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Chang X, Qu HQ, Liu Y, Glessner JT, Hakonarson H. Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroup K Is Protective Against Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk in Populations of European Ancestry. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 63:835-844. [PMID: 38072244 PMCID: PMC11186604 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.09.550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Accumulative evidence indicates a critical role of mitochondrial function in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), implying that ASD risk may be linked to mitochondrial dysfunction due to DNA (mtDNA) variations. Although a few studies have explored the association between mtDNA variations and ASD, the role of mtDNA in ASD is still unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate whether mitochondrial DNA haplogroups are associated with the risk of ASD. METHOD Two European cohorts and an Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) cohort were analyzed, including 2,062 ASD patients in comparison with 4,632 healthy controls. DNA samples were genotyped using Illumina HumanHap550/610 and Illumina 1M arrays, inclusive of mitochondrial markers. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups were identified from genotyping data using HaploGrep2. A mitochondrial genome imputation pipeline was established to detect mtDNA variants. We conducted a case-control study to investigate potential associations of mtDNA haplogroups and variants with the susceptibility to ASD. RESULTS We observed that the ancient adaptive mtDNA haplogroup K was significantly associated with decreased risk of ASD by the investigation of 2 European cohorts including a total of 2,006 cases and 4,435 controls (odds ratio = 0.64, P=1.79 × 10-5), and we replicated this association in an Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) cohort including 56 cases and 197 controls (odds ratio = 0.35, P = 9.46 × 10-3). Moreover, we demonstrate that the mtDNA variants rs28358571, rs28358584, and rs28358280 are significantly associated with ASD risk. Further expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) analysis indicated that the rs28358584 and rs28358280 genotypes are associated with expression levels of nearby genes in brain tissues, suggesting those mtDNA variants may confer risk for ASD via regulation of expression levels of genes encoded by the mitochondrial genome. CONCLUSION This study helps to shed light on the contribution of mitochondria in ASD and provides new insights into the genetic mechanism underlying ASD, suggesting the potential involvement of mtDNA-encoded proteins in the development of ASD. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction may be linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study investigated potential associations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants in 2 European and Ashkenazi Jewish cohorts including 2,062 individuals with ASD and 4,632 healthy controls. Researchers found that the ancient mtDNA haplogroup K was linked to a reduced risk of ASD in both European and Ashkenazi Jewish populations. Additionally, specific mtDNA variants were associated with ASD risk and were shown to influence the expression of nearby genes in the brain. These findings highlight the potential involvement of mtDNA in ASD development, offering new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chang
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong, China.
| | - Hui-Qi Qu
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Yichuan Liu
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | | | - Hakon Hakonarson
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States and Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
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Yang Y, Wang Q, Wang C, Buxbaum J, Ionita-Laza I. KnockoffHybrid: A knockoff framework for hybrid analysis of trio and population designs in genome-wide association studies. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:1448-1461. [PMID: 38821058 PMCID: PMC11267528 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.05.003] [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: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Both trio and population designs are popular study designs for identifying risk genetic variants in genome-wide association studies (GWASs). The trio design, as a family-based design, is robust to confounding due to population structure, whereas the population design is often more powerful due to larger sample sizes. Here, we propose KnockoffHybrid, a knockoff-based statistical method for hybrid analysis of both the trio and population designs. KnockoffHybrid provides a unified framework that brings together the advantages of both designs and produces powerful hybrid analysis while controlling the false discovery rate (FDR) in the presence of linkage disequilibrium and population structure. Furthermore, KnockoffHybrid has the flexibility to leverage different types of summary statistics for hybrid analyses, including expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and GWAS summary statistics. We demonstrate in simulations that KnockoffHybrid offers power gains over non-hybrid methods for the trio and population designs with the same number of cases while controlling the FDR with complex correlation among variants and population structure among subjects. In hybrid analyses of three trio cohorts for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) from the Autism Speaks MSSNG, Autism Sequencing Consortium, and Autism Genome Project with GWAS summary statistics from the iPSYCH project and eQTL summary statistics from the MetaBrain project, KnockoffHybrid outperforms conventional methods by replicating several known risk genes for ASDs and identifying additional associations with variants in other genes, including the PRAME family genes involved in axon guidance and which may act as common targets for human speech/language evolution and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; School of Data Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Qi Wang
- School of Data Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Joseph Buxbaum
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Iuliana Ionita-Laza
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Statistics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Nóbrega IDS, Teles e Silva AL, Yokota-Moreno BY, Sertié AL. The Importance of Large-Scale Genomic Studies to Unravel Genetic Risk Factors for Autism. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5816. [PMID: 38892002 PMCID: PMC11172008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115816] [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: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common and highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder. During the last 15 years, advances in genomic technologies and the availability of increasingly large patient cohorts have greatly expanded our knowledge of the genetic architecture of ASD and its neurobiological mechanisms. Over two hundred risk regions and genes carrying rare de novo and transmitted high-impact variants have been identified. Additionally, common variants with small individual effect size are also important, and a number of loci are now being uncovered. At the same time, these new insights have highlighted ongoing challenges. In this perspective article, we summarize developments in ASD genetic research and address the enormous impact of large-scale genomic initiatives on ASD gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andréa Laurato Sertié
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Rua Comendador Elias Jafet, 755. Morumbi, São Paulo 05653-000, Brazil; (I.d.S.N.); (A.L.T.e.S.); (B.Y.Y.-M.)
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Hunter C, Derksen T, Makhsous S, Doll M, Perez SR, Scott NE, Willis LM. Site-specific immobilization of the endosialidase reveals QSOX2 is a novel polysialylated protein. Glycobiology 2024; 34:cwae026. [PMID: 38489772 PMCID: PMC11031136 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwae026] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Polysialic acid (polySia) is a linear polymer of α2,8-linked sialic acid residues that is of fundamental biological interest due to its pivotal roles in the regulation of the nervous, immune, and reproductive systems in healthy human adults. PolySia is also dysregulated in several chronic diseases, including cancers and mental health disorders. However, the mechanisms underpinning polySia biology in health and disease remain largely unknown. The polySia-specific hydrolase, endoneuraminidase NF (EndoN), and the catalytically inactive polySia lectin EndoNDM, have been extensively used for studying polySia. However, EndoN is heat stable and remains associated with cells after washing. When studying polySia in systems with multiple polysialylated species, the residual EndoN that cannot be removed confounds data interpretation. We developed a strategy for site-specific immobilization of EndoN on streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. We showed that immobilizing EndoN allows for effective removal of the enzyme from samples, while retaining hydrolase activity. We used the same strategy to immobilize the polySia lectin EndoNDM, which enabled the enrichment of polysialylated proteins from complex mixtures such as serum for their identification via mass spectrometry. We used this methodology to identify a novel polysialylated protein, QSOX2, which is secreted from the breast cancer cell line MCF-7. This method of site-specific immobilization can be utilized for other enzymes and lectins to yield insight into glycobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmanah Hunter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Tahlia Derksen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Sogand Makhsous
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Matt Doll
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Samantha Rodriguez Perez
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Nichollas E Scott
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Lisa M Willis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
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Al-Sarraj Y, Taha RZ, Al-Dous E, Ahram D, Abbasi S, Abuazab E, Shaath H, Habbab W, Errafii K, Bejaoui Y, AlMotawa M, Khattab N, Aqel YA, Shalaby KE, Al-Ansari A, Kambouris M, Abouzohri A, Ghazal I, Tolfat M, Alshaban F, El-Shanti H, Albagha OME. The genetic landscape of autism spectrum disorder in the Middle Eastern population. Front Genet 2024; 15:1363849. [PMID: 38572415 PMCID: PMC10987745 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1363849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by aberrations in social interaction and communication associated with repetitive behaviors and interests, with strong clinical heterogeneity. Genetic factors play an important role in ASD, but about 75% of ASD cases have an undetermined genetic risk. Methods: We extensively investigated an ASD cohort made of 102 families from the Middle Eastern population of Qatar. First, we investigated the copy number variations (CNV) contribution using genome-wide SNP arrays. Next, we employed Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to identify de novo or inherited variants contributing to the ASD etiology and its associated comorbid conditions in families with complete trios (affected child and the parents). Results: Our analysis revealed 16 CNV regions located in genomic regions implicated in ASD. The analysis of the 88 ASD cases identified 41 genes in 39 ASD subjects with de novo (n = 24) or inherited variants (n = 22). We identified three novel de novo variants in new candidate genes for ASD (DTX4, ARMC6, and B3GNT3). Also, we have identified 15 de novo variants in genes that were previously implicated in ASD or related neurodevelopmental disorders (PHF21A, WASF1, TCF20, DEAF1, MED13, CREBBP, KDM6B, SMURF1, ADNP, CACNA1G, MYT1L, KIF13B, GRIA2, CHM, and KCNK9). Additionally, we defined eight novel recessive variants (RYR2, DNAH3, TSPYL2, UPF3B KDM5C, LYST, and WNK3), four of which were X-linked. Conclusion: Despite the ASD multifactorial etiology that hinders ASD genetic risk discovery, the number of identified novel or known putative ASD genetic variants was appreciable. Nevertheless, this study represents the first comprehensive characterization of ASD genetic risk in Qatar's Middle Eastern population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasser Al-Sarraj
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- Qatar Genome Program, Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rowaida Z. Taha
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Eman Al-Dous
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dina Ahram
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, San Juan Capistrano, CA, United States
| | - Somayyeh Abbasi
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Eman Abuazab
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hibah Shaath
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wesal Habbab
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Khaoula Errafii
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Yosra Bejaoui
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Maryam AlMotawa
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Namat Khattab
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Yasmin Abu Aqel
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Karim E. Shalaby
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Amina Al-Ansari
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Marios Kambouris
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Department, Genetics Division, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Adel Abouzohri
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Iman Ghazal
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammed Tolfat
- The Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs, Doha, Qatar
| | - Fouad Alshaban
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hatem El-Shanti
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Omar M. E. Albagha
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
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Wißfeld J, Abou Assale T, Cuevas-Rios G, Liao H, Neumann H. Therapeutic potential to target sialylation and SIGLECs in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1330874. [PMID: 38529039 PMCID: PMC10961342 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1330874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Sialic acids, commonly found as the terminal carbohydrate on the glycocalyx of mammalian cells, are pivotal checkpoint inhibitors of the innate immune system, particularly within the central nervous system (CNS). Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (SIGLECs) expressed on microglia are key players in maintaining microglial homeostasis by recognizing intact sialylation. The finely balanced sialic acid-SIGLEC system ensures the prevention of excessive and detrimental immune responses in the CNS. However, loss of sialylation and SIGLEC receptor dysfunctions contribute to several chronic CNS diseases. Genetic variants of SIGLEC3/CD33, SIGLEC11, and SIGLEC14 have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, while sialyltransferase ST8SIA2 and SIGLEC4/MAG have been linked to psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. Consequently, immune-modulatory functions of polysialic acids and SIGLEC binding antibodies have been exploited experimentally in animal models of Alzheimer's disease and inflammation-induced CNS tissue damage, including retinal damage. While the potential of these therapeutic approaches is evident, only a few therapies to target either sialylation or SIGLEC receptors have been tested in patient clinical trials. Here, we provide an overview of the critical role played by the sialic acid-SIGLEC axis in shaping microglial activation and function within the context of neurodegeneration and synaptopathies and discuss the current landscape of therapies that target sialylation or SIGLECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannis Wißfeld
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tawfik Abou Assale
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - German Cuevas-Rios
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Huan Liao
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Harald Neumann
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Rexrode LE, Hartley J, Showmaker KC, Challagundla L, Vandewege MW, Martin BE, Blair E, Bollavarapu R, Antonyraj RB, Hilton K, Gardiner A, Valeri J, Gisabella B, Garrett MR, Theoharides TC, Pantazopoulos H. Molecular profiling of the hippocampus of children with autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02441-8. [PMID: 38355786 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02441-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence point to a key role of the hippocampus in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Altered hippocampal volume and deficits in memory for person and emotion related stimuli have been reported, along with enhanced ability for declarative memories. Mouse models have demonstrated a critical role of the hippocampus in social memory dysfunction, associated with ASD, together with decreased synaptic plasticity. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), a family of extracellular matrix molecules, represent a potential key link between neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, and immune system signaling. There is a lack of information regarding the molecular pathology of the hippocampus in ASD. We conducted RNAseq profiling on postmortem human brain samples containing the hippocampus from male children with ASD (n = 7) and normal male children (3-14 yrs old), (n = 6) from the NIH NeuroBioBank. Gene expression profiling analysis implicated molecular pathways involved in extracellular matrix organization, neurodevelopment, synaptic regulation, and immune system signaling. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to confirm several of the top markers identified. The CSPG protein BCAN was examined with multiplex immunofluorescence to analyze cell-type specific expression of BCAN and astrocyte morphology. We observed decreased expression of synaptic proteins PSD95 (p < 0.02) and SYN1 (p < 0.02), increased expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protease MMP9 (p < 0.03), and decreased expression of MEF2C (p < 0.03). We also observed increased BCAN expression with astrocytes in children with ASD, together with altered astrocyte morphology. Our results point to alterations in immune system signaling, glia cell differentiation, and synaptic signaling in the hippocampus of children with ASD, together with alterations in extracellular matrix molecules. Furthermore, our results demonstrate altered expression of genes implicated in genetic studies of ASD including SYN1 and MEF2C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay E Rexrode
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Joshua Hartley
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | | | - Lavanya Challagundla
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | | | - Brigitte E Martin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Estelle Blair
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Ratna Bollavarapu
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Rhenius B Antonyraj
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Keauna Hilton
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Alex Gardiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Jake Valeri
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Barbara Gisabella
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Michael R Garrett
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Theoharis C Theoharides
- Institute of Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, USA
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harry Pantazopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, MS, USA.
