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Li X, Guo S, Sun Y, Ding J, Chen C, Wu Y, Li P, Sun T, Wang X. GABRG2 mutations in genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus: structure, roles, and molecular genetics. J Transl Med 2024; 22:767. [PMID: 39143639 PMCID: PMC11323400 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05387-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) is a genetic epilepsy syndrome characterized by a marked hereditary tendency inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Patients with GEFS+ may develop typical febrile seizures (FS), while generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCSs) with fever commonly occur between 3 months and 6 years of age, which is generally followed by febrile seizure plus (FS+), with or without absence seizures, focal seizures, or GTCSs. GEFS+ exhibits significant genetic heterogeneity, with polymerase chain reaction, exon sequencing, and single nucleotide polymorphism analyses all showing that the occurrence of GEFS+ is mainly related to mutations in the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor gamma 2 subunit (GABRG2) gene. The most common mutations in GABRG2 are separated in large autosomal dominant families, but their pathogenesis remains unclear. The predominant types of GABRG2 mutations include missense (c.983A → T, c.245G → A, p.Met199Val), nonsense (R136*, Q390*, W429*), frameshift (c.1329delC, p.Val462fs*33, p.Pro59fs*12), point (P83S), and splice site (IVS6+2T → G) mutations. All of these mutations types can reduce the function of ion channels on the cell membrane; however, the degree and mechanism underlying these dysfunctions are different and could be linked to the main mechanism of epilepsy. The γ2 subunit plays a special role in receptor trafficking and is closely related to its structural specificity. This review focused on investigating the relationship between GEFS+ and GABRG2 mutation types in recent years, discussing novel aspects deemed to be great significance for clinically accurate diagnosis, anti-epileptic treatment strategies, and new drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxiao Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shengnan Guo
- Department of Rehabilitative Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangyang Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, The Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, 750001, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangwei Ding
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuehui Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Peidong Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Sun
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, The Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, 750001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xinjun Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China.
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Gameiro‐Ros I, Popova D, Prytkova I, Pang ZP, Liu Y, Dick D, Bucholz KK, Agrawal A, Porjesz B, Goate AM, Xuei X, Kamarajan C, Tischfield JA, Edenberg HJ, Slesinger PA, Hart RP. 5. Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism: Functional genomics. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2023; 22:e12855. [PMID: 37533187 PMCID: PMC10550792 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12855] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder is a complex genetic disorder, involving genetic, neural, and environmental factors, and their interactions. The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) has been investigating these factors and identified putative alcohol use disorder risk genes through genome-wide association studies. In this review, we describe advances made by COGA in elucidating the functional changes induced by alcohol use disorder risk genes using multimodal approaches with human cell lines and brain tissue. These studies involve investigating gene regulation in lymphoblastoid cells from COGA participants and in post-mortem brain tissues. High throughput reporter assays are being used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms in which alternate alleles differ in driving gene expression. Specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (both coding or noncoding) have been modeled using induced pluripotent stem cells derived from COGA participants to evaluate the effects of genetic variants on transcriptomics, neuronal excitability, synaptic physiology, and the response to ethanol in human neurons from individuals with and without alcohol use disorder. We provide a perspective on future studies, such as using polygenic risk scores and populations of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons to identify signaling pathways related with responses to alcohol. Starting with genes or loci associated with alcohol use disorder, COGA has demonstrated that integration of multimodal data within COGA participants and functional studies can reveal mechanisms linking genomic variants with alcohol use disorder, and potential targets for future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Gameiro‐Ros
- Nash Family Department of NeuroscienceIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Dina Popova
- Human Genetics Institute of New JerseyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Iya Prytkova
- Nash Family Department of NeuroscienceIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Zhiping P. Pang
- Human Genetics Institute of New JerseyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey and Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolRutgers UniversityNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Yunlong Liu
- Department of Medical and Molecular GeneticsIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Danielle Dick
- Rutgers Addiction Research Center, Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Kathleen K. Bucholz
- Department of PsychiatryWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of PsychiatryWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Bernice Porjesz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesSUNY Downstate Health Sciences UniversityBrooklynNew YorkUSA
| | - Alison M. Goate
- Nash Family Department of NeuroscienceIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic SciencesIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Xiaoling Xuei
- Department of Medical and Molecular GeneticsIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Chella Kamarajan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesSUNY Downstate Health Sciences UniversityBrooklynNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Jay A. Tischfield
- Human Genetics Institute of New JerseyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Department of GeneticsRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Howard J. Edenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
- Department of Medical and Molecular GeneticsIndiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Paul A. Slesinger
- Nash Family Department of NeuroscienceIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Ronald P. Hart
- Human Genetics Institute of New JerseyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Department of Cell Biology and NeuroscienceRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
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Ashton MK, Rueda AVL, Ho AM, Noor Aizin NABM, Sharma H, Dodd PR, Stadlin A, Camarini R. Sex differences in GABA A receptor subunit transcript expression are mediated by genotype in subjects with alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2022; 21:e12785. [PMID: 35301805 PMCID: PMC9744570 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Male and female human subjects show contrasting propensities to misuse drugs of addiction, including alcohol. These differences lead to different psychological and neurological consequences, such as the likelihood of developing dependence. The pattern and extent of brain damage in alcohol-use disorder cases also varies with comorbid disease. To explore mechanisms that might underlie these outcomes, we used autopsy tissue to determine mRNA transcript expression in relation to genotype for two GABAA receptor subunit genes. We used quantitative Real-Time PCR to measure GABRA6 and GABRA2 mRNA concentrations in dorsolateral prefrontal and primary motor cortices of alcohol-use disorder subjects and controls of both sexes with and without liver disease who had been genotyped for these GABAA receptor subunit genes. Cirrhotic alcohol-use disorder cases had significantly higher expression of GABRA6 and GABRA2 transcripts than either controls or non-cirrhotic alcohol-use disorder cases. Differences were observed between sexes, genotypes and brain regions. We show that sex differences in subjects with GABRA6 and GABRA2 variants may contribute to differences in susceptibility to alcohol-use disorder and alcohol-induced cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline K. Ashton
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - André V. L. Rueda
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- Departamento de Farmacologia, ICBUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Ada M.‐C. Ho
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- Department of Psychiatry and PsychologyMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | - Noradibah Arina Binte M. Noor Aizin
