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Molloy CJ, Cooke J, Gatford NJF, Rivera-Olvera A, Avazzadeh S, Homberg JR, Grandjean J, Fernandes C, Shen S, Loth E, Srivastava DP, Gallagher L. Bridging the translational gap: what can synaptopathies tell us about autism? Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1191323. [PMID: 37441676 PMCID: PMC10333541 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1191323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple molecular pathways and cellular processes have been implicated in the neurobiology of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. There is a current focus on synaptic gene conditions, or synaptopathies, which refer to clinical conditions associated with rare genetic variants disrupting genes involved in synaptic biology. Synaptopathies are commonly associated with autism and developmental delay and may be associated with a range of other neuropsychiatric outcomes. Altered synaptic biology is suggested by both preclinical and clinical studies in autism based on evidence of differences in early brain structural development and altered glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission potentially perturbing excitatory and inhibitory balance. This review focusses on the NRXN-NLGN-SHANK pathway, which is implicated in the synaptic assembly, trans-synaptic signalling, and synaptic functioning. We provide an overview of the insights from preclinical molecular studies of the pathway. Concentrating on NRXN1 deletion and SHANK3 mutations, we discuss emerging understanding of cellular processes and electrophysiology from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) models derived from individuals with synaptopathies, neuroimaging and behavioural findings in animal models of Nrxn1 and Shank3 synaptic gene conditions, and key findings regarding autism features, brain and behavioural phenotypes from human clinical studies of synaptopathies. The identification of molecular-based biomarkers from preclinical models aims to advance the development of targeted therapeutic treatments. However, it remains challenging to translate preclinical animal models and iPSC studies to interpret human brain development and autism features. We discuss the existing challenges in preclinical and clinical synaptopathy research, and potential solutions to align methodologies across preclinical and clinical research. Bridging the translational gap between preclinical and clinical studies will be necessary to understand biological mechanisms, to identify targeted therapies, and ultimately to progress towards personalised approaches for complex neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara J. Molloy
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jennifer Cooke
- Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. F. Gatford
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandro Rivera-Olvera
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sahar Avazzadeh
- Physiology and Cellular Physiology Research Laboratory, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, School of Medicine, Human Biology Building, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Joanes Grandjean
- Physiology and Cellular Physiology Research Laboratory, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, School of Medicine, Human Biology Building, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sanbing Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- FutureNeuro, The SFI Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eva Loth
- Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deepak P. Srivastava
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Gallagher
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- The Hospital for SickKids, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Oleari R, Lettieri A, Manzini S, Paganoni A, André V, Grazioli P, Busnelli M, Duminuco P, Vitobello A, Philippe C, Bizaoui V, Storr HL, Amoruso F, Memi F, Vezzoli V, Massa V, Scheiffele P, Howard SR, Cariboni A. Autism-linked NLGN3 is a key regulator of gonadotropin-releasing hormone deficiency. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm049996. [PMID: 36810932 PMCID: PMC10110398 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency (GD) is a disorder characterized by absent or delayed puberty, with largely unknown genetic causes. The purpose of this study was to obtain and exploit gene expression profiles of GnRH neurons during development to unveil novel biological mechanisms and genetic determinants underlying GD. Here, we combined bioinformatic analyses of immortalized and primary embryonic GnRH neuron transcriptomes with exome sequencing from GD patients to identify candidate genes implicated in the pathogenesis of GD. Among differentially expressed and filtered transcripts, we found loss-of-function (LoF) variants of the autism-linked neuroligin 3 (NLGN3) gene in two unrelated patients co-presenting with GD and neurodevelopmental traits. We demonstrated that NLGN3 is upregulated in maturing GnRH neurons and that NLGN3 wild-type, but not mutant, protein promotes neuritogenesis when overexpressed in developing GnRH cells. Our data represent proof of principle that this complementary approach can identify new candidate GD genes and demonstrate that LoF NLGN3 variants can contribute to GD. This novel genotype-phenotype correlation implies common genetic mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders, such as GD and autistic spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Oleari