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Traetta ME, Chaves Filho AM, Akinluyi ET, Tremblay MÈ. Neurodevelopmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 37:457-495. [PMID: 39207708 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-55529-9_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
This chapter will focus on microglial involvement in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (MDD). We will describe the neuroimmune risk factors that contribute to the etiopathology of these disorders across the lifespan, including both in early life and adulthood. Microglia, being the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, could play a key role in triggering and determining the outcome of these disorders. This chapter will review preclinical and clinical findings where microglial morphology and function were examined in the contexts of ASD, schizophrenia and MDD. Clinical evidence points out to altered microglial morphology and reactivity, as well as increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, supporting the idea that microglial abnormalities are involved in these disorders. Indeed, animal models for these disorders found altered microglial morphology and homeostatic functions which resulted in behaviours related to these disorders. Additionally, as microglia have emerged as promising therapeutic targets, we will also address in this chapter therapies involving microglial mechanisms for the treatment of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth Toyin Akinluyi
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Center for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
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Wu XL, Mu DP, Yang QS, Zhang Y, Li YC, Feijó A, Cheng JL, Wen ZX, Lu L, Xia L, Zhou ZJ, Qu YH, Ge DY. Comparative genomics of widespread and narrow-range white-bellied rats in the Niviventer niviventer species complex sheds light on invasive rodent success. Zool Res 2023; 44:1052-1063. [PMID: 37872006 PMCID: PMC10802109 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.519] [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: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Widespread species that inhabit diverse environments possess large population sizes and exhibit a high capacity for environmental adaptation, thus enabling range expansion. In contrast, narrow-range species are confined to restricted geographical areas and are ecologically adapted to narrow environmental conditions, thus limiting their ability to expand into novel environments. However, the genomic mechanisms underlying the differentiation between closely related species with varying distribution ranges remain poorly understood. The Niviventer niviventer species complex (NNSC), consisting of highly abundant wild rats in Southeast Asia and China, offers an excellent opportunity to investigate these questions due to the presence of both widespread and narrow-range species that are phylogenetically closely related. In the present study, we combined ecological niche modeling with phylogenetic analysis, which suggested that sister species cannot be both widespread and dominant within the same geographical region. Moreover, by assessing heterozygosity, linkage disequilibrium decay, and Tajima's D analysis, we found that widespread species exhibited higher genetic diversity than narrow-range species. In addition, by exploring the "genomic islands of speciation", we identified 13 genes in highly divergent regions that were shared by the two widespread species, distinguishing them from their narrow-range counterparts. Functional annotation analysis indicated that these genes are involved in nervous system development and regulation. The adaptive evolution of these genes likely played an important role in the speciation of these widespread species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Lai Wu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
- Hebei Basic Science Center for Biotic Interaction, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China
| | - Dan-Ping Mu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830046, China
| | - Qi-Sen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yu-Chun Li
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong 264209, China
| | - Anderson Feijó
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ji-Long Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhi-Xin Wen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Liang Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Lin Xia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China
- Hebei Basic Science Center for Biotic Interaction, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China. E-mail:
| | - Yan-Hua Qu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China. E-mail:
| | - De-Yan Ge
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China. E-mail:
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Vilela J, Martiniano H, Marques AR, Santos JX, Asif M, Rasga C, Oliveira G, Vicente AM. Identification of Neurotransmission and Synaptic Biological Processes Disrupted in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Interaction Networks and Community Detection Analysis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2971. [PMID: 38001974 PMCID: PMC10668950 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by communication deficits and repetitive behavioral patterns. Hundreds of candidate genes have been implicated in ASD, including neurotransmission and synaptic (NS) genes; however, the genetic architecture of this disease is far from clear. In this study, we seek to clarify the biological processes affected by NS gene variants identified in individuals with ASD and the global networks that link those processes together. For a curated list of 1216 NS candidate genes, identified in multiple databases and the literature, we searched for ultra-rare (UR) loss-of-function (LoF) variants in the whole-exome sequencing dataset from the Autism Sequencing Consortium (N = 3938 cases). Filtering for population frequency was carried out using gnomAD (N = 60,146 controls). NS genes with UR LoF variants were used to construct a network of protein-protein interactions, and the network's biological communities were identified by applying the Leiden algorithm. We further explored the expression enrichment of network genes in specific brain regions. We identified 356 variants in 208 genes, with a preponderance of UR LoF variants in the PDE11A and SYTL3 genes. Expression enrichment analysis highlighted several subcortical structures, particularly the basal ganglia. The interaction network defined seven network communities, clustering synaptic and neurotransmitter pathways with several ubiquitous processes that occur in multiple organs and systems. This approach also uncovered biological pathways that are not usually associated with ASD, such as brain cytochromes P450 and brain mitochondrial metabolism. Overall, the community analysis suggests that ASD involves the disruption of synaptic and neurotransmitter pathways but also ubiquitous, but less frequently implicated, biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Vilela
- Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.V.); (H.M.); (A.R.M.); (J.X.S.); (M.A.); (C.R.)
- BioISI-Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande, C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Hugo Martiniano
- Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.V.); (H.M.); (A.R.M.); (J.X.S.); (M.A.); (C.R.)
- BioISI-Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande, C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Marques
- Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.V.); (H.M.); (A.R.M.); (J.X.S.); (M.A.); (C.R.)
- BioISI-Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande, C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Xavier Santos
- Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.V.); (H.M.); (A.R.M.); (J.X.S.); (M.A.); (C.R.)
- BioISI-Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande, C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Muhammad Asif
- Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.V.); (H.M.); (A.R.M.); (J.X.S.); (M.A.); (C.R.)
- BioISI-Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande, C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Célia Rasga
- Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.V.); (H.M.); (A.R.M.); (J.X.S.); (M.A.); (C.R.)
- BioISI-Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande, C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Guiomar Oliveira
- Unidade de Neurodesenvolvimento e Autismo, Serviço do Centro de Desenvolvimento da Criança, Centro de Investigação e Formação Clínica, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), 3000-602 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University Clinic of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-602 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Astrid Moura Vicente
- Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.V.); (H.M.); (A.R.M.); (J.X.S.); (M.A.); (C.R.)
- BioISI-Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande, C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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11
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Zong W, Wang J, Zhao R, Niu N, Su Y, Hu Z, Liu X, Hou X, Wang L, Wang L, Zhang L. Associations of genome-wide structural variations with phenotypic differences in cross-bred Eurasian pigs. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:136. [PMID: 37805653 PMCID: PMC10559557 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00929-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During approximately 10,000 years of domestication and selection, a large number of structural variations (SVs) have emerged in the genome of pig breeds, profoundly influencing their phenotypes and the ability to adapt to the local environment. SVs (≥ 50 bp) are widely distributed in the genome, mainly in the form of insertion (INS), mobile element insertion (MEI), deletion (DEL), duplication (DUP), inversion (INV), and translocation (TRA). While studies have investigated the SVs in pig genomes, genome-wide association studies (GWAS)-based on SVs have been rarely conducted. RESULTS Here, we obtained a high-quality SV map containing 123,151 SVs from 15 Large White and 15 Min pigs through integrating the power of several SV tools, with 53.95% of the SVs being reported for the first time. These high-quality SVs were used to recover the population genetic structure, confirming the accuracy of genotyping. Potential functional SV loci were then identified based on positional effects and breed stratification. Finally, GWAS were performed for 36 traits by genotyping the screened potential causal loci in the F2 population according to their corresponding genomic positions. We identified a large number of loci involved in 8 carcass traits and 6 skeletal traits on chromosome 7, with FKBP5 containing the most significant SV locus for almost all traits. In addition, we found several significant loci in intramuscular fat, abdominal circumference, heart weight, and liver weight, etc. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed a high-quality SV map using high-coverage sequencing data and then analyzed them by performing GWAS for 25 carcass traits, 7 skeletal traits, and 4 meat quality traits to determine that SVs may affect body size between European and Chinese pig breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencheng Zong
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jinbu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Runze Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China
| | - Naiqi Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yanfang Su
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ziping Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Xin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xinhua Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ligang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Lixian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Longchao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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12
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Liu J, Yan J, Qu F, Mo W, Yu H, Hu P, Zhang Z. A pilot study on glutamate receptor and carrier gene variants and risk of childhood autism spectrum. Metab Brain Dis 2023; 38:2477-2488. [PMID: 37578654 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-023-01272-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Imbalanced glutamate signaling has been implicated in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This case-control study was to examine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in glutamate receptor and carrier genes and determine their association with childhood ASD in a Chinese Han population. A total of 12 SNPs in genes encoding glutamate receptors (GRM7 and GRM8) and carriers (SLC1A1 and SLC25A12) were examined in 249 autistic children and 353 healthy controls. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and its verbal communication domain were applied to evaluate the severity of the disease and language impairment, respectively. The T allele of rs2292813 in the SLC25A12 gene was significantly associated with an increased risk of ASD (odds ratio (OD) = 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-2.6, P = 0.0107). Neither the genotypes nor allele distributions of other SNPs were associated with the risk of ASD. Notably, rs1800656 and rs2237731 in the GRM8 gene, but not other SNPs, were related to the severity of language impairment. All SNPs were not correlated with the overall severity of ASD. Our findings support associations between the SLC25A12 gene variant and the risk of childhood ASD, and between the GRM8 gene variant and the severity of language impairment in the Chinese Han population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Xiaoshan Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, No. 728, Yucai North Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, 311202, China.
