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Wang Y, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Chen H, Pan L, Liao X, Wang S. A Novel Form of Neuregulin 1 Type III Caused by N-Terminal Processing. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1756. [PMID: 38136627 PMCID: PMC10741733 DOI: 10.3390/biom13121756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Nrg1 (Neuregulin 1) type III, a susceptible gene of schizophrenia, exhibits a critical role in the central nervous system and is essential at each stage of Schwann's cell development. Nrg1 type III comprises double-pass transmembrane domains, with the N-terminal and C-terminal localizing inside the cells. The N-terminal transmembrane helix partially overlaps with the cysteine-rich domain (CRD). In this study, Nrg1 type III constructs with different tags were transformed into cultured cells to verify whether CRD destroyed the transmembrane helix formation. We took advantage of immunofluorescent and immunoprecipitation assays on whole cells and analyzed the N-terminal distribution. Astonishingly, we found that a novel form of Nrg1 type III, about 10% of Nrg1 type III, omitted the N-terminal transmembrane helix, with the N-terminal positioning outside the membrane. The results indicated that the novel single-pass transmembrane status was a minor form of Nrg1 type III caused by N-terminal processing, while the major form was a double-pass transmembrane status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukai Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Yingxing Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Hong Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Liangjing Pan
- Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Xufeng Liao
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Shunqi Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
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He XY, Huang ZH, Wang F, Chen ZL, Wang SB, Jia FJ, Hou CL. Gene Polymorphisms and Expression of NRG1, DAOA, and DISC1 Genes in a Chinese Han Population with an Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:2521-2533. [PMID: 38029052 PMCID: PMC10667082 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s434856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Although there is previous evidence supporting that ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis transformation is associated with NRG1, DAOA, and DISC1 genes, there have been no relevant studies in the Chinese population. The objective of the current study was to explore the gene polymorphism and expression of NRG1, DAOA, and DISC1 genes in a Han population with UHR for psychosis in China. Methods Eighteen UHR individuals, 61 first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia (FDR), 55 first-episode psychosis individuals (FEP), and 61 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in the study. The genotypes at four loci of the NRG1 gene, four loci of the DAOA gene, and two loci of the DISC1 gene were tested for all subjects, and mRNAs of NRG1 and DISC1 were examined and analyzed in a pairwise comparison among the four groups. Statistical analysis of genetics was performed using snpStats software. For the case-control association analysis, a single site association study, epistatic effect analysis, and haplotype analysis were used to explore the association of the above genes. Results This study found that rs3918341 in the DAOA gene was associated with susceptibility to UHR by single site association analysis. Epistatic effect analysis results showed that the NRG1 gene interacted with the DAOA gene and DISC1 gene in the susceptibility to UHR. Haplotype association analysis showed that all haplotypes were not significantly associated with UHR. NRG1 mRNA was significantly downregulated in the UHR group compared with the HC group as well as the FEP group. Conclusion Our preliminary results show that NRG1, DAOA, and DISC1 genes may play a role in psychosis onset, opening the way to the identification of prognostic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yan He
- Psychological Department, Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation Section, The Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi Central Rehabilitation Hospital, Wuxi Central Rehabilitation Hospital, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhuo-Hui Huang
- Psychological Department, Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fei Wang
- Psychological Department, Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zi-Lang Chen
- Psychiatry Department, Luoding Mental Health Center, Yunfu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shi-Bin Wang
- Psychological Department, Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fu-Jun Jia
- Psychological Department, Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cai-Lan Hou
- Psychological Department, Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Vincent B, Maitra S. BACE1-dependent metabolism of neuregulin 1: Bridging the gap in explaining the occurrence of schizophrenia-like symptoms in Alzheimer's disease with psychosis? Ageing Res Rev 2023; 89:101988. [PMID: 37331479 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease mainly characterized by cortico-neuronal atrophy, impaired memory and other cognitive declines. On the other hand, schizophrenia is a neuro-developmental disorder with an overtly active central nervous system pruning system resulting into abrupt connections with common symptoms including disorganised thoughts, hallucination and delusion. Nevertheless, the fronto-temporal anomaly presents itself as a common denominator for the two pathologies. There is even a strong presumption of increased risk of developing co-morbid dementia for schizophrenic individuals and psychosis for Alzheimer's disease patients, overall leading to a further deteriorated quality of life. However, convincing proofs of how these two disorders, although very distant from each other when considering their aetiology, develop coexisting symptoms is yet to be resolved. At the molecular level, the two primarily neuronal proteins β-amyloid precursor protein and neuregulin 1 have been considered in this relevant context, although the conclusions are for the moment only hypotheses. In order to propose a model for explaining the psychotic schizophrenia-like symptoms that sometimes accompany AD-associated dementia, this review projects out on the similar sensitivity shared by these two proteins regarding their metabolism by the β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Vincent
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Laboratory of Excellence DistALZ, Université Côte d'Azur, INSERM, CNRS, Sophia-Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.
| | - Subhamita Maitra
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå 90736, Sweden
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Zhang S, Hu S, Dong W, Huang S, Jiao Z, Hu Z, Dai S, Yi Y, Gong X, Li K, Wang H, Xu D. Prenatal dexamethasone exposure induces anxiety- and depressive-like behavior of male offspring rats through intrauterine programming of the activation of NRG1-ErbB4 signaling in hippocampal PV interneurons. Cell Biol Toxicol 2023; 39:657-678. [PMID: 34189720 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-021-09621-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Dexamethasone is a commonly used synthetic glucocorticoid in the clinic. As a compound that can cross the placental barrier to promote fetal lung maturation, dexamethasone is extensively used in pregnant women at risk of premature delivery. However, the use of glucocorticoids during pregnancy increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. In the present study, we observed anxiety- and depressive-like behavior changes and hyperexcitability of hippocampal neurons in adult rat offspring with previous prenatal dexamethasone exposure (PDE); the observed changes were related to in utero damage of parvalbumin interneurons. A programmed change in neuregulin 1 (NRG1)-Erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ErbB4) signaling was the key to the damage of parvalbumin interneurons in the hippocampus of PDE offspring. Anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, NRG1-ErbB4 signaling activation, and damage of parvalbumin interneurons in PDE offspring were aggravated after chronic stress. The intervention of NRG1-ErbB4 signaling contributed to the improvement in dexamethasone-mediated injury to parvalbumin interneurons. These results suggested that PDE might cause anxiety- and depressive-like behavior changes in male rat offspring through the programmed activation of NRG1-ErbB4 signaling, resulting in damage to parvalbumin interneurons and hyperactivity of the hippocampus. Intrauterine programming of neuregulin 1 (NRG1)-Erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ERBB4) overactivation by dexamethasone mediates anxiety- and depressive-like behavior in male rat offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shuwei Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Wanting Dong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Songqiang Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zhexiao Jiao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zewen Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medicine Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shiyun Dai
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yiwen Yi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiaohan Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Ke Li
- Demonstration Center for Experimental Basic Medicine Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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5
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Sotoyama H, Namba H, Tohmi M, Nawa H. Schizophrenia Animal Modeling with Epidermal Growth Factor and Its Homologs: Their Connections to the Inflammatory Pathway and the Dopamine System. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020372. [PMID: 36830741 PMCID: PMC9953688 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its homologs, such as neuregulins, bind to ErbB (Her) receptor kinases and regulate glial differentiation and dopaminergic/GABAergic maturation in the brain and are therefore implicated in schizophrenia neuropathology involving these cell abnormalities. In this review, we summarize the biological activities of the EGF family and its neuropathologic association with schizophrenia, mainly overviewing our previous model studies and the related articles. Transgenic mice as well as the rat/monkey models established by perinatal challenges of EGF or its homologs consistently exhibit various behavioral endophenotypes relevant to schizophrenia. In particular, post-pubertal elevation in baseline dopaminergic activity may illustrate the abnormal behaviors relevant to positive and negative symptoms as well as to the timing of this behavioral onset. With the given molecular interaction and transactivation of ErbB receptor kinases with Toll-like receptors (TLRs), EGF/ErbB signals are recruited by viral infection and inflammatory diseases such as COVID-19-mediated pneumonia and poxvirus-mediated fibroma and implicated in the immune-inflammatory hypothesis of schizophrenia. Finally, we also discuss the interaction of clozapine with ErbB receptor kinases as well as new antipsychotic development targeting these receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidekazu Sotoyama
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8122, Japan
- Correspondence: (H.N.); (H.S.)
| | - Hisaaki Namba
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 649-8156, Japan
| | - Manavu Tohmi
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 649-8156, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nawa
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 649-8156, Japan
- Correspondence: (H.N.); (H.S.)
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6
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The molecular genetic basis of creativity: a mini review and perspectives. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 87:1-16. [PMID: 35217895 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-022-01649-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Although creativity is one of the defining features of human species, it is just the beginning of an ambitious attempt for psychologists to understand its genetic basis. With ongoing efforts, great progress has been achieved in molecular genetic studies of creativity. In this mini review, we highlighted recent molecular genetic findings for both domain-general and domain-specific creativity, and provided some perspectives for future studies. It is expected that this work will provide an update on the knowledge regarding the molecular genetic basis of creativity, and contribute to the further development of this field.
