McNeil C, Ribeiro A, Haggarty P. Imprinting methylation predicts hippocampal volumes and hyperintensities and the change with age in later life. Sci Rep 2021; 11:943. [PMID: 33441584 PMCID: PMC7806645 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78062-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic imprinting is important for neurogenesis and brain function. Hippocampal volumes and brain hyperintensities in late life have been associated with early life circumstances. Epigenetic imprinting may underpin these associations. Methylation was measured at 982 sites in 13 imprinted locations in blood samples from a longitudinal cohort by bisulphite amplicon sequencing. Hippocampal volumes and hyperintensities were determined at age 64y and 72y using MRI. Hyperintensities were determined in white matter, grey matter and infratentorial regions. Permutation methods were used to adjust for multiple testing. At 64y, H19/IGF2 and NESPAS methylation predicted hippocampal volumes. PEG3 predicted hyperintensities in hippocampal grey matter, and white matter. GNASXL predicted grey matter hyperintensities. Changes with age were predicted for hippocampal volume (MEST1, KvDMR, L3MBTL, GNASXL), white matter (MEST1, PEG3) and hippocampal grey matter hyperintensities (MCTS2, GNASXL, NESPAS, L3MBTL, MCTS2, SNRPN, MEST1). Including childhood cognitive ability, years in education, or socioeconomic status as additional explanatory variables in regression analyses did not change the overall findings. Imprinting methylation in multiple genes predicts brain structures, and their change over time. These findings are potentially relevant to the development of novel tests of brain structure and function across the life-course, strategies to improve cognitive outcomes, and our understanding of early influences on brain development and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Lorgen-Ritchie
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Alison D Murray
- Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | | | | | - Marcus Richards
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, UK
| | - Graham W Horgan
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Louise H Phillips
- School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX, UK
| | - Gwen Hoad
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Chris McNeil
- Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Antonio Ribeiro
- Centre for Genome-Enabled Biology and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - Paul Haggarty
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Ji M, Ren L, Lv Y, Lao X, Feng Q, Tang W, Zhuang A, Liu T, Zheng P, Xu J. Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Polypeptide N Accelerates Malignant Progression and Poor Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer Transcriptionally Regulated by E2F8. Front Oncol 2020; 10:561287. [PMID: 33224876 PMCID: PMC7669248 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.561287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, and the identification of new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is crucial to develop new strategies to avoid colorectal cancer-related deaths. Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide N (SNRPN) is an imprinted gene that plays an important role in various neurodevelopmental disabilities. In this study, SNRPN was highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues and involved in the progression of this disease. Immunohistochemistry analysis of 1,310 colorectal cancer tissue samples showed that SNRPN highly expressed in cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues and was mainly localized in the nucleus. Clinical pathological factor analysis demonstrated that higher expression of SNRPN was significantly associated with larger tumor size, location of the tumor on the left-sided colon, neural invasion, and distant metastasis. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that SNRPN expression was an independent risk factor for survival, with high expression levels indicating worse overall survival. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that high expression of SNRPN was associated with tumor proliferation, cell cycle, and metastasis. Knocking down SNRPN blocked the cell cycle at the G2/M phase transition and promoted tumor cell apoptosis, inhibiting the progression of colorectal cancer. To explore the up-steam of SNRPN, we found by luciferase reporter assay and chromosomal immunoprecipitation assay that E2F8 was a transcriptional regulator up-steam of SNRPN in colorectal cancer. Systematic studies of SNRPN will help us discover new regulatory molecules and provide a theoretical basis for finding new molecular targets for this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Lv
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyuan Lao
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingyang Feng
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wentao Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Aobo Zhuang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tianyu Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianmin Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Laukoter S, Pauler FM, Beattie R, Amberg N, Hansen AH, Streicher C, Penz T, Bock C, Hippenmeyer S. Cell-Type Specificity of Genomic Imprinting in Cerebral Cortex. Neuron 2020; 107:1160-1179.e9. [PMID: 32707083 PMCID: PMC7523403 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In mammalian genomes, a subset of genes is regulated by genomic imprinting, resulting in silencing of one parental allele. Imprinting is essential for cerebral cortex development, but prevalence and functional impact in individual cells is unclear. Here, we determined allelic expression in cortical cell types and established a quantitative platform to interrogate imprinting in single cells. We created cells with uniparental chromosome disomy (UPD) containing two copies of either the maternal or the paternal chromosome; hence, imprinted genes will be 2-fold overexpressed or not expressed. By genetic labeling of UPD, we determined cellular phenotypes and transcriptional responses to deregulated imprinted gene expression at unprecedented single-cell resolution. We discovered an unexpected degree of cell-type specificity and a novel function of imprinting in the regulation of cortical astrocyte survival. More generally, our results suggest functional relevance of imprinted gene expression in glial astrocyte lineage and thus for generating cortical cell-type diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Laukoter