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- Vela Research Singapore Pte LtdThe KendallSingapore
| | - Hansa Sharma
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Peter R. Dodd
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | | | - Rosana Camarini
- Departamento de Farmacologia, ICBUniversidade de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
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Goldberg LR, Yao EJ, Kelliher JC, Reed ER, Cox JW, Parks C, Kirkpatrick SL, Beierle JA, Chen MM, Johnson WE, Homanics GE, Williams RW, Bryant CD, Mulligan MK. A quantitative trait variant in Gabra2 underlies increased methamphetamine stimulant sensitivity. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 20:e12774. [PMID: 34677900 PMCID: PMC9083095 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Psychostimulant (methamphetamine, cocaine) use disorders have a genetic component that remains mostly unknown. We conducted genome-wide quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of methamphetamine stimulant sensitivity. To facilitate gene identification, we employed a Reduced Complexity Cross between closely related C57BL/6 mouse substrains and examined maximum speed and distance traveled over 30 min following methamphetamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.). For maximum methamphetamine-induced speed following the second and third administration, we identified a single genome-wide significant QTL on chromosome 11 that peaked near the Cyfip2 locus (LOD = 3.5, 4.2; peak = 21 cM [36 Mb]). For methamphetamine-induced distance traveled following the first and second administration, we identified a genome-wide significant QTL on chromosome 5 that peaked near a functional intronic indel in Gabra2 coding for the alpha-2 subunit of the GABA-A receptor (LOD = 3.6-5.2; peak = 34-35 cM [66-67 Mb]). Striatal cis-expression QTL mapping corroborated Gabra2 as a functional candidate gene underlying methamphetamine-induced distance traveled. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated correction of the mutant intronic deletion on the C57BL/6J background to the wild-type C57BL/6NJ allele was sufficient to reduce methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity toward the wild-type C57BL/6NJ-like level, thus validating the quantitative trait variant (QTV). These studies show the power and efficiency of Reduced Complexity Crosses in identifying causal variants underlying complex traits. Functionally restoring Gabra2 expression decreased methamphetamine stimulant sensitivity and supports preclinical and human genetic studies implicating the GABA-A receptor in psychostimulant addiction-relevant traits. Importantly, our findings have major implications for studying psychostimulants in the C57BL/6J strain-the gold standard strain in biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa R. Goldberg
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- NIGMS T32 Ph.D. Training Program in Biomolecular Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emily J. Yao
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Julia C. Kelliher
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eric R. Reed
- Ph.D. Program in Bioinformatics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jiayi Wu Cox
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Cory Parks
- Department of Agricultural, Biology, and Health Sciences, Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Stacey L. Kirkpatrick
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jacob A. Beierle
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- NIGMS T32 Ph.D. Training Program in Biomolecular Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Melanie M. Chen
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William E. Johnson
- Department of Medicine, Computational Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gregg E. Homanics
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Neurobiology, and Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Robert W. Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Camron D. Bryant
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Megan K. Mulligan
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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Ghamkharinejad G, Marashi SH, Foolad F, Javan M, Fathollahi Y. Unconditioned and learned morphine tolerance influence hippocampal-dependent short-term memory and the subjacent expression of GABA-A receptor alpha subunits. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253902. [PMID: 34500453 PMCID: PMC8428970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND ɣ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) facilitator valproic acid may be able to curb memory disruption induced by morphine exposure. OBJECTIVE The effects of the GABA facilitator valproic acid on the behavioral tolerance induced by morphine were investigated. Then hippocampal-dependent tasks named spatial-working and short-term memory procedures using the Y-maze apparatus were examined in morphine tolerant rats. Finally, the changes in the expression of hippocampal GABA-A receptors underlying morphine tolerance were also examined. METHODS Rats were treated with daily morphine injections, with or without distinct contextual pairing. To examine the effect of valproic acid on morphine tolerance expression, valproic acid was pretreated an hour before morphine. Spatial-working and short-term memory procedures using the Y-maze apparatus were examined in morphine tolerant rats. Afterwards the changes in the expression of hippocampal GABAα receptors using the quantitative real-time PCR and western blot techniques to detect GABArα subunits mRNAs and protein level were studied. RESULTS Our results showed that both learned and non-associative morphine tolerance influence short-term memory and the subjacent expression of GABArα mRNAs and protein level. Despite its attenuating effects on the development and expression of both learned and non-associative morphine tolerance, only associative morphine tolerance-induced memory dysfunction was ameliorated by valproic acid pretreatment. We also found that the expression of GABArα1, α2, α5 subunits mRNAs and GABAα protein level were affected heavier in associative morphine tolerant rats. CONCLUSION Our data supports the hypothesis that unconditioned and learned morphine tolerance influences short-term memory and the expression of GABArα 1, α2, α5 mRNAs and GABArα protein level differently, and adds to our understanding of the behavioral and molecular aspects of the learned tolerance to morphine effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazaleh Ghamkharinejad
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Hossein Marashi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Forough Foolad
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yaghoub Fathollahi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Goetjen A, Watson M, Lieberman R, Clinton K, Kranzler HR, Covault J. Induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming-associated methylation at the GABRA2 promoter and chr4p12 GABA A subunit gene expression in the context of alcohol use disorder. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2020; 183:464-474. [PMID: 33029895 PMCID: PMC8022112 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Twin studies indicate that there is a significant genetic contribution to the risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). With the exception of coding variants in ADH1B and ALDH2, little is known about the molecular effects of AUD-associated loci. We previously reported that the AUD-associated synonymous polymorphism rs279858 within the GABAA α2 receptor subunit gene, GABRA2, was associated with gene expression of the chr4p12 GABAA subunit gene cluster in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural cultures. Based on this and other studies that showed changes in GABRA2 DNA methylation associated with schizophrenia and aging, we examined methylation in GABRA2. Specifically, using 69 iPSC lines and neural cultures derived from 47 of them, we examined whether GABRA2 rs279858 genotype predicted methylation levels and whether methylation was related to GABAA receptor subunit gene expression. We found that the GABRA2 CpG island undergoes random stochastic methylation during reprogramming and that methylation is associated with decreased GABRA2 gene expression, an effect that extends to the GABRB1 gene over 600 kb distal to GABRA2. Further, we identified additive effects of GABRA2 CpG methylation and GABRA2 rs279858 genotype on expression of the GABRB1 subunit gene in iPSC-derived neural cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Goetjen
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
- Genetics and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Maegan Watson
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Richard Lieberman
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Kaitlin Clinton
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Henry R. Kranzler
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- VISN 4 MIRECC, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jonathan Covault
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
