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Yang Q, Zhang Q, Yi S, Zhang S, Yi S, Zhou X, Qin Z, Chen B, Luo J. Novel germline variants in KMT2C in Chinese patients with Kleefstra syndrome-2. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1340458. [PMID: 38356881 PMCID: PMC10864639 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1340458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Kleefstra syndrome (KLEFS) refers to a rare inherited neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability (ID), language and motor delays, behavioral abnormalities, abnormal facial appearance, and other variable clinical features. KLEFS is subdivided into two subtypes: Kleefstra syndrome-1 (KLEFS1, OMIM: 610253), caused by a heterozygous microdeletion encompassing the Euchromatic Histone Lysine Methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) gene on chromosome 9q34.3 or pathogenic variants in the EHMT1 gene, and Kleefstra syndrome-2 (KLEFS2, OMIM: 617768), caused by pathogenic variants in the KMT2C gene. More than 100 cases of KLEFS1 have been reported with pathogenic variants in the EHMT1 gene. However, only 13 patients with KLEFS2 have been reported to date. In the present study, five unrelated Chinese patients were diagnosed with KLEFS2 caused by KMT2C variants through whole-exome sequencing (WES). We identified five different variants of the KMT2C gene in these patients: c.9166C>T (p.Gln3056*), c.9232_9247delCAGCGATCAGAACCGT (p.Gln3078fs*13), c.5068dupA (p.Arg1690fs*10), c.10815_10819delAAGAA (p.Lys3605fs*7), and c.6911_6912insA (p.Met2304fs*8). All five patients had a clinical profile similar to that of patients with KLEFS2. To analyze the correlation between the genotype and phenotype of KLEFS2, we examined 18 variants and their associated phenotypes in 18 patients with KLEFS2. Patients carrying KMT2C variants presented with a wide range of phenotypic defects and an extremely variable phenotype. We concluded that the core phenotypes associated with KMT2C variants were intellectual disability, facial dysmorphisms, language and motor delays, behavioral abnormalities, hypotonia, short stature, and weight loss. Additionally, sex may be one factor influencing the outcome. Our findings expand the phenotypic and genetic spectrum of KLEFS2 and help to clarify the genotype-phenotype correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defects Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Central Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defects Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Central Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Sheng Yi
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defects Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Central Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Shujie Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defects Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Central Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Shang Yi
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defects Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Central Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Xunzhao Zhou
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defects Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Central Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Zailong Qin
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defects Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Central Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Biyan Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defects Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Central Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Jingsi Luo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defects Prevention, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Central Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Diseases, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
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Ng R, Kalinousky A, Fahrner JA, Bjornsson HT, Harris J. The social phenotype associated with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome: Autistic traits juxtaposed with high social drive and prosociality. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:2591-2601. [PMID: 37470210 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63351] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide a descriptive overview of the social characteristics associated with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS). A total of 24 parents of children/adults with WSS (11F, mean age = 12.94 years, SD = 8.00) completed the Social Responsiveness Scale 2nd Edition (SRS-2); Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire (CLDQ) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Almost half our sample reported a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 70% had intellectual disability. On the SDQ, over 90% of participants were rated in borderline/clinical ranges in Peer Problems, yet the majority fell within normal limits in Prosocial Behaviors. Most fell in the moderate/severe difficulties ranges across SRS-2 Social Cognition, Communication, and Restricted/Repetitive Behaviors scales (all >70%); whereas substantially less participants met these ranges for deficits in Social Awareness (50%) and Social Motivation (33.33%). A pattern of relatively strong prosocial skills and social drive in the context of difficulties with inflexible behaviors, social cognition, and communication was observed, regardless of gender, ASD or intellectual disability diagnosis. The social phenotype associated with WSS is characterized by some autistic features paired with unusually high social motivation and prosocial tendencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Ng
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Allison Kalinousky
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jill A Fahrner
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hans Tomas Bjornsson
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Jacqueline Harris
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Bolouki A, Rahimi M, Azarpira N, Baghban F. Integrated multi-omics analysis identifies epigenetic alteration related to neurodegeneration development in post-traumatic stress disorder patients. Psychiatr Genet 2023; 33:167-181. [PMID: 37222234 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000340] [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: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is associated with an elevated risk of neurodegenerative disorders, but the molecular mechanism was not wholly identified. Aberrant methylation status and miRNA expression pattern have been identified to be associated with PTSD, but their complex regulatory networks remain largely unexplored. METHODS The purpose of this study was to identify the key genes/pathways related to neurodegenerative disorder development in PTSD by evaluating epigenetic regulatory signature (DNA methylation and miRNA) using an integrative bioinformatic analysis. We integrated DNA expression array data with miRNA and DNA methylation array data - obtained from the GEO database- to evaluate the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. RESULTS Our results indicated that target genes of dysregulated miRNAs were significantly related to several neurodegenerative diseases. Several dysregulated genes in the neurodegeneration pathways interacted with some members of the miR-17 and miR-15/107 families. Our analysis indicated that APP/CaN/NFATs signaling pathway was dysregulated in the peripheral blood samples of PTSD. Besides, the DNMT3a and KMT2D genes, as the encoding DNA and histone methyltransferase enzymes, were upregulated, and DNA methylation and miRNA regulators were proposed as critical molecular mechanisms. Our study found dysregulation of circadian rhythm as the CLOCK gene was upregulated and hypomethylated at TSS1500 CpGs S_shores and was also a target of several dysregulated miRNAs. CONCLUSION In conclusion, we found evidence of a negative feedback loop between stress oxidative, circadian rhythm dysregulation, miR-17 and miR-15/107 families, some essential genes involved in neuronal and brain cell health, and KMT2D/DNMT3a in the peripheral blood samples of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayeh Bolouki
- Basic Sciences Laboratory, Mohammad Rasul Allah Research Tower, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- University of Namur, Department of Biology, Research Unit on Cellular Biology (URBC), Namur, Belgium
| | - Moosa Rahimi
- Basic Sciences Laboratory, Mohammad Rasul Allah Research Tower, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Negar Azarpira
- Transplant Research Center, Mohammad Rasul Allah Research Tower, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Baghban
- Basic Sciences Laboratory, Mohammad Rasul Allah Research Tower, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Barbu MC, Viejo-Romero M, Thng G, Adams MJ, Marwick K, Grant SG, McIntosh AM, Lawrie SM, Whalley HC. Pathway-Based Polygenic Risk Scores for Schizophrenia and Associations With Reported Psychotic-like Experiences and Neuroimaging Phenotypes in the UK Biobank. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:814-823. [PMID: 37881537 PMCID: PMC10593950 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.03.004] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Schizophrenia is a heritable psychiatric disorder with a polygenic architecture. Genome-wide association studies have reported that an increasing number of risk-associated variants and polygenic risk scores (PRSs) explain 17% of the variance in the disorder. Substantial heterogeneity exists in the effect of these variants, and aggregating them based on biologically relevant functions may provide mechanistic insight into the disorder. Methods Using the largest schizophrenia genome-wide association study conducted to date, we associated PRSs based on 5 gene sets previously found to contribute to schizophrenia pathophysiology-postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses, postsynaptic membrane, dendritic spine, axon, and histone H3-K4 methylation-along with respective whole-genome PRSs, with neuroimaging (n > 29,000) and reported psychotic-like experiences (n > 119,000) variables in healthy UK Biobank subjects. Results Several variables were significantly associated with the axon gene-set (psychotic-like communications, parahippocampal gyrus volume, fractional anisotropy thalamic radiations, and fractional anisotropy posterior thalamic radiations (β range -0.016 to 0.0916, false discovery rate-corrected p [pFDR] ≤ .05), postsynaptic density gene-set (psychotic-like experiences distress, global surface area, and cingulate lobe surface area [β range -0.014 to 0.0588, pFDR ≤ .05]), and histone gene set (entorhinal surface area: β = -0.016, pFDR = .035). From these, whole-genome PRSs were significantly associated with psychotic-like communications (β = 0.2218, pFDR = 1.34 × 10-7), distress (β = 0.1943, pFDR = 7.28 × 10-16), and fractional anisotropy thalamic radiations (β = -0.0143, pFDR = .036). Permutation analysis revealed that these associations were not due to chance. Conclusions Our results indicate that genetic variation in 3 gene sets relevant to schizophrenia may confer risk for the disorder through effects on previously implicated neuroimaging variables. Because associations were stronger overall for whole-genome PRSs, findings here highlight that selection of biologically relevant variants is not yet sufficient to address the heterogeneity of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miruna C. Barbu
- Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Viejo-Romero
- Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Gladi Thng
- Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Adams
- Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Marwick
- Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Seth G.N. Grant
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew M. McIntosh
- Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen M. Lawrie
- Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Heather C. Whalley
- Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Chen M, Fan L, Wu G, Wang H, Gu S. Histone methyltransferase enzyme enhancer of zeste homolog 2 counteracts ischemic brain injury via H3K27me3-mediated regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2023; 38:2240-2255. [PMID: 37334851 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic histone methylation plays a crucial role in cerebral ischemic injury, particularly in the context of ischemic stroke. However, the complete understanding of regulators involved in histone methylation, such as Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2), along with their functional effects and underlying mechanisms, remains incomplete. METHODS Here, we employed a rat model of MCAO (Middle cerebral artery occlusion) and an OGD (Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation) model of primary cortical neurons to study the role of EZH2 and H3K27me3 in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. The infarct volume was measured through TTC staining, while cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL staining. The mRNA expression levels were quantified through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), whereas protein expressions were evaluated via western blotting and immunofluorescence experiments. RESULTS The expression levels of EZH2 and H3K27me3 were upregulated in OGD; these expression levels were further enhanced by GSK-J4 but reduced by EPZ-6438 and AKT inhibitor (LY294002) under OGD conditions. Similar trends were observed for mTOR, AKT, and PI3K while contrasting results were noted for UTX and JMJD3. The phosphorylation levels of mTOR, AKT, and PI3K were activated by OGD, further stimulated by GSK-J4, but inhibited by EPZ-6438 and AKT inhibitor. Inhibition of EZH2 or AKT effectively counteracted OGD-/MCAO-induced cell apoptosis. Additionally, inhibition of EZH2 or AKT mitigated MCAO-induced infarct size and neurological deficit in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our results demonstrate that EZH2 inhibition exerts a protective effect against ischemic brain injury by modulating the H3K27me3/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. The results provide novel insights into potential therapeutic mechanisms for stroke treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Chen