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Khan MM, Parikh V. Prospects for Neurotrophic Factor-Based Early Intervention in Schizophrenia: Lessons Learned from the Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs on Cognition, Neurogenesis, and Neurotrophic Factors. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2023; 22:289-303. [PMID: 35366786 DOI: 10.2174/1871527321666220401124151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Although reducing psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia has been a major focus of therapeutic interventions for decades, improving cognition is considered a better predictor of functional outcomes. However, the most commonly prescribed antipsychotic drugs (APDs) show only marginal beneficial effects on cognition in patients with schizophrenia. The neural mechanisms underlying cognitive disturbances in schizophrenia remain unknown that making drug development efforts very challenging. Since neurotrophic factors are the primary architects of neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory, the findings from preclinical and clinical studies that assess changes in neurogenesis and neurotrophic factors and their relationship to cognitive performance in schizophrenia, and how these mechanisms might be impacted by APD treatment, may provide valuable clues in developing therapies to combat cognitive deficit in schizophrenia. Numerous evidence produced over the years suggests a deficit in a wide spectrum of neurotrophic factors in schizophrenia. Since schizophrenia is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, early intervention with neurotrophic factors may be more effective in ameliorating the cognitive deficits and psychopathological symptoms associated with this pathology. In this context, results from initial clinical trials with neurotrophic factors and their future potential to improve cognition and psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad M Khan
- Laboratory of Translational Neurology and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnology, Era\'s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, and Faculty of Science, Era University, Lucknow, UP, India
| | - Vinay Parikh
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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8
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Nawwar DA, Zaki HF, Sayed RH. Role of the NRG1/ErbB4 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways in the anti-psychotic effects of aripiprazole and sertindole in ketamine-induced schizophrenia-like behaviors in rats. Inflammopharmacology 2022; 30:1891-1907. [PMID: 35876932 PMCID: PMC9499910 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-01031-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a common mental disorder affecting patients' thoughts, behavior, and cognition. Recently, the NRG1/ErbB4 signaling pathway emerged as a candidate therapeutic target for schizophrenia. This study investigates the effects of aripiprazole and sertindole on the NRG1/ErbB4 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways in ketamine-induced schizophrenia in rats. Young male Wistar rats received ketamine (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for 5 consecutive days and aripiprazole (3 mg/kg, orally) or sertindole (2.5 mg/kg, orally) for 14 days. The proposed pathway was investigated by injecting LY294002 (a selective PI3K inhibitor) (25 μg/kg, intrahippocampal injection) 30 min before the drugs. Twenty-four hours after the last injection, animals were subjected to behavioral tests: the open field test, sucrose preference test, novel object recognition task, and social interaction test. Both aripiprazole and sertindole significantly ameliorated ketamine-induced schizophrenic-like behavior, as expected, because of their previously demonstrated antipsychotic activity. Besides, both drugs alleviated ketamine-induced oxidative stress and neurotransmitter level changes in the hippocampus. They also increased the gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate levels and glutamate decarboxylase 67 and parvalbumin mRNA expression in the hippocampus. Moreover, aripiprazole and sertindole increased the NRG1 and ErbB4 mRNA expression levels and PI3K, p-Akt, and mTOR protein expression levels. Interestingly, pre-injecting LY294002 abolished all the effects of the drugs. This study reveals that the antipsychotic effects of aripiprazole and sertindole are partly due to oxidative stress reduction as well as NRG1/ErbB4 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways activation. The NRG1/ErbB4 and PI3K signaling pathways may offer a new therapeutic approach for treating schizophrenia in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia A Nawwar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El Aini St, Cairo, 11562, Egypt
| | - Hala F Zaki
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El Aini St, Cairo, 11562, Egypt
| | - Rabab H Sayed
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El Aini St, Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
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Vouga Ribeiro N, Tavares V, Bramon E, Toulopoulou T, Valli I, Shergill S, Murray R, Prata D. Effects of psychosis-associated genetic markers on brain volumetry: a systematic review of replicated findings and an independent validation. Psychol Med 2022; 52:1-16. [PMID: 36168994 PMCID: PMC9811278 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722002896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given psychotic illnesses' high heritability and associations with brain structure, numerous neuroimaging-genetics findings have been reported in the last two decades. However, few findings have been replicated. In the present independent sample we aimed to replicate any psychosis-implicated SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), which had previously shown at least two main effects on brain volume. METHODS A systematic review for SNPs showing a replicated effect on brain volume yielded 25 studies implicating seven SNPs in five genes. Their effect was then tested in 113 subjects with either schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, 'at risk mental state' or healthy state, for whole-brain and region-of-interest (ROI) associations with grey and white matter volume changes, using voxel-based morphometry. RESULTS We found FWER-corrected (Family-wise error rate) (i.e. statistically significant) associations of: (1) CACNA1C-rs769087-A with larger bilateral hippocampus and thalamus white matter, across the whole brain; and (2) CACNA1C-rs769087-A with larger superior frontal gyrus, as ROI. Higher replication concordance with existing literature was found, in decreasing order, for: (1) CACNA1C-rs769087-A, with larger dorsolateral-prefrontal/superior frontal gyrus and hippocampi (both with anatomical and directional concordance); (2) ZNF804A-rs11681373-A, with smaller angular gyrus grey matter and rectus gyri white matter (both with anatomical and directional concordance); and (3) BDNF-rs6265-T with superior frontal and middle cingulate gyri volume change (with anatomical and allelic concordance). CONCLUSIONS Most literature findings were not herein replicated. Nevertheless, high degree/likelihood of replication was found for two genome-wide association studies- and one candidate-implicated SNPs, supporting their involvement in psychosis and brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Vouga Ribeiro
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Vânia Tavares
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Elvira Bramon
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’ College London, London, UK
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| | - Timothea Toulopoulou
- Department of Psychology & National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Centre (ASBAM), Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Isabel Valli
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’ College London, London, UK
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sukhi Shergill
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’ College London, London, UK
| | - Robin Murray
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’ College London, London, UK
| | - Diana Prata
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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10
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Pitcher JL, Alexander N, Miranda PJ, Johns TG. ErbB4 in the brain: Focus on high grade glioma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:983514. [PMID: 36119496 PMCID: PMC9471956 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.983514] [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: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) consists of EGFR, ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4. These receptors play key roles in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, cell migration, and in some cases, tumor promotion. ErbB4 is a unique member of the EGFR family, implicated not only in pro-tumorigenic mechanisms, such as cell proliferation and migration, but also in anti-tumorigenic activities, including cell differentiation and apoptosis. ErbB4 is differentially expressed in a wide variety of tissues, and interestingly, as different isoforms that result in vastly different signalling outcomes. Most studies have either ignored the presence of these isoforms or used overexpression models that may mask the true function of ErbB4. ErbB4 is widely expressed throughout the body with significant expression in skeletal tissue, mammary glands, heart, and brain. Knockout models have demonstrated embryonic lethality due to disrupted heart and brain development. Despite high expression in the brain and a critical role in brain development, remarkably little is known about the potential signalling activity of ErbB4 in brain cancer.This review focuses on the unique biology of ErbB4 in the brain, and in particular, highlights brain cancer research findings. We end the review with a focus on high grade gliomas, primarily glioblastoma, a disease that has been shown to involve EGFR and its mutant forms. The role of the different ErbB4 isotypes in high grade gliomas is still unclear and future research will hopefully shed some light on this question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie-Lee Pitcher
- Oncogenic Signalling Laboratory, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Jamie-Lee Pitcher,
| | - Naomi Alexander
- Oncogenic Signalling Laboratory, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Panimaya Jeffreena Miranda
- Oncogenic Signalling Laboratory, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Division of Paediatrics/Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Terrance G. Johns
- Oncogenic Signalling Laboratory, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Division of Paediatrics/Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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11
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Yang H, Pan W, Xiao W, Yang M, Xu J, Li J, Zhang X. Antipsychotic drugs increase Neuregulin1β1 serum levels in first-episode drug-naïve patients and chronic schizophrenia with suggestions for improving the treatment of psychotic symptoms. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:217. [PMID: 35337293 PMCID: PMC8957169 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-03856-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuregulin1 (NRG1) plays a role in neuronal migration, regulation of synaptic plasticity, and neural survival, and has been considered to be among the candidate genes for schizophrenia. This study focused on the variations in serum NRG1β1 levels following antipsychotic treatment and the relationship between NRG1β1 levels and improvements in psychotic symptoms among first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) patients and patients with chronic schizophrenia. METHODS A total of 100 patients with schizophrenia were recruited and compared with 79 matched healthy controls. All patients had been drug-naïve for at least four weeks. Serum NRG1β1 levels and positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores were measured at baseline and after four weeks. Serum NRG1β1 levels were measured using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). RESULTS Baseline NRG1β1 levels were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia than in healthy controls. NRG1β1 levels increased significantly following antipsychotic treatment. NRG1β1 levels gradually increased with declining PANSS scores and its three subscales during antipsychotic therapy. The levels of NRG1β1 increased significantly in responders after four weeks of treatment, although nonresponders showed no such effect. Correlation analyses showed that the levels of NRG1β1 were negatively correlated with the duration of illness and positively correlated with improvement in symptoms. CONCLUSION The levels of serum NRG1β1 and the therapeutic effects gradually increased following treatment, indicating that NRG1β1 may be an indicator of therapy, and that it may also be associated with the pathophysiological mechanism causing schizophrenia, although this possible pathway requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidong Yang
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated KangDa College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, 222003 P.R. China
| | - Wen Pan
- grid.263761.70000 0001 0198 0694Institute of Mental Health, Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215137 P.R. China
| | - Wenhuan Xiao
- grid.268415.cDepartment of Psychiatry, Affiliated WuTaiShan Hospital of Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225003 P.R. China
| | - Man Yang
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated KangDa College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, 222003 P.R. China
| | - Jianchun Xu
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Lianyungang, The Affiliated KangDa College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, 222003 P.R. China
| | - Jin Li
- Institute of Mental Health, Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215137, P.R. China.
| | - Xiaobin Zhang
- Institute of Mental Health, Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215137, P.R. China.