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Florian M Pauler
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Robert Beattie
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Nicole Amberg
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Andi H Hansen
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Carmen Streicher
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Thomas Penz
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Simon Hippenmeyer
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Zhao X, Chang S, Liu X, Wang S, Zhang Y, Lu X, Zhang T, Zhang H, Wang L. Imprinting aberrations of SNRPN, ZAC1 and INPP5F genes involved in the pathogenesis of congenital heart disease with extracardiac malformations. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:9898-9907. [PMID: 32693431 PMCID: PMC7520315 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) with extracardiac malformations (EM) is the most common multiple malformation, resulting from the interaction between genetic abnormalities and environmental factors. Most studies have attributed the causes of CHD with EM to chromosomal abnormalities. However, multi‐system dysplasia is usually caused by both genetic mutations and epigenetic dysregulation. The epigenetic mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of CHD with EM remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of imprinting alterations, including those of the Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide N (SNRPN), PLAG1 like zinc finger 1 (ZAC1) and inositol polyphosphate‐5‐phosphatase F (INPP5F) genes, in the pathogenesis of CHD with EM. The methylation levels of SNRPN, ZAC1, and INPP5F genes were analysed by the MassARRAY platform in 24 children with CHD with EM and 20 healthy controls. The expression levels of these genes were detected by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The correlation between methylation regulation and gene expression was confirmed using 5‐azacytidine (5‐Aza) treated cells. The methylation levels of SNRPN and ZAC1 genes were significantly increased in CHD with EM, while that of INPP5F was decreased. The methylation alterations of these genes were negatively correlated with expression. Risk analysis showed that abnormal hypermethylation of SNRPN and ZAC1 resulted in 5.545 and 7.438 times higher risks of CHD with EM, respectively, and the abnormal hypomethylation of INPP5F was 8.38 times higher than that of the control group. We concluded that abnormally high methylation levels of SNRPN and ZAC1 and decreased levels of INPP5F imply an increased risk of CHD with EM by altering their gene functions. This study provides evidence of imprinted regulation in the pathogenesis of multiple malformations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Zhao
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoyan Chang
- Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Xinli Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PLA Army General Hospital 263rd Clinical Department, Beijing, China
| | - Shuangxing Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Yueran Zhang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolin Lu
- Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Li Wang
- Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Wang J, Qi J, Hou X. Systematically Dissecting the Function of RNA-Binding Proteins During Glioma Progression. Front Genet 2020; 10:1394. [PMID: 32047515 PMCID: PMC6997557 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play important roles in regulating gene expression and dysregulation of RBPs have been observed in various types of cancer. However, the role of RBPs during glioma progression, and particular in Chinese patients, is only starting to be unveiled. Here, we systematically analyzed the somatic mutation, gene expression patterns of 2949 RBPs during glioma progression. Our comprehensive study reveals several of highly mutated genes (such as ATRX, TTN and SETD2) and differentially expressed genes (such as KIF4A, TTK and CEP55). Integration of the expression of RBPs and genes, we constructed a regulatory network in glioma and revealed the functional links between RBPs and cancer-related genes. Moreover, we identified the prognosis spectrum of RBPs during glioma progression. The expression of a number of RBPs, such as SNRPN and IGF2BP3, are significantly associated with overall survival of patients in all grades. Taken together, our analyses provided a valuable RBP resource during glioma progression, and revealed several candidates that potentially contribute to development of therapeutic targets for glioma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianjun Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Jianfeng Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China.,College of Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
| | - Xianzeng Hou