- Department of Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, People's Republic of China
| | - Limin Fan
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Nano Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoping Wu
- Department of Emergency, Sansha People's Hospital, Sansha, People's Republic of China
| | - Hairong Wang
- Department of Emergency, Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuo Gu
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, People's Republic of China
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St John M, Tripathi T, Morgan AT, Amor DJ. To speak may draw on epigenetic writing and reading: Unravelling the complexity of speech and language outcomes across chromatin-related neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105293. [PMID: 37353048 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Speech and language development are complex neurodevelopmental processes that are incompletely understood, yet current evidence suggests that speech and language disorders are prominent in those with disorders of chromatin regulation. This review aimed to unravel what is known about speech and language outcomes for individuals with chromatin-related neurodevelopmental disorders. A systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines was conducted on 70 chromatin genes, to identify reports of speech/language outcomes across studies, including clinical reports, formal subjective measures, and standardised/objective measures. 3932 studies were identified and screened and 112 were systematically reviewed. Communication impairment was core across chromatin disorders, and specifically, chromatin writers and readers appear to play an important role in motor speech development. Identification of these relationships is important because chromatin disorders show promise as therapeutic targets due to the capacity for epigenetic modification. Further research is required using standardised and formal assessments to understand the nuanced speech/language profiles associated with variants in each gene, and the influence of chromatin dysregulation on the neurobiology of speech and language development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miya St John
- Speech and Language, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Tanya Tripathi
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Angela T Morgan
- Speech and Language, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Speech Genomics Clinic, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - David J Amor
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Speech Genomics Clinic, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Tseng CC, Wang SC, Yang YC, Fu HC, Chou CK, Kang HY, Hung YY. Aberrant Histone Modification of TNFAIP3, TLR4, TNIP2, miR-146a, and miR-155 in Major Depressive Disorder. Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s12035-023-03374-z. [PMID: 37148522 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03374-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Activated toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling has been well investigated in major depressive disorder (MDD). We previously reported that TNFAIP3, TLR4, TNIP2, miR-146a, and miR-155 play important roles in regulating the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway and may serve as novel targets in the pathogenesis of MDD. Recently, aberrant histone modification has been implicated in several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and mood disorder; the most thoroughly studied modification is histone 3 lysine 4 tri-methylation (H3K4me3). In this work, we aimed to explore H3K4me3 differences in the promotors of genes encoding the abovementioned factors in patients with MDD, and whether they were altered after antidepressant treatment. A total of 30 MDD patients and 28 healthy controls were recruited. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected. The levels of H3K4me3 in the promoters of TNFAIP3, TLR4, TNIP2, miR-146a, and miR-155 were measured through chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) followed by DNA methylation assay. Analysis of covariance was used to evaluate between-group differences after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and smoking. In comparison with healthy controls, patients with MDD showed significantly lower H3K4me3 levels in the promoters of TNFAIP3, TLR4, TNIP2, miR-146a, and miR-155 in PBMCs. These levels were not significantly altered after completion of a 4-week antidepressant treatment. To explore the association between depression severity and H3K4me3 levels, a multiple linear regression model was generated. The results revealed that levels of H3K4me3 in the TNIP2 promoters a negative correlation with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAND-17) score, whereas that of TLR4 had a positive correlation with this score. The present results suggest that decreased H3K4me3 levels in the promoters of the genes encoding TNFAIP3, TLR4, miR-146a, miR-155, and TNIP2 are involved in psychopathology of major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu-Chiao Tseng
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Cheng Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, 33004, Taiwan
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Nurse-Midwifery and Women Health, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chien Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chun Fu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Kai Chou
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Yo Kang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Yung Hung
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Feng Shan Hospital - Under the management of Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Yin H, Wang Z, Liu J, Li Y, Liu L, Huang P, Wang W, Shan Z, Sun R, Shen J, Duan L. Dysregulation of immune and metabolism pathways in maternal immune activation induces an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders. Life Sci 2023; 324:121734. [PMID: 37105442 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121734] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Maternal immune activation (MIA) via infection during pregnancy is known to be an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders and the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the offspring, but it still remains elusive that the molecular relevance between infection-induced abnormal neurodevelopmental events and an increased risk for ASD development. MAIN METHODS Fully considering the extremely high genetic heterogeneity of ASD and the universality of risk-gene with minimal effect-sizes, the gene and pathway-based association analysis was performed with the transcriptomic and DNA methylation landscapes of temporal human embryonic brain development and ASD, and the time-course transcriptional profiling of MIA. We conducted the transcriptional profiling of mouse abnormal neurodevelopment two days following induced MIA via LPS injection at E10.5. KEY FINDINGS A novel evidence was proved that illustrated altering four immune and metabolism-related risk pathways, including starch and sucrose metabolism, ribosome, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway, which were prominent involvement in the process of MIA regulating abnormal fetal brain development to induce an increased risk of ASD. Here, we have observed that almost all key genes within these risk pathways are significantly differentially expressed at embryonic days (E) 10.5-12.5, which is considered to be the optimal coincidence window of mouse embryonic brain development to study the intimate association between MIA and ASD using mouse animal models. SIGNIFICANCE There search establishes that MIA causes dysregulation of immune and metabolic pathways, which leads to abnormal embryonic neurodevelopment, thus promoting development of ASD symptoms in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huamin Yin
- Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China; Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zhendong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Interventional Pulmonology of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Jiaxin Liu
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Li Liu
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Peijun Huang
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, China
| | - Wenhang Wang
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zhiyan Shan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Ruizhen Sun
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Jingling Shen
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| | - Lian Duan
- Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China; Institute of Life Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
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Fu MP, Merrill SM, Sharma M, Gibson WT, Turvey SE, Kobor MS. Rare diseases of epigenetic origin: Challenges and opportunities. Front Genet 2023; 14:1113086. [PMID: 36814905 PMCID: PMC9939656 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1113086] [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: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare diseases (RDs), more than 80% of which have a genetic origin, collectively affect approximately 350 million people worldwide. Progress in next-generation sequencing technology has both greatly accelerated the pace of discovery of novel RDs and provided more accurate means for their diagnosis. RDs that are driven by altered epigenetic regulation with an underlying genetic basis are referred to as rare diseases of epigenetic origin (RDEOs). These diseases pose unique challenges in research, as they often show complex genetic and clinical heterogeneity arising from unknown gene-disease mechanisms. Furthermore, multiple other factors, including cell type and developmental time point, can confound attempts to deconvolute the pathophysiology of these disorders. These challenges are further exacerbated by factors that contribute to epigenetic variability and the difficulty of collecting sufficient participant numbers in human studies. However, new molecular and bioinformatics techniques will provide insight into how these disorders manifest over time. This review highlights recent studies addressing these challenges with innovative solutions. Further research will elucidate the mechanisms of action underlying unique RDEOs and facilitate the discovery of treatments and diagnostic biomarkers for screening, thereby improving health trajectories and clinical outcomes of affected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie P. Fu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sarah M. Merrill
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mehul Sharma
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, BC Children’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - William T. Gibson
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stuart E. Turvey
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, BC Children’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada,*Correspondence: Michael S. Kobor,
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10
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Ng R, Bjornsson HT, Fahrner JA, Harris J. Anxiety in Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:437-444. [PMID: 36373844 PMCID: PMC9907226 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63040] [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: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study examined anxiety in Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS). Eighteen caregivers and participants with WSS completed the parent- and self-report versions of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorder or the adapted version of the Screen for Adult Anxiety Related Disorder. Approximately 33.33% of parents and 65% of participants with WSS rated in the clinical range for overall anxiety. Across anxiety subtypes, parents primarily indicated concerns with Separation Anxiety (72%), which was also endorsed by the majority of participants with WSS (82%). The emergent trend showed Total Anxiety increased with age based on parent-informant ratings. The behavioral phenotype of WSS includes elevated anxiety. Clinical management should include incorporating early behavioral interventions to bolster emotion regulation given the observed risk of anxiety with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Ng
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hans Tomas Bjornsson
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Jill A. Fahrner
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacqueline Harris
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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11
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Integrative Proteome Analysis Revels 3-Hydroxybutyrate Exerts Neuroprotective Effect by Influencing Chromatin Bivalency. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24010868. [PMID: 36614311 PMCID: PMC9821512 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
3-hydroxybutyrate (3OHB) has been proved to act as a neuroprotective molecule in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we employed a quantitative proteomics approach to assess the changes of the global protein expression pattern of neural cells upon 3OHB administration. In combination with a disease-related, protein-protein interaction network we pinpointed a hub marker, histone lysine 27 trimethylation, which is one of the key epigenetic markers in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Integrative analysis of transcriptomic and epigenomic datasets highlighted the involvement of bivalent transcription factors in 3OHB-mediated disease protection and its alteration of neuronal development processes. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that 3OHB impaired the fate decision process of neural precursor cells by repressing differentiation and promoting proliferation. Our study provides a new mechanism of 3OHB's neuroprotective effect, in which chromatin bivalency is sensitive to 3OHB alteration and drives its neuroprotective function both in neurodegenerative diseases and in neural development processes.