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12
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Prats C, Fatjó-Vilas M, Penzol MJ, Kebir O, Pina-Camacho L, Demontis D, Crespo-Facorro B, Peralta V, González-Pinto A, Pomarol-Clotet E, Papiol S, Parellada M, Krebs MO, Fañanás L. Association and epistatic analysis of white matter related genes across the continuum schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders: The joint effect of NRG1-ErbB genes. World J Biol Psychiatry 2022; 23:208-218. [PMID: 34338147 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2021.1939155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD) and Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that share clinical, cognitive, and genetic characteristics, as well as particular white matter (WM) abnormalities. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of a set of oligodendrocyte/myelin-related (OMR) genes and their epistatic effect on the risk for SSD and ASD. METHODS We examined 108 SNPs in a set of 22 OMR genes in 1749 subjects divided into three independent samples (187 SSD trios, 915 SSD cases/control, and 91 ASD trios). Genetic association and gene-gene interaction analyses were conducted with PLINK and MB-MDR, and permutation procedures were implemented in both. RESULTS Some OMR genes showed an association trend with SSD, while after correction, the ones that remained significantly associated were MBP, ERBB3, and AKT1. Significant gene-gene interactions were found between (i) NRG1*MBP (perm p-value = 0.002) in the SSD trios sample, (ii) ERBB3*AKT1 (perm p-value = 0.001) in the SSD case-control sample, and (iii) ERBB3*QKI (perm p-value = 0.0006) in the ASD trios sample. DISCUSSION Our results suggest the implication of OMR genes in the risk for both SSD and ASD and highlight the role of NRG1 and ERBB genes. These findings are in line with the previous evidence and may suggest pathophysiological mechanisms related to NRG1/ERBBs signalling in these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Prats
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain.,Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, Hospital Duran i Reynals, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Fatjó-Vilas
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain.,Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M J Penzol
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, IiSGM, Madrid, Spain
| | - O Kebir
- INSERM, U1266, Laboratory "Pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders", Institute of psychiatry and neurosciences of Paris, Paris, France.,GHU Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris, Paris, France
| | - L Pina-Camacho
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, IiSGM, Madrid, Spain
| | - D Demontis
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research iPSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - B Crespo-Facorro
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,University Hospital Virgen del Rocio, IbiS Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - V Peralta
- Gerencia de Salud Mental, Servicio Navarro de Salud-Osasunbidea, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNa), Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | - A González-Pinto
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Psychiatry Service, University Hospital of Alava-Santiago, EMBREC, EHU/UPV University of the Basque Country, Kronikgune, Vitoria, Spain
| | - E Pomarol-Clotet
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Papiol
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - M Parellada
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, IiSGM, Madrid, Spain
| | - M O Krebs
- INSERM, U1266, Laboratory "Pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders", Institute of psychiatry and neurosciences of Paris, Paris, France.,University Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine Paris Descartes, Service Hospitalo-Universitaire, Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Paris, France
| | - L Fañanás
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain.,Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
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13
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Epistatic interactions of NRG1 and ERBB4 on antipsychotic treatment response in first-episode schizophrenia patients. Schizophr Res 2022; 241:197-200. [PMID: 35144058 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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14
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Zhang CY, Xiao X, Zhang Z, Hu Z, Li M. An alternative splicing hypothesis for neuropathology of schizophrenia: evidence from studies on historical candidate genes and multi-omics data. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:95-112. [PMID: 33686213 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01037-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing of schizophrenia risk genes, such as DRD2, GRM3, and DISC1, has been extensively described. Nevertheless, the alternative splicing characteristics of the growing number of schizophrenia risk genes identified through genetic analyses remain relatively opaque. Recently, transcriptomic analyses in human brains based on short-read RNA-sequencing have discovered many "local splicing" events (e.g., exon skipping junctions) associated with genetic risk of schizophrenia, and further molecular characterizations have identified novel spliced isoforms, such as AS3MTd2d3 and ZNF804AE3E4. In addition, long-read sequencing analyses of schizophrenia risk genes (e.g., CACNA1C and NRXN1) have revealed multiple previously unannotated brain-abundant isoforms with therapeutic potentials, and functional analyses of KCNH2-3.1 and Ube3a1 have provided examples for investigating such spliced isoforms in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that alternative splicing may be an essential molecular mechanism underlying genetic risk of schizophrenia, however, the incomplete annotations of human brain transcriptomes might have limited our understanding of schizophrenia pathogenesis, and further efforts to elucidate these transcriptional characteristics are urgently needed to gain insights into the illness-correlated brain physiology and pathology as well as to translate genetic discoveries into novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu-Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.,KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhuohua Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhonghua Hu
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Department of Critical Care Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital and Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China. .,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China. .,KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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15
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Sustained ErbB Activation Causes Demyelination and Hypomyelination by Driving Necroptosis of Mature Oligodendrocytes and Apoptosis of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells. J Neurosci 2021; 41:9872-9890. [PMID: 34725188 PMCID: PMC8638686 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2922-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes are vulnerable to genetic and environmental insults and its injury leads to demyelinating diseases. The roles of ErbB receptors in maintaining the CNS myelin integrity are largely unknown. Here, we overactivate ErbB receptors that mediate signaling of either neuregulin (NRG) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) family growth factors and found their synergistic activation caused deleterious outcomes in white matter. Sustained ErbB activation induced by the tetracycline-dependent mouse tool Plp-tTA resulted in demyelination, axonal degeneration, oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) proliferation, astrogliosis, and microgliosis in white matter. Moreover, there was hypermyelination before these inflammatory pathologic events. In contrast, sustained ErbB activation induced by another tetracycline-dependent mouse tool Sox10+/rtTA caused hypomyelination in the corpus callosum and optic nerve, which appeared to be a developmental deficit and did not associate with OPC regeneration, astrogliosis, or microgliosis. By tracing the differentiation states of cells expressing tetracycline-controlled transcriptional activator (tTA)/reverse tTA (rtTA)-dependent transgene or pulse-labeled reporter proteins in vitro and in vivo, we found that Plp-tTA targeted mainly mature oligodendrocytes (MOs), whereas Sox10+/rtTA targeted OPCs and newly-formed oligodendrocytes (NFOs). The distinct phenotypes of mice with ErbB overactivation induced by Plp-tTA and Sox10+/rtTA consolidated their nonoverlapping targeting preferences in the oligodendrocyte lineage, and enabled us to demonstrate that ErbB overactivation in MOs induced necroptosis that caused inflammatory demyelination, whereas in OPCs induced apoptosis that caused noninflammatory hypomyelination. Early interference with aberrant ErbB activation ceased oligodendrocyte deaths and restored myelin development in both mice. This study suggests that aberrant ErbB activation is an upstream pathogenetic mechanism of demyelinating diseases, providing a potential therapeutic target. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Primary oligodendropathy is one of the etiologic mechanisms for multiple sclerosis, and oligodendrocyte necroptosis is a pathologic hallmark in the disease. Moreover, the demyelinating disease is now a broad concept that embraces schizophrenia, in which white matter lesions are an emerging feature. ErbB overactivation has been implicated in schizophrenia by genetic analysis and postmortem studies. This study suggests the etiologic implications of ErbB overactivation in myelin pathogenesis and elucidates the pathogenetic mechanisms.
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16
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Götze T, Soto-Bernardini MC, Zhang M, Mießner H, Linhoff L, Brzózka MM, Velanac V, Dullin C, Ramos-Gomes F, Peng M, Husseini H, Schifferdecker E, Fledrich R, Sereda MW, Willig K, Alves F, Rossner MJ, Nave KA, Zhang W, Schwab MH. Hyperactivity is a Core Endophenotype of Elevated Neuregulin-1 Signaling in Embryonic Glutamatergic Networks. Schizophr Bull 2021; 47:1409-1420. [PMID: 33871014 PMCID: PMC8379540 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbab027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The neuregulin 1 (NRG1) ErbB4 module is at the core of an "at risk" signaling pathway in schizophrenia. Several human studies suggest hyperstimulation of NRG1-ErbB4 signaling as a plausible pathomechanism; however, little is known about the significance of stage-, brain area-, or neural cell type-specific NRG1-ErbB4 hyperactivity for disease-relevant brain endophenotypes. To address these spatiotemporal aspects, we generated transgenic mice for Cre recombinase-mediated overexpression of cystein-rich domain (CRD) NRG1, the most prominent NRG1 isoform in the brain. A comparison of "brain-wide" vs cell type-specific CRD-NRG1 overexpressing mice revealed that pathogenic CRD-NRG1 signals for ventricular enlargement and neuroinflammation originate outside glutamatergic neurons and suggests a subcortical function of CRD-NRG1 in the control of body weight. Embryonic onset of CRD-NRG1 in glutamatergic cortical networks resulted in reduced inhibitory neurotransmission and locomotor hyperactivity. Our findings identify ventricular enlargement and locomotor hyperactivity, 2 main endophenotypes of schizophrenia, as specific consequences of spatiotemporally distinct expression profiles of hyperactivated CRD-NRG1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilmann Götze
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany,Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maria Clara Soto-Bernardini
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany,Present address: Center for Research in Biotechnology (CIB)/Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC), Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Mingyue Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Westfälische Wilhelm-University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hendrik Mießner
- Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany,Present address: Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lisa Linhoff
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany,Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen (UMG), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Magdalena M Brzózka
- Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Viktorija Velanac
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Christian Dullin
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany,Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany,Italian Synchrotron “Elettra,"Trieste, Italy
| | - Fernanda Ramos-Gomes
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Maja Peng
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Westfälische Wilhelm-University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hümeyra Husseini
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Westfälische Wilhelm-University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Eva Schifferdecker
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Westfälische Wilhelm-University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Robert Fledrich
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael W Sereda
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany,Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen (UMG), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katrin Willig
- Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany,Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany,Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Moritz J Rossner
- Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus-Armin Nave
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Weiqi Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Westfälische Wilhelm-University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Markus H Schwab
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany,Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany,Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: +49-341-97-25677; fax: +49-341-97-15049, e-mail:
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17
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Chen P, Jing H, Xiong M, Zhang Q, Lin D, Ren D, Wang S, Yin D, Chen Y, Zhou T, Li B, Fei E, Pan BX. Spine impairment in mice high-expressing neuregulin 1 due to LIMK1 activation. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:403. [PMID: 33854034 PMCID: PMC8047019 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03687-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The genes encoding for neuregulin1 (NRG1), a growth factor, and its receptor ErbB4 are both risk factors of major depression disorder and schizophrenia (SZ). They have been implicated in neural development and synaptic plasticity. However, exactly how NRG1 variations lead to SZ remains unclear. Indeed, NRG1 levels are increased in postmortem brain tissues of patients with brain disorders. Here, we studied the effects of high-level NRG1 on dendritic spine development and function. We showed that spine density in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus was reduced in mice (ctoNrg1) that overexpressed NRG1 in neurons. The frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) was reduced in both brain regions of ctoNrg1 mice. High expression of NRG1 activated LIMK1 and increased cofilin phosphorylation in postsynaptic densities. Spine reduction was attenuated by inhibiting LIMK1 or blocking the NRG1–LIMK1 interaction, or by restoring NRG1 protein level. These results indicate that a normal NRG1 protein level is necessary for spine homeostasis and suggest a pathophysiological mechanism of abnormal spines in relevant brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Hongyang Jing
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Mingtao Xiong
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Dong Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Dongyan Ren
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Shunqi Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Dongmin Yin
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education and Shanghai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yongjun Chen
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Tian Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Baoming Li
- Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Erkang Fei
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China. .,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Bing-Xing Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China. .,Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
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18
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Effects of handling on the behavioural phenotype of the neuregulin 1 type III transgenic mouse model for schizophrenia. Behav Brain Res 2021; 405:113166. [PMID: 33588020 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Handling of laboratory mice affects animal wellbeing and behavioural test outcomes. However, present research has focused on handling effects in common strains of laboratory mice despite the knowledge that environmental factors can modify established phenotypes of genetic mouse models. Thus, we examined the impact of handling on the face validity of a transgenic mouse model for the schizophrenia risk gene neuregulin 1 (i.e. Nrg1 type III overexpression). Nrg1 III tg and wild type-like (WT) control mice of both sexes underwent tail or tunnel handling before being assessed in the open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM), social preference/novelty, prepulse inhibition, and fear conditioning tests. Tunnel-handling reduced the startle response in all mice, increased OF locomotion and exploration in males and reduced anxiety in males (OF) and females (EPM) compared to tail-handling. Importantly, tunnel handling induced a more pronounced startle response to increasing startle stimuli in Nrg1 III tg females compared to respective controls, a phenomenon absent in tail-handled females. Finally, Nrg1 III tg males displayed reduced OF exploration and centre locomotion and Nrg1 III tg females displayed increased cue freezing over time compared to controls. In conclusion, handling methods have a significant impact on a variety of behavioural domains thus the impact of routine handling procedures need be considered when testing behavioural phenotypes. Handling did not change the main schizophrenia-relevant characteristics of Nrg1 III tg mice but affected the acoustic startle-response in a genotype- and sex-specific manner. Future research should evaluate the effect of handling on other genetic models.