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Lieberman R, Jensen KP, Clinton K, Levine ES, Kranzler HR, Covault J. Molecular Correlates of Topiramate and GRIK1 rs2832407 Genotype in Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Cultures. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:1561-1570. [PMID: 32574382 PMCID: PMC7491603 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing evidence that the anticonvulsant topiramate is efficacious in reducing alcohol consumption. Further, an intronic single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2832407, C A) in the GRIK1 gene, which encodes the GluK1 subunit of the excitatory kainate receptor, predicted topiramate's effectiveness in reducing heavy drinking in a clinical trial. The molecular correlates of GRIK1 genotype that may relate to topiramate's ability to reduce drinking remain unknown. METHODS We differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) characterized by GRIK1 rs2832407 genotype from 8 A/A and 8 C/C donors into forebrain-lineage neural cultures. Our differentiation protocol yielded mixed neural cultures enriched for glutamatergic neurons. Basal mRNA expression of the GRIK1 locus was examined via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The effects of acute topiramate exposure on excitatory spontaneous synaptic activity were examined via whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. Results were compared and contrasted between iPSC donor genotypes. RESULTS Although characterization of the GRIK1 locus revealed no effect of rs2832407 genotype on GRIK1 isoform mRNA expression, a significant difference was observed on GRIK1 antisense-2 expression, which was greater in C/C neural cultures. Differential effects of acute exposure to 5 μM topiramate were observed on spontaneous synaptic activity in A/A versus C/C neurons, with a smaller reduction in excitatory event frequency observed in C/C donor neurons. CONCLUSIONS This work highlights the use of iPSC technologies to study pharmacogenetic treatment effects in psychiatric disorders and furthers our understanding of the molecular effects of topiramate exposure in human neural cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Lieberman
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030-1410
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA 06030
| | - Kevin P. Jensen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516
| | - Kaitlin Clinton
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030-1410
| | - Eric S. Levine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA 06030
| | - Henry R. Kranzler
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- VISN4 MIRECC, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Jonathan Covault
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030-1410
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McNeill RV, Ziegler GC, Radtke F, Nieberler M, Lesch KP, Kittel-Schneider S. Mental health dished up-the use of iPSC models in neuropsychiatric research. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2020; 127:1547-1568. [PMID: 32377792 PMCID: PMC7578166 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-020-02197-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Genetic and molecular mechanisms that play a causal role in mental illnesses are challenging to elucidate, particularly as there is a lack of relevant in vitro and in vivo models. However, the advent of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has provided researchers with a novel toolbox. We conducted a systematic review using the PRISMA statement. A PubMed and Web of Science online search was performed (studies published between 2006–2020) using the following search strategy: hiPSC OR iPSC OR iPS OR stem cells AND schizophrenia disorder OR personality disorder OR antisocial personality disorder OR psychopathy OR bipolar disorder OR major depressive disorder OR obsessive compulsive disorder OR anxiety disorder OR substance use disorder OR alcohol use disorder OR nicotine use disorder OR opioid use disorder OR eating disorder OR anorexia nervosa OR attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder OR gaming disorder. Using the above search criteria, a total of 3515 studies were found. After screening, a final total of 56 studies were deemed eligible for inclusion in our study. Using iPSC technology, psychiatric disease can be studied in the context of a patient’s own unique genetic background. This has allowed great strides to be made into uncovering the etiology of psychiatric disease, as well as providing a unique paradigm for drug testing. However, there is a lack of data for certain psychiatric disorders and several limitations to present iPSC-based studies, leading us to discuss how this field may progress in the next years to increase its utility in the battle to understand psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon V McNeill
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Margarete-Höppel-Platz 1, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Georg C Ziegler
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Margarete-Höppel-Platz 1, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Radtke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Nieberler
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Margarete-Höppel-Platz 1, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Margarete-Höppel-Platz 1, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Kittel-Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Margarete-Höppel-Platz 1, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
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Early-life stress influences acute and sensitized responses of adult mice to cocaine by interacting with GABAA α2 receptor expression. Behav Pharmacol 2020; 30:272-281. [PMID: 30724801 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Early-life stress (ELS) is known to exert long-term effects on brain function, with resulting deleterious consequences for several aspects of mental health, including the development of addiction to drugs of abuse. One potential mechanism in humans is suggested by findings that ELS interacts with polymorphisms of the GABRA2 gene, encoding α2 subunits of GABAA receptors, to increase the risk for both post-traumatic stress disorder and vulnerability to cocaine addiction. We used a mouse model, in which the amount of material for nest building was reduced during early postnatal life, to study interactions between ELS and expression of α2-containing GABAA receptors in influencing cocaine-related behaviour. Breeding of parents heterozygous for a deletion of α2 resulted in litters containing homozygous knockout (α2), heterozygous knockout (α2) and wild-type (α2) offspring. Following the ELS procedure, the mice were allowed to develop to adulthood before being tested for the acute effect of cocaine on locomotor stimulation, behavioural sensitization to repeated cocaine and to cocaine-conditioned activity. Exposure to ELS resulted in increased acute locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine across all genotypes, with the most marked effects in α2 mice (which also showed increased activity following vehicle). Repeated cocaine administration to nonstressed mice resulted in sensitization in α2 and α2 mice, but, in keeping with previous findings, not in α2 mice. Previous exposure to ELS reduced sensitization in α2 mice, albeit not significantly, and abolished sensitization in α2 mice. Conditioned activity was elevated following ELS in all animals, independently of genotype. Thus, while the enhanced acute effects of cocaine following ELS being most marked in α2 mice suggests a function of α2-containing GABAA receptors in protecting against stress, the interaction between ELS and genotype in influencing sensitization may be more in keeping with ELS reducing expression of α2-containing GABAA receptors. The ability of ELS to increase cocaine-conditioned locomotor activity appears to be independent of α2-containing GABAA receptors.
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Prevalence of Some Genetic Risk Factors for Nicotine Dependence in Ukraine. GENETICS RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:2483270. [PMID: 31885928 PMCID: PMC6925678 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2483270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco smoking is known to be a strong risk factor for developing many diseases. The development and severity of smoking dependence results from interaction of environmental and lifestyle factors, psycho-emotional predispositions, and also from genetic susceptibility. In present study, we investigated polymorphic variants in genes contributed to nicotine dependence, as well as to increased impulsivity, known to be an important risk factor for substance use disorders, in Ukraine population. The genotype frequencies at CYP2A6, DNMT3B, DRD2, HTR2A, COMT, BDNF, GABRA2, CHRNA5, and DAT1 polymorphisms were determined in 171 Ukraine residents, and these data were compared with data for several other European populations and main ethnic groups. It has been found that genotype frequencies for all studied loci are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the Ukrainian population and correspond to the respective frequencies in European populations. These findings suggest a similar impact of these loci on nicotine dependence in Ukraine. Further studies with larger sample sizes are, however, needed to draw firm conclusions about the effect size of these polymorphisms.