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12
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Janas JA, Zhang L, Luu JH, Demeter J, Meng L, Marro SG, Mall M, Mooney NA, Schaukowitch K, Ng YH, Yang N, Huang Y, Neumayer G, Gozani O, Elias JE, Jackson PK, Wernig M. Tip60-mediated H2A.Z acetylation promotes neuronal fate specification and bivalent gene activation. Mol Cell 2022; 82:4627-4646.e14. [PMID: 36417913 PMCID: PMC9779922 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cell lineage specification is accomplished by a concerted action of chromatin remodeling and tissue-specific transcription factors. However, the mechanisms that induce and maintain appropriate lineage-specific gene expression remain elusive. Here, we used an unbiased proteomics approach to characterize chromatin regulators that mediate the induction of neuronal cell fate. We found that Tip60 acetyltransferase is essential to establish neuronal cell identity partly via acetylation of the histone variant H2A.Z. Despite its tight correlation with gene expression and active chromatin, loss of H2A.Z acetylation had little effect on chromatin accessibility or transcription. Instead, loss of Tip60 and acetyl-H2A.Z interfered with H3K4me3 deposition and activation of a unique subset of silent, lineage-restricted genes characterized by a bivalent chromatin configuration at their promoters. Altogether, our results illuminate the mechanisms underlying bivalent chromatin activation and reveal that H2A.Z acetylation regulates neuronal fate specification by establishing epigenetic competence for bivalent gene activation and cell lineage transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna A Janas
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lichao Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jacklyn H Luu
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Janos Demeter
- Baxter Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lingjun Meng
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Samuele G Marro
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Moritz Mall
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nancie A Mooney
- Baxter Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Katie Schaukowitch
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yi Han Ng
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nan Yang
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yuhao Huang
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Gernot Neumayer
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Or Gozani
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joshua E Elias
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Peter K Jackson
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Baxter Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marius Wernig
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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13
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Wang Y, Meng W, Liu Z, An Q, Hu X. Cognitive impairment in psychiatric diseases: Biomarkers of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1046692. [DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1046692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and major depressive disorder, place a huge health burden on society. Cognitive impairment is one of the core characteristics of psychiatric disorders and a vital determinant of social function and disease recurrence in patients. This review thus aims to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of cognitive impairment in major psychiatric disorders and identify valuable biomarkers for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of patients.
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14
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Rapanelli M, Williams JB, Ma K, Yang F, Zhong P, Patel R, Kumar M, Qin L, Rein B, Wang ZJ, Kassim B, Javidfar B, Couto L, Akbarian S, Yan Z. Targeting histone demethylase LSD1 for treatment of deficits in autism mouse models. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3355-3366. [PMID: 35296809 PMCID: PMC9477974 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01508-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Large-scale genetic studies have revealed that the most prominent genes disrupted in autism are chromatin regulators mediating histone methylation/demethylation, suggesting the central role of epigenetic dysfunction in this disorder. Here, we show that histone lysine 4 dimethylation (H3K4me2), a histone mark linked to gene activation, is significantly decreased in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of autistic human patients and mutant mice with the deficiency of top-ranking autism risk factor Shank3 or Cul3. A brief treatment of the autism models with highly potent and selective inhibitors of the H3K4me2 demethylase LSD1 (KDM1A) leads to the robust rescue of core symptoms of autism, including social deficits and repetitive behaviors. Concomitantly, LSD1 inhibition restores NMDA receptor function in PFC and AMPA receptor-mediated currents in striatum of Shank3-deficient mice. Genome-wide RNAseq and ChIPseq reveal that treatment of Shank3-deficient mice with the LSD1 inhibitor restores the expression and H3K4me2 occupancy of downregulated genes enriched in synaptic signaling and developmental processes. The immediate early gene tightly linked to neuronal plasticity, Egr1, is on the top list of rescued genes. The diminished transcription of Egr1 is recapitulated in PFC of autistic human patients. Overexpression of Egr1 in PFC of Shank3-deficient mice ameliorates social preference deficits. These results have for the first time revealed an important role of H3K4me2 abnormality in ASD pathophysiology, and the therapeutic potential of targeting H3K4me2 demethylase LSD1 or the downstream molecule Egr1 for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximiliano Rapanelli
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jamal B Williams
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kaijie Ma
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Fengwei Yang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Ping Zhong
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Rajvi Patel
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Manasa Kumar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Luye Qin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin Rein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Bibi Kassim
- Department of Psychiatry; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Behnam Javidfar
- Department of Psychiatry; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lizette Couto
- Department of Psychiatry; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Department of Psychiatry; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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15
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H3K27m3 overexpression as a new, BCL2 independent diagnostic tool in follicular and cutaneous follicle center lymphomas. Virchows Arch 2022; 481:489-497. [PMID: 35661922 PMCID: PMC9485181 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-022-03347-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 15% of follicular lymphomas (FL) lack overexpression of BCL2 and the underlying translocation t(14;18). These cases can be diagnostically challenging, especially regarding follicular hyperplasia (FH). In a subset of FL, mutations in genes encoding for epigenetic modifiers, such as the histone-lysine N-methyltransferase EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2), were found, which might be used diagnostically. These molecular alterations can lead to an increased tri-methylation of histone H3 at position lysine 27 (H3K27m3) that, in turn, can be visualized immunohistochemically. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of H3K27m3 in FL, primary cutaneous follicle center lymphomas (PCFCL), and pediatric-type FL (PTFL) in order to investigate its value in the differential diagnosis to FH and other B cell lymphomas and to correlate it to BCL2 expression and the presence of t(14;18). Additionally, the mutational profile of selected cases was considered to address H3K27m3’s potential use as a surrogate parameter for mutations in genes encoding for epigenetic modifiers. Eighty-nine percent of FL and 100% of PCFCL cases overexpressed H3K27m3, independently of BCL2, EZH2, and the presence of mutations. In contrast, 95% of FH and 100% of PTFL cases lacked H3K27m3 overexpression. Other B cell lymphomas considered for differential diagnosis also showed overexpression of H3K27m3 in the majority of cases. In summary, overexpression of H3K27m3 can serve as a new, BCL2 independent marker in the differential diagnosis of FL and PCFCL, but not PTFL, to FH, while being not of help in the differential diagnosis of FL to other B cell lymphomas.
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16
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Chan J, Kumar A, Kono H. RNAPII driven post-translational modifications of nucleosomal histones. Trends Genet 2022; 38:1076-1095. [PMID: 35618507 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The current understanding of how specific distributions of histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) are achieved throughout the chromatin remains incomplete. This review focuses on the role of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) in establishing H2BK120/K123 ubiquitination and H3K4/K36 methylation distribution. The rate of RNAPII transcription is mainly a function of the RNAPII elongation and recruitment rates. Two major mechanisms link RNAPII's transcription rate to the distribution of PTMs. First, the phosphorylation patterns of Ser2P/Ser5P in the C-terminal domain of RNAPII change as a function of time, since the start of elongation, linking them to the elongation rate. Ser2P/Ser5P recruits specific histone PTM enzymes/activators to the nucleosome. Second, multiple rounds of binding and catalysis by the enzymes are required to establish higher methylations (H3K4/36me3). Thus, methylation states are determined by the transcription rate. In summary, the first mechanism determines the location of methylations in the gene, while the second mechanism determines the methylation state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Chan
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation (MMS) Team, Institute for Quantum Life Science (iQLS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
| | - Amarjeet Kumar
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation (MMS) Team, Institute for Quantum Life Science (iQLS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Kono
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation (MMS) Team, Institute for Quantum Life Science (iQLS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan.
