A potential association of RNF219-AS1 with ADHD: Evidence from categorical analysis of clinical phenotypes and from quantitative exploration of executive function and white matter microstructure endophenotypes

Recent Advances in the Role of Non-coding RNAs in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Despite numerous preclinical studies modeling fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)-associated neurodevelopmental deficits to date, a comprehensive molecular landscape dictating these deficits remains poorly understood. Non-coding RNAs constitute a substantial layer of epigenetic regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. Yet, little is known about the differential expression of non-coding RNAs in the context of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) that are mechanistically linked with FASD-related neurobehavior deficits. This chapter reviews our current knowledge from preclinical studies in non-coding RNA-mediated molecular mechanisms that may underlie FASD pathophysiology. This chapter also summarizes relevant clinical evidence and current efforts in utilizing these non-coding RNA molecules as biomarkers of PAE-associated deficits impacting central nervous system (CNS) function. Unraveling the diverse roles of various species of non-coding RNAs is critical to enhancing our comprehension of these intricate molecular pathways. Understanding these pathways would likely contribute to identifying critical molecular target(s) for developing efficient treatment strategies and prognostic and diagnostic markers fostering advancements in treating and managing FASD-related CNS dysfunction.

Predictors of executive function trajectories in adolescents with and without ADHD: Links with academic outcomes

Changes in executive function (EF) occur during adolescence with several factors (e.g., parenting styles, socioeconomic status) influencing the development of EF abilities. These changes are important as EF has been strongly linked with a range of outcomes including academic achievement, job performance, and social-emotional well-being. However, few studies have examined variability in EF trajectories during this critical developmental period, or trajectories in samples known to have specific impairments with EF, such as adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study examined differential trajectories of three domains of parent-rated EF in 302 adolescents (167 males; Mage = 13.17 years) with and without ADHD (53.6% with ADHD) from grade 8 to 10. The study also explored whether adolescent ADHD, parent ADHD, and parents' own EF predicted EF trajectories in addition to the longitudinal relation between trajectories and academic outcomes. Findings suggest that adolescence is marked by significant variability in EF development due to factors such as ADHD status, parent ADHD, and parent EF ability. Additionally, adolescents who displayed poor EF abilities throughout middle and high school had significantly lower grade point averages and poorer parent-, teacher-, and self-reported academic outcomes. Implications for interventions targeting EF deficits among adolescents with and without ADHD are discussed.

CircGNB1 drives osteoarthritis pathogenesis by inducing oxidative stress in chondrocytes

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have risen to prominence as important regulators of biological processes. This study investigated whether circGNB1 functions as a competitive endogenous RNA to regulate the pathological process of oxidative stress in age-related osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

The relationship between circGNB1 expression and oxidative stress/OA severity was determined in cartilages from OA patients at different ages. The biological roles of circGNB1 in oxidative stress and OA progression, and its downstream targets were determined using gain- and loss-of-function experiments in various biochemical assays in human chondrocytes (HCs). The in vivo effects of circGNB1 overexpression and knockdown were also determined using a destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model.

RESULTS

Increased circGNB1 expression was detected in HCs under oxidative and inflammatory stress and in the cartilage of older individuals. Mechanistically, circGNB1 sponged miR-152-3p and thus blocked its interaction with its downstream mRNA target, ring finger protein 219 (RNF219), which in turn stabilized caveolin-1 (CAV1) by preventing its ubiquitination at the K47 residue. CircGNB1 inhibited IL-10 signalling by antagonizing miR-152-3p-mediated RNF219 and CAV1 inhibition. Consequently, circGNB1 overexpression promoted OA progression by enhancing catabolic factor expression and oxidative stress and by suppressing anabolic genes in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, circGNB1 knockdown alleviated the severity of OA, whereas circGNB1 overexpression had the opposite effect in a DMM mouse model of OA.

CONCLUSION

CircGNB1 regulated oxidative stress and OA progression via the miR-152-3p/RNF219/CAV1 axis. Modulating circGNB1 could be an effective strategy for treating OA.