| | - Jing Yan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Xiaoshan Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, No. 728, Yucai North Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, 311202, China
| | - Fei Qu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Xiaoshan Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, No. 728, Yucai North Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, 311202, China
| | - Weiming Mo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Xiaoshan Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, No. 728, Yucai North Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, 311202, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Xiaoshan First Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Pingfang Hu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Xiaoshan Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, No. 728, Yucai North Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, 311202, China
| | - Zengyu Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Xiaoshan First Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
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13
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Kong L, Chu G, Ma W, Liang J, Liu D, Liu Q, Wei X, Jia S, Gu H, He Y, Luo W, Cao S, Zhou X, He R, Yuan Z. Mutations in VWA8 cause autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa via aberrant mitophagy activation. J Med Genet 2023; 60:939-950. [PMID: 37012052 DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2022-108888] [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: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common type of hereditary retinal dystrophy, approximately 25%-45% of cases remain without a molecular diagnosis. von Willebrand factor A domain containing 8 (VWA8) encodes a mitochondrial matrix-targeted protein; its molecular function and pathogenic mechanism in RP remain unexplained. METHODS Family members of patients with RP underwent ophthalmic examinations, and peripheral blood samples were collected for exome sequencing, ophthalmic targeted sequencing panel and Sanger sequencing. The importance of VWA8 in retinal development was demonstrated by a zebrafish knockdown model and cellular and molecular analysis. RESULTS This study recruited a Chinese family of 24 individuals with autosomal-dominant RP and conducted detailed ophthalmic examinations. Exome sequencing analysis of six patients revealed heterozygous variants in VWA8, namely, the missense variant c.3070G>A (p.Gly1024Arg) and nonsense c.4558C>T (p.Arg1520Ter). Furthermore, VWA8 expression was significantly decreased both at the mRNA and protein levels. The phenotypes of zebrafish with VWA8 knockdown are similar to those of clinical individuals harbouring VWA8 variants. Moreover, VWA8 defects led to severe mitochondrial damage, resulting in excessive mitophagy and the activation of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS VWA8 plays a significant role in retinal development and visual function. This finding may provide new insights into RP pathogenesis and potential genes for molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghui Kong
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Guoming Chu
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiajian Liang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Qiushi Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Fourth People's Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaowei Wei
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Shanshan Jia
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Hui Gu
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yiwen He
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wenting Luo
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Songying Cao
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | | | - Rong He
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhengwei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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14
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Stancioiu F, Bogdan R, Dumitrescu R. Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE) as a Biomarker for Autistic Spectrum Disease (ASD). Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1736. [PMID: 37629593 PMCID: PMC10455327 DOI: 10.3390/life13081736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Autistic spectrum disease (ASD) is an increasingly common diagnosis nowadays with a prevalence of 1-2% in most countries. Its complex causality-a combination of genetic, immune, metabolic, and environmental factors-is translated into pleiomorphic developmental disorders of various severity, which have two main aspects in common: repetitive, restrictive behaviors and difficulties in social interaction varying from awkward habits and verbalization to a complete lack of interest for the outside world. The wide variety of ASD causes also makes it very difficult to find a common denominator-a disease biomarker and medication-and currently, there is no commonly used diagnostic and therapeutic strategy besides clinical evaluation and psychotherapy. In the CORDUS clinical study, we have administered autologous cord blood to ASD kids who had little or no improvement after other treatments and searched for a biomarker which could help predict the degree of improvement in each patient. We have found that the neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was elevated above the normal clinical range (less than 16.3 ng/mL) in the vast majority of ASD kids tested in our study (40 of 41, or 97.5%). This finding opens up a new direction for diagnostic confirmation, dynamic evaluation, and therapeutic intervention for ASD kids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raluca Bogdan
- Medicover Hospital Bucharest, 013982 Bucharest, Romania
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Cucinotta F, Lintas C, Tomaiuolo P, Baccarin M, Picinelli C, Castronovo P, Sacco R, Piras IS, Turriziani L, Ricciardello A, Scattoni ML, Persico AM. Diagnostic yield and clinical impact of chromosomal microarray analysis in autism spectrum disorder. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2023; 11:e2182. [PMID: 37186221 PMCID: PMC10422062 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.2182] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by high heritability estimates and recurrence rates; its genetic underpinnings are very heterogeneous and include variable combinations of common and rare variants. Array-comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) offers significant sensitivity for the identification of copy number variants (CNVs), which can act as susceptibility or causal factors for ASD. METHODS The aim of this study was to evaluate both diagnostic yield and clinical impact of aCGH in 329 ASD patients of Italian descent. RESULTS Pathogenic/likely pathogenic CNVs were identified in 50/329 (15.2%) patients, whereas 89/329 (27.1%) carry variants of uncertain significance. The 10 most enriched gene sets identified by Gene Ontology Enrichment Analysis are primarily involved in neuronal function and synaptic connectivity. In 13/50 (26.0%) patients with pathogenic/likely pathogenic CNVs, the outcome of array-CGH led to the request of 25 additional medical exams which would not have otherwise been prescribed, mainly including brain MRI, EEG, EKG, and/or cardiac ultrasound. A positive outcome was obtained in 12/25 (48.0%) of these additional tests. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the satisfactory diagnostic yield of aCGH, underscoring its potential for better, more in-depth care of children with autism when genetic results are analyzed also with a focus on patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Cucinotta
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0‐90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of MessinaMessinaItaly
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”MessinaItaly
| | - Carla Lintas
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and NeurogeneticsUniversity “Campus Bio‐Medico”RomeItaly
| | - Pasquale Tomaiuolo
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0‐90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental DisordersMilanItaly
- Synlab GeneticsBioggioSwitzerland
| | - Chiara Picinelli
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental DisordersMilanItaly
| | - Paola Castronovo
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental DisordersMilanItaly
| | - Roberto Sacco
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and NeurogeneticsUniversity “Campus Bio‐Medico”RomeItaly
| | - Ignazio Stefano Piras
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and NeurogeneticsUniversity “Campus Bio‐Medico”RomeItaly
- Neurogenomics DivisionThe Translational Genomics Research InstitutePhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Laura Turriziani
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0‐90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Arianna Ricciardello
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0‐90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | | | - Antonio M. Persico
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Program, Modena University Hospital & Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
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Christensen D, Pazol K, Overwyk KJ, England LJ, Alexander AA, Croen LA, Dowling NF, Schieve LA, Tian LH, Tinker SC, Windham GC, Callaghan WM, Shapira SK. Prenatal ultrasound use and risk of autism spectrum disorder: Findings from the case-control Study to Explore Early Development. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2023; 37:527-535. [PMID: 37483151 PMCID: PMC10527947 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies evaluating the association between prenatal ultrasounds and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have largely produced negative results. Concern remains due to the rising identification of children with ASD and ultrasound use. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between prenatal ultrasound use and ASD. METHODS We used data from the Study to Explore Early Development, a multisite case-control study of preschool-aged children with ASD implemented during 2007-2012. We recruited cases from children receiving developmental disability services and randomly selected population controls from birth records. ASD case status was based on in-person standardised assessments. We stratified analyses by pre-existing maternal medical conditions and pregnancy complications associated with increased ultrasound use (ultrasound indications) and used logistic regression to model case status by increasing ultrasound counts. For pregnancies with medical record data on ultrasound timing, we conducted supplementary tests to model associations by trimester of exposure. RESULTS Among 1524 singleton pregnancies, ultrasound indications were more common for ASD cases than controls; respectively, for each group, no indications were reported for 45.1% and 54.2% of pregnancies, while ≥2 indications were reported for 26.1% and 18.4% of pregnancies. The percentage of pregnancies with multiple ultrasounds varied by case status and the presence of ultrasound indications. However, stratified regression models showed no association between increasing ultrasound counts and case status, either for pregnancies without (aOR 1.01, 95% CI 0.92, 1.11) or with ultrasound indications (aOR 1.01, 95% CI 0.95, 1.08). Trimester-specific analyses using medical record data showed no association in any individual trimester. CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence that prenatal ultrasound use increases ASD risk. Study strengths included gold-standard assessments for ASD case classification, comparison of cases with controls, and a stratified sample to account for conditions associated both with increased prenatal ultrasound use and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Christensen
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Karen Pazol
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Katherine J. Overwyk
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lucinda J. England
- National institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Aimee A. Alexander
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lisa A. Croen
- Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Nicole F. Dowling
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Laura A. Schieve
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lin H. Tian
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sarah C. Tinker
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Gayle C. Windham
- California Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, Richmond, California, USA
| | - William M. Callaghan
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Stuart K. Shapira
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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17
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Lombardi L, Le Clerc S, Wu CL, Bouassida J, Boukouaci W, Sugusabesan S, Richard JR, Lajnef M, Tison M, Le Corvoisier P, Barau C, Banaschewski T, Holt R, Durston S, Persico AM, Oakley B, Loth E, Buitelaar J, Murphy D, Leboyer M, Zagury JF, Tamouza R. A human leukocyte antigen imputation study uncovers possible genetic interplay between gut inflammatory processes and autism spectrum disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:244. [PMID: 37407551 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02550-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions that are for subsets of individuals, underpinned by dysregulated immune processes, including inflammation, autoimmunity, and dysbiosis. Consequently, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-hosted human leukocyte antigen (HLA) has been implicated in ASD risk, although seldom investigated. By utilizing a GWAS performed by the EU-AIMS consortium (LEAP cohort), we compared HLA and MHC genetic variants, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), and haplotypes in ASD individuals, versus typically developing controls. We uncovered six SNPs, namely rs9268528, rs9268542, rs9268556, rs14004, rs9268557, and rs8084 that crossed the Bonferroni threshold, which form the underpinnings of 3 independent genetic pathways/blocks that differentially associate with ASD. Block 1 (rs9268528-G, rs9268542-G, rs9268556-C, and rs14004-A) afforded protection against ASD development, whilst the two remaining blocks, namely rs9268557-T, and rs8084-A, associated with heightened risk. rs8084 and rs14004 mapped to the HLA-DRA gene, whilst the four other SNPs located in the BTNL2 locus. Different combinations amongst BTNL2 SNPs and HLA amino acid variants or classical alleles were found either to afford protection from or contribute to ASD risk, indicating a genetic interplay between BTNL2 and HLA. Interestingly, the detected variants had transcriptional and/or quantitative traits loci implications. As BTNL2 modulates gastrointestinal homeostasis and the identified HLA alleles regulate the gastrointestinal tract in celiac disease, it is proposed that the data on ASD risk may be linked to genetically regulated gut inflammatory processes. These findings might have implications for the prevention and treatment of ASD, via the targeting of gut-related processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lombardi
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bio-informatique et Chimie Moléculaire (EA7528), Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 292, rue Saint Martin, 75003, Paris, France
- HESAM Université, Paris, France
| | - Sigrid Le Clerc
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bio-informatique et Chimie Moléculaire (EA7528), Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 292, rue Saint Martin, 75003, Paris, France
- HESAM Université, Paris, France
| | - Ching-Lien Wu
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Jihène Bouassida
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Wahid Boukouaci
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Sobika Sugusabesan
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Jean-Romain Richard
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Mohamed Lajnef
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Maxime Tison
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bio-informatique et Chimie Moléculaire (EA7528), Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 292, rue Saint Martin, 75003, Paris, France
- HESAM Université, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Le Corvoisier
- Université Paris Est Créteil, Inserm, Centre Investigation Clinique, CIC 1430, Henri Mondor, Créteil, F94010, France
| | - Caroline Barau
- Plateforme de Ressources Biologiques, HU Henri Mondor, Créteil, F94010, France
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rosemary Holt
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah Durston
- Education Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Program at Modena University Hospital, & Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Bethany Oakley
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopemental Science, Institute of Psychatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Loth
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopemental Science, Institute of Psychatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Buitelaar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Declan Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopemental Science, Institute of Psychatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, AP-HP, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Département Médico-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie (DMU IMPACT), Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire de Médecine de Précision (FHU ADAPT) and Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, F-94010, France
| | - Jean-François Zagury
- Laboratoire Génomique, Bio-informatique et Chimie Moléculaire (EA7528), Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 292, rue Saint Martin, 75003, Paris, France
- HESAM Université, Paris, France
| | - Ryad Tamouza
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, F-94010, Créteil, France.