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Montalbán-Loro R, Lozano-Ureña A, Ito M, Krueger C, Reik W, Ferguson-Smith AC, Ferrón SR. TET3 prevents terminal differentiation of adult NSCs by a non-catalytic action at Snrpn. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1726. [PMID: 30979904 PMCID: PMC6461695 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09665-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Ten-eleven-translocation (TET) proteins catalyze DNA hydroxylation, playing an important role in demethylation of DNA in mammals. Remarkably, although hydroxymethylation levels are high in the mouse brain, the potential role of TET proteins in adult neurogenesis is unknown. We show here that a non-catalytic action of TET3 is essentially required for the maintenance of the neural stem cell (NSC) pool in the adult subventricular zone (SVZ) niche by preventing premature differentiation of NSCs into non-neurogenic astrocytes. This occurs through direct binding of TET3 to the paternal transcribed allele of the imprinted gene Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein-associated polypeptide N (Snrpn), contributing to transcriptional repression of the gene. The study also identifies BMP2 as an effector of the astrocytic terminal differentiation mediated by SNRPN. Our work describes a novel mechanism of control of an imprinted gene in the regulation of adult neurogenesis through an unconventional role of TET3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Montalbán-Loro
- 0000 0001 2173 938Xgrid.5338.dERI BiotecMed/Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - Anna Lozano-Ureña
- 0000 0001 2173 938Xgrid.5338.dERI BiotecMed/Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - Mitsuteru Ito
- 0000000121885934grid.5335.0Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH UK
| | - Christel Krueger
- 0000 0001 0694 2777grid.418195.0Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT UK
| | - Wolf Reik
- 0000 0001 0694 2777grid.418195.0Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT UK ,0000 0004 0606 5382grid.10306.34Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, CB10 1SA UK
| | - Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
- 0000000121885934grid.5335.0Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH UK
| | - Sacri R. Ferrón
- 0000 0001 2173 938Xgrid.5338.dERI BiotecMed/Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Lorgen-Ritchie M, Murray AD, Ferguson-Smith AC, Richards M, Horgan GW, Phillips LH, Hoad G, Gall I, Harrison K, McNeill G, Ito M, Haggarty P. Imprinting methylation in SNRPN and MEST1 in adult blood predicts cognitive ability. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211799. [PMID: 30707743 PMCID: PMC6358095 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is important for normal brain development and aberrant imprinting has been associated with impaired cognition. We studied the imprinting status in selected imprints (H19, IGF2, SNRPN, PEG3, MEST1, NESPAS, KvDMR, IG-DMR and ZAC1) by pyrosequencing in blood samples from longitudinal cohorts born in 1936 (n = 485) and 1921 (n = 223), and anterior hippocampus, posterior hippocampus, periventricular white matter, and thalamus from brains donated to the Aberdeen Brain Bank (n = 4). MEST1 imprint methylation was related to childhood cognitive ability score (-0.416 95% CI -0.792,-0.041; p = 0.030), with the strongest effect evident in males (-0.929 95% CI -1.531,-0.326; p = 0.003). SNRPN imprint methylation was also related to childhood cognitive ability (+0.335 95%CI 0.008,0.663; p = 0.045). A significant association was also observed for SNRPN methylation and adult crystallised cognitive ability (+0.262 95%CI 0.007,0.517; p = 0.044). Further testing of significant findings in a second cohort from the same region, but born in 1921, resulted in similar effect sizes and greater significance when the cohorts were combined (MEST1; -0.371 95% CI -0.677,-0.065; p = 0.017; SNRPN; +0.361 95% CI 0.079,0.643; p = 0.012). For SNRPN and MEST1 and four other imprints the methylation levels in blood and in the five brain regions were similar. Methylation of the paternally expressed, maternally methylated genes SNRPN and MEST1 in adult blood was associated with cognitive ability in childhood. This is consistent with the known importance of the SNRPN containing 15q11-q13 and the MEST1 containing 7q31-34 regions in cognitive function. These findings, and their sex specific nature in MEST1, point to new mechanisms through which complex phenotypes such as cognitive ability may be inherited. These mechanisms are potentially relevant to both the heritable and non-heritable components of cognitive ability. The process of epigenetic imprinting—within SNRPN and MEST1 in particular—and the factors that influence it, are worthy of further study in relation to the determinants of cognitive ability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Lorgen-Ritchie
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Alison D. Murray
- Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | - Marcus Richards
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Graham W. Horgan
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gwen Hoad
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Ishbel Gall
- Department of Pathology, N.H.S. Grampian, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Kristina Harrison
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Geraldine McNeill
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Mitsuteru Ito
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Haggarty