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11
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Mulligan MK, Abreo T, Neuner SM, Parks C, Watkins CE, Houseal MT, Shapaker TM, Hook M, Tan H, Wang X, Ingels J, Peng J, Lu L, Kaczorowski CC, Bryant CD, Homanics GE, Williams RW. Identification of a Functional Non-coding Variant in the GABA A Receptor α2 Subunit of the C57BL/6J Mouse Reference Genome: Major Implications for Neuroscience Research. Front Genet 2019; 10:188. [PMID: 30984232 PMCID: PMC6449455 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
GABA type-A (GABA-A) receptors containing the α2 subunit (GABRA2) are expressed in most brain regions and are critical in modulating inhibitory synaptic function. Genetic variation at the GABRA2 locus has been implicated in epilepsy, affective and psychiatric disorders, alcoholism and drug abuse. Gabra2 expression varies as a function of genotype and is modulated by sequence variants in several brain structures and populations, including F2 crosses originating from C57BL/6J (B6J) and the BXD recombinant inbred family derived from B6J and DBA/2J. Here we demonstrate a global reduction of GABRA2 brain protein and mRNA in the B6J strain relative to other inbred strains, and identify and validate the causal mutation in B6J. The mutation is a single base pair deletion located in an intron adjacent to a splice acceptor site that only occurs in the B6J reference genome. The deletion became fixed in B6J between 1976 and 1991 and is now pervasive in many engineered lines, BXD strains generated after 1991, the Collaborative Cross, and the majority of consomic lines. Repair of the deletion using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing on a B6J genetic background completely restored brain levels of GABRA2 protein and mRNA. Comparison of transcript expression in hippocampus, cortex, and striatum between B6J and repaired genotypes revealed alterations in GABA-A receptor subunit expression, especially in striatum. These results suggest that naturally occurring variation in GABRA2 levels between B6J and other substrains or inbred strains may also explain strain differences in anxiety-like or alcohol and drug response traits related to striatal function. Characterization of the B6J private mutation in the Gabra2 gene is of critical importance to molecular genetic studies in neurobiological research because this strain is widely used to generate genetically engineered mice and murine genetic populations, and is the most widely utilized strain for evaluation of anxiety-like, depression-like, pain, epilepsy, and drug response traits that may be partly modulated by GABRA2 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan K Mulligan
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Timothy Abreo
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Sarah M Neuner
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.,The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
| | - Cory Parks
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Christine E Watkins
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - M Trevor Houseal
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Thomas M Shapaker
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Michael Hook
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Haiyan Tan
- Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Xusheng Wang
- Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Jesse Ingels
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Junmin Peng
- Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Lu Lu
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | | | - Camron D Bryant
- Laboratory of Addiction Genetics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gregg E Homanics
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Neurobiology, and Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Robert W Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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12
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Jensen KP, Lieberman R, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J, Clinton K, Covault J. Alcohol-responsive genes identified in human iPSC-derived neural cultures. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:96. [PMID: 30862775 PMCID: PMC6414668 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0426-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use contributes to numerous diseases and injuries. The nervous system is affected by alcohol in diverse ways, though the molecular mechanisms of these effects are not clearly understood. Using human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we developed a neural cell culture model to identify the mechanisms of alcohol's effects. iPSCs were generated from fibroblasts and differentiated into forebrain neural cells cultures that were treated with 50 mM alcohol or sham conditions (same media lacking alcohol) for 7 days. We analyzed gene expression using total RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) for 34 samples derived from 10 subjects and for 10 samples from 5 subjects in an independent experiment that had intermittent exposure to the same dose of alcohol. We also analyzed genetic effects on gene expression and conducted a weighted correlation network analysis. We found that differentiated neural cell cultures have the capacity to recapitulate gene regulatory effects previously observed in specific primary neural tissues and identified 226 genes that were differentially expressed (FDR < 0.1) after alcohol treatment. The effects on expression included decreases in INSIG1 and LDLR, two genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis. We also identified a module of 58 co-expressed genes that were uniformly decreased following alcohol exposure. The majority of these effects were supported in independent alcohol exposure experiments. Enrichment analysis linked the alcohol responsive genes to cell cycle, notch signaling, and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways, which are disrupted in several neurological disorders. Our findings suggest that there is convergence between these disorders and the effects of alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin P. Jensen
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511 USA ,0000 0004 0419 3073grid.281208.1VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516 USA
| | - Richard Lieberman
- 0000000419370394grid.208078.5Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030–1410 USA
| | - Henry R. Kranzler
- 0000 0004 1936 8972grid.25879.31Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,VISN4 MIRECC, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Joel Gelernter
- 0000000419368710grid.47100.32Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511 USA ,0000 0004 0419 3073grid.281208.1VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516 USA
| | - Kaitlin Clinton
- 0000000419370394grid.208078.5Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030–1410 USA
| | - Jonathan Covault
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030-1410, USA. .,Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
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13
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Mitchell SJ, Maguire EP, Cunningham L, Gunn BG, Linke M, Zechner U, Dixon CI, King SL, Stephens DN, Swinny JD, Belelli D, Lambert JJ. Early-life adversity selectively impairs α2-GABA A receptor expression in the mouse nucleus accumbens and influences the behavioral effects of cocaine. Neuropharmacology 2018; 141:98-112. [PMID: 30138693 PMCID: PMC6178871 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Haplotypes of the Gabra2 gene encoding the α2-subunit of the GABAA receptor (GABAAR) are associated with drug abuse, suggesting that α2-GABAARs may play an important role in the circuitry underlying drug misuse. The genetic association of Gabra2 haplotypes with cocaine addiction appears to be evident primarily in individuals who had experienced childhood trauma. Given this association of childhood trauma, cocaine abuse and the Gabra2 haplotypes, we have explored in a mouse model of early life adversity (ELA) whether such events influence the behavioral effects of cocaine and if, as suggested by the human studies, α2-GABAARs in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are involved in these perturbed behaviors. In adult mice prior ELA caused a selective decrease of accumbal α2-subunit mRNA, resulting in a selective decrease in the number and size of the α2-subunit (but not the α1-subunit) immunoreactive clusters in NAc core medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Functionally, in adult MSNs ELA decreased the amplitude and frequency of GABAAR-mediated miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs), a profile similar to that of α2 "knock-out" (α2-/-) mice. Behaviourally, adult male ELA and α2-/- mice exhibited an enhanced locomotor response to acute cocaine and blunted sensitisation upon repeated cocaine administration, when compared to their appropriate controls. Collectively, these findings reveal a neurobiological mechanism which may relate to the clinical observation that early trauma increases the risk for substance abuse disorder (SAD) in individuals harbouring haplotypic variations in the Gabra2 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott J Mitchell
- Division of Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee University, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Edward P Maguire
- Division of Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee University, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Cunningham
- Division of Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee University, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin G Gunn
- Division of Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee University, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Matthias Linke
- Institute of Human Genetics, Mainz University, Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ulrich Zechner
- Institute of Human Genetics, Mainz University, Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Claire I Dixon
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN 9QG, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah L King
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN 9QG, United Kingdom
| | - David N Stephens
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN 9QG, United Kingdom
| | - Jerome D Swinny
- Institute for Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2DT, United Kingdom.