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17
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Cătană A, Kutasi E, Cuzmici‑Barabaș Z, Militaru D, Iordănescu I, Militaru M. O'Donnel‑Luria‑Rodan Syndrome: New gene variant identified in Romania (A case report). Exp Ther Med 2022; 23:367. [PMID: 35481221 PMCID: PMC9016787 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2022.11294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Cătană
- Department of Oncogenetics, Institute of Oncology I. Chiricuță, Cluj‑Napoca, Transylvania 4000015, Romania
| | - Enikő Kutasi
- Department of Oncogenetics, Institute of Oncology I. Chiricuță, Cluj‑Napoca, Transylvania 4000015, Romania
| | - Zina Cuzmici‑Barabaș
- Department of Molecular Sciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj‑Napoca, Transylvania 4000012, Romania
| | - Diana Militaru
- Department of Molecular Sciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj‑Napoca, Transylvania 4000012, Romania
| | - Irina Iordănescu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Genetic Center Laboratory, Regina Maria, Bucharest 011376, Romania
| | - Mariela Militaru
- Department of Molecular Sciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj‑Napoca, Transylvania 4000012, Romania
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18
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Chen X, Wang Z, Zhao X, Zhang L, Zhou L, Li X, Ge C, Zhao F, Chen T, Xie H, Cui Y, Tian H, Li H, Yao M, Li J. STAT5A modulates CDYL2/SLC7A6 pathway to inhibit the proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting to mTORC1. Oncogene 2022; 41:2492-2504. [PMID: 35314791 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02273-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Chromodomain Y-like 2 (CDYL2), as a member of CDY family known to be involved in spermatogenesis, has been reported to participate in breast cancer development recently, but its exact biological role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Here, we observed that CDYL2 was down-regulated in human primary HCC tissues and the low levels of CDYL2 expression were correlated with poor survival. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments showed that CDYL2 inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, CDYL2 down-regulates solute carrier family 7 member 6 (SLC7A6) by decreasing the enrichment of H3K4me3 on the promoter region of SLC7A6. Additionally, we also found that signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A (STAT5A) could directly and positively regulate the expression of CDYL2. Thus, CDYL2 was regulated by STAT5A, and suppressed the amino acid transportation through down-regulation of SLC7A6, and then inhibits the mTORC1/S6K pathway, a master regulator of cell growth. Consistently, CDYL2 expression correlated significantly with STAT5A and SLC7A6 expression in HCC. Collectively, we propose a model for a STAT5A/CDYL2/SLC7A6 axis that provides novel insight into CDYL2, which may serve as a potential factor for predicting prognosis and a therapeutic target for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinge Zhao
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Lianer Zhou
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianxian Li
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Ge
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangyu Zhao
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Taoyang Chen
- Qi Dong Liver Cancer Institute, Qi Dong, 226200, China
| | - Haiyang Xie
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Ying Cui
- Cancer Institute of Guangxi, Nanning, 530027, China
| | - Hua Tian
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Li
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Yao
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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19
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Zhao X, Wang L, Lin H, Wang J, Fu J, Zhu D, Xu W. Inhibition of MAT2A-Related Methionine Metabolism Enhances The Efficacy of Cisplatin on Cisplatin-Resistant Cells in Lung Cancer. CELL JOURNAL 2022; 24:204-211. [PMID: 35674024 PMCID: PMC9124450 DOI: 10.22074/cellj.2022.7907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Objective Tumor drug resistance is a vital obstacle to chemotherapy in lung cancer. Methionine adenosyltransferase 2A has been considered as a potential target for lung cancer treatment because targeting it can disrupt the tumorigenicity of lung tumor-initiating cells. In this study, we primarily observed the role of methionine metabolism in cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cells and the functional mechanism of MAT2A related to cisplatin resistance. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, we assessed the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of cisplatin in different cell lines and cell viability via Cell Counting Kit-8. Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to determine the expression of relative proteins and genes. Crystal violet staining was used to investigate cell proliferation. Additionally, we explored the transcriptional changes in lung cancer cells via RNA-seq. Results We found H460/DDP and PC-9 cells were more resistant to cisplatin than H460, and MAT2A was overexpressed in cisplatin-resistant cells. Interestingly, methionine deficiency enhanced the inhibitory effect of cisplatin on cell activity and the pro-apoptotic effect. Targeting MAT2A not only restrained cell viability and proliferation, but also contributed to sensitivity of H460/DDP to cisplatin. Furthermore, 4283 up-regulated and 5841 down-regulated genes were detected in H460/DDP compared with H460, and 71 signal pathways were significantly enriched. After treating H460/DDP cells with PF9366, 326 genes were up-regulated, 1093 genes were down-regulated, and 13 signaling pathways were significantly enriched. In TNF signaling pathway, CAS7 and CAS8 were decreased in H460/DDP cells, which increased by PF9366 treatment. Finally, the global histone methylation (H3K4me3, H3K9me2, H3K27me3, H3K36me3) was reduced under methionine deficiency conditions, while H3K9me2 and H3K36me3 were decreased specially via PF9366. Conclusion Methionine deficiency or MAT2A inhibition may modulate genes expression associated with apoptosis, DNA repair and TNF signaling pathways by regulating histone methylation, thus promoting the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to cisplatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoya Zhao
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China,Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Jinhua City, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lude Wang
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China,Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Jinhua City, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Haiping Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China,Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Jinhua City, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jianfei Fu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Department of Respiratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China,Department of RespiratoryAffiliated Jinhua HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineJinhuaZhejiang
ProvinceChina
Central LaboratoryAffiliated Jinhua HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineJinhuaZhejiang ProvinceChina
;
| | - Wenxia Xu
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China,Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Jinhua City, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China,Department of RespiratoryAffiliated Jinhua HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineJinhuaZhejiang
ProvinceChina
Central LaboratoryAffiliated Jinhua HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineJinhuaZhejiang ProvinceChina
;
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20
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Kirsten TB, Silva EP, Biondi TF, Rodrigues PS, Cardoso CV, Massironi SMG, Mori CMC, Bondan EF, Bernardi MM. Bate palmas mutant mice as a model of Kabuki syndrome: Higher susceptibility to infections and vocalization impairments? J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:1438-1451. [PMID: 35362120 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The recessive mutant mouse bate palmas (bapa) arose from N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis. Previous studies of our group revealed some behavioral impairments and a mutation in the lysine (K)-specific methyltransferase 2D (Kmt2d) gene. Because mutations in the KMT2D gene in humans are mainly responsible for Kabuki syndrome, this study was proposed to validate bapa mice as a model of Kabuki syndrome. Besides other symptoms, Kabuki syndrome is characterized by increased susceptibility to infections and speech impairments, usually diagnosed in the early childhood. Thus, juvenile male and female bapa mice were studied in different developmental stages (prepubertal period and puberty). To induce sickness behavior and to study infection susceptibility responses, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used. To study oral communication, ultrasonic vocalizations were evaluated. Behavioral (open-field test) and central (astrocytic glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP] and tyrosine hydroxylase [TH]) evaluations were also performed. Control and bapa female mice emitted 31-kHz ultrasounds on prepubertal period when exploring a novel environment, a frequency not yet described for mice, being defined as 31-kHz exploratory vocalizations. Males, LPS, and puberty inhibited these vocalizations. Bapa mice presented increased motor/exploratory behaviors on prepubertal period due to increased striatal TH expression, revealing striatal dopaminergic system hyperactivity. Combining open-field behavior and GFAP expression, bapa mice did not develop LPS tolerance, that is, they remained expressing signs of sickness behavior after LPS challenge, being more susceptible to infectious/inflammatory processes. It was concluded that bapa mice is a robust experimental model of Kabuki syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago B Kirsten
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ericka P Silva
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thalles F Biondi
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paula S Rodrigues
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina V Cardoso
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvia M G Massironi
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Claudia M C Mori
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo F Bondan
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria M Bernardi
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
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21
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Further Delineation of Duplications of ARX Locus Detected in Male Patients with Varying Degrees of Intellectual Disability. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063084. [PMID: 35328505 PMCID: PMC8955779 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The X-linked gene encoding aristaless-related homeobox (ARX) is a bi-functional transcription factor capable of activating or repressing gene transcription, whose mutations have been found in a wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs); these include cortical malformations, paediatric epilepsy, intellectual disability (ID) and autism. In addition to point mutations, duplications of the ARX locus have been detected in male patients with ID. These rearrangements include telencephalon ultraconserved enhancers, whose structural alterations can interfere with the control of ARX expression in the developing brain. Here, we review the structural features of 15 gain copy-number variants (CNVs) of the ARX locus found in patients presenting wide-ranging phenotypic variations including ID, speech delay, hypotonia and psychiatric abnormalities. We also report on a further novel Xp21.3 duplication detected in a male patient with moderate ID and carrying a fully duplicated copy of the ARX locus and the ultraconserved enhancers. As consequences of this rearrangement, the patient-derived lymphoblastoid cell line shows abnormal activity of the ARX-KDM5C-SYN1 regulatory axis. Moreover, the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the Arx locus, both in mouse embryonic stem cells and cortical neurons, provides new insight for the functional consequences of ARX duplications. Finally, by comparing the clinical features of the 16 CNVs affecting the ARX locus, we conclude that—depending on the involvement of tissue-specific enhancers—the ARX duplications are ID-associated risk CNVs with variable expressivity and penetrance.
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22
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De Novo Mutation in KMT2C Manifesting as Kleefstra Syndrome 2: Case Report and Literature Review. Pediatr Rep 2022; 14:131-139. [PMID: 35324822 PMCID: PMC8954887 DOI: 10.3390/pediatric14010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Diagnosis of pediatric intellectual disability (ID) can be difficult because it is due to a vast number of established and novel causes. Here, we described a full-term female infant affected by Kleefstra syndrome-2 presenting with neurodevelopmental disorder, a history of hypotonia and minor face anomalies. A systematic literature review was also performed. The patient was a 6-year-old Caucasian female. In the family history there was no intellectual disability or genetic conditions. Auxological parameters at birth were adequate for gestational age. Clinical evaluation at 6 months revealed hypotonia and, successively, delay in the acquisition of the stages of psychomotor development. Auditory, visual, somatosensory, and motor-evoked potentials were normal. A brain MRI, performed at 9 months, showed minimal gliotic changes in bilateral occipital periventricular white matter. Neuropsychiatric control, performed at 5 years, established a definitive diagnosis of childhood autism and developmental delay. Molecular analysis of the exome revealed a novel KMT2C missense variant: c.9244C > T (p.Pro3082Ser) at a heterozygous state, giving her a diagnosis of Kleefstra syndrome 2. Parents did not show the variant. Literature review (four retrieved eligible studies, 10 patients) showed that all individuals had mild, moderate, or severe ID; language and motor delay; and autism. Short stature, microcephaly, childhood hypotonia and plagiocephaly were also present. Conclusion. Kleefstra syndrome 2 is a difficult diagnosis of a rare condition with a high clinical phenotypic heterogeneity. This study suggests that it must be taken in account in the work-up of an orphan diagnosis of intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder.