Evaluation of the Regulatory Role of Circadian Rhythm Related Long Non-Coding RNAs in ADHD Etiogenesis

OBJECTIVE

ADHD is associated with increased sleep problems and circadian rhythm disturbances. This study aimed to examine ADHD patients and healthy controls in terms of chronotypic features and expression levels of CLOCK, PER1, lncRNA HULC, lncRNA UCA1.

METHOD

Eighty-three children were included (43 ADHD). Conner's Parent Rating Scale-Revised Short Form, Childhood Chronotype Questionnaire, Children's Sleep Disorders Scale were administered. Gene expression levels were studied from peripheral blood.

RESULTS

Evening chronotype, sleep initiation/maintenance disorder, sleep-wake transition disorder, excessive sleepiness disorder were higher in the ADHD group compared to the controls in the scales reported by the parents. Expression levels of all examined genes were statistically significantly higher in the ADHD group. There was no significant relationship between genes and sleep parameters in the ADHD group.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides the first evidence that lncRNA HULC and lncRNA UCA1 might have a role in the etiology of ADHD.

LncRNAs in neuropsychiatric disorders and computational insights for their prediction

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are 200 nucleotide extended transcripts that do not encode proteins or possess limited coding ability. LncRNAs epigenetically control several biological functions such as gene regulation, transcription, mRNA splicing, protein interaction, and genomic imprinting. Over the years, drastic progress in understanding the role of lncRNAs in diverse biological processes has been made. LncRNAs are reported to show tissue-specific expression patterns suggesting their potential as novel candidate biomarkers for diseases. Among all other non-coding RNAs, lncRNAs are highly expressed within the brain-enriched or brain-specific regions of the neural tissues. They are abundantly expressed in the neocortex and pre-mature frontal regions of the brain. LncRNAs are co-expressed with the protein-coding genes and have a significant role in the evolution of functions of the brain. Any deregulation in the lncRNAs contributes to disruptions in normal brain functions resulting in multiple neurological disorders. Neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disease, autism spectrum disorders, and anxiety are associated with the abnormal expression and regulation of lncRNAs. This review aims to highlight the understanding of lncRNAs concerning normal brain functions and their deregulation associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. We have also provided a survey on the available computational tools for the prediction of lncRNAs, their protein coding potentials, and sub-cellular locations, along with a section on existing online databases with known lncRNAs, and their interactions with other molecules.

Correlation research of susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms and the severity of clinical symptoms in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the correlation between susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the severity of clinical symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), so as to supplement the clinical significance of gene polymorphism and increase our understanding of the association between genetic mutations and ADHD phenotypes.

METHODS

193 children with ADHD were included in our study from February 2017 to February 2020 in the Children's ADHD Clinic of the author's medical institution. 23 ADHD susceptibility SNPs were selected based on the literature, and multiple polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeted capture sequencing technology was used for gene analysis. A series of ADHD-related questionnaires were used to reflect the severity of the disease, and the correlation between the SNPs of specific sites and the severity of clinical symptoms was evaluated. R software was used to search for independent risk factors by multivariate logistic regression and the "corplot" package was used for correlation analysis.

RESULTS

Among the 23 SNP loci of ADHD children, no mutation was detected in 6 loci, and 2 loci did not conform to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Of the remaining 15 loci, there were 9 SNPs, rs2652511 (SLC6A3 locus), rs1410739 (OBI1-AS1 locus), rs3768046 (TIE1 locus), rs223508 (MANBA locus), rs2906457 (ST3GAL3 locus), rs4916723 (LINC00461 locus), rs9677504 (SPAG16 locus), rs1427829 (intron) and rs11210892 (intron), correlated with the severity of clinical symptoms of ADHD. Specifically, rs1410739 (OBI1-AS1 locus) was found to simultaneously affect conduct problems, control ability and abstract thinking ability of children with ADHD.

CONCLUSION

There were 9 SNPs significantly correlated with the severity of clinical symptoms in children with ADHD, and the rs1410739 (OBI1-AS1 locus) may provide a new direction for ADHD research. Our study builds on previous susceptibility research and further investigates the impact of a single SNP on the severity of clinical symptoms of ADHD. This can help improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of ADHD.