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Laboratoire Neuro-Psychiatrie translationnelle, AP-HP, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Département Médico-Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie (DMU IMPACT), Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire de Médecine de Précision (FHU ADAPT) and Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, F-94010, France.
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18
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Mpoulimari I, Zintzaras E. Analysis of convergence of linkage and association studies in autism spectrum disorders. Psychiatr Genet 2023; 33:113-124. [PMID: 37212558 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders with a strong hereditary component. Although genome-wide linkage studies (GWLS) and [genome-wide association studies (GWAS)] have previously identified hundreds of ASD risk gene loci, the results remain inconclusive. In this study, a genomic convergence approach of GWAS and GWLS for ASD was implemented for the first time in order to identify genomic loci supported by both methods. A database with 32 GWLS and five GWAS for ASD was created. Convergence was quantified as the proportion of significant GWAS markers located within linked regions. Convergence was not found to be significantly higher than expected by chance (z-test = 1,177, P = 0,239). Although convergence is supportive of genuine effects, the lack of agreement between GWLS and GWAS is also indicative that these studies are designed to answer different questions and are not equally well suited for deciphering the genetics of complex traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Mpoulimari
- Department of Biomathematics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Elias Zintzaras
- Department of Biomathematics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
- The Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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19
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Khandelwal A, Cushman J, Choi J, Zhuravka I, Rajbhandari A, Valiulahi P, Li X, Zhou C, Comai L, Reddy S. Mbnl2 loss alters novel context processing and impairs object recognition memory. iScience 2023; 26:106732. [PMID: 37216102 PMCID: PMC10193234 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with myotonic dystrophy type I (DM1) demonstrate visuospatial dysfunction and impaired performance in tasks requiring recognition or memory of figures and objects. In DM1, CUG expansion RNAs inactivate the muscleblind-like (MBNL) proteins. We show that constitutive Mbnl2 inactivation in Mbnl2ΔE2/ΔE2 mice selectively impairs object recognition memory in the novel object recognition test. When exploring the context of a novel arena in which the objects are later encountered, the Mbnl2ΔE2/ΔE2 dorsal hippocampus responds with a lack of enrichment for learning and memory-related pathways, mounting instead transcriptome alterations predicted to impair growth and neuron viability. In Mbnl2ΔE2/ΔE2 mice, saturation effects may prevent deployment of a functionally relevant transcriptome response during novel context exploration. Post-novel context exploration alterations in genes implicated in tauopathy and dementia are observed in the Mbnl2ΔE2/ΔE2 dorsal hippocampus. Thus, MBNL2 inactivation in patients with DM1 may alter novel context processing in the dorsal hippocampus and impair object recognition memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abinash Khandelwal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Jesse Cushman
- UCLA Behavioral Testing Core, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA
| | - Jongkyu Choi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Irina Zhuravka
- UCLA Behavioral Testing Core, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA
| | - Abha Rajbhandari
- UCLA Behavioral Testing Core, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA
| | - Parvin Valiulahi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Xiandu Li
- . Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Chenyu Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Lucio Comai
- . Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Sita Reddy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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20
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Fu C, Ngo J, Zhang S, Lu L, Miron A, Schafer S, Gage FH, Jin F, Schumacher FR, Wynshaw-Boris A. Novel correlative analysis identifies multiple genomic variations impacting ASD with macrocephaly. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:1589-1606. [PMID: 36519762 PMCID: PMC10162433 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) display both phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity, impeding the understanding of ASD and development of effective means of diagnosis and potential treatments. Genes affected by genomic variations for ASD converge in dozens of gene ontologies (GOs), but the relationship between the variations at the GO level have not been well elucidated. In the current study, multiple types of genomic variations were mapped to GOs and correlations among GOs were measured in ASD and control samples. Several ASD-unique GO correlations were found, suggesting the importance of co-occurrence of genomic variations in genes from different functional categories in ASD etiology. Combined with experimental data, several variations related to WNT signaling, neuron development, synapse morphology/function and organ morphogenesis were found to be important for ASD with macrocephaly, and novel co-occurrence patterns of them in ASD patients were found. Furthermore, we applied this gene ontology correlation analysis method to find genomic variations that contribute to ASD etiology in combination with changes in gene expression and transcription factor binding, providing novel insights into ASD with macrocephaly and a new methodology for the analysis of genomic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Fu
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Justine Ngo
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Leina Lu
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Alexander Miron
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Simon Schafer
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Fred H Gage
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Fulai Jin
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Fredrick R Schumacher
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Anthony Wynshaw-Boris
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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21
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Shen Y, Huang Z, Yang R, Chen Y, Wang Q, Gao L. Insights into Enhancer RNAs: Biogenesis and Emerging Role in Brain Diseases. Neuroscientist 2023; 29:166-176. [PMID: 34612730 DOI: 10.1177/10738584211046889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Enhancers are cis-acting elements that control the transcription of target genes and are transcribed into a class of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) termed enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). eRNAs have shorter half-lives than mRNAs and long noncoding RNAs; however, the frequency of transcription of eRNAs is close to that of mRNAs. eRNA expression is associated with a high level of histone mark H3K27ac and a low level of H3K27me3. Although eRNAs only account for a small proportion of ncRNAs, their functions are important. eRNAs can not only increase enhancer activity by promoting the formation of enhancer-promoter loops but also regulate transcriptional activation. Increasing numbers of studies have found that eRNAs play an important role in the occurrence and development of brain diseases; however, further research into eRNAs is required. This review discusses the concept, characteristics, classification, function, and potential roles of eRNAs in brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengyi Huang
- Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiqing Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunlong Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Immunology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Linbo Gao
- Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
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22
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Soo CC, Brandenburg JT, Nebel A, Tollman S, Berkman L, Ramsay M, Choudhury A. Genome-wide association study of population-standardised cognitive performance phenotypes in a rural South African community. Commun Biol 2023; 6:328. [PMID: 36973338 PMCID: PMC10043003 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04636-1] [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: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive function is an indicator for global physical and mental health, and cognitive impairment has been associated with poorer life outcomes and earlier mortality. A standard cognition test, adapted to a rural-dwelling African community, and the Oxford Cognition Screen-Plus were used to capture cognitive performance as five continuous traits (total cognition score, verbal episodic memory, executive function, language, and visuospatial ability) for 2,246 adults in this population of South Africans. A novel common variant, rs73485231, reached genome-wide significance for association with episodic memory using data for ~14 million markers imputed from the H3Africa genotyping array data. Window-based replication of previously implicated variants and regions of interest support the discovery of African-specific associated variants despite the small population size and low allele frequency. This African genome-wide association study identifies suggestive associations with general cognition and domain-specific cognitive pathways and lays the groundwork for further genomic studies on cognition in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra C Soo
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service and School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Jean-Tristan Brandenburg
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Almut Nebel
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Stephen Tollman
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lisa Berkman
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michèle Ramsay
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ananyo Choudhury
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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23
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Apte M, Kumar A. Correlation of Mutated gene and Signalling pathways in ASD. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2023; 14:384-392. [PMID: 37101819 PMCID: PMC10123338 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2023.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism is a complicated spectrum of neurodevelopmental illnesses characterized by repetitive and constrained behaviors and interests, as well as social interaction and communication difficulties that are first shown in infancy. More than 18 million Indians, according to the National Health Portal of India, and 1 in 160 children worldwide, according to the WHO, are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. This review aims to discuss the complex genetic architecture that underlies autism and summarizes the role of proteins likely to play in the development of autism. We also consider how genetic mutations can affect convergent signaling pathways and hinder the development of brain circuitry and the role of cognition development and theory of mind with Cognition-behavior therapy benefits in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhavi Apte
- Quality Assurance and Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, SVKM’s Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Vile Parle, 400056 Mumbai, India
- Correspondence to: SVKM’s Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Mithibai Campus, V.M. Road, Vile Parle West, 400056 Mumbai, India.