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lorgen-Ritchie M, Murray AD, Ferguson-Smith AC, Richards M, Horgan GW, Phillips LH, Hoad G, Gall I, Harrison K, McNeill G, Ito M, Haggarty P. Imprinting methylation in SNRPN and MEST1 in adult blood predicts cognitive ability. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211799. [PMID: 30707743 PMCID: PMC6358095 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211799 10.1371/journal.pone.0215422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is important for normal brain development and aberrant imprinting has been associated with impaired cognition. We studied the imprinting status in selected imprints (H19, IGF2, SNRPN, PEG3, MEST1, NESPAS, KvDMR, IG-DMR and ZAC1) by pyrosequencing in blood samples from longitudinal cohorts born in 1936 (n = 485) and 1921 (n = 223), and anterior hippocampus, posterior hippocampus, periventricular white matter, and thalamus from brains donated to the Aberdeen Brain Bank (n = 4). MEST1 imprint methylation was related to childhood cognitive ability score (-0.416 95% CI -0.792,-0.041; p = 0.030), with the strongest effect evident in males (-0.929 95% CI -1.531,-0.326; p = 0.003). SNRPN imprint methylation was also related to childhood cognitive ability (+0.335 95%CI 0.008,0.663; p = 0.045). A significant association was also observed for SNRPN methylation and adult crystallised cognitive ability (+0.262 95%CI 0.007,0.517; p = 0.044). Further testing of significant findings in a second cohort from the same region, but born in 1921, resulted in similar effect sizes and greater significance when the cohorts were combined (MEST1; -0.371 95% CI -0.677,-0.065; p = 0.017; SNRPN; +0.361 95% CI 0.079,0.643; p = 0.012). For SNRPN and MEST1 and four other imprints the methylation levels in blood and in the five brain regions were similar. Methylation of the paternally expressed, maternally methylated genes SNRPN and MEST1 in adult blood was associated with cognitive ability in childhood. This is consistent with the known importance of the SNRPN containing 15q11-q13 and the MEST1 containing 7q31-34 regions in cognitive function. These findings, and their sex specific nature in MEST1, point to new mechanisms through which complex phenotypes such as cognitive ability may be inherited. These mechanisms are potentially relevant to both the heritable and non-heritable components of cognitive ability. The process of epigenetic imprinting-within SNRPN and MEST1 in particular-and the factors that influence it, are worthy of further study in relation to the determinants of cognitive ability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Lorgen-Ritchie
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Alison D. Murray
- Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | - Marcus Richards
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Graham W. Horgan
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gwen Hoad
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Ishbel Gall
- Department of Pathology, N.H.S. Grampian, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Kristina Harrison
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Geraldine McNeill
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Mitsuteru Ito
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Haggarty
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Wang L, Li J, Shuang M, Lu T, Wang Z, Zhang T, Yue W, Jia M, Ruan Y, Liu J, Wu Z, Zhang D, Wang L. Association study and mutation sequencing of genes on chromosome 15q11-q13 identified GABRG3 as a susceptibility gene for autism in Chinese Han population. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:152. [PMID: 30108208 PMCID: PMC6092396 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0197-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytogenetic studies suggested that chromosome 15q11-q13 might be a candidate region that increases the risk of autism. Previous association studies in Caucasian populations identified the risk variants of genes in this region. However, the association of these genes with autism in Chinese Han population remains unclear. Herein, 512 autism trios were utilized for a family-based association study of 41 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in this region to explore the association between protein-coding genes on chromosome 15q11-q13 and autism in Chinese Han population. Furthermore, we sequenced these autism-related genes to detect rare variants in 512 autism trios and 575 healthy controls. Our results showed that the C allele of rs7180500 in GABRG3 was a risk variant for autism (p = 0.00057). The expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis revealed that the C allele of rs7180500 might be associated with the expression of GABRG3 in the cerebellum (Braineac: p = 0.0048; GTEx: p = 0.0010). Moreover, the sequencing identified two rare variants rs201602655 (p.Val233Met) and rs201427468 (p.Pro365Ser) in GABRG3 and six rare variants in GABRB3 in autistic patients. Among these variants, rs201602655 (p.Val233Met) in GABRG3 were observed in 9 of 512 autistic children and 2 of 575 healthy controls (Pearson χ2-test, χ2 = 5.375, p = 0.020). The functional prediction indicated that rs201602655 (p.Val233Met) might be deleterious. Thus, these findings demonstrated that GABRG3 might contribute to the pathogenesis of autism in Chinese Han population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linyan Wang
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Jun Li
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Mei Shuang
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Tianlan Lu
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Ziqi Wang
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Tian Zhang
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Weihua Yue
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Meixiang Jia
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Yanyan Ruan
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Jing Liu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China. .,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China. .,Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Zhiliu Wu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China. .,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China. .,Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China. .,The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, 510370, China.