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23
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Ng R, Bjornsson HT, Fahrner JA, Harris J. Sleep disturbances correlate with behavioral problems among individuals with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome. Front Genet 2022; 13:950082. [PMID: 36313433 PMCID: PMC9608624 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.950082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutation in KMT2A and characterized by neurodevelopmental delay. This study is the first prospective investigation to examine the sleep and behavioral phenotypes among those with WSS through parent-informant screening inventories. A total of 24 parents of children/adults with WSS (11F, Mean age = 12.71 years, SD = 8.17) completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and 22 of these caregivers also completed the Modified Simonds and Parraga Sleep Questionnaire (MSPSQ). On average, the majority of those with WSS (83%) were rated to show borderline to clinical level of behavioral difficulties on the SDQ. Approximately 83% were rated in these ranges for hyperactivity, 63% for emotional problems, and 50% for conduct problems. When applying prior published clinical cut-off for risk of sleep disturbance among those with neurodevelopmental disorders, over 80% of our sample exceeded this limit on the MSPSQ. Largely, caregivers' ratings suggested restless sleep, rigid bedtime rituals, sleep reluctance and breathing through the mouth in sleep were most consistent problems observed. Partial correlations between sleep and behavioral domains showed elevated emotional problems were associated with parasomnia characteristics after controlling for age. Daytime drowsiness and activity were associated with more hyperactivity. Those with more night waking problems and delayed sleep onset were rated to show more severe conduct problems. Overall, these findings suggest dysfunctional sleep behaviors, hyperactivity, and affective problems are part of the neurobehavioral phenotype of WSS. Routine clinical care for those affected by WSS should include close monitoring of sleep and overactive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Ng
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Hans Tomas Bjornsson
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.,Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Jill A Fahrner
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jacqueline Harris
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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24
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Oluwole OG, James K, Yalcouye A, Wonkam A. Hearing loss and brain disorders: A review of multiple pathologies. Open Med (Wars) 2021; 17:61-69. [PMID: 34993346 PMCID: PMC8678477 DOI: 10.1515/med-2021-0402] [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: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Several causative factors are associated with hearing loss (HL) and brain disorders. However, there are many unidentified disease modifiers in these conditions. Our study summarised the most common brain disorders associated with HL and highlighted mechanisms of pathologies. We searched the literature for published articles on HL and brain disorders. Alzheimer's disease/dementia, Parkinson's disease, cognitive impairment, autism spectrum disorder, ataxia, epilepsy, stroke, and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy majorly co-interact with HL. The estimated incidence rate was 113 per 10,000 person-years. Genetic, epigenetic, early life/neonatal stress, hypoxia, inflammation, nitric oxide infiltration, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and excess glutamate were the distinguished modifiers identified. Various mechanisms like adhesion molecules, transport proteins, hair cell apoptosis, and neurodegeneration have been implicated in these conditions and are serving as potential targets for therapies. To improve the quality of life of patients, these understandings will improve clinical diagnoses and management of HL and brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwafemi Gabriel Oluwole
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 3.14 Wernher & Beit North Building, P.O Box 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kili James
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 3.14 Wernher & Beit North Building, P.O Box 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Abdoulaye Yalcouye
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 3.14 Wernher & Beit North Building, P.O Box 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 3.14 Wernher & Beit North Building, P.O Box 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
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25
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Wang DO. Epitranscriptomic regulation of cognitive development and decline. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 129:3-13. [PMID: 34857470 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.11.019] [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: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Functional genomics and systems biology have opened new doors to previously inaccessible genomic information and holistic approaches to study complex networks of genes and proteins in the central nervous system. The advances are revolutionizing our understanding of the genetic underpinning of cognitive development and decline by facilitating identifications of novel molecular regulators and physiological pathways underlying brain function, and by associating polymorphism and mutations to cognitive dysfunction and neurological diseases. However, our current understanding of these complex gene regulatory mechanisms has yet lacked sufficient mechanistic resolution for further translational breakthroughs. Here we review recent findings from the burgeoning field of epitranscriptomics in association of cognitive functions with a special focus on the epitranscritomic regulation in subcellular locations such as chromosome, synapse, and mitochondria. Although there are important gaps in knowledge, current evidence is suggesting that this layer of RNA regulation may be of particular interest for the spatiotemporally coordinated regulation of gene networks in developing and maintaining brain function that underlie cognitive changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Ohtan Wang
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 2-2-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Yoshida Hon-machi, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
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26
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Chen CH, Huang A, Huang YS, Fang TH. Identification of a Rare Novel KMT2C Mutation That Presents with Schizophrenia in a Multiplex Family. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11121254. [PMID: 34945726 PMCID: PMC8707139 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11121254] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex genetic disorder involving many common variants with modest effects and rare mutations with high penetrance. Rare mutations associated with schizophrenia are highly heterogeneous and private for affected individuals and families. Identifying such mutations can help establish the molecular diagnosis, elucidate the pathogenesis, and provide helpful genetic counseling for affected patients and families. We performed a whole-exome sequencing analysis to search for rare pathogenic mutations co-segregating with schizophrenia transmitted in a dominant inheritance in a two-generation multiplex family. We identified a rare missense mutation H1574R (Histidine1574Arginine, rs199796552) of KMT2C (lysine methyltransferase 2C) co-segregating with affected members in this family. The mutation is a novel deleterious mutation of KMT2C, not reported before in the literature. The KMT2C encodes a histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4)-specific methyltransferase and involves epigenetic regulation of brain gene expression. Mutations of KMT2C have been found in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Kleefstra syndrome, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorders. Our finding suggests that schizophrenia might be one of the clinical phenotype spectra of KMT2C mutations, and KMT2C might be a novel risk gene for schizophrenia. Nevertheless, the co-segregation of this mutation with schizophrenia in this family might also be due to chance; functional assays of this mutation are needed to address this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hsiang Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Department and Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Correspondence:
| | - Ailing Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien 981, Taiwan;
| | - Yu-Shu Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
| | - Ting-Hsuan Fang
- Department and Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
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27
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Ciolfi A, Foroutan A, Capuano A, Pedace L, Travaglini L, Pizzi S, Andreani M, Miele E, Invernizzi F, Reale C, Panteghini C, Iascone M, Niceta M, Gavrilova RH, Schultz-Rogers L, Agolini E, Bedeschi MF, Prontera P, Garibaldi M, Galosi S, Leuzzi V, Soliveri P, Olson RJ, Zorzi GS, Garavaglia BM, Tartaglia M, Sadikovic B. Childhood-onset dystonia-causing KMT2B variants result in a distinctive genomic hypermethylation profile. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:157. [PMID: 34380541 PMCID: PMC8359374 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01145-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dystonia is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive, movements and/or postures. Heterozygous variants in lysine methyltransferase 2B (KMT2B), encoding a histone H3 methyltransferase, have been associated with a childhood-onset, progressive and complex form of dystonia (dystonia 28, DYT28). Since 2016, more than one hundred rare KMT2B variants have been reported, including frameshift, nonsense, splice site, missense and other in-frame changes, many having an uncertain clinical impact. Results We characterize the genome-wide peripheral blood DNA methylation profiles of a cohort of 18 patients with pathogenic and unclassified KMT2B variants. We resolve the “episignature” associated with KMT2B haploinsufficiency, proving that this approach is robust in diagnosing clinically unsolved cases, properly classifying them with respect to other partially overlapping dystonic phenotypes, other rare neurodevelopmental disorders and healthy controls. Notably, defective KMT2B function in DYT28 causes a non-random DNA hypermethylation across the genome, selectively involving promoters and other regulatory regions positively controlling gene expression. Conclusions We demonstrate a distinctive DNA hypermethylation pattern associated with DYT28, provide an epigenetic signature for this disorder enabling accurate diagnosis and reclassification of ambiguous genetic findings and suggest potential therapeutic approaches. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01145-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ciolfi
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Aidin Foroutan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada.,Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Canada
| | - Alessandro Capuano
- Department of Neuroscience, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Pedace
- Department of Pediatric Onco-Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorena Travaglini
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Pizzi
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Andreani
- Department of Pediatric Onco-Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Evelina Miele
- Department of Pediatric Onco-Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Invernizzi
- Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Reale
- Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Celeste Panteghini
- Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Iascone
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Marcello Niceta
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Emanuele Agolini
- Translational Cytogenomics Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Prontera
- Maternal-Infantile Department, University Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Matteo Garibaldi
- Department of Neuroscience, NESMOS, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Galosi
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Leuzzi
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Soliveri
- Department of Neurology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Rory J Olson
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Giovanna S Zorzi
- Department of Child Neurology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Barbara M Garavaglia
- Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy.
| | - Bekim Sadikovic
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada. .,Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Canada. .,Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Canada.
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28
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Poeta L, Padula A, Lioi MB, van Bokhoven H, Miano MG. Analysis of a Set of KDM5C Regulatory Genes Mutated in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Identifies Temporal Coexpression Brain Signatures. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12071088. [PMID: 34356104 PMCID: PMC8305412 DOI: 10.3390/genes12071088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of transcriptional pathways is observed in multiple forms of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as intellectual disability (ID), epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We previously demonstrated that the NDD genes encoding lysine-specific demethylase 5C (KDM5C) and its transcriptional regulators Aristaless related-homeobox (ARX), PHD Finger Protein 8 (PHF8) and Zinc Finger Protein 711 (ZNF711) are functionally connected. Here, we show their relation to each other with respect to the expression levels in human and mouse datasets and in vivo mouse analysis indicating that the coexpression of these syntenic X-chromosomal genes is temporally regulated in brain areas and cellular sub-types. In co-immunoprecipitation assays, we found that the homeotic transcription factor ARX interacts with the histone demethylase PHF8, indicating that this transcriptional axis is highly intersected. Furthermore, the functional impact of pathogenic mutations of ARX, KDM5C, PHF8 and ZNF711 was tested in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from children with varying levels of syndromic ID establishing the direct correlation between defects in the KDM5C-H3K4me3 pathway and ID severity. These findings reveal novel insights into epigenetic processes underpinning NDD pathogenesis and provide new avenues for assessing developmental timing and critical windows for potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Poeta
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics Adriano Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.P.); (M.G.M.); Tel.: +39-(0)-816132261/445 (M.G.M.)
| | - Agnese Padula
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics Adriano Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | | | - Hans van Bokhoven
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Maria Giuseppina Miano
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics Adriano Buzzati-Traverso, CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.P.); (M.G.M.); Tel.: +39-(0)-816132261/445 (M.G.M.)