| | - Aayush Kumar
- Quality Assurance, SVKM’s Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Vile Parle, 400056 Mumbai, India
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24
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Brandenburg C, Griswold AJ, Van Booven DJ, Kilander MBC, Frei JA, Nestor MW, Dykxhoorn DM, Pericak-Vance MA, Blatt GJ. Transcriptomic analysis of isolated and pooled human postmortem cerebellar Purkinje cells in autism spectrum disorders. Front Genet 2022; 13:944837. [PMID: 36437953 PMCID: PMC9683032 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.944837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, the neuronal mechanisms underlying the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have not been established. However, studies from human postmortem ASD brains have consistently revealed disruptions in cerebellar circuitry, specifically reductions in Purkinje cell (PC) number and size. Alterations in cerebellar circuitry would have important implications for information processing within the cerebellum and affect a wide range of human motor and non-motor behaviors. Laser capture microdissection was performed to obtain pure PC populations from a cohort of postmortem control and ASD cases and transcriptional profiles were compared. The 427 differentially expressed genes were enriched for gene ontology biological processes related to developmental organization/connectivity, extracellular matrix organization, calcium ion response, immune function and PC signaling alterations. Given the complexity of PCs and their far-ranging roles in response to sensory stimuli and motor function regulation, understanding transcriptional differences in this subset of cerebellar cells in ASD may inform on convergent pathways that impact neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Brandenburg
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anthony J. Griswold
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Derek J. Van Booven
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | | | | | - Derek M. Dykxhoorn
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | - Gene J. Blatt
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
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25
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Yang Y, Wang C, Liu L, Buxbaum J, He Z, Ionita-Laza I. KnockoffTrio: A knockoff framework for the identification of putative causal variants in genome-wide association studies with trio design. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:1761-1776. [PMID: 36150388 PMCID: PMC9606389 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.08.013] [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: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Family-based designs can eliminate confounding due to population substructure and can distinguish direct from indirect genetic effects, but these designs are underpowered due to limited sample sizes. Here, we propose KnockoffTrio, a statistical method to identify putative causal genetic variants for father-mother-child trio design built upon a recently developed knockoff framework in statistics. KnockoffTrio controls the false discovery rate (FDR) in the presence of arbitrary correlations among tests and is less conservative and thus more powerful than the conventional methods that control the family-wise error rate via Bonferroni correction. Furthermore, KnockoffTrio is not restricted to family-based association tests and can be used in conjunction with more powerful, potentially nonlinear models to improve the power of standard family-based tests. We show, using empirical simulations, that KnockoffTrio can prioritize causal variants over associations due to linkage disequilibrium and can provide protection against confounding due to population stratification. In applications to 14,200 trios from three study cohorts for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), including AGP, SPARK, and SSC, we show that KnockoffTrio can identify multiple significant associations that are missed by conventional tests applied to the same data. In particular, we replicate known ASD association signals with variants in several genes such as MACROD2, NRXN1, PRKAR1B, CADM2, PCDH9, and DOCK4 and identify additional associations with variants in other genes including ARHGEF10, SLC28A1, ZNF589, and HINT1 at FDR 10%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Biostatistics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; School of Data Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Linxi Liu
- Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Joseph Buxbaum
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Zihuai He
- Quantitative Sciences Unit, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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26
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Kainer D, Templeton AR, Prates ET, Jacboson D, Allan ER, Climer S, Garvin MR. Structural variants identified using non-Mendelian inheritance patterns advance the mechanistic understanding of autism spectrum disorder. HGG ADVANCES 2022; 4:100150. [PMCID: PMC9634371 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2022.100150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The heritability of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), based on 680,000 families and five countries, is estimated to be nearly 80%, yet heritability reported from SNP-based studies are consistently lower, and few significant loci have been identified with genome-wide association studies. This gap in genomic information may reside in rare variants, interaction among variants (epistasis), or cryptic structural variation (SV) and may provide mechanisms that underlie ASD. Here we use a method to identify potential SVs based on non-Mendelian inheritance patterns in pedigrees using parent-child genotypes from ASD families and demonstrate that they are enriched in ASD-risk genes. Most are in non-coding genic space and are over-represented in expression quantitative trait loci, suggesting that they affect gene regulation, which we confirm with their overlap of differentially expressed genes in postmortem brain tissue of ASD individuals. We then identify an SV in the GRIK2 gene that alters RNA splicing and a regulatory region of the ACMSD gene in the kynurenine pathway as significantly associated with a non-verbal ASD phenotype, supporting our hypothesis that these currently excluded loci can provide a clearer mechanistic understanding of ASD. Finally, we use an explainable artificial intelligence approach to define subgroups demonstrating their use in the context of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kainer
- Computational Systems Biology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Alan R. Templeton
- Department of Biology, Washington University – St Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Erica T. Prates
- Computational Systems Biology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Daniel Jacboson
- Computational Systems Biology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | | | - Sharlee Climer
- Department of Computer Science, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael R. Garvin
- Computational Systems Biology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA,Williwaw Biosciences, LLC, Clarkston, MI, USA,Corresponding author
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Yang X, Li L, Chai X, Liu J. The association between ST8SIA2 gene and behavioral phenotypes in children with autism spectrum disorder. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:929878. [PMID: 35957920 PMCID: PMC9359136 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.929878] [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: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveST8 alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminide alpha-2,8-sialyltransferase 2 (ST8SIA2) encodes a type II membrane protein that is thought to catalyze the transfer of sialic acid (SA) from CMP-SA to N-linked oligosaccharides and glycoproteins. Some population and animal studies have indicated an association between the ST8SIA2 gene and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there is limited information on the correlation between ST8SIA2 and autistic behavioral symptoms.MethodsIn this study, 69 ASD and 76 normal control children who were age- and sex-matched were recruited. ST8SIA2 expression and methylation levels were measured by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR and pyrosequencing, respectively, and the behavioral phenotypes of ASD children were assessed.ResultsThe ASD group had lower ST8SIA2 gene expression levels than the control group [t(0.05/2,143) = 2.582, p = 0.011]. Moreover, ST8SIA2 expression levels were positively correlated with daily life skills (rs = 0.381, p = 0.008) and negatively associated with stereotyped behaviors in the ASD group (rs = -0.510, p = 0.004). The methylation levels of the Chr. 15: 92984625 and Chr. 15: 92998561 sites of the ST8SIA2 gene in ASD children were higher than those of controls. The Chr. 15: 92984625 site was positively correlated with the stereotyped behaviors of ASD children (rs = 0.41, p = 0.039).ConclusionThis study provides a scientific basis to elucidate the relationship between the ST8SIA2 gene and behavioral phenotypes of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Yang
- Postdoctoral Workstation, Research Institute of Medical and Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Lin Li
- Center for Prevention of Disease, Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Qiqihar, Qiqihar, China
| | - Xuejiao Chai
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Jicheng Liu
- Postdoctoral Workstation, Research Institute of Medical and Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
- *Correspondence: Jicheng Liu,
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Huo Y, Lu W, Tian Y, Hou Q, Man HY. Prkn knockout mice show autistic-like behaviors and aberrant synapse formation. iScience 2022; 25:104573. [PMID: 35789851 PMCID: PMC9249611 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high genetic heterogeneity, affecting one in 44 children in the United States. Recent genomic sequencing studies from autistic human individuals indicate that PARK2, a gene that has long been considered in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, is involved in ASD. Here, we report that Prkn knockout (KO) mice demonstrate autistic-like behaviors including impaired social interaction, elevated repetitive behaviors, and deficits in communication. In addition, Prkn KO mice show reduced neuronal activity in the context of sociability in the prelimbic cortex. Cell morphological examination of layer 5 prelimbic cortical neurons shows a reduction in dendritic arborization and spine number. Furthermore, biochemistry and immunocytochemistry analyses reveal alterations in synapse density and the molecular composition of synapses. These findings indicate that Prkn is implicated in brain development and suggest the potential use of the Prkn KO mouse as a model for autism research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuda Huo
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Wen Lu
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yuan Tian
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Qingming Hou
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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29
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Doi M, Li M, Usui N, Shimada S. Genomic Strategies for Understanding the Pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:930941. [PMID: 35813066 PMCID: PMC9263364 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.930941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent breakthroughs in sequencing technology and technological developments have made it easier to analyze the entire human genome than ever before. In addition to disease-specific genetic mutations and chromosomal aberrations, epigenetic alterations in individuals can also be analyzed using genomics. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) caused by genetic and/or environmental factors. More than a thousand genes associated with ASD have been identified which are known to be involved in brain development. However, it is difficult to decode the roles of ASD-associated genes without in vitro and in vivo validations, particularly in the process of brain development. In this review, we discuss genomic strategies for understanding the pathological mechanisms underlying ASD. For this purpose, we discuss ASD-associated genes and their functions, as well as analytical strategies and their strengths and weaknesses in cellular and animal models from a basic research perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyuki Doi
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Addiction Research Unit, Osaka Psychiatric Research Center, Osaka Psychiatric Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mengwei Li
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Noriyoshi Usui
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Addiction Research Unit, Osaka Psychiatric Research Center, Osaka Psychiatric Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Global Center for Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- *Correspondence: Noriyoshi Usui
| | - Shoichi Shimada
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Addiction Research Unit, Osaka Psychiatric Research Center, Osaka Psychiatric Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Global Center for Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
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30
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The Roles of Par3, Par6, and aPKC Polarity Proteins in Normal Neurodevelopment and in Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders. J Neurosci 2022; 42:4774-4793. [PMID: 35705493 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0059-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Normal neural circuits and functions depend on proper neuronal differentiation, migration, synaptic plasticity, and maintenance. Abnormalities in these processes underlie various neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. Neural development and maintenance are regulated by many proteins. Among them are Par3, Par6 (partitioning defective 3 and 6), and aPKC (atypical protein kinase C) families of evolutionarily conserved polarity proteins. These proteins perform versatile functions by forming tripartite or other combinations of protein complexes, which hereafter are collectively referred to as "Par complexes." In this review, we summarize the major findings on their biophysical and biochemical properties in cell polarization and signaling pathways. We next summarize their expression and localization in the nervous system as well as their versatile functions in various aspects of neurodevelopment, including neuroepithelial polarity, neurogenesis, neuronal migration, neurite differentiation, synaptic plasticity, and memory. These versatile functions rely on the fundamental roles of Par complexes in cell polarity in distinct cellular contexts. We also discuss how cell polarization may correlate with subcellular polarization in neurons. Finally, we review the involvement of Par complexes in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. While emerging evidence indicates that Par complexes are essential for proper neural development and maintenance, many questions on their in vivo functions have yet to be answered. Thus, Par3, Par6, and aPKC continue to be important research topics to advance neuroscience.