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Antonella Lettieri
- CRC Aldo Ravelli for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20142, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20142, Italy
| | - Stefano Manzini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Alyssa Paganoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Valentina André
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Paolo Grazioli
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20142, Italy
| | - Marco Busnelli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Paolo Duminuco
- Laboratory of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Cusano Milanino 20095, Italy
| | - Antonio Vitobello
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU) TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon 21079, France
- INSERM UMR 1231 GAD (Génétique des Anomalies du Développement), Université de Bourgogne, Dijon 21070, France
| | - Christophe Philippe
- Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU) TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon 21079, France
- INSERM UMR 1231 GAD (Génétique des Anomalies du Développement), Université de Bourgogne, Dijon 21070, France
| | - Varoona Bizaoui
- Genetics and Neurodevelopment, Centre Hospitalier de l'Estran, Pontorson 50170, France
| | - Helen L. Storr
- Centre for Endocrinology William Harvey Research Institute Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Royal London Children's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London E1 1BB, UK
| | - Federica Amoruso
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Fani Memi
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Valeria Vezzoli
- Laboratory of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Cusano Milanino 20095, Italy
| | - Valentina Massa
- CRC Aldo Ravelli for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20142, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20142, Italy
| | | | - Sasha R. Howard
- Centre for Endocrinology William Harvey Research Institute Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Royal London Children's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London E1 1BB, UK
| | - Anna Cariboni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
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Bioinformatic Analyses of Broad H3K79me2 Domains in Different Leukemia Cell Line Data Sets. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182830. [PMID: 36139405 PMCID: PMC9496709 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A subset of expressed genes is associated with a broad H3K4me3 (histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 4) domain that extends throughout the gene body. Genes marked in this way in normal cells are involved in cell-identity and tumor-suppressor activities, whereas in cancer cells, genes driving the cancer phenotype (oncogenes) have this feature. Other histone modifications associated with expressed genes that display a broad domain have been less studied. Here, we identified genes with the broadest H3K79me2 (histone H3 dimethylated at lysine 79) domain in human leukemic cell lines representing different forms of leukemia. Taking a bioinformatic approach, we provide evidence that genes with the broadest H3K79me2 domain have known roles in leukemia (e.g., JMJD1C). In the mixed-lineage leukemia cell line MOLM-13, the HOXA9 gene is in a 100 kb broad H3K79me2 domain with other HOXA protein-coding and oncogenic long non-coding RNA genes. The genes in this domain contribute to leukemia. This broad H3K79me2 domain has an unstable chromatin structure, as was evident by enhanced chromatin accessibility throughout. Together, we provide evidence that identification of genes with the broadest H3K79me2 domain will aid in generating a panel of genes in the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of leukemia in the future.
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Moreland T, Poulain FE. To Stick or Not to Stick: The Multiple Roles of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Neural Circuit Assembly. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:889155. [PMID: 35573298 PMCID: PMC9096351 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.889155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Precise wiring of neural circuits is essential for brain connectivity and function. During development, axons respond to diverse cues present in the extracellular matrix or at the surface of other cells to navigate to specific targets, where they establish precise connections with post-synaptic partners. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) represent a large group of structurally diverse proteins well known to mediate adhesion for neural circuit assembly. Through their adhesive properties, CAMs act as major regulators of axon navigation, fasciculation, and synapse formation. While the adhesive functions of CAMs have been known for decades, more recent studies have unraveled essential, non-adhesive functions as well. CAMs notably act as guidance cues and modulate guidance signaling pathways for axon pathfinding, initiate contact-mediated repulsion for spatial organization of axonal arbors, and refine neuronal projections during circuit maturation. In this review, we summarize the classical adhesive functions of CAMs in axonal development and further discuss the increasing number of other non-adhesive functions CAMs play in neural circuit assembly.
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