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29
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Kawatake-Kuno A, Murai T, Uchida S. The Molecular Basis of Depression: Implications of Sex-Related Differences in Epigenetic Regulation. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:708004. [PMID: 34276306 PMCID: PMC8282210 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.708004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Although the etiology and pathophysiology of MDD remain poorly understood, aberrant neuroplasticity mediated by the epigenetic dysregulation of gene expression within the brain, which may occur due to genetic and environmental factors, may increase the risk of this disorder. Evidence has also been reported for sex-related differences in the pathophysiology of MDD, with female patients showing a greater severity of symptoms, higher degree of functional impairment, and more atypical depressive symptoms. Males and females also differ in their responsiveness to antidepressants. These clinical findings suggest that sex-dependent molecular and neural mechanisms may underlie the development of depression and the actions of antidepressant medications. This review discusses recent advances regarding the role of epigenetics in stress and depression. The first section presents a brief introduction of the basic mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, including histone modifications, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNAs. The second section reviews their contributions to neural plasticity, the risk of depression, and resilience against depression, with a particular focus on epigenetic modulators that have causal relationships with stress and depression in both clinical and animal studies. The third section highlights studies exploring sex-dependent epigenetic alterations associated with susceptibility to stress and depression. Finally, we discuss future directions to understand the etiology and pathophysiology of MDD, which would contribute to optimized and personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Kawatake-Kuno
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiya Murai
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shusaku Uchida
- SK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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30
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Nesbit N, Wallace R, Harihar S, Zhou M, Jung JY, Silberstein M, Lee PH. Genomewide alteration of histone H3K4 methylation underlies genetic vulnerability to psychopathology. J Genet 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12041-021-01294-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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31
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Deng X, Iwagawa T, Fukushima M, Suzuki Y, Watanabe S. Setd1a Plays Pivotal Roles for the Survival and Proliferation of Retinal Progenitors via Histone Modifications of Uhrf1. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:1. [PMID: 33938913 PMCID: PMC8107498 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.6.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) facilitates transcriptional gene activation, and Setd1a is the methyltransferase specific to H3K4. H3K4me3 has been reported to regulate rod photoreceptor differentiation; however, the roles H3K4me3 plays in retinal progenitor cell (RPC) proliferation and differentiation during early retinal development remain unclear. Methods Using an in vitro retinal explant culture system, we suppressed the expression of Setd1a by introducing shSetd1a. We examined the expression level and H3K4me3 level of genes by RNA Sequencing and ChIP assay, respectively. Results We found that Setd1a depletion resulted in increased apoptosis and proliferation failure in late RPCs. Expression of wild-type SETD1A, but not SETD1A that lacked the catalytic SET domain, reversed the shSetd1a-induced phenotype. RNA Sequencing revealed that proliferation-related genes were downregulated upon shSetd1a expression. Based on publicly available H3K4me3-ChIP sequencing data of retinal development, we identified Uhrf1 as a candidate target gene of Setd1a. The expression of shSetd1a led to a decrease in Uhrf1 transcript levels and reduced H3K4me3 levels at the Uhrf1 locus. Increased apoptosis and the suppression of proliferation in late RPCs were observed in retinal explants expressing shUhrf1, similar to the outcomes observed in shSetd1a-expressing retinas. The overexpression of UHRF1 did not rescue shSetd1a-induced apoptosis, but reversed the suppression of proliferation. Conclusions These results indicate that Setd1a contributes to the survival and proliferation of retinal cells by regulating histone methylation, Setd1a regulates Uhrf1 expression, and these two molecules cooperate to regulate RPC survival and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Deng
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiro Iwagawa
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaya Fukushima
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Sumiko Watanabe
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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32
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Dulka K, Szabo M, Lajkó N, Belecz I, Hoyk Z, Gulya K. Epigenetic Consequences of in Utero Exposure to Rosuvastatin: Alteration of Histone Methylation Patterns in Newborn Rat Brains. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073412. [PMID: 33810299 PMCID: PMC8059142 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rosuvastatin (RST) is primarily used to treat high cholesterol levels. As it has potentially harmful but not well-documented effects on embryos, RST is contraindicated during pregnancy. To demonstrate whether RST could induce molecular epigenetic events in the brains of newborn rats, pregnant mothers were treated daily with oral RST from the 11th day of pregnancy for 10 days (or until delivery). On postnatal day 1, the brains of the control and RST-treated rats were removed for Western blot or immunohistochemical analyses. Several antibodies that recognize different methylation sites for H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histones were quantified. Analyses of cell-type-specific markers in the newborn brains demonstrated that prenatal RST administration did not affect the composition and cell type ratios as compared to the controls. Prenatal RST administration did, however, induce a general, nonsignificant increase in H2AK118me1, H2BK5me1, H3, H3K9me3, H3K27me3, H3K36me2, H4, H4K20me2, and H4K20me3 levels, compared to the controls. Moreover, significant changes were detected in the number of H3K4me1 and H3K4me3 sites (134.3% ± 19.2% and 127.8% ± 8.5% of the controls, respectively), which are generally recognized as transcriptional activators. Fluorescent/confocal immunohistochemistry for cell-type-specific markers and histone methylation marks on tissue sections indicated that most of the increase at these sites belonged to neuronal cell nuclei. Thus, prenatal RST treatment induces epigenetic changes that could affect neuronal differentiation and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Dulka
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary; (K.D.); (M.S.); (N.L.)
| | - Melinda Szabo
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary; (K.D.); (M.S.); (N.L.)
| | - Noémi Lajkó
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary; (K.D.); (M.S.); (N.L.)
| | - István Belecz
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Zsófia Hoyk
- Biological Barriers Research Group, Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Center, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 6726 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Karoly Gulya
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary; (K.D.); (M.S.); (N.L.)
- Correspondence:
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Condorelli G, Matteoli M. Mind your heart: the epigenetic consequences of heart failure on brain function. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e13785. [PMID: 33555120 PMCID: PMC7933963 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202013785] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The bidirectional link between heart and brain has intrigued scientists for ages, but little is known on the underlying mechanism. In their recent study, Fischer and colleagues (Islam et al, 2021) propose a mechanism by which heart failure-induced cognitive decline is linked to epigenetic changes that affect gene expression in neurons of hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluigi Condorelli
- IRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalRozzanoItaly
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly
| | - Michela Matteoli
- IRCCS Humanitas Research HospitalRozzanoItaly
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly
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34
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Li Y, Fan L, Luo R, Yang Z, Yuan M, Zhang J, Gan J. Case Report: De novo Variants of KMT2E Cause O'Donnell-Luria-Rodan Syndrome: Additional Cases and Literature Review. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:641841. [PMID: 33681112 PMCID: PMC7935518 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.641841] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: O'Donnell-Luria-Rodan syndrome was recently identified as an autosomal dominant systemic disorder caused by variants in KMT2E. It is characterized by global developmental delay, some patients also exhibit autism, seizures, hypotonia, and/or feeding difficulties. Methods: Whole-exome sequencing of family trios were performed for two independent children with unexplained recurrent seizures and developmental delay. Both cases were identified as having de novo variants in KMT2E. We also collected and summarized the clinical data and diagnosed them with O'Donnell-Luria-Rodan syndrome. Structural-prediction programs were used to draw the variants' locations. Results: A 186 G>A synonymous variant [NM_182931.3:exon4: c.186G>A (p.Ala62=)] was found in one family, resulting in alternative splicing acid. A 5417 C>T transition variant [NM_182931.3:exon27: c.5417C>T (p.Pro1806Leu)] was found in another family, resulting in 1806 Pro-to-Leu substitution. Both variants were classified as likely pathogenic according to the ACMG (American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics) guidelines and verified by Sanger sequencing. Conclusion: To date, three studies of O'Donnell-Luria-Rodan syndrome have been reported with heterogeneous clinical manifestations. As a newly recognized inherited systemic disorder, O'Donnell-Luria-Rodan syndrome needs to be paid more attention, especially in gene testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lijuan Fan
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rong Luo
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Meng Yuan
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinxiu Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Gan
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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35
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Nesbit N, Wallace R, Harihar S, Zhou M, Jung JY, Silberstein M, Lee PH. Genomewide alteration of histone H3K4 methylation underlies genetic vulnerability to psychopathology. J Genet 2021; 100:44. [PMID: 34282735 PMCID: PMC8459212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulated histone methylation has emerged as a recurring theme in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. However, it is yet unclear whether the altered histone methylation is associated with aetiologic mechanisms or an outcome of disease manifestation. In this study, we examined the genomewide association studies datasets of three major psychiatric disorders, schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BIP), and major depression disorder (MDD), which represents a total of 231,783 cases and 425,444 controls, to clarify the relationship. Our gene-set enrichment analysis results identified statistically significant association of genes involved in three histone methylation biological processes with the three adult-onset psychiatric disorders, which is mainly driven by the histone H3K4 methylation pathway (GO: 0051568). Further analysis of histone H3K4 methylation pathway genes revealed a widespread role of the genes in brain function and disease; 29 (52%) and 41 genes (73.2%) were associated with at least one brain-related trait or brain disorder, respectively. Spatiotemporal gene expression analysis suggests that these pathway genes play a critical role during the prenatal period and are consistent regulators in the cerebral cortex throughout an individual's life. AUTS2, DNMT1 and TET2 are genes of particular interest due to their pervasive role in various aspects of brain function. Our findings support a critical aetiologic role of H3K4 methylation genes shared across SCZ, BIP and MDD, providing new direction for the development of epigenetically-focussed drugs targeting common causal factors of these devastating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Nesbit
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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36
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Cao Q, Wang W, Williams JB, Yang F, Wang ZJ, Yan Z. Targeting histone K4 trimethylation for treatment of cognitive and synaptic deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/50/eabc8096. [PMID: 33298440 PMCID: PMC7725456 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc8096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic aberration is implicated in aging and neurodegeneration. Using postmortem tissues from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD mouse models, we have found that the permissive histone mark H3K4me3 and its catalyzing enzymes are significantly elevated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Inhibiting H3K4-specific methyltransferases with the compound WDR5-0103 leads to the substantial recovery of PFC synaptic function and memory-related behaviors in AD mice. Among the up-regulated genes reversed by WDR5-0103 treatment in PFC of AD mice, many have the increased H3K4me3 enrichment at their promoters. One of the identified top-ranking target genes, Sgk1, which encodes serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1, is also significantly elevated in PFC of patients with AD. Administration of a specific Sgk1 inhibitor reduces hyperphosphorylated tau protein, restores PFC glutamatergic synaptic function, and ameliorates memory deficits in AD mice. These results have found a novel epigenetic mechanism and a potential therapeutic strategy for AD and related neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Cao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jamal B Williams