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31
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Mpoulimari I, Zintzaras E. Synthesis of genetic association studies on autism spectrum disorders using a genetic model-free approach. Psychiatr Genet 2022; 32:91-104. [PMID: 35353796 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite the extensive efforts of scientists, the etiology of ASD is far from completely elucidated. In an effort to enlighten the genetic architecture of ASDs, a meta-analysis of all available genetic association studies (GAS) was conducted. METHODS We searched in the Human Genome Epidemiology Navigator (HuGE Navigator) and PubMed for available case-control GAS of ASDs. The threshold for meta-analysis was two studies per genetic variant. The association between genotype distribution and ASDs was examined using the generalized linear odds ratio (ORG). For variants with available allele frequencies, the examined model was the allele contrast. RESULTS Overall, 57 candidate genes and 128 polymorphisms were investigated in 159 articles. In total 28 genetic polymorphisms have been shown to be associated with ASDs, that are harbored in 19 genes. Statistically significant results were revealed for the variants of the following genes adenosine deaminase (ADA), bone marrow stromal cell antigen-1 (CD157/BST1), Dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1), engrailed homolog 2 (EN2), met proto-oncogene (MET), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4), Synaptosomal-associated protein, 25kDa (SNAP-25) and vitamin D receptor (VDR). In the allele contrast model of cases versus healthy controls, significant associations were observed for Adrenoceptor Alpha 1B (ADRA1B), acetyl serotonin O - methyltransferase (ASMT), complement component 4B (C4B), dopamine receptor D3 (DRD3), met proto-oncogene (MET), neuroligin 4, X-linked (NLGN4), neurexin 1 (NRXN1), oxytocin receptor (OXTR), Serine/Threonine-Protein Kinase PFTAIRE-1 (PFTK1), Reelin (RELN) and Ras-like without CAAX 2 (RIT2). CONCLUSION These significant findings provide further evidence for genetic factors' implication in ASDs offering new perspectives in means of prevention and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Mpoulimari
- Department of Biomathematics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Elias Zintzaras
- Department of Biomathematics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
- Department of Medicine, The Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Fan CC, Loughnan R, Makowski C, Pecheva D, Chen CH, Hagler DJ, Thompson WK, Parker N, van der Meer D, Frei O, Andreassen OA, Dale AM. Multivariate genome-wide association study on tissue-sensitive diffusion metrics highlights pathways that shape the human brain. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2423. [PMID: 35505052 PMCID: PMC9065144 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30110-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular determinants of tissue composition of the human brain remain largely unknown. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on this topic have had limited success due to methodological constraints. Here, we apply advanced whole-brain analyses on multi-shell diffusion imaging data and multivariate GWAS to two large scale imaging genetic datasets (UK Biobank and the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study) to identify and validate genetic association signals. We discover 503 unique genetic loci that have impact on multiple regions of human brain. Among them, more than 79% are validated in either of two large-scale independent imaging datasets. Key molecular pathways involved in axonal growth, astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation, and synaptogenesis during development are found to significantly impact the measured variations in tissue-specific imaging features. Our results shed new light on the biological determinants of brain tissue composition and their potential overlap with the genetic basis of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Chieh Fan
- Population Neuroscience and Genetics Lab, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. .,Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. .,Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Robert Loughnan
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carolina Makowski
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Diliana Pecheva
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Chi-Hua Chen
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Wesley K Thompson
- Population Neuroscience and Genetics Lab, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nadine Parker
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dennis van der Meer
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Oleksandr Frei
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Brandenburg C, Blatt GJ. Region-Specific Alterations of Perineuronal Net Expression in Postmortem Autism Brain Tissue. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:838918. [PMID: 35493330 PMCID: PMC9043328 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.838918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variance in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often associated with mechanisms that broadly fall into the category of neuroplasticity. Parvalbumin positive neurons and their surrounding perineuronal nets (PNNs) are important factors in critical period plasticity and have both been implicated in ASD. PNNs are found in high density within output structures of the cerebellum and basal ganglia, two regions that are densely connected to many other brain areas and have the potential to participate in the diverse array of symptoms present in an ASD diagnosis. The dentate nucleus (DN) and globus pallidus (GP) were therefore assessed for differences in PNN expression in human postmortem ASD brain tissue. While Purkinje cell loss is a consistent neuropathological finding in ASD, in this cohort, the Purkinje cell targets within the DN did not show differences in number of cells with or without a PNN. However, the density of parvalbumin positive neurons with a PNN were significantly reduced in the GP internus and externus of ASD cases, which was not dependent on seizure status. It is unclear whether these alterations manifest during development or are a consequence of activity-dependent mechanisms that lead to altered network dynamics later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Brandenburg
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Cheryl Brandenburg,
| | - Gene J. Blatt
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Thiesler H, Küçükerden M, Gretenkort L, Röckle I, Hildebrandt H. News and Views on Polysialic Acid: From Tumor Progression and Brain Development to Psychiatric Disorders, Neurodegeneration, Myelin Repair and Immunomodulation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:871757. [PMID: 35617589 PMCID: PMC9013797 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.871757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Polysialic acid (polySia) is a sugar homopolymer consisting of at least eight glycosidically linked sialic acid units. It is a posttranslational modification of a limited number of proteins with the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM being the most prominent. As extensively reviewed before, polySia-NCAM is crucial for brain development and synaptic plasticity but also modulates tumor growth and malignancy. Functions of polySia have been attributed to its polyanionic character, its spatial expansion into the extracellular space, and its modulation of NCAM interactions. In this mini-review, we first summarize briefly, how the modulation of NCAM functions by polySia impacts tumor cell growth and leads to malformations during brain development of polySia-deficient mice, with a focus on how the latter may be linked to altered behaviors in the mouse model and to neurodevelopmental predispositions to psychiatric disorders. We then elaborate on the implications of polySia functions in hippocampal plasticity, learning and memory of mice in light of recently described polySia changes related to altered neurogenesis in the aging human brain and in neurodegenerative disease. Furthermore, we highlight recent progress that extends the range of polySia functions across diverse fields of neurobiology such as cortical interneuron development and connectivity, myelination and myelin repair, or the regulation of microglia activity. We discuss possible common and distinct mechanisms that may underlie these seemingly divergent roles of polySia, and provide prospects for new therapeutic approaches building on our improved understanding of polySia functions.
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Küçükerden M, Schuster UE, Röckle I, Alvarez-Bolado G, Schwabe K, Hildebrandt H. Compromised mammillary body connectivity and psychotic symptoms in mice with di- and mesencephalic ablation of ST8SIA2. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:51. [PMID: 35115485 PMCID: PMC8814025 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01816-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered long-range connectivity is a common finding across neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders, but causes and consequences are not well understood. Genetic variation in ST8SIA2 has been associated with schizophrenia, autism, and bipolar disorder, and St8sia2-/- mice show a number of related neurodevelopmental and behavioral phenotypes. In the present study, we use conditional knockout (cKO) to dissect neurodevelopmental defects and behavioral consequences of St8sia2 deficiency in cortical interneurons, their cortical environment, or in the di- and mesencephalon. Neither separate nor combined cortical and diencephalic ablation of St8sia2 caused the disturbed thalamus-cortex connectivity observed in St8sia2-/- mice. However, cortical ablation reproduced hypoplasia of corpus callosum and fornix and mice with di- and mesencephalic ablation displayed smaller mammillary bodies with a prominent loss of parvalbumin-positive projection neurons and size reductions of the mammillothalamic tract. In addition, the mammillotegmental tract and the mammillary peduncle, forming the reciprocal connections between mammillary bodies and Gudden's tegmental nuclei, as well as the size of Gudden's ventral tegmental nucleus were affected. Only mice with these mammillary deficits displayed enhanced MK-801-induced locomotor activity, exacerbated impairment of prepulse inhibition in response to apomorphine, and hypoanxiety in the elevated plus maze. We therefore propose that compromised mammillary body connectivity, independent from hippocampal input, leads to these psychotic-like responses of St8sia2-deficient mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melike Küçükerden
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany ,grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Ute E. Schuster
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Iris Röckle
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Gonzalo Alvarez-Bolado
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schwabe
- grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover (ZSN), Hannover, Germany ,grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Herbert Hildebrandt
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. .,Center for Systems Neuroscience Hannover (ZSN), Hannover, Germany.
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Akingbuwa WA, Hammerschlag AR, Bartels M, Middeldorp CM. Systematic Review: Molecular Studies of Common Genetic Variation in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2022; 61:227-242. [PMID: 33932494 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A systematic review of studies using molecular genetics and statistical approaches to investigate the role of common genetic variation in the development, persistence, and comorbidity of childhood psychiatric traits was conducted. METHOD A literature review was performed using the PubMed database, following PRISMA guidelines. There were 131 studies meeting inclusion criteria, having investigated at least one type of childhood-onset or childhood-measured psychiatric disorder or trait with the aim of identifying trait-associated common genetic variants, estimating the contribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to the amount of variance explained (SNP-based heritability), investigating genetic overlap between psychiatric traits, or investigating whether the stability in traits or the association with adult traits is explained by genetic factors. RESULTS The first robustly associated genetic variants have started to be identified for childhood psychiatric traits. There were substantial contributions of common genetic variants to many traits, with variation in single nucleotide polymorphism heritability estimates depending on age and raters. Moreover, genetic variants also appeared to explain comorbidity as well as stability across a range of psychiatric traits in childhood and across the life span. CONCLUSION Common genetic variation plays a substantial role in childhood psychiatric traits. Increased sample sizes will lead to increased power to identify genetic variants and to understand genetic architecture, which will ultimately be beneficial to targeted and prevention strategies. This can be achieved by harmonizing phenotype measurements, as is already proposed by large international consortia and by including the collection of genetic material in every study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonuola A Akingbuwa
- Ms. Akingbuwa, Dr. Hammerschlag, and Profs. Bartels and Middeldorp are with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Ms. Akingbuwa, Dr. Hammerschlag, and Prof. Bartels are also with Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Anke R Hammerschlag
- Ms. Akingbuwa, Dr. Hammerschlag, and Profs. Bartels and Middeldorp are with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Ms. Akingbuwa, Dr. Hammerschlag, and Prof. Bartels are also with Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dr. Hammerschlag and Prof. Middeldorp are also with the Child Health Research Centre, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Meike Bartels
- Ms. Akingbuwa, Dr. Hammerschlag, and Profs. Bartels and Middeldorp are with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Ms. Akingbuwa, Dr. Hammerschlag, and Prof. Bartels are also with Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Christel M Middeldorp
- Ms. Akingbuwa, Dr. Hammerschlag, and Profs. Bartels and Middeldorp are with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dr. Hammerschlag and Prof. Middeldorp are also with the Child Health Research Centre, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Prof. Middeldorp is also with the Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Services, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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37
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Kattan RE, Han H, Seo G, Yang B, Lin Y, Dotson M, Pham S, Menely Y, Wang W. Interactome analysis of human phospholipase D and phosphatidic acid-associated protein network. Mol Cell Proteomics 2022; 21:100195. [PMID: 35007762 PMCID: PMC8864472 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2022.100195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian phospholipase D (PLD) enzyme family consists of six members. Among them, PLD1/2/6 catalyzes phosphatidic acid (PA) production, while PLD3/4/5 has no catalytic activities. Deregulation of the PLD-PA lipid signaling has been associated with various human diseases including cancer. However, a comprehensive analysis of the regulators and effectors for this crucial lipid metabolic pathway has not been fully achieved. Using a proteomic approach, we defined the protein interaction network for the human PLD family of enzymes and PA and revealed diverse cellular signaling events involving them. Through it, we identified PJA2 as a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase for PLD1 involved in control of the PLD1-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin signaling. Additionally, we showed that PA interacted with and positively regulated sphingosine kinase 1. Taken together, our study not only generates a rich interactome resource for further characterizing the human PLD-PA lipid signaling but also connects this important metabolic pathway with numerous biological processes. Defining the interactome of human phospholipase D enzymes and phosphatidic acid. PJA2 functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase of phospholipase D1. Phosphatidic acid interacts with and positively regulates sphingosine kinase 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Elizabeth Kattan
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Han Han
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Gayoung Seo
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Bing Yang
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Yongqi Lin