| | - Delia Belelli
- Division of Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee University, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, United Kingdom.
| | - Jeremy J Lambert
- Division of Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee University, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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14
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Prytkova I, Goate A, Hart RP, Slesinger PA. Genetics of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Role for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells? Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:1572-1590. [PMID: 29897633 PMCID: PMC6120805 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects millions of people and costs nearly 250 billion dollars annually. Few effective FDA-approved treatments exist, and more are needed. AUDs have a strong heritability, but only a few genes have been identified with a large effect size on disease phenotype. Genomewide association studies (GWASs) have identified common variants with low effect sizes, most of which are in noncoding regions of the genome. Animal models frequently fail to recapitulate key molecular features of neuropsychiatric disease due to the polygenic nature of the disease, partial conservation of coding regions, and significant disparity in noncoding regions. By contrast, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived from patients provide a powerful platform for evaluating genes identified by GWAS and modeling complex interactions in the human genome. hiPSCs can be differentiated into a wide variety of human cells, including neurons, glia, and hepatic cells, which are compatible with numerous functional assays and genome editing techniques. In this review, we focus on current applications and future directions of patient hiPSC-derived central nervous system cells for modeling AUDs in addition to highlighting successful applications of hiPSCs in polygenic neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iya Prytkova
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Alison Goate
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ronald P. Hart
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway NJ 08854, USA
| | - Paul A. Slesinger
- Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
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15
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Sun Y, Zhang Y, Zhang D, Chang S, Jing R, Yue W, Lu L, Chen D, Sun Y, Fan Y, Shi J. GABRA2 rs279858-linked variants are associated with disrupted structural connectome of reward circuits in heroin abusers. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:138. [PMID: 30061709 PMCID: PMC6066482 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0180-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The reward system plays a vital role in drug addiction. The purpose of this study is to investigate the structural connectivity characteristics and driving-control subnetwork patterns of reward circuits in heroin abusers and assess the genetic modulation on the reward network. We first defined the reward network based on systematic literature review, and built the reward network based on diffusion tensor imaging data of 78 heroin abusers (HAs) and 79 healthy controls (HCs) using structural connectomics. Then we assessed genetic factors that might modulate changes in the reward network by performing imaging-genetic screening for 22 addiction-related polymorphisms. The genetic association was validated by performing genetic associations (1032 HAs and 2863 HCs) and expanded-variant analysis. Finally, we estimated the association between these genetic variations, reward network, and clinical performance. We found that HAs had widespread deficiencies in the structural connectivity of the reward circuit (center in VTA-linked connections), which correlated with cognition deficiency. The disruptions synchronously were shown on the reward driving system and reward control system. GABRA2 rs279858-linked variants might be a key genetic modulator for heroin vulnerability by affecting the connections of reward network and cognition. The role of the reward network connections that mediates the effects of rs279858 on cognition would be disrupted by heroin addiction. These findings provide new insights into the neurocircuitry and genetic mechanisms of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Sun
- National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, 100191 Beijing, China
- Department of Pharmacology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Dai Zhang
- National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China
| | - Suhua Chang
- Institute of Mental Health/Peking University Sixth Hospital and Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Peking University, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Rixing Jing
- National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China
| | - Weihua Yue
- Institute of Mental Health/Peking University Sixth Hospital and Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Peking University, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Lin Lu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, 100191 Beijing, China
- Institute of Mental Health/Peking University Sixth Hospital and Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Peking University, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Dong Chen
- Sanshui addiction treatment hospital, 528100 Guangdong, China
| | - Yankun Sun
- National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, 100191 Beijing, China
- Department of Pharmacology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Yong Fan
- Department of Radiology Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Jie Shi
- National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, 100191 Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory on Drug Dependence Research, 100191 Beijing, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, 100191 Beijing, China
- The Key Laboratory for Neuroscience of the Ministry of Education and Health, Peking University, 100191 Beijing, China
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16
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Koulentaki M, Kouroumalis E. GABA A receptor polymorphisms in alcohol use disorder in the GWAS era. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:1845-1865. [PMID: 29721579 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-4918-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, relapsing, neuro-psychiatric illness of high prevalence and with a serious public health impact worldwide. It is complex and polygenic, with a heritability of about 50%, and influenced by environmental causal heterogeneity. Risk factors associated with its etiology have a genetic component. GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in mammalian brain. GABAA receptors are believed to mediate some of the physiological and behavioral actions of alcohol. In this critical review, relevant genetic terms and type and methodology of the genetic studies are briefly explained. Postulated candidate genes that encode subunits of GABAA receptors, with all the reported SNPs, are presented. Genetic studies and meta-analyses examining polymorphisms of the GABAA receptor and their association with AUD predisposition are presented. The data are critically examined with reference to recent GWAS studies that failed to show relations between GABAA receptors and AUD. Restrictions and perspectives of the different findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mairi Koulentaki
- Alcohology Research Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, 71500, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Heraklion, 71500, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Elias Kouroumalis
- Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Heraklion, 71500, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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17
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Fink JJ, Levine ES. Uncovering True Cellular Phenotypes: Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons to Study Early Insults in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Neurol 2018; 9:237. [PMID: 29713304 PMCID: PMC5911479 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders have provided invaluable insights into the molecular-, cellular-, and circuit-level defects associated with a plethora of genetic disruptions. In many cases, these deficits have been linked to changes in disease-relevant behaviors, but very few of these findings have been translated to treatments for human disease. This may be due to significant species differences and the difficulty in modeling disorders that involve deletion or duplication of multiple genes. The identification of primary underlying pathophysiology in these models is confounded by the accumulation of secondary disease phenotypes in the mature nervous system, as well as potential compensatory mechanisms. The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cell technology now provides a tool to accurately model complex genetic neurogenetic disorders. Using this technique, patient-specific cell lines can be generated and differentiated into specific subtypes of neurons that can be used to identify primary cellular and molecular phenotypes. It is clear that impairments in synaptic structure and function are a common pathophysiology across neurodevelopmental disorders, and electrophysiological analysis at the earliest stages of neuronal development is critical for identifying changes in activity and excitability that can contribute to synaptic dysfunction and identify targets for disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Fink
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Eric S Levine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States
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18
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Lieberman R, Kranzler HR, Levine ES, Covault J. Examining the effects of alcohol on GABA A receptor mRNA expression and function in neural cultures generated from control and alcohol dependent donor induced pluripotent stem cells. Alcohol 2018; 66:45-53. [PMID: 29156239 PMCID: PMC5743620 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Factors influencing the development of alcohol-use disorder (AUD) are complex and heterogeneous. While animal models have been crucial to identifying actions of alcohol on neural cells, human-derived in vitro systems that reflect an individual's genetic background hold promise in furthering our understanding of the molecular and functional effects of alcohol exposure and the pathophysiology of AUD. In this report, we utilized induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs)-derived neural cell cultures obtained from healthy individuals (CTLs) and those with alcohol dependence (ADs) to 1) examine the effect of 21-day alcohol exposure on mRNA expression of three genes encoding GABAA receptor subunits (GABRA1, GABRG2, and GABRD) using quantitative PCR, and 2) examine the effect of acute and chronic alcohol exposure on GABA-evoked currents using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. iPSCs from CTLs and ADs were differentiated into neural cultures enriched for forebrain-type excitatory glutamate neurons. Following 21-day alcohol exposure, significant treatment effects were observed in GABRA1, GABRG2, and GABRD mRNA expression. A modestly significant interaction between treatment and donor phenotype was observed for GABRD, which was increased in cell cultures derived from ADs. No effect of acute or chronic alcohol was observed on GABA-evoked currents in neurons from either CTLs or ADs. This work extends findings examining the effects of alcohol on the GABAA receptor in human cell in vitro model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Lieberman
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030-1410, USA
| | - Henry R Kranzler
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; VISN4 MIRECC, Crescenz Philadelphia VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Eric S Levine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Jonathan Covault
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030-1410, USA; Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06268, USA.