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Fengwei Yang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zi-Jun Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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37
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Marrocco J, Einhorn NR, McEwen BS. Environmental epigenetics of sex differences in the brain. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 175:209-220. [PMID: 33008526 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00015-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Experiences throughout the life course lead to unique phenotypes even among those with the same genotype. Genotype sets the substrate on which physiologic processes, which communicate with the brain, mediate the effects of life experiences via epigenetics. Epigenetics modify the expression of genes in the brain and body in response to circulating hormones and other mediators, which are activated to facilitate survival responses through a process called allostasis. Epigenetic signatures can even be inherited, resulting in transgenerational effects. This chapter addresses epigenetics in the context of sex differences, discussing the intersection between genetics and gonadal hormones and their effect in the brain at discrete developmental periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Marrocco
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Nathan R Einhorn
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Bruce S McEwen
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
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38
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Abay-Nørgaard S, Attianese B, Boreggio L, Salcini AE. Regulators of H3K4 methylation mutated in neurodevelopmental disorders control axon guidance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Development 2020; 147:dev.190637. [PMID: 32675280 PMCID: PMC7420840 DOI: 10.1242/dev.190637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Post-translational histone modifications regulate chromatin compaction and gene expression to control many aspects of development. Mutations in genes encoding regulators of H3K4 methylation are causally associated with neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by intellectual disability and deficits in motor functions. However, it remains unclear how H3K4 methylation influences nervous system development and contributes to the aetiology of disease. Here, we show that the catalytic activity of set-2, the Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of the H3K4 methyltransferase KMT2F/G (SETD1A/B) genes, controls embryonic transcription of neuronal genes and is required for establishing proper axon guidance, and for neuronal functions related to locomotion and learning. Moreover, we uncover a striking correlation between components of the H3K4 regulatory machinery mutated in neurodevelopmental disorders and the process of axon guidance in C. elegans. Thus, our study supports an epigenetic-based model for the aetiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, based on an aberrant axon guidance process originating from deregulated H3K4 methylation. Summary: Analysis of mutants lacking many known H3K4 regulators reveals the role of H3K4 methylation in C. elegans neuronal functions and suggests that aberrant axon guidance is a shared trait in neurodevelopmental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Abay-Nørgaard
- BRIC, University of Copenhagen, Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Ole Maaloes vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Benedetta Attianese
- BRIC, University of Copenhagen, Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Ole Maaloes vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laura Boreggio
- BRIC, University of Copenhagen, Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Ole Maaloes vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Elisabetta Salcini
- BRIC, University of Copenhagen, Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Ole Maaloes vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
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39
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ODLURO syndrome: personal experience and review of the literature. Radiol Med 2020; 126:316-322. [DOI: 10.1007/s11547-020-01255-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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40
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Chen X, Xu M, Xu X, Zeng K, Liu X, Pan B, Li C, Sun L, Qin J, Xu T, He B, Pan Y, Sun H, Wang S. METTL14-mediated N6-methyladenosine modification of SOX4 mRNA inhibits tumor metastasis in colorectal cancer. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:106. [PMID: 32552762 PMCID: PMC7298962 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01220-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of tumor-related death worldwide, and its main cause of death is distant metastasis. Methyltransferase-like 14(METTL14), a major RNA N6-adenosine methyltransferase, is involved in tumor progression via regulating RNA function. The goal of the study is to uncover the biological function and molecular mechanism of METTL14 in CRC. METHODS Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blot and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays were employed to detect METTL14 and SOX4 in CRC cell lines and tissues. The biological functions of METTL14 were demonstrated using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), Transcrptomic RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), m6A-RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-Seq), RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the mechanism of METTL14 action. RESULTS METTL14 expression was significantly downregulated in CRC and decreased METTL14 was associated with poor overall survival (OS). Both the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that METTL14 was an independent prognostic factor in CRC. Moreover, lysine-specific histone demethylase 5C(KDM5C)-mediated demethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 tri-methylation(H3K4me3) in the promoter of METTL14 inhibited METTL14 transcription. Functionally, we verified that METTL14 inhibited CRC cells migration, invasion and metastasis through in vitro and in vivo assays, respectively. Furthermore, we identified SRY-related high-mobility-group box 4(SOX4) as a target of METTL14-mediated m6A modification. Knockdown of METTL14 markedly abolished SOX4 mRNA m6A modification and elevated SOX4 mRNA expression. We also revealed that METTL14-mediated SOX4 mRNA degradation relied on the YTHDF2-dependent pathway. Lastly, we demonstrated that METTL14 might inhibit CRC malignant process partly through SOX4-mediated EMT process and PI3K/Akt signals. CONCLUSIONS Decreased METTL14 facilitates tumor metastasis in CRC, suggesting that METTL14 might be a potential prognostic biomarker and effective therapeutic target for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiang Chen
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China.,Department of oncology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mu Xu
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Xueni Xu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kaixuan Zeng
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangxiang Liu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bei Pan
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Chenmeng Li
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210011, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Qin
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Tao Xu
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Bangshun He
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Yuqin Pan
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Huilin Sun
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Shukui Wang
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No. 68, Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China. .,Jiangsu Cancer Personalized Medicine Collaborative Innovation Center, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China.
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41
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Ross PJ, Mok RSF, Smith BS, Rodrigues DC, Mufteev M, Scherer SW, Ellis J. Modeling neuronal consequences of autism-associated gene regulatory variants with human induced pluripotent stem cells. Mol Autism 2020; 11:33. [PMID: 32398033 PMCID: PMC7218542 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00333-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic factors contribute to the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and although non-protein-coding regions of the genome are being increasingly implicated in ASD, the functional consequences of these variants remain largely uncharacterized. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) enable the production of personalized neurons that are genetically matched to people with ASD and can therefore be used to directly test the effects of genomic variation on neuronal gene expression, synapse function, and connectivity. The combined use of human pluripotent stem cells with genome editing to introduce or correct specific variants has proved to be a powerful approach for exploring the functional consequences of ASD-associated variants in protein-coding genes and, more recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Here, we review recent studies that implicate lncRNAs, other non-coding mutations, and regulatory variants in ASD susceptibility. We also discuss experimental design considerations for using iPSCs and genome editing to study the role of the non-protein-coding genome in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Joel Ross
- Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada.
| | - Rebecca S F Mok
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brandon S Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | - Deivid C Rodrigues
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marat Mufteev
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Genetics & Genome Biology Program and The Centre for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James Ellis
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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42
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Analyses of breakpoint junctions of complex genomic rearrangements comprising multiple consecutive microdeletions by nanopore sequencing. J Hum Genet 2020; 65:735-741. [PMID: 32355308 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-020-0762-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The widespread use of genomic copy number analysis has revealed many previously unknown genomic structural variations, including some which are more complex. In this study, three consecutive microdeletions were identified in the same chromosome by microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis for a patient with a neurodevelopmental disorder. Subsequent fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses unexpectedly suggested complicated translocations and inversions. For better understanding of the mechanism, breakpoint junctions were analyzed by nanopore sequencing, as a new long-read whole-genome sequencing (WGS) tool. The results revealed a new chromosomal disruption, giving rise to four junctions in chromosome 7. According the sequencing results of breakpoint junctions, all junctions were considered as the consequence of multiple double-strand breaks and the reassembly of DNA fragments by nonhomologous end-joining, indicating chromothripsis. KMT2E, located within the deletion region, was considered as the gene responsible for the clinical features of the patient. Combinatory usage of aCGH and FISH analyses would be recommended for interpretation of structural variations analyzed through WGS.
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Hemokinin-1 Gene Expression Is Upregulated in Trigeminal Ganglia in an Inflammatory Orofacial Pain Model: Potential Role in Peripheral Sensitization. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082938. [PMID: 32331300 PMCID: PMC7215309 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A large percentage of primary sensory neurons in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) contain neuropeptides such as tachykinins or calcitonin gene-related peptide. Neuropeptides released from the central terminals of primary afferents sensitize the secondary nociceptive neurons in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC), but also activate glial cells contributing to neuroinflammation and consequent sensitization in chronic orofacial pain and migraine. In the present study, we investigated the newest member of the tachykinin family, hemokinin-1 (HK-1) encoded by the Tac4 gene in the trigeminal system. HK-1 had been shown to participate in inflammation and hyperalgesia in various models, but its role has not been investigated in orofacial pain or headache. In the complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory orofacial pain model, we showed that Tac4 expression increased in the TG in response to inflammation. Duration-dependent Tac4 upregulation was associated with the extent of the facial allodynia. Tac4 was detected in both TG neurons and satellite glial cells (SGC) by the ultrasensitive RNAscope in situ hybridization. We also compared gene expression changes of selected neuronal and glial sensitization and neuroinflammation markers between wild-type and Tac4-deficient (Tac4-/-) mice. Expression of the SGC/astrocyte marker in the TG and TNC was significantly lower in intact and saline/CFA-treated Tac4-/- mice. The procedural stress-related increase of the SGC/astrocyte marker was also strongly attenuated in Tac4-/- mice. Analysis of TG samples with a mouse neuroinflammation panel of 770 genes revealed that regulation of microglia and cytotoxic cell-related genes were significantly different in saline-treated Tac4-/- mice compared to their wild-types. It is concluded that HK-1 may participate in neuron-glia interactions both under physiological and inflammatory conditions and mediate pain in the trigeminal system.