| | - Dai Zhang
- 0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1769 3691grid.453135.5Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0004 1798 0615grid.459847.3National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China ,0000 0001 2256 9319grid.11135.37PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Lifang Wang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China. .,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, 100191, China. .,Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, 100191, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, 100191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
The Stress-Induced Transcription Factor NR4A1 Adjusts Mitochondrial Function and Synapse Number in Prefrontal Cortex. J Neurosci 2018; 38:1335-1350. [PMID: 29295823 PMCID: PMC5815341 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2793-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The energetic costs of behavioral chronic stress are unlikely to be sustainable without neuronal plasticity. Mitochondria have the capacity to handle synaptic activity up to a limit before energetic depletion occurs. Protective mechanisms driven by the induction of neuronal genes likely evolved to buffer the consequences of chronic stress on excitatory neurons in prefrontal cortex (PFC), as this circuitry is vulnerable to excitotoxic insults. Little is known about the genes involved in mitochondrial adaptation to the buildup of chronic stress. Using combinations of genetic manipulations and stress for analyzing structural, transcriptional, mitochondrial, and behavioral outcomes, we characterized NR4A1 as a stress-inducible modifier of mitochondrial energetic competence and dendritic spine number in PFC. NR4A1 acted as a transcription factor for changing the expression of target genes previously involved in mitochondrial uncoupling, AMP-activated protein kinase activation, and synaptic growth. Maintenance of NR4A1 activity by chronic stress played a critical role in the regressive synaptic organization in PFC of mouse models of stress (male only). Knockdown, dominant-negative approach, and knockout of Nr4a1 in mice and rats (male only) protected pyramidal neurons against the adverse effects of chronic stress. In human PFC tissues of men and women, high levels of the transcriptionally active NR4A1 correlated with measures of synaptic loss and cognitive impairment. In the context of chronic stress, prolonged expression and activity of NR4A1 may lead to responses of mitochondria and synaptic connectivity that do not match environmental demand, resulting in circuit malfunction between PFC and other brain regions, constituting a pathological feature across disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The bioenergetic cost of chronic stress is too high to be sustainable by pyramidal prefrontal neurons. Cellular checkpoints have evolved to adjust the responses of mitochondria and synapses to the buildup of chronic stress. NR4A1 plays such a role by controlling the energetic competence of mitochondria with respect to synapse number. As an immediate-early gene, Nr4a1 promotes neuronal plasticity, but sustained expression or activity can be detrimental. NR4A1 expression and activity is sustained by chronic stress in animal models and in human studies of neuropathologies sensitive to the buildup of chronic stress. Therefore, antagonism of NR4A1 is a promising avenue for preventing the regressive synaptic reorganization in cortical systems in the context of chronic stress.