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19
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Yang BZ, Arias A, Feinn R, Krystal JH, Gelernter J, Petrakis I. GRIK1 and GABRA2 Variants Have Distinct Effects on the Dose-Related Subjective Response to Intravenous Alcohol in Healthy Social Drinkers. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017; 41:2025-2032. [PMID: 29131352 PMCID: PMC5764175 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The heritable risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD) is expressed partly through alterations in subjective alcohol response. In this study, we investigated the effects of 2 AUD-risk-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms, GABRA2 rs279858 and GRIK1 rs2832407, on the subjective response to alcohol administered intravenously to healthy social drinkers in a laboratory setting. METHODS In total, 93 self-identified European American social drinkers underwent 3 blinded laboratory sessions in which they received intravenous infusions of ethanol at 3 target blood alcohol levels (0.00 mg%, 40 mg%, and 100 mg%) using a "clamp" procedure. The self-reported Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) stimulation and sedation subscales were the primary outcome measures. We examined the effects of these 2 genetic variants on subjective response to alcohol. RESULTS For the BAES stimulation subscale scores, adjusting for age, baseline scores, and time effects, individuals with 2 copies of the GABRA2 rs279858 C "risk" allele for AUD exhibited the greatest stimulant responses to high-dose alcohol compared to the other risk allele counts (dose-by-allele count interaction effect, p = 0.001, post hoc contrast for C-allele, p = 0.012). For the BAES sedation subscale scores, adjusting for the same covariates, we detected a dose-by-allele count interaction effect (p = 0.0044) such that subjects with 2 copies of the GRIK1 C "risk" allele reported the greatest sedative response to the higher alcohol dose. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that gene variants contributing to the risk for AUD may alter features of the alcohol dose-response relationship in specific ways. GABRA2 rs279858*C enhances stimulant responses to higher levels of alcohol, while the GRIK1 rs2832407*C-allele increases sedative responses. In summary, GRIK1 and GABRA2 variants have distinct effects on the dose-related subjective response to intravenous alcohol in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Zhu Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Alcohol Research Center VA Connecticut Healthcare System (116-A) 950 Campbell Ave West Haven, CT 06516
| | - Albert Arias
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Alcohol Research Center VA Connecticut Healthcare System (116-A) 950 Campbell Ave West Haven, CT 06516
| | | | - John H. Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Alcohol Research Center VA Connecticut Healthcare System (116-A) 950 Campbell Ave West Haven, CT 06516
| | - Joel Gelernter
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Alcohol Research Center VA Connecticut Healthcare System (116-A) 950 Campbell Ave West Haven, CT 06516
- Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine
| | - Ismene Petrakis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Alcohol Research Center VA Connecticut Healthcare System (116-A) 950 Campbell Ave West Haven, CT 06516
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Fink JJ, Robinson TM, Germain ND, Sirois CL, Bolduc KA, Ward AJ, Rigo F, Chamberlain SJ, Levine ES. Disrupted neuronal maturation in Angelman syndrome-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15038. [PMID: 28436452 PMCID: PMC5413969 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder caused by deletion of the maternally inherited UBE3A allele and is characterized by developmental delay, intellectual disability, ataxia, seizures and a happy affect. Here, we explored the underlying pathophysiology using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons from AS patients and unaffected controls. AS-derived neurons showed impaired maturation of resting membrane potential and action potential firing, decreased synaptic activity and reduced synaptic plasticity. These patient-specific differences were mimicked by knocking out UBE3A using CRISPR/Cas9 or by knocking down UBE3A using antisense oligonucleotides. Importantly, these phenotypes could be rescued by pharmacologically unsilencing paternal UBE3A expression. Moreover, selective effects of UBE3A disruption at late stages of in vitro development suggest that changes in action potential firing and synaptic activity may be secondary to altered resting membrane potential. Our findings provide a cellular phenotype for investigating pathogenic mechanisms underlying AS and identifying novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Fink
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
| | - Tiwanna M Robinson
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
| | - Noelle D Germain
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
| | - Carissa L Sirois
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
| | - Kaitlyn A Bolduc
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
| | - Amanda J Ward
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, California 92010, USA
| | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, California 92010, USA
| | - Stormy J Chamberlain
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
| | - Eric S Levine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA
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Duka T, Nikolaou K, King SL, Banaschewski T, Bokde ALW, Büchel C, Carvalho FM, Conrod PJ, Flor H, Gallinat J, Garavan H, Heinz A, Jia T, Gowland P, Martinot JL, Paus T, Rietschel M, Robbins TW, Smolka M, Schumann G, Stephens DN. GABRB1 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Associated with Altered Brain Responses (but not Performance) during Measures of Impulsivity and Reward Sensitivity in Human Adolescents. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:24. [PMID: 28261068 PMCID: PMC5309221 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Variations in genes encoding several GABAA receptors have been associated with human drug and alcohol abuse. Among these, a number of human studies have suggested an association between GABRB1, the gene encoding GABAA receptor β1 subunits, with Alcohol dependence (AD), both on its own and comorbid with other substance dependence and psychiatric illnesses. In the present study, we hypothesized that the GABRB1 genetically-associated increased risk for developing alcoholism may be associated with impaired behavioral control and altered sensitivity to reward, as a consequence of altered brain function. Exploiting the IMAGEN database (Schumann et al., 2010), we explored in a human adolescent population whether possession of the minor (T) variant of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2044081 is associated with performance of tasks measuring aspects of impulsivity, and reward sensitivity that are implicated in drug and alcohol abuse. Allelic variation did not associate with altered performance in either a stop-signal task (SST), measuring one aspect of impulsivity, or a monetary incentive delay (MID) task assessing reward anticipation. However, increased functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) response in the right hemisphere inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), left hemisphere caudate/insula and left hemisphere inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) during MID performance was higher in the minor (T) allelic group. In contrast, during SST performance, the BOLD response found in the right hemisphere supramarginal gyrus, right hemisphere lingual and left hemisphere inferior parietal gyrus indicated reduced responses in the minor genotype. We suggest that β1-containing GABAA receptors may play a role in excitability of brain regions important in controlling reward-related behavior, which may contribute to susceptibility to addictive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodora Duka