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19
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Wu X, Dong W, Zhang T, Ren H, Wang J, Shang L, Zhu Z, Zhu W, Shi X, Xu Y. Epiregulin (EREG) and Myocardin Related Transcription Factor A (MRTF-A) Form a Feedforward Loop to Drive Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:591246. [PMID: 33520984 PMCID: PMC7843934 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.591246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Trans-differentiation of quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSC) into myofibroblast cells is considered the linchpin of liver fibrosis. A myriad of signaling pathways contribute to HSC activation and consequently liver fibrosis. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of cytokines signal through the cognate receptor EGFR to promote HSC activation. In the present study we investigated the transcription regulation of epiregulin (EREG), an EGFR ligand, during HSC activation. We report that EREG expression was significantly up-regulated in activated HSCs compared to quiescent HSCs isolated from mice. In addition, there was an elevation of EREG expression in HSCs undergoing activation in vitro. Of interest, deficiency of myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A), a well-documented regulator of HSC trans-differentiation, attenuated up-regulation of EREG expression both in vivo and in vitro. Further analysis revealed that MRTF-A interacted with serum response factor (SRF) to bind directly to the EREG promoter and activate EREG transcription. EREG treatment promoted HSC activation in vitro, which was blocked by MRTF-A depletion or inhibition. Mechanistically, EREG stimulated nuclear trans-location of MRTF-A in HSCs. Together, our data portray an EREG-MRTF-A feedforward loop that contributes to HSC activation and suggest that targeting the EREG-MRTF-A axis may yield therapeutic solutions against liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, and Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Institute of Biomedical Research, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Wenhui Dong
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, and Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tianyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, and Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haozhen Ren
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Institute, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Institute, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Longcheng Shang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhengyi Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaolei Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Hepatobiliary Institute, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, and Center for Experimental Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Institute of Biomedical Research, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
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20
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Overexpression of neuregulin 1 in GABAergic interneurons results in reversible cortical disinhibition. Nat Commun 2021; 12:278. [PMID: 33436636 PMCID: PMC7804852 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20552-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical disinhibition is a common feature of several neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, autism and intellectual disabilities. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. To mimic increased expression of Nrg1, a schizophrenia susceptibility gene in GABAergic interneurons from patients with schizophrenia, we generated gtoNrg1 mice with overexpression of Nrg1 in GABAergic interneurons. gtoNrg1 mice showed cortical disinhibition at the cellular, synaptic, neural network and behavioral levels. We revealed that the intracellular domain of NRG1 interacts with the cytoplasmic loop 1 of Nav1.1, a sodium channel critical for the excitability of GABAergic interneurons, and inhibits Nav currents. Intriguingly, activation of GABAergic interneurons or restoring NRG1 expression in adulthood could rescue the hyperactivity and impaired social novelty in gtoNrg1 mice. These results identify mechanisms underlying cortical disinhibition related to schizophrenia and raise the possibility that restoration of NRG1 signaling and GABAergic function is beneficial in certain neuropsychiatric disorders. The molecular and cellular mechanisms of cortical disinhibition as a common feature of many psychiatric diseases are not fully understood. The authors identify an interaction between NRG1 and Nav1.1 sodium channel as a mechanism of how NRG1 modulates the excitability of GABAergic interneurons.
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21
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Schoonover KE, Dienel SJ, Lewis DA. Prefrontal cortical alterations of glutamate and GABA neurotransmission in schizophrenia: Insights for rational biomarker development. Biomark Neuropsychiatry 2020; 3. [PMID: 32656540 PMCID: PMC7351254 DOI: 10.1016/j.bionps.2020.100015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Certain cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, such as impaired working memory, are thought to reflect alterations in the neural circuitry of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Gamma oscillations in the DLPFC appear to be a neural corollary of working memory function, and the power of these oscillations during working memory tasks is lower in individuals with schizophrenia. Thus, gamma oscillations represent a potentially useful biomarker to index dysfunction in the DLPFC circuitry responsible for working memory in schizophrenia. Postmortem studies, by identifying the cellular basis of DLPFC dysfunction, can help inform the utility of biomarker measures obtained in vivo. Given that gamma oscillations reflect network activity of excitatory pyramidal neurons and inhibitory GABA neurons, we review postmortem findings of alterations to both cell types in the DLPFC and discuss how these findings might inform future biomarker development and use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten E Schoonover
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Samuel J Dienel
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, United States.,Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, United States
| | - David A Lewis
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, United States.,Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, United States
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22
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Cai X, Yang ZH, Li HJ, Xiao X, Li M, Chang H. A Human-Specific Schizophrenia Risk Tandem Repeat Affects Alternative Splicing of a Human-Unique Isoform AS3MTd2d3 and Mushroom Dendritic Spine Density. Schizophr Bull 2020; 47:219-227. [PMID: 32662510 PMCID: PMC7825093 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in functional genomics have facilitated the identification of multiple genes and isoforms associated with the genetic risk of schizophrenia, yet the causal variations remain largely unclear. A previous study reported that the schizophrenia risk single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7085104 at 10q24.32 was in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) with a human-specific variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR), and both were significantly associated with the brain mRNA expression of a human-unique AS3MTd2d3 isoform in Europeans and African Americans. In this study, we have shown the direct regulation of the AS3MTd2d3 mRNA expression by this VNTR through an in vitro minigene splicing assay, suggesting that it is likely a causative functional variation. Intriguingly, we have further confirmed that the VNTR and rs7085104 are significantly associated with AS3MTd2d3 mRNA expression in brains of Han Chinese donors, and rs7085104 is also associated with risk of schizophrenia in East Asians. Finally, the overexpression of AS3MTd2d3 in cultured primary hippocampal neurons results in significantly reduced densities of mushroom dendritic spines, implicating its potential functional impact. Considering the crucial roles of dendritic spines in neuroplasticity, these results reveal the potential regulatory impact of the schizophrenia risk VNTR on AS3MTd2d3 and provide insights into the underlying biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Cai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hui-Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,KIZ/CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO 32 Jiao-Chang Donglu, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; tel: +86-871-65190612, fax: +86-871-65190612, e-mail:
| | - Hong Chang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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23
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Dunn AL, Michie PT, Hodgson DM, Harms L. Adolescent cannabinoid exposure interacts with other risk factors in schizophrenia: A review of the evidence from animal models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 116:202-220. [PMID: 32610181 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Many factors and their interaction are linked to the aetiology of schizophrenia, leading to the development of animal models of multiple risk factors and adverse exposures. Differentiating between separate and combined effects for each factor could better elucidate schizophrenia pathology, and drive development of preventative strategies for high-load risk factors. An epidemiologically valid risk factor commonly associated with schizophrenia is adolescent cannabis use. The aim of this review is to evaluate how early-life adversity from various origins, in combination with adolescent cannabinoid exposure interact, and whether these interactions confer main, synergistic or protective effects in animal models of schizophrenia-like behavioural, cognitive and morphological alterations. Patterns emerge regarding which models show consistent synergistic or protective effects, particularly those models incorporating early-life exposure to maternal deprivation and maternal immune activation, and sex-specific effects are observed. It is evident that more research needs to be conducted to better understand the risks and alterations of interacting factors, with particular interest in sex differences, to better understand the translatability of these preclinical models to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel L Dunn
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
| | - Patricia T Michie
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
| | - Deborah M Hodgson
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
| | - Lauren Harms
- Priority Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia.
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24
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Shi L, Bergson CM. Neuregulin 1: an intriguing therapeutic target for neurodevelopmental disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:190. [PMID: 32546684 PMCID: PMC7297728 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-00868-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia (Sz) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are chronic mental illnesses, which place costly and painful burdens on patients, their families and society. In recent years, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family member Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) and one of its receptors, ErbB4, have received considerable attention due to their regulation of inhibitory local neural circuit mechanisms important for information processing, attention, and cognitive flexibility. Here we examine an emerging body of work indicating that either decreasing NRG1-ErbB4 signaling in fast-spiking parvalbumin positive (PV+) interneurons or increasing it in vasoactive intestinal peptide positive (VIP+) interneurons could reactivate cortical plasticity, potentially making it a future target for gene therapy in adults with neurodevelopmental disorders. We propose preclinical studies to explore this model in prefrontal cortex (PFC), but also review the many challenges in pursuing cell type and brain-region-specific therapeutic approaches for the NRG1 system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Shi
- grid.410427.40000 0001 2284 9329Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 1460 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912 USA ,grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Present Address: Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Clare M. Bergson
- grid.410427.40000 0001 2284 9329Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 1460 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
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25
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ErbB4 Null Mice Display Altered Mesocorticolimbic and Nigrostriatal Dopamine Levels as well as Deficits in Cognitive and Motivational Behaviors. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0395-19.2020. [PMID: 32354758 PMCID: PMC7242816 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0395-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural genetic variants of Neuregulin1 (NRG1) and its cognate receptor ErbB4 are associated with a risk for schizophrenia. Whereas most studies on NRG1-ErbB4 signaling have focused on GABAergic interneurons, ErbB4 is also expressed by midbrain dopaminergic neurons where it modulates extracellular dopamine (DA) levels. Here, we report that extracellular steady-state levels of DA are reduced in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC; −65%), hippocampus (−53%) and nucleus accumbens (NAc; −35%), but are elevated in the dorsal striatum (+25%) of ErbB4 knock-out mice (ErbB4 KOs) relative to wild-type controls. This pattern of DA imbalance recapitulates the reported prefrontal cortical reduction and striatal increase of DA levels in schizophrenia patients. Next, we report on a battery of behavioral tasks used to evaluate locomotor, cognitive and motivational behaviors in ErbB4 KOs relative to controls. We found that ErbB4 KOs are hyperactive in a novel open field but not in their familiar home cage, are more sensitive to amphetamine, perform poorly in the T-maze and novel object recognition (NOR) tasks, exhibit reduced spatial learning and memory on the Barnes maze, and perform markedly worse in conditioned place preference (CPP) tasks when associating cued-reward palatable food with location. However, we found that the poor performance of ErbB4 KOs in CPP are likely due to deficits in spatial memory, instead of reward seeking, as ErbB4 KOs are more motivated to work for palatable food rewards. Our findings indicate that ErbB4 signaling affects tonic DA levels and modulates a wide array of behavioral deficits relevant to psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia.