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Max Dotson
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Stephanie Pham
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Yahya Menely
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Wenqi Wang
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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Girardi ACDS, van Opstal Takahashi VN, Vadasz E, Costa CIS, Zachi EC, Vianna-Morgante AM, Passos-Bueno MR. FMR1 premutation in children with autism spectrum disorders: Should additional diagnostic tests be performed? Am J Med Genet A 2022; 188:1334-1337. [PMID: 34981645 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina De Sanctis Girardi
- Centro de Estudos do Genoma Humano e Células-tronco, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Naomi van Opstal Takahashi
- Centro de Estudos do Genoma Humano e Células-tronco, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Estevão Vadasz
- Centro de Estudos do Genoma Humano e Células-tronco, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Claudia Ismania Samogi Costa
- Centro de Estudos do Genoma Humano e Células-tronco, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elaine Cristina Zachi
- Centro de Estudos do Genoma Humano e Células-tronco, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Psicologia Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Angela M Vianna-Morgante
- Centro de Estudos do Genoma Humano e Células-tronco, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Rita Passos-Bueno
- Centro de Estudos do Genoma Humano e Células-tronco, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Patasova K, Haarman AEG, Musolf AM, Mahroo OA, Rahi JS, Falchi M, Verhoeven VJM, Bailey-Wilson JE, Klaver CCW, Duggal P, Klein A, Guggenheim JA, Hammond CJ, Hysi PG. Association analyses of rare variants identify two genes associated with refractive error. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272379. [PMID: 36137074 PMCID: PMC9499304 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Genetic variants identified through population-based genome-wide studies are generally of high frequency, exerting their action in the central part of the refractive error spectrum. However, the power to identify associations with variants of lower minor allele frequency is greatly reduced, requiring considerable sample sizes. Here we aim to assess the impact of rare variants on genetic variation of refractive errors in a very large general population cohort. METHODS Genetic association analyses of non-cyclopaedic autorefraction calculated as mean spherical equivalent (SPHE) used whole-exome sequence genotypic information from 50,893 unrelated participants in the UK Biobank of European ancestry. Gene-based analyses tested for association with SPHE using an optimised SNP-set kernel association test (SKAT-O) restricted to rare variants (minor allele frequency < 1%) within protein-coding regions of the genome. All models were adjusted for age, sex and common lead variants within the same locus reported by previous genome-wide association studies. Potentially causal markers driving association at significant loci were elucidated using sensitivity analyses by sequentially dropping the most associated variants from gene-based analyses. RESULTS We found strong statistical evidence for association of SPHE with the SIX6 (p-value = 2.15 x 10-10, or Bonferroni-Corrected p = 4.41x10-06) and the CRX gene (p-value = 6.65 x 10-08, or Bonferroni-Corrected p = 0.001). The SIX6 gene codes for a transcription factor believed to be critical to the eye, retina and optic disc development and morphology, while CRX regulates photoreceptor specification and expression of over 700 genes in the retina. These novel associations suggest an important role of genes involved in eye morphogenesis in refractive error. CONCLUSION The results of our study support previous research highlighting the importance of rare variants to the genetic risk of refractive error. We explain some of the origins of the genetic signals seen in GWAS but also report for the first time a completely novel association with the CRX gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Patasova
- Department of Ophthalmology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Twins Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Annechien E. G. Haarman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anthony M. Musolf
- Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Omar A. Mahroo
- Department of Ophthalmology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Twins Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Ophthalmology, St Thomas’ Hospital, Guys and St ’Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jugnoo S. Rahi
- UCL Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
- Ulverscroft Vision Research Group, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mario Falchi
- Department of Twins Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Virginie J. M. Verhoeven
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joan E. Bailey-Wilson
- Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Caroline C. W. Klaver
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Priya Duggal
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Alison Klein
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jeremy A. Guggenheim
- School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Chris J. Hammond
- Department of Ophthalmology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Twins Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pirro G. Hysi
- Department of Ophthalmology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Twins Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Dondu A, Caliskan M, Orenay-Boyacioglu S. Link between obsessive-compulsive disorder and polymorphisms in HDAC genes. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2021; 44:156-163. [PMID: 34730715 PMCID: PMC9041966 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Recently, epigenetic mechanisms related to histone modifications including histone deacetylation (HDAC) have been emphasized in psychiatric diseases. Few studies have investigated the relationship of HDAC gene variations to psychiatric diseases, but these gene variations have never been studied in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present case-control study aimed to compare symptomatology with HDAC gene variations in patients with OCD. Methods: Illumina next-generation sequencing of six HDAC genes (HDAC2,3,4,9,10,11) was performed on DNA samples isolated from 200 Turkish subjects recruited from routine clinical practice. Twenty-seven single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in six HDAC genes were scanned with the LightSNiP method. Results: New variants, all previously unreported in the literature, were identified in the HDAC4, HDAC10, and HDAC11 genes. When control and OCD patient groups were compared, a statistically significant difference was found in HDAC2 rs13212283, HDAC4 rs1063639, and HDAC10 rs1555048 in terms of genotype distribution (p < 0.05). In addition, in the OCD group, a statistically significant relationship was found between some obsessions/compulsions and HDAC2, HDAC3, and HDAC4 polymorphisms (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study shows that the HDAC2, HDAC3, HDAC4, and HDAC10 genes may play a role in the pathogenesis of OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Dondu
- Department of Psychiatry, Aydın Goverment Hospital, Aydın, Turkey
| | - Metin Caliskan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey
| | - Seda Orenay-Boyacioglu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey
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Moniem Ali R, El-Wakeel HA, Al-Saleh DF, Shukri MI, Ansari KMN. Autism spectrum disorder in architecture perspective: a review of the literature and bibliometric assessment of research indexed in Web of Science. F1000Res 2021; 10:1087. [PMID: 35923662 PMCID: PMC9326241 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.54437.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The primary objective of this research paper was to explore the current state-of-the-art research on autism spectrum disorder from a designer's perspective. An increasing number of scholarly publications in this discipline have urged researcher interest in this topic; however, there is still a lack of quantitative analysis. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze global research output on autism spectrum disorder from a designer's perspective during 1992-2021. Methodology: A bibliometric method was employed to analyze the published literature from 1992-2021. 812 papers were downloaded from the Web of Science core collection for analysis focused on annual growth of literature, prolific authors, authorship pattern, productive organizations, countries, international collaboration, literature trends by keyword analysis, and identifying the funding agencies. Various bibliometrics and scientometrics software were used to analyze the data, namely Bibexcel, Biblioshiny, and VOS viewer. Results: There were 812 research papers published in 405 sources during 1992-2021. 2019 was noted as the most productive year (NP=101), and 2014 received the highest number of citations (TC=6634). Researchers preferred to publish as journal articles (NP=538; TC=24922). The University of Toronto, Canada, was identified as a productive institution with 42 publications and 5358 citations. The USA was the leading producing country with 433 publications, and most of the researchers publish their work in the journal "Scientific Reports" (NP=16). The word "autism" (NP=257) and "architecture" (NP=165) were the most frequently used keywords in autism research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reham Moniem Ali
- Interior Design Department, College of Design, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, PO. 1982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hala A. El-Wakeel
- Interior Design Department, College of Design, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, PO. 1982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deema Faisal Al-Saleh
- Interior Design Department, College of Design, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, PO. 1982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Ibrahim Shukri
- Interior Design Department, College of Design, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, PO. 1982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khadeeja M N Ansari
- Interior Design Department, College of Design, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, PO. 1982, Saudi Arabia
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Moniem Ali R, El-Wakeel HA, Al-Saleh DF, Shukri MI, Ansari KMN. Autism spectrum disorder in architecture perspective: a review of the literature and bibliometric assessment of research indexed in Web of Science. F1000Res 2021; 10:1087. [PMID: 35923662 PMCID: PMC9326241 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.54437.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE An increasing number of scholarly publications on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have urged researcher interest in this topic; however, there is still a lack of quantitative analysis. Therefore, this study aims to cover the knowledge gap between the amount of literature published on ASD research on architectural and designers' perspectives compared to the medical and psychological fields. The study has analyzed global research output on ASD from a designer's perspective to recognize this gap related to designing the physical environment. Methodology: The bibliometric method was employed to analyze the published literature from 1992-to 2021. 812 papers were downloaded from the Web of Science for analysis based on annual growth of literature, prolific authors, authorship pattern, organizations, countries, international collaboration, and subject development by keywords and thematic map analyses. Various bibliometric and scientometric software was used to analyze the data, namely Bibexcel, Biblioshiny, and VOS viewer. RESULTS The812 research papers were published in 405 sources. 2019 appeared as a productive year (NP=101), and 2014 received the highest number of citations (TC=6634). Researchers preferred to publish as journal articles (NP=538; TC=24922). The University of Toronto, Canada, was identified as a productive institution with 42 publications and 5358 citations. The USA was the leading producing country with 433 publications, and most of the researchers published in the journal " Scientific Reports" (NP=16). The word autism (NP=257) and architecture (NP=165) were more frequently used keywords. CONCLUSION The study identified a massive gap in the development of literature in ASD for architecture design and built environment perspective, the most important and trending keywords are missing, and the analyses also showed a lack of subject development. The authors have suggested areas and keywords for further research to fulfill the gap in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reham Moniem Ali
- Interior Design Department, College of Design, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, PO. 1982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hala A. El-Wakeel
- Interior Design Department, College of Design, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, PO. 1982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deema Faisal Al-Saleh
- Interior Design Department, College of Design, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, PO. 1982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Ibrahim Shukri
- Interior Design Department, College of Design, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, PO. 1982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khadeeja M N Ansari
- Interior Design Department, College of Design, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province, PO. 1982, Saudi Arabia
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Umair M, Farooq Khan M, Aldrees M, Nashabat M, Alhamoudi KM, Bilal M, Alyafee Y, Al Tuwaijri A, Aldarwish M, Al-Rumayyan A, Alkhalaf H, Wadaan MAM, Alfadhel M. Mutated VWA8 Is Associated With Developmental Delay, Microcephaly, and Scoliosis and Plays a Novel Role in Early Development and Skeletal Morphogenesis in Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:736960. [PMID: 34660594 PMCID: PMC8517341 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.736960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Von Willebrand A domain-containing protein 8 (VWA8), also named KIAA0564, is a poorly characterized, mitochondrial matrix-targeted protein having a putative ATPase activity. VWA8 is comprising of ATPase-associated domains and a VWFA domain associated with ATPase activity inside the cell. In the present study, we describe a large consanguineous family of Saudi origin segregating a complex developmental syndrome in an autosomal recessive fashion. All the affected individuals exhibited severe developmental disorders. DNA from three patients was subjected to whole-exome sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing. VWA8 knock-down zebrafish morpholinos were used to study the phenotypic effect of this gene on zebrafish development. A homozygous missense variant [c.947A > G; p.(Asp316Gly)] was identified in exon 8 of the VWA8 gene, which perfectly segregated with the disease phenotype. Using zebrafish morpholino, we observed delayed development at an early stage, lack of movement, light sensitivity, severe skeletal deformity such as scoliosis, and facial dysmorphism. This is the first homozygous variant identified in the VWA8 gene underlying global developmental delay, microcephaly, scoliosis, limbs, and cardiovascular malformations in humans. We provide genetic and molecular evidence using zebrafish morpholino for a homozygous variant in the VWA8 gene, associated with such a complex developmental syndrome in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Umair
- Medical Genomics Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGH), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Farooq Khan
- Bioproducts Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Aldrees
- Medical Genomics Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGH), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marwan Nashabat
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kheloud M Alhamoudi
- Medical Genomics Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGH), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Molecular Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Yusra Alyafee
- Medical Genomics Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGH), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abeer Al Tuwaijri
- Medical Genomics Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGH), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manar Aldarwish
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Al-Rumayyan
- Pediatric Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNGHA), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamad Alkhalaf
