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Xing L, Huttner WB, Namba T. Role of cell metabolism in the pathophysiology of brain size-associated neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 199:106607. [PMID: 39029564 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell metabolism is a key regulator of human neocortex development and evolution. Several lines of evidence indicate that alterations in neural stem/progenitor cell (NPC) metabolism lead to abnormal brain development, particularly brain size-associated neurodevelopmental disorders, such as microcephaly. Abnormal NPC metabolism causes impaired cell proliferation and thus insufficient expansion of NPCs for neurogenesis. Therefore, the production of neurons, which is a major determinant of brain size, is decreased and the size of the brain, especially the size of the neocortex, is significantly reduced. This review discusses recent progress understanding NPC metabolism, focusing in particular on glucose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and amino acid metabolism (e.g., glutaminolysis and serine metabolism). We provide an overview of the contributions of these metabolic pathways to brain development and evolution, as well as to the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various experimental models to study cell metabolism in the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xing
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
| | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Takashi Namba
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE - Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Developmental Biology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan; International Center for Brain Science (ICBS), Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan.
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Nasiri M, Parmoon Z, Farahmand Y, Moradi A, Farahmand K, Moradi K, Basti FA, Mohammadi MR, Akhondzadeh S. l -carnitine adjunct to risperidone for treatment of autism spectrum disorder-associated behaviors: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2024; 39:232-239. [PMID: 37551601 DOI: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of l-carnitine as an adjuvant agent to risperidone in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-associated behaviors. In this study, 68 children with confirmed ASD were randomly allocated to receive either l-carnitine (150 mg/day) or matched placebo in addition to risperidone. We utilized the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community Edition scale (ABC-C) and a checklist of potential adverse effects to assess changes in behavioral status and safety profile at weeks 0, 5 and 10 of the trial. The primary outcome was defined as a change in the irritability subscale score. Sixty patients with similar baseline characteristics completed the trial period. Although scores of ABC-C subscales significantly decreased in both groups over the trial period, the combination of l-carnitine and risperidone resulted in more reduction on the irritability and hyperactivity subscales compared to the combination of risperidone and placebo ( P = 0.033 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, changes in lethargy, stereotypic behavior and inappropriate speech subscales were similar between groups. In conclusion, l-carnitine adjuvant to risperidone could improve irritability and hyperactivity features in children with ASD. Results of this study should be considered preliminary and further clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehry Nasiri
- Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital
| | - Zohal Parmoon
- Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital
| | | | - Ali Moradi
- Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital
| | | | - Kamyar Moradi
- Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital
| | - Fatemeh A Basti
- Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Tehran, Iran
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Gkini V, Namba T. Glutaminolysis and the Control of Neural Progenitors in Neocortical Development and Evolution. Neuroscientist 2023; 29:177-189. [PMID: 35057642 PMCID: PMC10018057 DOI: 10.1177/10738584211069060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Multiple types of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) contribute to the development of the neocortex, a brain region responsible for our higher cognitive abilities. Proliferative capacity of NPCs varies among NPC types, developmental stages, and species. The higher proliferative capacity of NPCs in the developing human neocortex is thought to be a major contributing factor why humans have the most expanded neocortex within primates. Recent studies have shed light on the importance of cell metabolism in the neocortical NPC proliferative capacity. Specifically, glutaminolysis, a metabolic pathway that converts glutamine to glutamate and then to α-ketoglutarate, has been shown to play a critical role in human NPCs, both in apical and basal progenitors. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of NPC metabolism, focusing especially on glutaminolysis, and discuss the role of NPC metabolism in neocortical development, evolution, and neurodevelopmental disorders, providing a broader perspective on a newly emerging research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Gkini
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE—Helsinki
Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Takashi Namba
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE—Helsinki
Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Takashi Namba, Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE
— Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, PO 63,
Haartmaninkatu 8, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
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Effect of Adding l -Carnitine to Risperidone on Behavioral, Cognitive, Social, and Physical Symptoms in Children and Adolescents With Autism: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Clin Neuropharmacol 2023; 46:55-59. [PMID: 36735565 DOI: 10.1097/wnf.0000000000000544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The present research aimed to evaluate the effect of adding l -carnitine to risperidone in treating children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS In this randomized controlled clinical trial study, 50 ASD children and adolescents were divided into 2 groups: those receiving l -carnitine and risperidone (n = 25) and those receiving placebo and risperidone (n = 25). Treatment continued for 8 weeks, and participants were assessed at the beginning of the study, in the fourth and eighth weeks, by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). RESULTS l -Carnitine add-on therapy reduced the scores of total ABC and subscales of restlessness, lethargy and social isolation, stereotypic behavior, and inappropriate speech at weeks 4 and 8. There was a significant difference between the 2 groups in the score of total ABC and subscale of lethargy and social isolation. CONCLUSIONS According to the present study, adding l -carnitine to risperidone improves ASD symptoms.