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26
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Paterson C, Cumming B, Law AJ. Temporal Dynamics of the Neuregulin-ErbB Network in the Murine Prefrontal Cortex across the Lifespan. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:3325-3339. [PMID: 31897479 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuregulin-ErbB signaling is essential for numerous functions in the developing, adult, and aging brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Mouse models with disrupted Nrg and/or ErbB genes are relevant to psychiatric, developmental, and age-related disorders, displaying a range of abnormalities stemming from cortical circuitry impairment. Many of these models display nonoverlapping phenotypes dependent upon the gene target and timing of perturbation, suggesting that cortical expression of the Nrg-ErbB network undergoes temporal regulation across the lifespan. Here, we report a comprehensive temporal expression mapping study of the Nrg-ErbB signaling network in the mouse PFC across postnatal development through aging. We find that Nrg and ErbB genes display distinct expression profiles; moreover, splice isoforms of these genes are differentially expressed across the murine lifespan. We additionally find a developmental switch in ErbB4 splice isoform expression potentially mediated through coregulation of the lncRNA Miat expression. Our results are the first to comprehensively and quantitatively map the expression patterns of the Nrg-ErbB network in the mouse PFC across the postnatal lifespan and may help disentangle the pathway's involvement in normal cortical sequences of events across the lifespan, as well as shedding light on the pathophysiological mechanisms of abnormal Nrg-ErbB signaling in neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Paterson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado, School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Brooke Cumming
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado, School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Amanda J Law
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado, School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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27
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Abstract
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mood disorder characterized by extreme mood swings between mania and depression. Despite fitness costs associated with increased mortality and significant impairment, bipolar disorder has persisted in the population with a high heritability and a stable prevalence. Creativity and other positive traits have repeatedly been associated with the bipolar spectrum, particularly among unaffected first-degree relatives and those with milder expressions of bipolar traits. This suggests a model in which large doses of risk variants cause illness, but mild to moderate doses confer advantages, which serve to maintain bipolar disorder in the population. Bipolar disorder may thus be better conceptualized as a dimensional trait existing at the extreme of normal population variation in positive temperament, personality, and cognitive traits, aspects of which may reflect a shared vulnerability with creativity. Investigations of this shared vulnerability may provide insight into the genetic mechanisms underlying illness and suggest novel treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany A Greenwood
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA;
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28
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Hasan A, Roeh A, Leucht S, Langguth B, Hansbauer M, Oviedo-Salcedo T, Kirchner SK, Papazova I, Löhrs L, Wagner E, Maurus I, Strube W, Rossner MJ, Wehr MC, Bauer I, Heres S, Leucht C, Kreuzer PM, Zimmermann S, Schneider-Axmann T, Görlitz T, Karch S, Egert-Schwender S, Schossow B, Rothe P, Falkai P. Add-on spironolactone as antagonist of the NRG1-ERBB4 signaling pathway for the treatment of schizophrenia: Study design and methodology of a multicenter randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2020; 17:100537. [PMID: 32072071 PMCID: PMC7013159 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2020.100537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical studies recently showed that the mineralocorticoid antagonist spironolactone acts also as an antagonist of the NRG1-ERBB4 signaling pathway and improves schizophrenia-like behaviour in Nrg1 transgenic mouse model. As this signaling pathway is critically linked to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, especially in the context of working-memory dysfunction, spironolactone may be a novel treatment option for patients with schizophrenia targeting cognitive impairments. AIMS To evaluate whether spironolactone added to an ongoing antipsychotic treatment improves cognitive functioning in schizophrenia. METHODS The add-on spironolactone for the treatment of schizophrenia trial (SPIRO-TREAT) is a multicenter randomized, placebo-controlled trial with three arms (spironolactone 100 mg, spironolactone 200 mg and placebo). Schizophrenia patients are treated for three weeks and then followed-up for additional nine weeks. As primary outcome, we investigate changes in working memory before and at the end of the intervention phase. We will randomize 90 patients. Eighty-one patients are intended to reach the primary endpoint measure at the end of the three-week intervention period. Secondary endpoints include other measures of cognition, psychopathology, safety measures and biological measures. CONCLUSIONS SPIRO-TREAT is the first study evaluating the efficacy of the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone to improve cognitive impairments in schizophrenia patients targeting the NRG1-ERBB4 signaling pathway. With SPIRO-TREAT, we intend to investigate a novel treatment option for cognitive impairments in schizophrenia that goes beyond the established concepts of interfering with dopaminergic neurotransmission as key pathway in schizophrenia treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION International Clinical Trials Registry Platform: http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=EUCTR2014-001968-35-DE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics of the University Augsburg, Bezirkskrankenhaus Augsburg, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Astrid Roeh
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Stefan Leucht
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Faculty of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Germany
| | - Berthold Langguth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Hansbauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Tatiana Oviedo-Salcedo
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Sophie K. Kirchner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Irina Papazova
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Lisa Löhrs
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Elias Wagner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Isabel Maurus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Strube
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Moritz J. Rossner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Michael C. Wehr
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Ingrid Bauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Faculty of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Germany
| | - Stephan Heres
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Faculty of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Germany
| | - Claudia Leucht
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Faculty of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Germany
| | - Peter M. Kreuzer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Schneider-Axmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Thomas Görlitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Susanne Karch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
| | - Silvia Egert-Schwender
- Münchner Studienzentrum, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Beate Schossow
- Münchner Studienzentrum, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp Rothe
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, Germany
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29
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Zhang W, Cai S, Huang K, Lv Y, Kang Y, Wang Q, Huang L. Association between schizophrenia risk allele dosage of rs6994992 and whole-brain structural and functional characteristics. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2019; 294:110956. [PMID: 31202487 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The rs6994992 polymorphism has been reported as a candidate variant associated with schizophrenia (SZ). Neuroimaging studies have revealed that SZ is associated with widespread structural and functional alterations in brain. However, whether the allele dosage of rs6994992 is associated with brain structural or functional features is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between the risk allele dosage of rs6994992 and whole-brain structural and functional characteristics and to further explore the relationship between these characteristics and cognition. Magnetic resonance images and the rs6994992 genotype were obtained from 53 healthy participants. A general linear model was used to determine the effects of risk allele dosage of rs6994992 on brain characteristics. Spearman correlation analysis was employed to calculate the correlation between altered brain characteristics and cognitive scores. Our results demonstrated that regions with significant differences in structural characteristics between groups with different dosages of rs6994992 were mainly located in the frontal and temporal lobes, hippocampus and angular gyrus. Moreover, significant regions of functional connectivity (FC) partly overlapped with the structural results. Measurements in those significant regions and FCs were correlated with the cognition scales. This association can inform our understanding of the mechanisms through which rs6994992 variants increase the risk for SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, PR China
| | - Suping Cai
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, PR China
| | - Kexin Huang
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, PR China
| | - Yahui Lv
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, PR China
| | - Yafei Kang
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, PR China
| | - Qiang Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi 'an Jiaotong university, Shaanxi 710048, PR China
| | - Liyu Huang
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, PR China.
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30
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Wang D, Guo T, Guo Q, Zhang S, Zhang J, Luo J. The Association Between Schizophrenia Risk Variants and Creativity in Healthy Han Chinese Subjects. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2218. [PMID: 31649580 PMCID: PMC6792478 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although previous evidence has suggested that there is a genetic link between schizophrenia and creativity, the specific genetic variants that underlie the link are still largely unknown. To further explore the potential genetic link between schizophrenia and creativity, in a sample of 580 healthy Han Chinese subjects, this study aimed to (1) validate the role of Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) rs6994992 (one schizophrenia risk variant that has been previously linked to creativity in the European population) in the relationship between schizophrenia and creativity and (2) explore the associations between 10 other schizophrenia risk variants and creativity. For NRG1 rs6994992, the result validated its association with creativity measures. However, since NRG1 rs6994992 is not a schizophrenia risk variant in the Han Chinese population, the validated association suggested that ethnic difference may exist in the relationship between NRG1 rs6994992, schizophrenia and creativity. For other schizophrenia risk variants, the result only demonstrated a nominal association between ZNF536 rs2053079 and creativity measures which would not survive correction for multiple testing. No association between polygenic risk score for these 10 schizophrenia risk variants and creativity measures was observed. In conclusion, this study provides limited evidence for the associations between these schizophrenia risk variants and creativity in healthy Han Chinese subjects. Future studies are warranted to better understand the potential genetic link between schizophrenia and creativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, Department of Psychology, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Capital Education Development, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Guo
- Beijing Gese Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Qi Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, Department of Psychology, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Capital Education Development, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Shun Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Jinghuan Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, Department of Psychology, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Capital Education Development, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
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Nakazawa K, Sapkota K. The origin of NMDA receptor hypofunction in schizophrenia. Pharmacol Ther 2019; 205:107426. [PMID: 31629007 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction plays a key role in pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Since NMDAR hypofunction has also been reported in autism, Alzheimer's disease and cognitive dementia, it is crucial to identify the location, timing, and mechanism of NMDAR hypofunction for schizophrenia for better understanding of disease etiology and for novel therapeutic intervention. In this review, we first discuss the shared underlying mechanisms of NMDAR hypofunction in NMDAR antagonist models and the anti-NMDAR autoantibody model of schizophrenia and suggest that NMDAR hypofunction could occur in GABAergic neurons in both models. Preclinical models using transgenic mice have shown that NMDAR hypofunction in cortical GABAergic neurons, in particular parvalbumin-positive fast-spiking interneurons, in the early postnatal period confers schizophrenia-related phenotypes. Recent studies suggest that NMDAR hypofunction can also occur in PV-positive GABAergic neurons with alterations of NMDAR-associated proteins, such as neuregulin/ErbB4, α7nAChR, and serine racemase. Furthermore, several environmental factors, such as oxidative stress, kynurenic acid and hypoxia, may also potentially elicit NMDAR hypofunction in GABAergic neurons in early postnatal period. Altogether, the studies discussed here support a central role for GABAergic abnormalities in the context of NMDAR hypofunction. We conclude by suggesting potential therapeutic strategies to improve the function of fast-spiking neurons.