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Exposure to low doses of inorganic arsenic induces transgenerational changes on behavioral and epigenetic markers in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 396:115002. [PMID: 32277946 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The ability of environmental pollutants to alter the epigenome with resultant development of behavioral alterations has received more attention in recent years. These alterations can be transmitted and affect later generations that have not been directly in contact with the contaminant. Arsenic (As) is a neurotoxicant and potent epigenetic disruptor that is widespread in the environment; however, the precise potential of As to produce transgenerational effects is unknown. Our study focused on the possible transgenerational effects on behavior by ancestral exposure to doses relevant to the environment of As, and the epigenetic mechanisms that could be involved. Embryos of F0 (ancestral generation) were directly exposed to 50 or 500 ppb of As for 150 days. F0 adults were raised to produce the F1 generation (intergeneration) and subsequently the F2 generation (transgeneration). We evaluated motor and cognitive behavior, neurodevelopment-related genes, and epigenetic markers on the F0 and F2 generation. As proposed in our hypothesis, ancestral arsenic exposure altered motor activity through the development and increased anxiety-like behaviors which were transmitted to the F2 generation. Additionally, we found a reduction in brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression between the F0 and F2 generation, and an increase in methylation on histone H3K4me3 in the nervous system.
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Schaffner SL, Lussier AA, Baker JA, Goldowitz D, Hamre KM, Kobor MS. Neonatal Alcohol Exposure in Mice Induces Select Differentiation- and Apoptosis-Related Chromatin Changes Both Independent of and Dependent on Sex. Front Genet 2020; 11:35. [PMID: 32117449 PMCID: PMC7026456 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) affects many aspects of physiology and behavior, including brain development. Specifically, ethanol can influence expression of genes important for brain growth, including chromatin modifiers. Ethanol can also increase apoptotic cell death in the brain and alter epigenetic profiles such as modifications to histones and DNA methylation. Although differential sex outcomes and disruptions to the function of multiple brain regions have been reported in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), the majority of our knowledge on molecular epigenetic and apoptotic dysregulation in PAE is based on data from males and is sometimes limited to assessments of the whole brain or one brain region. Here, we examined histone modifications, DNA methylation, and expression of genes involved in differentiation and proliferation related-chromatin modifications and apoptosis in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of C57BL/6J mice exposed to an acute alcohol challenge on postnatal day 7, with a focus on differential outcomes between sexes and brain regions. We found that neonatal alcohol exposure altered histone modifications, and impacted expression of a select few chromatin modifier and apoptotic genes in both the cortex and cerebellum. The results were observed primarily in a sex-independent manner, although some additional trends toward sexual dimorphisms were observed. Alcohol exposure induced trends toward increased bulk H3K4me3 levels, increased Kmt2e expression, and elevated levels of Casp6 mRNA and bulk γH2A.X. Additional trends indicated that ethanol may impact Kdm4a promoter DNA methylation levels and bulk levels of the histone variant H2A.Z, although further studies are needed. We comprehensively examined effects of ethanol exposure across different sexes and brain regions, and our results suggest that major impacts of ethanol on bulk chromatin modifications underlying differentiation and apoptosis may be broadly applicable across the rodent cortex and cerebellum in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L. Schaffner
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute – Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alexandre A. Lussier
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute – Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jessica A. Baker
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Dan Goldowitz
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute – Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kristin M. Hamre
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute – Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Human Early Learning Partnership, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Finding relationships among biological entities. LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING IN THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES 2020. [PMCID: PMC7499094 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-821364-3.00005-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Confusion over the concepts of “relationships” and “similarities” lies at the heart of many battles over the direction and intent of research projects. Here is a short story that demonstrates the difference between the two concepts: You look up at the clouds, and you begin to see the shape of a lion. The cloud has a tail, like a lion’s tale, and a fluffy head, like a lion’s mane. With a little imagination the mouth of the lion seems to roar down from the sky. You have succeeded in finding similarities between the cloud and a lion. If you look at a cloud and you imagine a tea kettle producing a head of steam and you recognize that the physical forces that create a cloud and the physical forces that produced steam from a heated kettle are the same, then you have found a relationship. Most popular classification algorithms operate by grouping together data objects that have similar properties or values. In so doing, they may miss finding the true relationships among objects. Traditionally, relationships among data objects are discovered by an intellectual process. In this chapter, we will discuss the scientific gains that come when we classify biological entities by relationships, not by their similarities.
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Bamodu O, Chao TY. Dissecting the functional pleiotropism of lysine demethylase 5B in physiology and pathology. JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/jcrp.jcrp_5_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To summarize the molecular and clinical findings of KMT2B-related dystonia (DYT-KMT2B), a newly identified genetic dystonia syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS Since first described in 2016, 66 different KMT2B-affecting variants, encompassing a set of frameshift, nonsense, splice-site, missense, and deletion mutations, have been reported in 76 patients. Most mutations are de novo and expected to mediate epigenetic dysregulation by inducing KMT2B haploinsufficiency. DYT-KMT2B is characterized phenotypically by limb-onset childhood dystonia that tends to spread progressively, resulting in generalized dystonia with cranio-cervical involvement. Co-occuring signs such as intellectual disability are frequently observed. Sustained response to deep brain stimulation (DBS), including restoration of independent ambulation, is seen in 93% (27/29) of patients. DYT-KMT2B is emerging as a prevalent monogenic dystonia. Childhood-onset dystonia presentations should prompt a search for KMT2B mutations, preferentially via next-generation-sequencing and genomic-array technologies, to enable specific counseling and treatment. Prospective multicenter studies are desirable to establish KMT2B mutational status as a DBS outcome predictor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Zech
- Institut für Neurogenomik, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.,Institut für Humangenetik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel D Lam
- Institut für Neurogenomik, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Juliane Winkelmann
- Institut für Neurogenomik, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany. .,Institut für Humangenetik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. .,Lehrstuhl für Neurogenetik, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. .,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, SyNergy, Munich, Germany.
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Li W, Pozzo-Miller L. Dysfunction of the corticostriatal pathway in autism spectrum disorders. J Neurosci Res 2019; 98:2130-2147. [PMID: 31758607 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The corticostriatal pathway that carries sensory, motor, and limbic information to the striatum plays a critical role in motor control, action selection, and reward. Dysfunction of this pathway is associated with many neurological and psychiatric disorders. Corticostriatal synapses have unique features in their cortical origins and striatal targets. In this review, we first describe axonal growth and synaptogenesis in the corticostriatal pathway during development, and then summarize the current understanding of the molecular bases of synaptic transmission and plasticity at mature corticostriatal synapses. Genes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been implicated in axonal growth abnormalities, imbalance of the synaptic excitation/inhibition ratio, and altered long-term synaptic plasticity in the corticostriatal pathway. Here, we review a number of ASD-associated high-confidence genes, including FMR1, KMT2A, GRIN2B, SCN2A, NLGN1, NLGN3, MET, CNTNAP2, FOXP2, TSHZ3, SHANK3, PTEN, CHD8, MECP2, DYRK1A, RELN, FOXP1, SYNGAP1, and NRXN, and discuss their relevance to proper corticostriatal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lucas Pozzo-Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Native internally calibrated chromatin immunoprecipitation for quantitative studies of histone post-translational modifications. Nat Protoc 2019; 14:3275-3302. [PMID: 31723301 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-019-0218-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to next-generation sequencing (ChIP-seq) has served as the central method for the study of histone modifications for the past decade. In ChIP-seq analyses, antibodies selectively capture nucleosomes bearing a modification of interest and the associated DNA is then mapped to the genome to determine the distribution of the mark. This approach has several important drawbacks: (i) ChIP interpretation necessitates the assumption of perfect antibody specificity, despite growing evidence that this is often not the case. (ii) Common methods for evaluating antibody specificity in other formats have little or no bearing on specificity within a ChIP experiment. (iii) Uncalibrated ChIP is reported as relative enrichment, which is biologically meaningless outside the experimental reference frame defined by a discrete immunoprecipitation (IP), thus preventing facile comparison across experimental conditions or modifications. (iv) Differential library amplification and loading onto next-generation sequencers, as well as computational normalization, can further compromise quantitative relationships that may exist between samples. Consequently, the researcher is presented with a series of potential pitfalls and is blind to nearly all of them. Here we provide a detailed protocol for internally calibrated ChIP (ICeChIP), a method we recently developed to resolve these problems by spike-in of defined nucleosomal standards within a ChIP procedure. This protocol is optimized for specificity and quantitative power, allowing for measurement of antibody specificity and absolute measurement of histone modification density (HMD) at genomic loci on a biologically meaningful scale enabling unambiguous comparisons. We provide guidance on optimal conditions for next-generation sequencing (NGS) and instructions for data analysis. This protocol takes between 17 and 18 h, excluding time for sequencing or bioinformatic analysis. The ICeChIP procedure enables accurate measurement of histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) genome-wide in mammalian cells as well as Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, indicating suitability for use in eukaryotic cells more broadly.
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