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Liu H, Xie Y, Wang X, Abboud MI, Ma C, Ge W, Schofield CJ. Exploring links between 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:2637-2668. [PMID: 35852137 PMCID: PMC10083964 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia, that is, an inadequate oxygen supply, is linked to neurodegeneration and patients with cardiovascular disease are prone to Alzheimer's disease (AD). 2-Oxoglutarate and ferrous iron-dependent oxygenases (2OGDD) play a key role in the regulation of oxygen homeostasis by acting as hypoxia sensors. 2OGDD also have roles in collagen biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, nucleic acid repair, and the regulation of transcription and translation. Many biological processes in which the >60 human 2OGDD are involved are altered in AD patient brains, raising the question as to whether 2OGDD are involved in the transition from normal aging to AD. Here we give an overview of human 2OGDD and critically discuss their potential roles in AD, highlighting possible relationships with synapse dysfunction/loss. 2OGDD may regulate neuronal/glial differentiation through enzyme activity-dependent mechanisms and modulation of their activity has potential to protect against synapse loss. Work linking 2OGDD and AD is at an early stage, especially from a therapeutic perspective; we suggest integrated pathology and in vitro discovery research to explore their roles in AD is merited. We hope to help enable long-term research on the roles of 2OGDD and, more generally, oxygen/hypoxia in AD. We also suggest shorter term empirically guided clinical studies concerning the exploration of 2OGDD/oxygen modulators to help maintain synaptic viability are of interest for AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology & Department of ImmunologyInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesSchool of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yong Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology & Department of ImmunologyInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesSchool of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
- National Clinical Research Center for OrthopedicsSports Medicine & RehabilitationDepartment of OrthopedicsGeneral Hospital of Chinese PLABeijingChina
| | - Xia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology & Department of ImmunologyInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesSchool of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Martine I. Abboud
- The Chemistry Research LaboratoryDepartment of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Chao Ma
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and EmbryologyNeuroscience CenterNational Human Brain Bank for Development and FunctionInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Wei Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology & Department of ImmunologyInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesSchool of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- The Chemistry Research LaboratoryDepartment of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial ResearchUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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An mtDNA mutant mouse demonstrates that mitochondrial deficiency can result in autism endophenotypes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2021429118. [PMID: 33536343 PMCID: PMC8017921 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021429118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have increasingly been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, corroborated by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) germline and somatic variants being found in ASD patients. If mitochondrial defects can generate ASD, then specific mtDNA mutations should induce ASD endophenotypes in mice. We tested this prediction by introduction of an mtDNA ND6 gene missense mutation (ND6P25L) into the mouse germline and found ASD endophenotypes. The ND6P25L mice exhibit impaired social interaction, compulsive behavior, and increased anxiety. They have reduced electroencephalographic delta and theta wave power, increased predilection to seizures, but without diminution of hippocampal interneurons. These endophenotypes correlate with impaired cortical and hippocampal mitochondrial respiration and increased reactive oxygen species production. Thus, mitochondrial defects can be sufficient to produce ASD phenotypes. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by a deficit in social communication, pathologic repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and electroencephalogram (EEG) aberrations. While exhaustive analysis of nuclear DNA (nDNA) variation has revealed hundreds of copy number variants (CNVs) and loss-of-function (LOF) mutations, no unifying hypothesis as to the pathophysiology of ASD has yet emerged. Based on biochemical and physiological analyses, it has been hypothesized that ASD may be the result of a systemic mitochondrial deficiency with brain-specific manifestations. This proposal has been supported by recent mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses identifying both germline and somatic mtDNA variants in ASD. If mitochondrial defects do predispose to ASD, then mice with certain mtDNA mutations should present with autism endophenotypes. To test this prediction, we examined a mouse strain harboring an mtDNA ND6 gene missense mutation (P25L). This mouse manifests impaired social interactions, increased repetitive behaviors and anxiety, EEG alterations, and a decreased seizure threshold, in the absence of reduced hippocampal interneuron numbers. EEG aberrations were most pronounced in the cortex followed by the hippocampus. Aberrations in mitochondrial respiratory function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also most pronounced in the cortex followed by the hippocampus, but absent in the olfactory bulb. These data demonstrate that mild systemic mitochondrial defects can result in ASD without apparent neuroanatomical defects and that systemic mitochondrial mutations can cause tissue-specific brain defects accompanied by regional neurophysiological alterations.