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32
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Ju J, Liu L, Zhang Y, Zhou Q. Effect of age onset on schizophrenia-like phenotypes and underlying mechanisms in model mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:465-474. [PMID: 30025793 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
In humans, schizophrenia with onset in adolescence or adult has distinct features. To understand whether schizophrenia with either adolescence- or adult-onset have distinct phenotypes and cellular mechanisms in schizophrenia model mice, we altered Nrg1 signaling during either adolescence or adult mice via injection of anti-Nrg1 antibodies. We found that in either early-onset schizophrenia (EOS)- or late-onset schizophrenia (LOS)-like mice, certain behavior phenotypes are shared including hyperlocomotion, impaired working memory and impaired fear conditioning. Anxiety appears to be largely unaffected. In vitro electrophysiology in brain slices showed altered excitation/inhibition balance in EOS-like mice towards enhanced synaptic excitation, but intrinsic excitability of the fast-spiking GABAergic neurons was elevated in the LOS-like mice. Thus, although schizophrenia-like main phenotypes appear to be preserved in both age onset model mice, there are distinct differences in cellular mechanisms between them. We suggest that these differences are important for more precise diagnosis and more effective treatment of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ju
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Luping Liu
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yujie Zhang
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China.
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33
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Brandão-Teles C, de Almeida V, Cassoli JS, Martins-de-Souza D. Biochemical Pathways Triggered by Antipsychotics in Human [corrected] Oligodendrocytes: Potential of Discovering New Treatment Targets. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:186. [PMID: 30890939 PMCID: PMC6411851 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that affects more than 21 million people worldwide. It is an incurable disorder and the primary means of managing symptoms is through administration of pharmacological treatments, which consist heavily of antipsychotics. First-generation antipsychotics have the properties of D2 receptor antagonists. Second-generation antipsychotics are antagonists of both D2 and 5HT2 receptors. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the effects of antipsychotics beyond their neuronal targets and oligodendrocytes are one of the main candidates. Thus, our aim was to evaluate the molecular effects of typical and atypical drugs across the proteome of the human oligodendrocyte cell line, MO3.13. For this, we performed a mass spectrometry-based, bottom-up shotgun proteomic analysis to identify differences triggered by typical (chlorpromazine and haloperidol) and atypical (quetiapine and risperidone) antipsychotics. Proteins which showed changes in their expression levels were analyzed in silico using Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis, which implicated dysregulation of canonical pathways for each treatment. Our results shed light on the biochemical pathways involved in the mechanisms of action of these drugs, which may guide the identification of novel biomarkers and the development of new and improved treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Brandão-Teles
- Laboratory of Neuroproteomics, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Valéria de Almeida
- Laboratory of Neuroproteomics, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Juliana S Cassoli
- Laboratory of Neuroproteomics, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.,Faculdade de Palmas, Palmas, Brazil
| | - Daniel Martins-de-Souza
- Laboratory of Neuroproteomics, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.,UNICAMP's Neurobiology Center, Campinas, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, São Paulo, Brazil
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34
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Zai CC, Tiwari AK, Chowdhury NI, Yilmaz Z, de Luca V, Müller DJ, Potkin SG, Lieberman JA, Meltzer HY, Voineskos AN, Remington G, Kennedy JL. Genetic study of neuregulin 1 and receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-4 in tardive dyskinesia. World J Biol Psychiatry 2019; 20:91-95. [PMID: 28394697 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2017.1301681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder that may develop as a side effect of antipsychotic medication. The aetiology underlying TD is unclear, but a number of mechanisms have been proposed. METHODS We investigated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes coding for neuregulin-1 and erbB-4 receptor in our sample of 153 European schizophrenia patients for possible association with TD. RESULTS We found the ERBB4 rs839523 CC genotype to be associated with risk for TD occurrence and increased severity as measured by the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS This study supports a role for the neuregulin signalling pathway in TD, although independent replications are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement C Zai
- a Neurogenetics Section, Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science , Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , ON , Canada.,b Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.,c Laboratory Medicine and Pathophysiology , University of Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Arun K Tiwari
- a Neurogenetics Section, Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science , Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , ON , Canada.,b Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Nabilah I Chowdhury
- a Neurogenetics Section, Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science , Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Zeynep Yilmaz
- a Neurogenetics Section, Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science , Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , ON , Canada.,d Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - Vincenzo de Luca
- a Neurogenetics Section, Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science , Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , ON , Canada.,b Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.,e Institute of Medical Science , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Daniel J Müller
- a Neurogenetics Section, Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science , Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , ON , Canada.,b Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.,e Institute of Medical Science , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Steven G Potkin
- f Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior , University of California , Irvine, Irvine , CA , USA
| | - Jeffrey A Lieberman
- g Department of Psychiatry , Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons , NY , USA
| | - Herbert Y Meltzer
- h Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Pharmacology and Physiology, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute , Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Aristotle N Voineskos
- a Neurogenetics Section, Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science , Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , ON , Canada.,b Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.,e Institute of Medical Science , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - Gary Remington
- b Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.,e Institute of Medical Science , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada
| | - James L Kennedy
- a Neurogenetics Section, Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science , Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , ON , Canada.,b Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.,e Institute of Medical Science , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada
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35
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Bygrave AM, Kilonzo K, Kullmann DM, Bannerman DM, Kätzel D. Can N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Hypofunction in Schizophrenia Be Localized to an Individual Cell Type? Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:835. [PMID: 31824347 PMCID: PMC6881463 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypofunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors (NMDARs), whether caused by endogenous factors like auto-antibodies or mutations, or by pharmacological or genetic manipulations, produces a wide variety of deficits which overlap with-but do not precisely match-the symptom spectrum of schizophrenia. In order to understand how NMDAR hypofunction leads to different components of the syndrome, it is necessary to take into account which neuronal subtypes are particularly affected by it in terms of detrimental functional alterations. We provide a comprehensive overview detailing findings in rodent models with cell type-specific knockout of NMDARs. Regarding inhibitory cortical cells, an emerging model suggests that NMDAR hypofunction in parvalbumin (PV) positive interneurons is a potential risk factor for this disease. PV interneurons display a selective vulnerability resulting from a combination of genetic, cellular, and environmental factors that produce pathological multi-level positive feedback loops. Central to this are two antioxidant mechanisms-NMDAR activity and perineuronal nets-which are themselves impaired by oxidative stress, amplifying disinhibition. However, NMDAR hypofunction in excitatory pyramidal cells also produces a range of schizophrenia-related deficits, in particular maladaptive learning and memory recall. Furthermore, NMDAR blockade in the thalamus disturbs thalamocortical communication, and NMDAR ablation in dopaminergic neurons may provoke over-generalization in associative learning, which could relate to the positive symptom domain. Therefore, NMDAR hypofunction can produce schizophrenia-related effects through an action on various different circuits and cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei M Bygrave
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kasyoka Kilonzo
- Institute of Applied Physiology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dimitri M Kullmann
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David M Bannerman
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Dennis Kätzel
- Institute of Applied Physiology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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36
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Cespedes JC, Liu M, Harbuzariu A, Nti A, Onyekaba J, Cespedes HW, Bharti PK, Solomon W, Anyaoha P, Krishna S, Adjei A, Botchway F, Ford B, Stiles JK. Neuregulin in Health and Disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BRAIN DISORDERS AND TREATMENT 2018; 4:024. [PMID: 31032468 PMCID: PMC6483402 DOI: 10.23937/2469-5866/1410024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Cespedes
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, USA
| | - Mingli Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, USA
| | - Adriana Harbuzariu
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, USA
| | - Annette Nti
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, USA
| | - John Onyekaba
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, USA
| | - Hanna Watson Cespedes
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, USA
| | | | - Wesley Solomon
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, USA
| | - Precious Anyaoha
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, USA
| | - Sri Krishna
- ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tribal Health, India
| | - Andrew Adjei
- Department of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana
| | - Felix Botchway
- Department of Pathology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana
| | - Byron Ford
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California-Riverside School of Medicine, USA
| | - Jonathan K Stiles
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, USA
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37
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Olaya JC, Heusner CL, Matsumoto M, Shannon Weickert C, Karl T. Schizophrenia-relevant behaviours of female mice overexpressing neuregulin 1 type III. Behav Brain Res 2018; 353:227-235. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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38
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Abbasy S, Shahraki F, Haghighatfard A, Qazvini MG, Rafiei ST, Noshadirad E, Farhadi M, Rezvani Asl H, Shiryazdi AA, Ghamari R, Tabrizi Z, Mehrfard R, Esmaili Kakroudi F, Azarnoosh M, Younesi F, Parsamehr N, Garaei N, Abyari S, Salehi M, Gholami M, Zolfaghari P, Bagheri SM, Pourmehrabi M, Rastegarimogaddam E, Nobakht E, Nobakht E, Partovi R. Neuregulin1 types mRNA level changes in autism spectrum disorder, and is associated with deficit in executive functions. EBioMedicine 2018; 37:483-488. [PMID: 30415889 PMCID: PMC6284419 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pediatric heterogeneous psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorder with social and communication deficits, language impairment and ritualistic or repetitive behaviors. ASD has significant genetic bases but candidate genes and molecular mechanisms of disorder are not clarified. Neuregulin1 (NRG1) gene, located in 8p12 is involved in development of central nervous system and was indicated as candidate gene in schizophrenia. METHODS mRNA level of types I, II and III of NRG1 gene were studied in peripheral blood of 1540 ASD patients (IQ > 70) and 1490 control children by quantitative Real Time PCR. Also three domains of executive functions (working memory, response inhibition and vigilance) were examined in all subjects. FINDINGS All three types were significantly down regulated in ASD patients. Significant deficiencies in executive functions (EF) were found in ASD patients. EF deficiencies mostly were associated with down expression of mRNA level of types I and III. Also correlations were found between NRG1 expression with gender and severity of ASD symptoms. INTERPRETATIONS Findings primarily have been suggested involvement of NRG1 in etiology of ASD. Also correlation of NRG1 mRNA level with EF deficiencies could shed lights on EF mechanisms and may suggest targeted treatments to improve particular executive functions. FUND: Young researchers and elites club funded the project due to the annual grant of special talents of Club that gave to Arvin Haghighatfard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samane Abbasy
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran; Sarem Cell Research Center, Sarem Women's Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fazlollah Shahraki
- Department of Mind- Brain-Education, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arvin Haghighatfard
- Department of Biology, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Sahel Towfigh Rafiei
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elnaz Noshadirad
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Farhadi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Rana Ghamari
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Tabrizi
- Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Rashed Mehrfard
- Department of Microbiology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran
| | | | - Mahsima Azarnoosh
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faeghe Younesi
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Narges Parsamehr
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nooriyeh Garaei
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soroush Abyari
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maede Salehi
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Gholami
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pardis Zolfaghari
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyede Mahsa Bagheri
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Melika Pourmehrabi
- Department of Genetic, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Elnaz Nobakht
- Department of Microbiology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran
| | - Elmira Nobakht
- Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran
| | - Rayan Partovi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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Altered hippocampal gene expression and structure in transgenic mice overexpressing neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) type I. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:229. [PMID: 30348978 PMCID: PMC6197224 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0288-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgenic mice overexpressing the type I isoform of neuregulin 1 (Nrg1; NRG1) have alterations in hippocampal gamma oscillations and an age-emergent deficit in hippocampus-dependent spatial working memory. Here, we examined the molecular and morphological correlates of these findings. Microarrays showed over 100 hippocampal transcripts differentially expressed in Nrg1tg-type I mice, with enrichment of genes related to neuromodulation and, in older mice, of genes involved in inflammation and immunity. Nrg1tg-type I mice had an enlarged hippocampus with a widened dentate gyrus. The results show that Nrg1 type I impacts on hippocampal gene expression and structure in a multifaceted and partly age-related way, complementing the evidence implicating Nrg1 signaling in aspects of hippocampal function. The findings are also relevant to the possible role of NRG1 signaling in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia or other disorders affecting this brain region.