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex Falmer, UK
| | | | - Sarah L King
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex Falmer, UK
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University Mannheim, Germany
| | - Arun L W Bokde
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin Dublin, Ireland
| | - Christian Büchel
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Patricia J Conrod
- Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College LondonLondon, UK; Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, CHU Ste Justine HospitalMontréal, QC, Canada
| | - Herta Flor
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jürgen Gallinat
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College DublinDublin, Ireland; Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of VermontBurlington, VT, USA
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Tianye Jia
- Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London London, UK
| | - Penny Gowland
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham Nottingham, UK
| | - Jean-Luc Martinot
- INSERM, UMR 1000, Research Unit Imaging and Psychiatry, IFR49, CEA, DSV, I2BM-Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot Orsay, France
| | - Tomáš Paus
- School of Psychology, University of NottinghamNottingham, UK; Rotman Research Institute, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Michael Smolka
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden Dresden, Germany
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College LondonLondon, UK; MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) CentreLondon, UK
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22
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Volkow ND, Wiers CE, Shokri-Kojori E, Tomasi D, Wang GJ, Baler R. Neurochemical and metabolic effects of acute and chronic alcohol in the human brain: Studies with positron emission tomography. Neuropharmacology 2017; 122:175-188. [PMID: 28108358 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The use of Positron emission tomography (PET) to study the effects of acute and chronic alcohol on the human brain has enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms underlying alcohol's rewarding effects, the neuroadaptations from chronic exposure that contribute to tolerance and withdrawal, and the changes in fronto-striatal circuits that lead to loss of control and enhanced motivation to drink that characterize alcohol use disorders (AUD). These include studies showing that alcohol's reinforcing effects may result not only from its enhancement of dopaminergic, GABAergic and opioid signaling but also from its caloric properties. Studies in those suffering from an AUD have revealed significant alterations in dopamine (DA), GABA, cannabinoids, opioid and serotonin neurotransmission and in brain energy utilization (glucose and acetate metabolism) that are likely to contribute to compulsive alcohol taking, dysphoria/depression, and to alcohol-associated neurotoxicity. Studies have also evaluated the effects of abstinence on recovery of brain metabolism and neurotransmitter function and the potential value of some of these measures to predict clinical outcomes. Finally, PET studies have started to provide insights about the neuronal mechanisms by which certain genes contribute to the vulnerability to AUD. These findings have helped identify new strategies for prevention and treatment of AUD. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "Alcoholism".
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora D Volkow
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
| | - Corinde E Wiers
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Ehsan Shokri-Kojori
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Dardo Tomasi
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Gene-Jack Wang
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Ruben Baler
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
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Lieberman R, Kranzler HR, Levine ES, Covault J. Examining FKBP5 mRNA expression in human iPSC-derived neural cells. Psychiatry Res 2017; 247:172-181. [PMID: 27915167 PMCID: PMC5191911 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In peripheral blood leukocytes, FKBP5 mRNA expression is upregulated following glucocorticoid receptor activation. The single nucleotide polymorphism rs1360780 in FKBP5 is associated with psychiatric illness and has functional molecular effects. However, examination of FKBP5 regulation has largely been limited to peripheral cells, which may not reflect regulation in neural cells. We used 27 human induced pluripotent stem cell lines (iPSCs) derived from 20 subjects to examine FKBP5 mRNA expression following GR activation. Following differentiation into forebrain-lineage neural cultures, cells were exposed to 1μM dexamethasone and mRNA expression of FKBP5 and NR3C1 analyzed. Results from the iPSC-derived neural cells were compared with those from 15 donor matched fibroblast lines. Following dexamethasone treatment, there was a 670% increase in FKBP5 expression in fibroblasts, mimicking findings in peripheral blood-derived cells, but only a 23% increase in iPSC-derived neural cultures. FKBP5 rs1360780 genotype did not affect the induction of FKBP5 mRNA in either fibroblasts or neural cells. These results suggest that iPSC-derived forebrain-lineage neurons may not be an optimal neural cell type in which to examine relationships between GR activation, FKBP5 expression, and genetic variation in human subjects. Further, FKBP5 induction following GR activation may differ between cell types derived from the same individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Lieberman
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington 06030-1410, CT, USA
| | - Henry R Kranzler
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, PA, USA; VISN4 MIRECC, Crescenz Philadelphia VAMC, Philadelphia 19104, PA, USA
| | - Eric S Levine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington 06030, CT, USA
| | - Jonathan Covault
- Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington 06030-1410, CT, USA.