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Madsen S, Ramosaj M, Knobloch M. Lipid metabolism in focus: how the build-up and breakdown of lipids affects stem cells. Development 2021; 148:268393. [PMID: 34042969 DOI: 10.1242/dev.191924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cellular metabolism has recently emerged as a key regulator of stem cell behavior. Various studies have suggested that metabolic regulatory mechanisms are conserved in different stem cell niches, suggesting a common level of stem cell regulation across tissues. Although the balance between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation has been shown to be distinct in stem cells and their differentiated progeny, much less is known about lipid metabolism in stem cell regulation. In this Review, we focus on how stem cells are affected by two major lipid metabolic pathways: the build-up of lipids, called de novo lipogenesis, and the breakdown of lipids, called fatty acid beta-oxidation. We cover the recent literature on hematopoietic stem cells, intestinal stem cells, neural stem/progenitor cells and cancer stem cells, where these two lipid pathways have been studied in more depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Madsen
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Metabolism, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mergim Ramosaj
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Metabolism, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marlen Knobloch
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Metabolism, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Kim JH, Yan Q, Uppal K, Cui X, Ling C, Walker DI, Heck JE, von Ehrenstein OS, Jones DP, Ritz B. Metabolomics analysis of maternal serum exposed to high air pollution during pregnancy and risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 196:110823. [PMID: 33548296 PMCID: PMC9059845 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previously, numerous epidemiologic studies reported an association between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and exposure to air pollution during pregnancy. However, there have been no metabolomics studies investigating the impact of pregnancy pollution exposure to ASD risk in offspring. OBJECTIVES To identify differences in maternal metabolism that may reflect a biological response to exposure to high air pollution in pregnancies of offspring who later did or did not develop ASD. METHODS We obtained stored mid-pregnancy serum from 214 mothers who lived in California's Central Valley and experienced the highest levels of air pollution during early pregnancy. We estimated each woman's average traffic-related air pollution exposure (carbon monoxide, nitric oxides, and particulate matter <2.5 μm) during the first trimester using the California Line Source Dispersion Model, version 4 (CALINE4). By utilizing liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry, we identified the metabolic profiles of maternal serum for 116 mothers with offspring who later developed ASD and 98 control mothers. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was employed to select metabolic features associated with air pollution exposure or autism risk in offspring. We also conducted extensive pathway enrichment analysis to elucidate potential ASD-related changes in the metabolome of pregnant women. RESULTS We extracted 4022 and 4945 metabolic features from maternal serum samples in hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) chromatography (positive ion mode) and C18 (negative ion mode) columns, respectively. After controlling for potential confounders, we identified 167 and 222 discriminative features (HILIC and C18, respectively). Pathway enrichment analysis to discriminate metabolic features associated with ASD risk indicated various metabolic pathway perturbations linked to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and mitochondrial function, including carnitine shuttle, amino acid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, and vitamin A metabolism. CONCLUSION Using high resolution metabolomics, we identified several metabolic pathways disturbed in mothers with ASD offspring among women experiencing high exposure to traffic-related air pollution during pregnancy that were associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings provide us with a better understanding of metabolic disturbances involved in the development of ASD under adverse environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ja Hyeong Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, 44033, South Korea.