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40
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Toth M. The other side of the coin: Hypersociability. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 18:e12512. [PMID: 30101538 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Affiliative social motivation and behavior, that is, sociability that includes attachment, prosocial behavior (sharing, caring and helping) and empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of others), has high variability in the human population, with a portion of people outside of the normal range. While psychiatric disorders and autism spectrum disorders are typically associated with a deficit in social behavior, the opposite trait of hypersociability and indiscriminate friendliness are exhibited by individual with specific neurodevelopmental disorders and following early adverse care. Here we discuss both genetic and environmental factors that cause or increase the risk for developing pathological hypersociability from human to rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miklos Toth
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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41
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Jagannath V, Gerstenberg M, Walitza S, Franscini M, Heekeren K, Rössler W, Theodoridou A, Grünblatt E. Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) gene expression predicts functional outcomes in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis. Psychiatry Res 2018; 266:143-146. [PMID: 29864613 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about valid predictive markers for functional outcomes in an at-risk for psychosis population. In a cohort of 185 individuals (age: 13-35 years) at high risk (HR) and ultra-high risk (UHR), we assessed pan-NRG1 mRNA levels across good functional status (GFS) and poor functional status (PFS) at baseline, and good functional outcome (GFO) and poor functional outcome (PFO) at 12-month follow-up. NRG1 mRNA levels were significantly higher in individuals with PFO than individuals with GFO at 12-month follow-up. Our findings suggest that NRG1 might emerge as a predictive marker for functional outcomes in at-risk for psychosis population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Jagannath
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Gerstenberg
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Walitza
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maurizia Franscini
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karsten Heekeren
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wulf Rössler
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anastasia Theodoridou
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Edna Grünblatt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Mohammadi A, Rashidi E, Amooeian VG. Brain, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and serum biomarkers in schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2018; 265:25-38. [PMID: 29680514 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, finding a reliable biomarker for the early detection of schizophrenia (Scz) has been a topic of interest. The main goal of the current review is to provide a comprehensive view of the brain, blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and serum biomarkers of Scz disease. Imaging studies have demonstrated that the volumes of the corpus callosum, thalamus, hippocampal formation, subiculum, parahippocampal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices, and amygdala-hippocampal complex were reduced in patients diagnosed with Scz. It has been revealed that the levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were increased in patients with Scz. Decreased mRNA levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), nerve growth factor (NGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genes have also been reported in Scz patients. Genes with known strong relationships with this disease include BDNF, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4), dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (DTNBP1), neuregulin 1 (NRG1), Reelin (RELN), Selenium-binding protein 1 (SELENBP1), glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD 67), and disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1). The levels of dopamine, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor 1A and B (5-HTR1A and 5-HTR1B), and 5-HT1B were significantly increased in Scz patients, while the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), 5-HT transporter (5-HTT), and 5-HT receptor 2A (5-HTR2A) were decreased. The increased levels of SELENBP1 and Glycogen synthase kinase 3 subunit α (GSK3α) genes in contrast with reduced levels of B-cell translocation gene 1 (BTG1), human leukocyte antigen DRB1 (HLA-DRB1), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A3 (HNRPA3), and serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SFRS1) genes have also been reported. This review covers various dysregulation of neurotransmitters and also highlights the strengths and weaknesses of studies attempting to identify candidate biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Mohammadi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ehsan Rashidi
- Students' Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Ghasem Amooeian
- Students' Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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43
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Erben L, He MX, Laeremans A, Park E, Buonanno A. A Novel Ultrasensitive In Situ Hybridization Approach to Detect Short Sequences and Splice Variants with Cellular Resolution. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:6169-6181. [PMID: 29264769 PMCID: PMC5994223 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0834-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Investigating the expression of RNAs that differ by short or single nucleotide sequences at a single-cell level in tissue has been limited by the sensitivity and specificity of in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques. Detection of short isoform-specific sequences requires RNA isolation for PCR analysis-an approach that loses the regional and cell-type-specific distribution of isoforms. Having the capability to distinguish the differential expression of RNA variants in tissue is critical because alterations in mRNA splicing and editing, as well as coding single nucleotide polymorphisms, have been associated with numerous cancers, neurological and psychiatric disorders. Here we introduce a novel highly sensitive single-probe colorimetric/fluorescent ISH approach that targets short exon/exon RNA splice junctions using single-pair oligonucleotide probes (~ 50 bp). We use this approach to investigate, with single-cell resolution, the expression of four transcripts encoding the neuregulin (NRG) receptor ErbB4 that differ by alternative splicing of exons encoding two juxtamembrane (JMa/JMb) and two cytoplasmic (CYT-1/CYT-2) domains that alter receptor stability and signaling modes, respectively. By comparing ErbB4 hybridization on sections from wild-type and ErbB4 knockout mice (missing exon 2), we initially demonstrate that single-pair probes provide the sensitivity and specificity to visualize and quantify the differential expression of ErbB4 isoforms. Using cell-type-specific GFP reporter mice, we go on to demonstrate that expression of ErbB4 isoforms differs between neurons and oligodendrocytes, and that this differential expression of ErbB4 isoforms is evolutionarily conserved to humans. This single-pair probe ISH approach, known as BaseScope, could serve as an invaluable diagnostic tool to detect alternative spliced isoforms, and potentially single base polymorphisms, associated with disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Erben
- Section on Molecular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bldg. 35, Room 2C-1000, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, University Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ming-Xiao He
- Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Newark, CA, 94560, USA
| | | | - Emily Park
- Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Newark, CA, 94560, USA
| | - Andres Buonanno
- Section on Molecular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bldg. 35, Room 2C-1000, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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44
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Nafisi-Far N, Ghafouri-Fard S, Panah AST, Sayad A, Taheri M. A gender dimorphism in up-regulation of BACE1 gene expression in schizophrenia. Metab Brain Dis 2018; 33:933-937. [PMID: 29500546 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-018-0205-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia has long been considered as a devastating brain disorder in which both genetic and environmental factors are involved. The BACE1 gene is one of the most important susceptibility genes for this disorder. However, the changes in BACE1 expression in schizophrenic patients compared with healthy subjects have not been evaluated yet. In this case-control study, we examined BACE1 expression in a group of 50 patients with schizophrenia and 50 healthy controls. The level of BACE1 gene expression was measured using Real-Time PCR. Substantial increase in gene expression was detected in the patients compared with normal individuals (P = 0.001). Furthermore, a gender dimorphism was observed in BACE1 gene expression in the patients in a way that the male patients manifested a statistically significant higher levels of BACE1 expression (P = 0.002). BACE1 might be implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Besides, BACE1 physiology may be gender -based at some levels. Our findings warrant an investigation of BACE1 gene in a larger number of cases and controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafiseh Nafisi-Far
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biology, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Arezou Sayad
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Urogenital Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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45
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Olaya JC, Heusner CL, Matsumoto M, Sinclair D, Kondo MA, Karl T, Shannon Weickert C. Overexpression of Neuregulin 1 Type III Confers Hippocampal mRNA Alterations and Schizophrenia-Like Behaviors in Mice. Schizophr Bull 2018; 44:865-875. [PMID: 28981869 PMCID: PMC6007747 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbx122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is a schizophrenia candidate gene whose protein product is involved in neuronal migration, survival, and synaptic plasticity via production of specific isoforms. Importantly, NRG1 type III (NRG1 III) mRNA is increased in humans inheriting a schizophrenia risk haplotype for the NRG1 gene (HapICE), and NRG1 protein levels can be elevated in schizophrenia. The nature by which NRG1 type III overexpression results in schizophrenia-like behavior and brain pathology remains unclear, therefore we constructed a transgenic mouse with Nrg1 III overexpression in forebrain neurons (CamKII kinase+). Here, we demonstrate construct validity for this mouse model, as juvenile and adult Nrg1 III transgenic mice exhibit an overexpression of Nrg1 III mRNA and Nrg1 protein in multiple brain regions. Furthermore, Nrg1 III transgenic mice have face validity as they exhibit schizophrenia-relevant behavioral phenotypes including deficits in social preference, impaired fear-associated memory, and reduced prepulse inhibition. Additionally, microarray assay of hippocampal mRNA uncovered transcriptional alterations downstream of Nrg1 III overexpression, including changes in serotonin receptor 2C and angiotensin-converting enzyme. Transgenic mice did not exhibit other schizophrenia-relevant behaviors including hyperactivity, social withdrawal, or an increased vulnerability to the effects of MK-801 malate. Our results indicate that this novel Nrg1 III mouse is valid for modeling potential pathological mechanisms of some schizophrenia-like behaviors, for determining what other neurobiological changes may be downstream of elevated NRG1 III levels and for preclinically testing therapeutic strategies that may be specifically efficacious in patients with the NRG1 (HapICE) risk genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C Olaya
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Duncan Sinclair
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mari A Kondo
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tim Karl
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia,School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia; tel: +61-2-9399-1117, fax: +61-2-9399-1005, e-mail:
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46
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Antibody-mediated stabilization of NRG1 induces behavioral and electrophysiological alterations in adult mice. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8239. [PMID: 29844389 PMCID: PMC5974084 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26492-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is required for development of the central and peripheral nervous system and regulates neurotransmission in the adult. NRG1 and the gene encoding its receptor, ERBB4, are risk genes for schizophrenia, although how alterations in these genes disrupt their function has not been fully established. Studies of knockout and transgenic mice have yielded conflicting results, with both gain and loss of function resulting in similar behavioral and electrophysiological phenotypes. Here, we used high affinity antibodies to NRG1 and ErbB4 to perturb the function of the endogenous proteins in adult mice. Treatment with NRG1 antibodies that block receptor binding caused behavioral alterations associated with schizophrenia, including, hyper-locomotion and impaired pre-pulse inhibition of startle (PPI). Electrophysiological analysis of brain slices from anti-NRG1 treated mice revealed reduced synaptic transmission and enhanced paired-pulse facilitation. In contrast, mice treated with more potent ErbB4 function blocking antibodies did not display behavioral alterations, suggesting a receptor independent mechanism of the anti-NRG1-induced phenotypes. We demonstrate that anti-NRG1 causes accumulation of the full-length transmembrane protein and increases phospho-cofilin levels, which has previously been linked to impaired synaptic transmission, indicating enhancement of non-canonical NRG1 signaling could mediate the CNS effects.