Collapse
|
26
|
Fernandez M, Zambrano MJ, Riquelme J, Castiglioni C, Kottler ML, Jüppner H, Mericq V. Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1B associated with assisted reproductive technology. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2017; 30:1125-1132. [PMID: 28902630 PMCID: PMC5938740 DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2017-0226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Evidence suggests an increased incidence of imprinting disorders in children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Maternal loss-of-methylation at GNAS exon A/B, observed in pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1b (PHP1B), leads to decreased expression of the stimulatory Gsα. We present a patient conceived by ART, who presented at age 4 years with delayed neurocognitive development and persistently increased creatine kinase (CK). At 6 years an elevated PTH was detected with normal calcium and a low 25(OH) vitamin D level (25OHD). Physical exam showed a narrow forehead, nasal bridge hypoplasia and micropenis. After normalizing vitamin D, PTH remained elevated and PHP1B was therefore considered as the underlying diagnosis. An almost complete loss-of-methylation was observed at GNAS exons A/B and AS, but not at exon XL, which was associated with a gain-of-methylation at exon NESP. There was no evidence of a microdeletion within the GNAS/STX16 region and analysis of several microsatellite markers for the GNAS region on Chr.20q revealed no evidence for paternal uniparental disomy (patUPD20q). Established facts Increased incidence of imprinting disorders in children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART) Pseudohypoparathyroidism is caused by imprinting abnormalities. Novel Insights First report of a possible association between a methylation defects that causes PHP1B and assisted conception Increased creatine kinase level was associated with an increase in PTH concentration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Fernandez
- Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Joel Riquelme
- Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia Castiglioni
- Pediatric Neurologist, Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marie-Laure Kottler
- Department of Genetics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen, Reference Centre for Rare Disorders of Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism, Caen, France
| | - Harald Jüppner
- Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Veronica Mericq
- Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile, P.O. Box 226–3, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Varghese M, Keshav N, Jacot-Descombes S, Warda T, Wicinski B, Dickstein DL, Harony-Nicolas H, De Rubeis S, Drapeau E, Buxbaum JD, Hof PR. Autism spectrum disorder: neuropathology and animal models. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 134:537-566. [PMID: 28584888 PMCID: PMC5693718 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1736-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 293] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a major impact on the development and social integration of affected individuals and is the most heritable of psychiatric disorders. An increase in the incidence of ASD cases has prompted a surge in research efforts on the underlying neuropathologic processes. We present an overview of current findings in neuropathology studies of ASD using two investigational approaches, postmortem human brains and ASD animal models, and discuss the overlap, limitations, and significance of each. Postmortem examination of ASD brains has revealed global changes including disorganized gray and white matter, increased number of neurons, decreased volume of neuronal soma, and increased neuropil, the last reflecting changes in densities of dendritic spines, cerebral vasculature and glia. Both cortical and non-cortical areas show region-specific abnormalities in neuronal morphology and cytoarchitectural organization, with consistent findings reported from the prefrontal cortex, fusiform gyrus, frontoinsular cortex, cingulate cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum and brainstem. The paucity of postmortem human studies linking neuropathology to the underlying etiology has been partly addressed using animal models to explore the impact of genetic and non-genetic factors clinically relevant for the ASD phenotype. Genetically modified models include those based on well-studied monogenic ASD genes (NLGN3, NLGN4, NRXN1, CNTNAP2, SHANK3, MECP2, FMR1, TSC1/2), emerging risk genes (CHD8, SCN2A, SYNGAP1, ARID1B, GRIN2B, DSCAM, TBR1), and copy number variants (15q11-q13 deletion, 15q13.3 microdeletion, 15q11-13 duplication, 16p11.2 deletion and duplication, 22q11.2 deletion). Models of idiopathic ASD include inbred rodent strains that mimic ASD behaviors as well as models developed by environmental interventions such as prenatal exposure to sodium valproate, maternal autoantibodies, and maternal immune activation. In addition to replicating some of the neuropathologic features seen in postmortem studies, a common finding in several animal models of ASD is altered density of dendritic spines, with the direction of the change depending on the specific genetic modification, age and brain region. Overall, postmortem neuropathologic studies with larger sample sizes representative of the various ASD risk genes and diverse clinical phenotypes are warranted to clarify putative etiopathogenic pathways further and to promote the emergence of clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic tools. In addition, as genetic alterations may render certain individuals more vulnerable to developing the pathological changes at the synapse underlying the behavioral manifestations of ASD, neuropathologic investigation using genetically modified animal models will help to improve our understanding of the disease mechanisms and enhance the development of targeted treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Merina Varghese
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Neha Keshav
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Sarah Jacot-Descombes
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Children and Teenagers, University Hospitals and School of Medicine, Geneva, CH-1205, Switzerland
| | - Tahia Warda
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Bridget Wicinski
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Dara L Dickstein
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Silvia De Rubeis
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Elodie Drapeau
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1639, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| |
Collapse
|