| | - Qi Yan
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Karan Uppal
- Computational Systems Medicine & Metabolomics Laboratory, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Xin Cui
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA; California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Chenxiao Ling
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Douglas I Walker
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Julia E Heck
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Ondine S von Ehrenstein
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Dean P Jones
- Clinical Biomarkers Laboratory, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Beate Ritz
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Department of Neurology, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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Frye RE, Cakir J, Rose S, Palmer RF, Austin C, Curtin P, Arora M. Mitochondria May Mediate Prenatal Environmental Influences in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Pers Med 2021; 11:218. [PMID: 33803789 PMCID: PMC8003154 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11030218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose that the mitochondrion, an essential cellular organelle, mediates the long-term prenatal environmental effects of disease in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many prenatal environmental factors which increase the risk of developing ASD influence mitochondria physiology, including toxicant exposures, immune activation, and nutritional factors. Unique types of mitochondrial dysfunction have been associated with ASD and recent studies have linked prenatal environmental exposures to long-term changes in mitochondrial physiology in children with ASD. A better understanding of the role of the mitochondria in the etiology of ASD can lead to targeted therapeutics and strategies to potentially prevent the development of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard E. Frye
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
| | - Janet Cakir
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA;
| | - Shannon Rose
- Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA;
| | - Raymond F. Palmer
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
| | - Christine Austin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.A.); (P.C.); (M.A.)
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.A.); (P.C.); (M.A.)
| | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.A.); (P.C.); (M.A.)
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Potential Role of L-Carnitine in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10061202. [PMID: 33805796 PMCID: PMC8000371 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10061202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
L-carnitine plays an important role in the functioning of the central nervous system, and especially in the mitochondrial metabolism of fatty acids. Altered carnitine metabolism, abnormal fatty acid metabolism in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been documented. ASD is a complex heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition that is usually diagnosed in early childhood. Patients with ASD require careful classification as this heterogeneous clinical category may include patients with an intellectual disability or high functioning, epilepsy, language impairments, or associated Mendelian genetic conditions. L-carnitine participates in the long-chain oxidation of fatty acids in the brain, stimulates acetylcholine synthesis (donor of the acyl groups), stimulates expression of growth-associated protein-43, prevents cell apoptosis and neuron damage and stimulates neurotransmission. Determination of L-carnitine in serum/plasma and analysis of acylcarnitines in a dried blood spot may be useful in ASD diagnosis and treatment. Changes in the acylcarnitine profiles may indicate potential mitochondrial dysfunctions and abnormal fatty acid metabolism in ASD children. L-carnitine deficiency or deregulation of L-carnitine metabolism in ASD is accompanied by disturbances of other metabolic pathways, e.g., Krebs cycle, the activity of respiratory chain complexes, indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction. Supplementation of L-carnitine may be beneficial to alleviate behavioral and cognitive symptoms in ASD patients.