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47
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Wehr MC, Hinrichs W, Brzózka MM, Unterbarnscheidt T, Herholt A, Wintgens JP, Papiol S, Soto-Bernardini MC, Kravchenko M, Zhang M, Nave KA, Wichert SP, Falkai P, Zhang W, Schwab MH, Rossner MJ. Spironolactone is an antagonist of NRG1-ERBB4 signaling and schizophrenia-relevant endophenotypes in mice. EMBO Mol Med 2018; 9:1448-1462. [PMID: 28743784 PMCID: PMC5653977 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201707691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhanced NRG1‐ERBB4 signaling is a risk pathway in schizophrenia, and corresponding mouse models display several endophenotypes of the disease. Nonetheless, pathway‐directed treatment strategies with clinically applicable compounds have not been identified. Here, we applied a cell‐based assay using the split TEV technology to screen a library of clinically applicable compounds to identify modulators of NRG1‐ERBB4 signaling for repurposing. We recovered spironolactone, known as antagonist of corticosteroids, as an inhibitor of the ERBB4 receptor and tested it in pharmacological and biochemical assays to assess secondary compound actions. Transgenic mice overexpressing Nrg1 type III display cortical Erbb4 hyperphosphorylation, a condition observed in postmortem brains from schizophrenia patients. Spironolactone treatment reverted hyperphosphorylation of activated Erbb4 in these mice. In behavioral tests, spironolactone treatment of Nrg1 type III transgenic mice ameliorated schizophrenia‐relevant behavioral endophenotypes, such as reduced sensorimotor gating, hyperactivity, and impaired working memory. Moreover, spironolactone increases spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in cortical slices supporting an ERBB4‐mediated mode‐of‐action. Our findings suggest that spironolactone, a clinically safe drug, provides an opportunity for new treatment options for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Wehr
- Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Wilko Hinrichs
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Magdalena M Brzózka
- Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tilmann Unterbarnscheidt
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Cellular Neurophysiology, Center of Physiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | - Sergi Papiol
- Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Mykola Kravchenko
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mingyue Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Klaus-Armin Nave
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sven P Wichert
- Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Falkai
- Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Weiqi Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Markus H Schwab
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Cellular Neurophysiology, Center of Physiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hanover, Germany
| | - Moritz J Rossner
- Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany .,Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
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48
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Bousman CA, Cropley V, Klauser P, Hess JL, Pereira A, Idrizi R, Bruggemann J, Mostaid MS, Lenroot R, Weickert TW, Glatt SJ, Everall IP, Sundram S, Zalesky A, Weickert CS, Pantelis C. Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) polymorphisms linked with psychosis transition are associated with enlarged lateral ventricles and white matter disruption in schizophrenia. Psychol Med 2018; 48:801-809. [PMID: 28826413 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291717002173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4281084 and rs12155594) within the neuregulin-1 (NRG1) gene have been associated with psychosis transition. However, the neurobiological changes associated with these SNPs remain unclear. We aimed to determine what relationship these two SNPs have on lateral ventricular volume and white matter integrity, as abnormalities in these brain structures are some of the most consistent in schizophrenia. METHODS Structural (n = 370) and diffusion (n = 465) magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained from affected and unaffected individuals predominantly of European descent. The SNPs rs4281084, rs12155594, and their combined allelic load were examined for their effects on lateral ventricular volume, fractional anisotropy (FA) as well as axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivity. Additional exploratory analyses assessed NRG1 effects on gray matter volume, cortical thickness, and surface area throughout the brain. RESULTS Individuals with a schizophrenia age of onset ⩽25 and a combined allelic load ⩾3 NRG1 risk alleles had significantly larger right (up to 50%, p adj = 0.01) and left (up to 45%, p adj = 0.05) lateral ventricle volumes compared with those with allelic loads of less than three. Furthermore, carriers of three or more risk alleles, regardless of age of onset and case status, had significantly reduced FA and elevated RD but stable AD in the frontal cortex compared with those carrying fewer than three risk alleles. CONCLUSIONS Our findings build on a growing body of research supporting the functional importance of genetic variation within the NRG1 gene and complement previous findings implicating the rs4281084 and rs12155594 SNPs as markers for psychosis transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Bousman
- Department of Psychiatry,Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health,Carlton South, VIC,Australia
| | - V Cropley
- Department of Psychiatry,Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health,Carlton South, VIC,Australia
| | - P Klauser
- Department of Psychiatry,Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health,Carlton South, VIC,Australia
| | - J L Hess
- Psychiatric Genetic Epidemiology & Neurobiology Laboratory (PsychGENe Lab), Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Neuroscience and Physiology,SUNY Upstate Medical University,Syracuse, New York
| | - A Pereira
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne,Parkville, VIC,Australia
| | - R Idrizi
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne,Parkville, VIC,Australia
| | - J Bruggemann
- Schizophrenia Research Institute,Sydney,Australia
| | - M S Mostaid
- Department of Psychiatry,Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health,Carlton South, VIC,Australia
| | - R Lenroot
- Schizophrenia Research Institute,Sydney,Australia
| | - T W Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Institute,Sydney,Australia
| | - S J Glatt
- Psychiatric Genetic Epidemiology & Neurobiology Laboratory (PsychGENe Lab), Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Neuroscience and Physiology,SUNY Upstate Medical University,Syracuse, New York
| | - I P Everall
- Department of Psychiatry,Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health,Carlton South, VIC,Australia
| | - S Sundram
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne,Parkville, VIC,Australia
| | - A Zalesky
- Department of Psychiatry,Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health,Carlton South, VIC,Australia
| | - C S Weickert
- Schizophrenia Research Institute,Sydney,Australia
| | - C Pantelis
- Department of Psychiatry,Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health,Carlton South, VIC,Australia
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49
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Tadmor H, Golani I, Doron R, Kremer I, Shamir A. ErbB signaling antagonist ameliorates behavioral deficit induced by phencyclidine (PCP) in mice, without affecting metabolic syndrome markers. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 82:322-331. [PMID: 28818421 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe syndrome that affects about 1% of the world population. Since the mid-1950s, antipsychotics have been used to treat schizophrenia with preference for treating positive symptoms; however, their tolerance level is low, there are numerous side effects, and only some patients respond to the treatment. Antipsychotic medications that are more effective, better tolerated, and with fewer adverse effects are urgently needed. Given the accumulating evidence of the role filled by the ErbB signaling network in the biology of the dopamine, GABA, and glutamate systems, and in the etiology of schizophrenia, we hypothesized that the ErbB network is a candidate for development of a novel agent through which various symptoms of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders might be treated. Herein, we studied, in mice, the capability of blocking the ErbB signaling, in comparison with the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine, to counter schizophrenia-like behavior induced by acute and sub-chronic phencyclidine (PCP), and determined whether inhibition of the ErbB networks induced weight gain and affected social and exploratory behavior, and metabolic syndrome markers. We demonstrated that administration of the pan-ErbB inhibitor JNJ28871063 (JNJ) reduced the level of activity in the open field induced by an acute injection of PCP. Moreover, the ability of JNJ to attenuate the effect of PCP is as effective as clozapine. In addition and like clozapine, JNJ normalized social behavior impairment induced by sub-chronic PCP and stress. Adult JNJ-treated mice displayed normal sociability and exploratory behavior, and their serum cholesterol, LDL, and HDL levels were lower than in the saline-treated mice. Sub-chronic treatment did not affect weight gain, glucose levels, and the activity of hepatic enzymes catalase and SOD. These data suggest that treatment with JNJ attenuates abnormal behaviors induced by PCP, and has similar effects as the antipsychotic drug clozapine, with no adverse effects. Thus, the ErbB signaling can serve as a new starting point for non-dopaminergic-based drug development of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagar Tadmor
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Zefat, Israel
| | - Idit Golani
- Department of Biotechnology, ORT Braude College, Karmiel, Israel
| | - Ravid Doron
- Psychobiology Laboratory, School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel; Department of Education and Psychology, The Open University, Israel
| | - Ilana Kremer
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Alon Shamir
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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50
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Avramopoulos D. Neuregulin 3 and its roles in schizophrenia risk and presentation. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2018; 177:257-266. [PMID: 28556469 PMCID: PMC5735014 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Neuregulins, a four-member family of epidermal growth factor-like signaling molecules, have been studied for over two decades. They were first implicated in schizophrenia in 2002 with the detection of linkage and association at the NRG1 locus followed after a few years by NRG3. However, the associations with disease have not been very consistently observed. In contrast, association of NGR3 variants with disease presentation, specifically the presence of delusions, has been more consistent. This appears to be mediated by quantitative changes in the alternative splicing of the gene, which has also been consistently observed. Additional diseases and phenotypes, psychiatric or not, have also been connected with NRG3. These results demonstrate two important aspects of behavioral genetics research. The first is that if we only consider simple risk and fail to examine the details of each patient's individual phenotype, we will miss important insights on the disease biology. This is an important aspect of the goals of precision medicine. The second is that the functional consequences of variants are often more complex than simple alterations in levels of transcription of a particular gene, including, among others, regulation of alternative splicing. To accurately model and understand the biological consequences of phenotype-associated genetic variants, we need to study the biological consequences of each specific variant. Simply studying the consequences of a null allele of the orthologous gene in a model system, runs the risk of missing the many nuances of hypomorphic and/or gain of function variants in the genome of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Avramopoulos
- Johns Hopkins University, Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 733 North Broadway - MRB room 507, Baltimore MD 21205
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