- Department of Pediatrics, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNGHA), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad A M Wadaan
- Bioproducts Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majid Alfadhel
- Medical Genomics Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGH), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Genetics and Precision Medicine Department (GPM), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNG-HA), King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital (KASCH), King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Rivero O, Alhama-Riba J, Ku HP, Fischer M, Ortega G, Álmos P, Diouf D, van den Hove D, Lesch KP. Haploinsufficiency of the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Risk Gene St3gal3 in Mice Causes Alterations in Cognition and Expression of Genes Involved in Myelination and Sialylation. Front Genet 2021; 12:688488. [PMID: 34650588 PMCID: PMC8505805 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.688488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome wide association meta-analysis identified ST3GAL3, a gene encoding the beta-galactosidase-alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase-III, as a risk gene for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although loss-of-function mutations in ST3GAL3 are implicated in non-syndromic autosomal recessive intellectual disability (NSARID) and West syndrome, the impact of ST3GAL3 haploinsufficiency on brain function and the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as ADHD, is unknown. Since St3gal3 null mutant mice display severe developmental delay and neurological deficits, we investigated the effects of partial inactivation of St3gal3 in heterozygous (HET) knockout (St3gal3±) mice on behavior as well as expression of markers linked to myelination processes and sialylation pathways. Our results reveal that male St3gal3 HET mice display cognitive deficits, while female HET animals show increased activity, as well as increased cognitive control, compared to their wildtype littermates. In addition, we observed subtle alterations in the expression of several markers implicated in oligodendrogenesis, myelin formation, and protein sialylation as well as cell adhesion/synaptic target glycoproteins of ST3GAL3 in a brain region- and/or sex-specific manner. Taken together, our findings indicate that haploinsufficiency of ST3GAL3 results in a sex-dependent alteration of cognition, behavior and markers of brain plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Rivero
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Valencia, Spain
| | - Judit Alhama-Riba
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hsing-Ping Ku
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Fischer
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gabriela Ortega
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Péter Álmos
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - David Diouf
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Daniel van den Hove
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Laboratory of Psychiatric Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, I.M Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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Lünemann JD, von Gunten S, Neumann H. Targeting sialylation to treat central nervous system diseases. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:998-1008. [PMID: 34607695 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins (SIGLECs) are membrane receptors that are preferentially expressed on immune cells and recognize sialylated proteins, lipids, and RNA. Sialic acids and signaling through SIGLECs are increasingly recognized for their essential roles in immune system homeostasis as well as nervous system development, plasticity, and repair. Dysregulated sialylation and SIGLEC dysfunctions contribute to several chronic diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) in which current therapeutic options are very limited. While only a few therapies targeting SIGLECs are currently being tested in clinical trials, the area emerged as one of the most dynamic and active fields in glycobiology and drug development. This review highlights recent insights into sialic acid and SIGLEC function in CNS pathologies and illustrates opportunities and challenges for the development of sialic acid-based and SIGLEC-targeted therapies for neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan D Lünemann
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
| | | | - Harald Neumann
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Alnak A, Kuşcu Özücer İ, Okay Çağlayan A, Coşkun M. Peripheral Expression of MACROD2 Gene Is Reduced Among a Sample of Turkish Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. PSYCHIAT CLIN PSYCH 2021; 31:261-268. [PMID: 38765943 PMCID: PMC11079661 DOI: 10.5152/pcp.2021.21144] [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] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Genomic variations in mono-ADP ribosylhydrolase 2 (MACROD2) have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in recent genome-wide studies and case reports. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the MACROD2 expression profile in patients with ASD. Methods The study group included 100 children with a DSM-5 diagnosis of ASD, and the control group consisted of 105 healthy controls. Blood samples were obtained from all participants in this study, and the gene expression level was determined using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Statistical analysis was performed with R 3.4.0 and Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS for Windows, 21.0). Results The mean ages of the participants in the study and control groups were 9.22 ± 3.62 and 9.27 ± 3.86 years, respectively. There was no significant difference concerning gender (P = .944) and age (P = .914) between the 2 groups. MACROD2 gene expression was found to be decreased in the study group compared to the control group (study group = 5.73, control group = 89.56; fold change =-3.967; P < .001). While the level of MACROD2 expression was not correlated with the ASD severity, it was associated with the severity of the hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (P = .008). Conclusions This is the first study in the literature investigating the peripheral expression of the MACROD2 gene. We showed that the expression level of MACROD2 was decreased in patients with ASD when compared to the control group. As the relationship between the MACROD2 gene expression profile and ASD remains to be further investigated, this study may provide an insight for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alper Alnak
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Istanbul University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - İpek Kuşcu Özücer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Istanbul University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Okay Çağlayan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Murat Coşkun
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Istanbul University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
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47
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Gill PS, Clothier JL, Veerapandiyan A, Dweep H, Porter-Gill PA, Schaefer GB. Molecular Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Pers Med 2021; 11:848. [PMID: 34575625 PMCID: PMC8466026 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11090848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) comprises a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders with a strong heritable genetic component. At present, ASD is diagnosed solely by behavioral criteria. Advances in genomic analysis have contributed to numerous candidate genes for the risk of ASD, where rare mutations and s common variants contribute to its susceptibility. Moreover, studies show rare de novo variants, copy number variation and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) also impact neurodevelopment signaling. Exploration of rare and common variants involved in common dysregulated pathways can provide new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for ASD. Contributions of current innovative molecular strategies to understand etiology of ASD will be explored which are focused on whole exome sequencing (WES), whole genome sequencing (WGS), microRNA, long non-coding RNAs and CRISPR/Cas9 models. Some promising areas of pharmacogenomic and endophenotype directed therapies as novel personalized treatment and prevention will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritmohinder S. Gill
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA;
- Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, 13 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA;
| | - Jeffery L. Clothier
- Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA;
| | - Aravindhan Veerapandiyan
- Pediatric Neurology, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA;
| | - Harsh Dweep
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | | | - G. Bradley Schaefer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA;
- Genetics and Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA
- Arkansas Children’s Hospital NW, Springdale, AR 72762, USA
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48
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Traetta ME, Uccelli NA, Zárate SC, Gómez Cuautle D, Ramos AJ, Reinés A. Long-Lasting Changes in Glial Cells Isolated From Rats Subjected to the Valproic Acid Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:707859. [PMID: 34421599 PMCID: PMC8374432 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.707859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic alterations concomitant with neuroinflammation have been described in patients and experimental models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the role of microglia and astroglia in relation to synaptic changes is poorly understood. Male Wistar rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA, 450 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline (control) at embryonic day 10.5 were used to study synapses, microglia, and astroglia in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) at postnatal days 3 and 35 (PND3 and PND35). Primary cultures of cortical neurons, microglia, and astroglia isolated from control and VPA animals were used to study each cell type individually, neuron-microglia and microglia-astroglia crosstalk. In the PFC of VPA rats, synaptic changes characterized by an increase in the number of excitatory synapses were evidenced at PND3 and persisted until PND35. At PND3, microglia and astroglia from VPA animals were morphologically similar to those of age-matched controls, whereas at PND35, reactive microgliosis and astrogliosis were observed in the PFC of VPA animals. Cortical neurons isolated from VPA rats mimicked in vitro the synaptic pattern seen in vivo. Cortical microglia and astroglia isolated from VPA animals exhibited reactive morphology, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, and a compromised miRNA processing machinery. Microglia from VPA animals also showed resistance to a phagocytic challenge. In the presence of neurons from VPA animals, microglia isolated from VPA rats revealed a non-reactive morphology and promoted neurite outgrowth, while microglia from control animals displayed a reactive profile and promoted dendritic retraction. In microglia-astroglia co-cultures, microglia from VPA animals displayed a reactive profile and exacerbated astrocyte reactivity. Our study indicates that cortical microglia from VPA animals are insensitive or adapted to neuronal cues expressed by neurons from VPA animals. Further, long-term in vivo microgliosis could be the result of altered microglia-astroglia crosstalk in VPA animals. Thus, our study highlights cortical microglia-astroglia communication as a new mechanism implicated in neuroinflammation in ASD; consequently, we propose that this crosstalk is a potential target for interventions in this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianela Evelyn Traetta
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis" (IBCN), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Farmacología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nonthué Alejandra Uccelli
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis" (IBCN), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sandra Cristina Zárate
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dante Gómez Cuautle
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis" (IBCN), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alberto Javier Ramos
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis" (IBCN), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Histología, Embriología, Biología Celular y Genética, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Analía Reinés
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis" (IBCN), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Farmacología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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49
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Herrero MJ, Wang L, Hernandez-Pineda D, Banerjee P, Matos HY, Goodrich M, Panigrahi A, Smith NA, Corbin JG. Sex-Specific Social Behavior and Amygdala Proteomic Deficits in Foxp2 +/- Mutant Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:706079. [PMID: 34421555 PMCID: PMC8374433 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.706079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, mutations in the transcription factor encoding gene, FOXP2, are associated with language and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), the latter characterized by deficits in social interactions. However, little is known regarding the function of Foxp2 in male or female social behavior. Our previous studies in mice revealed high expression of Foxp2 within the medial subnucleus of the amygdala (MeA), a limbic brain region highly implicated in innate social behaviors such as mating, aggression, and parental care. Here, using a comprehensive panel of behavioral tests in male and female Foxp2 +/- heterozygous mice, we investigated the role Foxp2 plays in MeA-linked innate social behaviors. We reveal significant deficits in olfactory processing, social interaction, mating, aggressive, and parental behaviors. Interestingly, some of these deficits are displayed in a sex-specific manner. To examine the consequences of Foxp2 loss of function specifically in the MeA, we conducted a proteomic analysis of microdissected MeA tissue. This analyses revealed putative sex differences expression of a host of proteins implicated in neuronal communication, connectivity, and dopamine signaling. Consistent with this, we discovered that MeA Foxp2-lineage cells were responsive to dopamine with differences between males and females. Thus, our findings reveal a central and sex-specific role for Foxp2 in social behavior and MeA function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jesus Herrero
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Li Wang
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - David Hernandez-Pineda
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Payal Banerjee
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Heidi Y. Matos
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Meredith Goodrich
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Aswini Panigrahi
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Nathan Anthony Smith
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Joshua G. Corbin
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
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50
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Biological implications of genetic variations in autism spectrum disorders from genomics studies. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:229227. [PMID: 34240107 PMCID: PMC8298259 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20210593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by atypical social interaction and communication together with repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. The prevalence of ASD has been increased these years. Compelling evidence has shown that genetic factors contribute largely to the development of ASD. However, knowledge about its genetic etiology and pathogenesis is limited. Broad applications of genomics studies have revealed the importance of gene mutations at protein-coding regions as well as the interrupted non-coding regions in the development of ASD. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for the known molecular genetic basis and possible pathological mechanisms as well as the risk genes and loci of ASD. Functional studies for the underlying mechanisms are also implicated. The understanding of the genetics and genomics of ASD is important for the genetic diagnosis and intervention for this condition.
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