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Namba T, Nardelli J, Gressens P, Huttner WB. Metabolic Regulation of Neocortical Expansion in Development and Evolution. Neuron 2020; 109:408-419. [PMID: 33306962 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The neocortex, the seat of our higher cognitive abilities, has expanded in size during the evolution of certain mammals such as primates, including humans. This expansion occurs during development and is linked to the proliferative capacity of neural stem and progenitor cells (NPCs) in the neocortex. A number of cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic factors have been implicated in increasing NPC proliferative capacity. However, NPC metabolism has only recently emerged as major regulator of NPC proliferation. In this Perspective, we summarize recent insights into the role of NPC metabolism in neocortical development and neurodevelopmental disorders and its relevance for neocortex evolution. We discuss certain human-specific genes and microcephaly-implicated genes that operate in, or at, the mitochondria of NPCs and stimulate their proliferation by promoting glutaminolysis. We also discuss other metabolic pathways and develop a perspective on how metabolism mechanistically regulates NPC proliferation in neocortical development and how this contributed to neocortex evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Namba
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE - Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Pierre Gressens
- Université de Paris, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, 75019 Paris, France.
| | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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Julian LM, Stanford WL. Organelle Cooperation in Stem Cell Fate: Lysosomes as Emerging Regulators of Cell Identity. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:591. [PMID: 32733892 PMCID: PMC7358313 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00591] [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: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of stem cell fate is best understood at the level of gene and protein regulatory networks, though it is now clear that multiple cellular organelles also have critical impacts. A growing appreciation for the functional interconnectedness of organelles suggests that an orchestration of integrated biological networks functions to drive stem cell fate decisions and regulate metabolism. Metabolic signaling itself has emerged as an integral regulator of cell fate including the determination of identity, activation state, survival, and differentiation potential of many developmental, adult, disease, and cancer-associated stem cell populations and their progeny. As the primary adenosine triphosphate-generating organelles, mitochondria are well-known regulators of stem cell fate decisions, yet it is now becoming apparent that additional organelles such as the lysosome are important players in mediating these dynamic decisions. In this review, we will focus on the emerging role of organelles, in particular lysosomes, in the reprogramming of both metabolic networks and stem cell fate decisions, especially those that impact the determination of cell identity. We will discuss the inter-organelle interactions, cell signaling pathways, and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms with which lysosomes engage and how these activities impact metabolic signaling. We will further review recent data that position lysosomes as critical regulators of cell identity determination programs and discuss the known or putative biological mechanisms. Finally, we will briefly highlight the potential impact of elucidating mechanisms by which lysosomes regulate stem cell identity on our understanding of disease pathogenesis, as well as the development of refined regenerative medicine, biomarker, and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Julian
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - William L. Stanford
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Malaguarnera M, Cauli O. Effects of l-Carnitine in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Review of Clinical Studies. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24234262. [PMID: 31766743 PMCID: PMC6930613 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24234262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Carnitine is an amino acid derivative, which plays several important roles in human physiology, in the central nervous system, and for mitochondrial metabolism, in particular. Altered carnitine metabolic routes have been associated with a subgroup of patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and could add to the pathophysiology associated with these disorders. We review the current evidence about the clinical effects of carnitine administration in ASD in both non-syndromic forms and ASD associated with genetic disorders. Two randomized clinical trials and one open-label prospective trial suggest that carnitine administration could be useful for treating symptoms in non-syndromic ASD. The effect of carnitine administration in ASD associated with genetic disorders is not conclusive because of a lack of clinical trials and objectives in ASD evaluation, but beneficial effects have also been reported for other comorbid disorders, such as intellectual disability and muscular strength. Side effects observed with a dose of 200 mg/kg/day consisted of gastro-intestinal symptoms and a strong, heavy skin odor. Doses of about 50–100 mg/kg/day are generally well tolerated. Further clinical trials with the identification of the subgroup of ASD patients that would benefit from carnitine administration are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Malaguarnera
- Research Center “The Great Senescence”, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy;
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Omar Cauli
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence:
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