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Newman EL, Gunner G, Huynh P, Gachette D, Moss S, Smart T, Rudolph U, DeBold JF, Miczek KA. Effects of Gabra2 Point Mutations on Alcohol Intake: Increased Binge-Like and Blunted Chronic Drinking by Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2016; 40:2445-2455. [PMID: 27717041 PMCID: PMC5073020 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorders are associated with single-nucleotide polymorphisms in GABRA2, the gene encoding the GABAA receptor α2-subunit in humans. Deficient GABAergic functioning is linked to impulse control disorders, intermittent explosive disorder, and to drug abuse and dependence, yet it remains unclear whether α2-containing GABAA receptor sensitivity to endogenous ligands is involved in excessive alcohol drinking. METHODS Male wild-type (Wt) C57BL/6J and point-mutated mice rendered insensitive to GABAergic modulation by benzodiazepines (BZD; H101R), allopregnanolone (ALLO) or tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC; Q241M), or high concentrations of ethanol (EtOH) (S270H/L277A) at α2-containing GABAA receptors were assessed for their binge-like, moderate, or escalated chronic drinking using drinking in the dark, continuous access (CA) and intermittent access (IA) to alcohol protocols, respectively. Social approach by mutant and Wt mice in forced alcohol abstinence was compared to approach by EtOH-naïve controls. Social deficits in forced abstinence were treated with allopregnanolone (0, 3.0, 10.0 mg/kg, intraperitoneal [i.p.]) or midazolam (0, 0.56, 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.). RESULTS Mice with BZD-insensitive α2-containing GABAA receptors (H101R) escalated their binge-like drinking. Mutants harboring the Q241M point substitution in Gabra2 showed blunted chronic intake in the CA and IA protocols. S270H/L277A mutants consumed excessive amounts of alcohol but, unlike wild-types, they did not show forced abstinence-induced social deficits. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest a role for: (i) H101 in species-typical binge-like drinking, (ii) Q241 in escalated chronic drinking, and (iii) S270 and/or L277 in the development of forced abstinence-associated social deficits. Clinical findings report reduced BZD-binding sites in the cortex of dependent patients; the present findings suggest a specific role for BZD-sensitive α2-containing receptors. In addition, amino acid residue 241 in Gabra2 is necessary for positive modulation and activation of GABAA receptors by ALLO and THDOC; we postulate that neurosteroid action on α2-containing receptor may be necessary for escalated chronic EtOH intake.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Trevor Smart
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London
| | - Uwe Rudolph
- Laboratory of Genetic Neuropharmacology, McLean Hospital,Dept. of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
| | | | - Klaus A. Miczek
- Dept. of Psychology, Tufts University,Dept. of Neuroscience, Tufts University
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Fine Mapping of a Dravet Syndrome Modifier Locus on Mouse Chromosome 5 and Candidate Gene Analysis by RNA-Seq. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006398. [PMID: 27768696 PMCID: PMC5074504 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A substantial number of mutations have been identified in voltage-gated sodium channel genes that result in various forms of human epilepsy. SCN1A mutations result in a spectrum of severity ranging from mild febrile seizures to Dravet syndrome, an infant-onset epileptic encephalopathy. Dravet syndrome patients experience multiple seizures types that are often refractory to treatment, developmental delays, and elevated risk for SUDEP. The same sodium channel mutation can produce epilepsy phenotypes of varying clinical severity. This suggests that other factors, including genetic, modify the primary mutation and change disease severity. Mouse models provide a useful tool in studying the genetic basis of epilepsy. The mouse strain background can alter phenotype severity, supporting a contribution of genetic modifiers in epilepsy. The Scn1a+/- mouse model has a strain-dependent epilepsy phenotype. Scn1a+/- mice on the 129S6/SvEvTac (129) strain have a normal phenotype and lifespan, while [129xC57BL/6J]F1-Scn1a+/- mice experience spontaneous seizures, hyperthermia-induced seizures and high rates of premature death. We hypothesize the phenotypic differences are due to strain-specific genetic modifiers that influence expressivity of the Scn1a+/- phenotype. Low resolution mapping of Scn1a+/- identified several Dravet syndrome modifier (Dsm) loci responsible for the strain-dependent difference in survival. One locus of interest, Dsm1 located on chromosome 5, was fine mapped to a 9 Mb region using interval specific congenics. RNA-Seq was then utilized to identify candidate modifier genes within this narrowed region. Three genes with significant total gene expression differences between 129S6/SvEvTac and [129xC57BL/6J]F1 were identified, including the GABAA receptor subunit, Gabra2. Further analysis of Gabra2 demonstrated allele-specific expression. Pharmological manipulation by clobazam, a common anticonvulsant with preferential affinity for the GABRA2 receptor, revealed dose-dependent protection against hyperthermia-induced seizures in Scn1a+/- mice. These findings support Gabra2 as a genetic modifier of the Scn1a+/- mouse model of Dravet syndrome. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting approximately 3 million Americans and 1% of the worldwide population. Approximately 70% of patients diagnosed with epilepsy have a genetic basis for their disease. The same genetic mutation can result in epilepsy with varying clinical severity in some individuals. This suggests that additional factors modify the effect of the primary mutation, resulting in the differences observed. Mouse models of epilepsy also exhibit variable severity depending on the inbred strain background. This is a useful model system that enables us to determine other genetic factors that influence phenotype presentation. This study investigates a mouse model of Dravet syndrome. Similar to Dravet syndrome patients, the mice experience a variety of seizure types and have increased risk for premature death. Interestingly, the Dravet syndrome phenotype is completely masked on one mouse strain background. Through a series of genetic and pharmacological techniques we were able to identify a gene that is likely responsible for the strain-dependent phenotype difference of Dravet mice. Identifying genes that modify diseases can help predict patient outcomes and suggest new therapies for the treatment of epilepsy.
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26
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Stephens DN, King SL, Lambert JJ, Belelli D, Duka T. GABAAreceptor subtype involvement in addictive behaviour. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 16:149-184. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - S. L. King
- School of Psychology; University of Sussex; Brighton UK
| | - J. J. Lambert
- Division of Neuroscience; University of Dundee; Dundee UK
| | - D. Belelli
- Division of Neuroscience; University of Dundee; Dundee UK
| | - T. Duka
- School of Psychology; University of Sussex; Brighton UK
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Duka T, Dixon CI, Trick L, Crombag HS, King SL, Stephens DN. Motivational Effects of Methylphenidate are Associated with GABRA2 Variants Conferring Addiction Risk. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:304. [PMID: 26635556 PMCID: PMC4649050 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Variations in the GABRA2 gene, encoding α2 subunits of GABAA receptors, have been associated with risk for addiction to several drugs, but the mechanisms by which variations in non-coding regions of GABRA2 increase risk for addictions are not understood. Mice with deletion of GABRA2 show deficits in the ability of psychostimulants to facilitate responding for conditioned reinforcers, offering a potential explanation. Methods: We report human and mouse studies investigating a potential endophenotype underlying this association. Healthy human volunteers carrying either cocaine-addiction “risk” or “protective” GABRA2 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) were tested for their subjective responses to methylphenidate, and methylphenidate’s ability to facilitate conditioned reinforcement (CRf) for visual stimuli (CS+) associated with monetary reward. In parallel, methylphenidate’s ability to facilitate responding for a visual CRf was studied in wildtype and α2 knockout (α2−/−) mice. Results: Methylphenidate increased the number of CS+ presentations obtained by human subjects carrying protective, but not risk SNPs. In mice, methylphenidate increased responding for a CS+ in wildtype, but not α2−/− mice. Human subjects carrying protective SNPs felt stimulated, aroused and restless following methylphenidate, while individuals carrying risk SNPs did not. Conclusion: Human risk SNP carriers were insensitive to methylphenidate’s effects on mood or in facilitating CRf. That mice with the gene deletion were also insensitive to methylphenidate’s ability to increase responding for CRf, suggests a potential mechanism whereby low α2-subunit levels increase risk for addictions. Circuits employing GABAA-α2 subunit-containing receptors may protect against risk for addictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodora Duka
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer Brighton, UK
| | - Claire I Dixon
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer Brighton, UK
| | - Leanne Trick
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer Brighton, UK
| | - Hans S Crombag
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer Brighton, UK
| | - Sarah L King
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer Brighton, UK
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